At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2026 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer some late-week pickup options at each of the primary fantasy positions to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.
Looking at the Week 4 NFL slate -- and the available players -- I'll start with the wide receiver position. I have two veteran pass catchers who are seeing consistent volume and producing solid fantasy numbers. There are options at quarterback, too, and one signal-caller could be getting his top target back. We'll also hit on the running backs in line to see an increased role due to injury, plus I have a tight end and a defense to get into lineups.
Wide receivers
Kalif Raymond, Chicago Bears (48.4% rostered; vs. Jets)
The Bears haven't announced whether Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent will start at QB for the Week 4 home game versus the Jets, but either way I'm still pushing for Raymond based on his route deployment in Ben Johnson's offense. Raymond scored 21 points in the Week 3 win over the Eagles, and he has at least five receptions in all three games played this season. Raymond will see the ball as an outlet on crossers, sit routes and unders, plus he has the speed to create big plays (deep over routes and verticals). Raymond fits as a WR3 this week.
Keenan Allen, Indianapolis Colts (46.6% rostered; vs. Commanders)
Allen is a fit for a Colts passing game missing its vertical element with Alec Pierce out with a heel injury. Allen can uncover or make himself available to the quarterback, which we saw in the Week 3 game versus Houston. Allen caught six of a season-high nine targets for 63 yards and a score (18.3 points). Allen has six receptions in two of three games played, and he gets a solid matchup in Week 4 against the Commanders. Managers can start Allen as a WR3.
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots (11.2% rostered; at Bills)
The Bills have been zone-heavy under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, and they play from a two-deep safety look on 49.2% of opponent dropbacks. That works for Hollins, as he has the coverage awareness to find open voids on short-to-intermediate throws. Hollins caught six of nine targets for 87 yards in the Week 3 loss to the Jaguars (14.7 points), and he has seen at least five targets in two of three games played. He's a deeper-league option this week.
Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (23.3% rostered; at Vikings)
You can take a shot on Washington because of his versatility and expanding role. Washington caught five of a season-high 10 targets for 56 yards in the Week 3 loss to the Chiefs, plus he had two carries for five yards from backfield alignments. Washington has seen five or more targets in all three games this season, with at least one rushing attempt in the past two. The Vikings' pressure defense will create conflict for quarterback Malik Willis and Miami's protection schemes, but that unit is giving up the 10th-most points per game to opposing wide receivers.
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders (18.4% rostered; at Colts)
I didn't see Mariota scoring 20.42 points on the Seahawks defense in Week 3. The veteran quarterback delivered the ball with timing and location, finishing with 183 yards and three touchdown passes. While I would like to see Mariota deployed more on designed carries, there is a clear connection here with Terry McLaurin (six receptions, 77 yards, one touchdown in Week 3), and we can't pass on this matchup versus Indianapolis. The Colts are allowing 276 yards passing per game (third most). Mariota is a solid QB2 in Week 4, if Jayden Daniels (elbow) misses his second straight game.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (37.0% rostered; vs. Cowboys)
The touchdown numbers are down for Stroud (three), but he is scoring 15.4 fantasy PPG, plus he has added 54 yards rushing this season. And this Texans pass game could get a major boost if wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is back Sunday. I really like the matchup versus a Dallas defense allowing 23.5 fantasy PPG to opposing QBs (third most). If Collins is a go, you can start Stroud as a QB2 in superflex formats.
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (50.9% rostered; vs. Chargers)
Darnold dropped 27.66 points on the Commanders in Week 3, his first game back after suffering a glute injury early in the Week 1 opener versus the Patriots. Darnold turned the ball over twice in Washington, but he finished with 379 yards and four touchdown throws. With an elite No. 1 option in Jaxon Smith-Njigba (135 yards receiving per game), Darnold should be viewed as a quality QB2 this week versus a Chargers defense ranked 15th against opposing QBs.
Running backs
Keaton Mitchell, Los Angeles Chargers (18.4% rostered; at Seahawks)
Mitchell had a season-high 11 touches in the Week 3 game versus Buffalo, finishing with 47 total yards and a touchdown, good for 13.7 points. We know he's an explosive change-of-pace runner behind Omarion Hampton (15 carries in Week 3), plus he can be schemed in the pass game. Mitchell has an ankle injury that we need to monitor, but if he's good to go this week, he has value as a flex in deeper leagues.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (15.0% rostered; at Falcons)
Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring, IR) is out for the forseeable future, so Miller should be back in the fold, sharing touches with Alvin Kamara in the Saints backfield. Miller saw six touches last week, and he had nine carries for 30 yards and a touchdown (on a low red zone attempt) in Week 1. I don't see a ton of upside here due to Kamara's usage in the game plan, plus the Falcons are allowing only 12.8 fantasy PPG to opposing running backs. But if you need to find an option in a deeper league, Miller will see the ball.
Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins (23.3% rostered; vs. Vikings)
With De'Von Achane (ACL) out for the season, Ollie Gordon II and Wright move into prominent roles in the Miami backfield. Gordon fits as the early-down runner with north/south traits, while Wright has the speed and traits to provide more perimeter/receiving upside. Wright has limited usage this season (three carries), but he did have two games of 12 or more points in 2025. It's a tough matchup against a Minnesota defense that ranks fourth versus running backs, so Wright should be a deeper-league option only.
Isaiah Davis, New York Jets (7.4% rostered; at Bears)
Breece Hall (thigh) is likely down for this week, which moves Braelon Allen into the No. 1 role, while also opening the door for Davis to see work. Davis has yet to register a carry this season, but he averaged 5.5 YPC last season, posting three games with 10 or more points. He's a deeper-league flier who could produce some numbers against a Bears defense allowing 4.9 YPC.
Tight end
Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers (26.3% rostered; vs. Lions)
Waller caught five of a season-high eight targets for 51 yards last week against the Browns, and he now has double-digit points in back-to-back games. With his increase in usage, plus the matchup versus a Lions defense that ranks dead last versus opposing tight ends, Waller should be in your lineup for Week 4.
D/ST
Chicago Bears (30.1% rostered; vs. Jets)
The Bears are getting pressure on the quarterback and playing opportunistic defense under coordinator Dennis Allen. This unit has at least two sacks in all three games played this season, and they've forced three turnovers in two of them. You can put Chicago is as your D/ST this week versus Jets quarterback Geno Smith, who has been sacked at least four times in back-to-back games.