Week 4: Injury Fallout, Waiver Scrambles, and Surviving the Grind
Week 4 is shaping up to be a pivotal turning point in my fantasy season — especially for my one-and-two squad. I came into the season bullish, but between quarterback injuries, roster attrition, and a two-quarterback format that makes streaming nearly impossible, I’ve been forced to grift on the waiver wire just to stay competitive.
The Setup
- My 1–2 team has been hammered by injuries — Jaden Daniels went down, J.J. McCarthy is out, and Brock Purdy is banged up.
- In a two-QB format, you can’t just punt the position; replacement options are razor-thin.
- I couldn’t bring myself to start Tua Tagovailoa (being a Dolphins fan makes it even harder to trust Dolphins in fantasy).
- So right now I’m rolling with Daniel Jones and Carson Wentz (a timely waiver wire pickup that saved my week).
Injury Fallout: The NFL’s Carnage Becomes Fantasy Reality
The injury bug has been merciless this year. As FantasyPros put it:
“We’re starting to lose key players, and we’re going to get our first set of byes in Week 5. Things are getting tough out there, people. It’s time to hit the fantasy football waiver wire.”
That’s exactly what I did. In quarterback-desperate leagues, any starter with a pulse matters. NFL.com’s Dan Parr admitted as much:
“I didn’t expect to be suggesting Carson Wentz as a streaming option this season … but he was the fantasy QB12 of Week 3 after leading a blowout of the Bengals in his first start filling in for the injured J.J. McCarthy.”
That verdict validated my move to grab Wentz. In a league without QB depth, finding a serviceable “bridge” is gold.
Wide receiver injuries are also reshaping lineups. SBNation, reacting to CeeDee Lamb’s high-ankle sprain, noted:
“Fantasy managers should consider picking up Quentin Johnston … With Lamb sidelined, reconfiguring lineups and scouring the waiver wire will be crucial going forward.”
That’s why my claim on Johnston was strategic, not hopeful — suddenly he has a path to volume.
Waiver Wire Moves: What I Did and Why
- Carson Wentz — Delivered QB12 numbers in Week 3; I needed the stability.
- Quentin Johnston — Next-man-up opportunity in Dallas, especially with Lamb sidelined.
- Daniel Jones (hold) — Not flashy, but a floor play. Hoping matchups soften.
Other names I considered but couldn’t land:
- Trey Benson (must-add after James Conner’s season-ending injury).
- Elic Ayomanor (highlighted by Scott Engel as a WR priority).
- Ollie Gordon II, Blake Corum (SBNation’s RB waiver stashes).
In a perfect world, I’d roster them all — but between FAAB constraints and roster limits, you have to prioritize. I went QB replacement first, then upside WR.
Strategy Going Forward: Survive, Then Thrive
Here’s how I’m playing the next few weeks:
- Don’t overreach in trades — target buy-low injured guys, not unproven hot hands.
- Stay aggressive on waivers — QB injuries will keep creating opportunities.
- Vet matchups carefully — especially when rolling out Jones + Wentz.
- Maintain depth — avoid desperation starts when bye weeks arrive.
- Stay nimble — if Purdy returns strong, I’ll pivot quickly.
Final Word
Fantasy football is a grind, but it’s also about adapting faster than your league mates. My squad, Miami_Daze, now sits at 2–2 — scarred but not sunk. With sharp waiver plays, matchup-driven starts, and patience on trades, I’m betting I can turn this thing around.
Stay tuned.
