Week 4 of the 2022 NFL fantasy football season is already here, and we have you covered for all of your waiver wire questions. While most fantasy owners will stand pat after your fantasy football draft, staying flexible with your roster can swing a matchup.
Pay attention to the top names on the waiver wire all season long. Hard Knocks star and Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams has quickly become a fantasy star. We’ll dive into Williams’ Week 4 waiver wire value against the Seattle Seahawks.
Should you add Jamaal Williams from the waiver wire for Week 4?
Available in 39% of Yahoo leagues and 56% of ESPN leagues, Williams has quickly become a popular play for managers. He’s the fifth-best fantasy rusher in the league right now thanks to a role few projected for him. Williams is leading the Lions in rushing attempts and touchdowns as a red-zone vulture for D’Andre Swift.
With Swift now week-to-week with a shoulder injury, this is Williams’ backfield. Fantasy managers could have an unbelievable event to get someone who has been an elite back in 2022. Williams is tied for the NFL lead in red-zone rushing attempts (11), third in yards (40), and tied for the lead in touchdowns (4).
It’s a no-brainer to add Williams off the waiver wire for any fantasy manager. You should consider spending heavily in FAAB leagues or using top priority wherever Williams is available. He’s the whale you hope comes on the market as his floor won’t be significantly diminished once Swift is back.
With 43 carries for 168 yards and four scores in three games, Williams has been the go-to guy for this offense. Even if he returns to an even share with Swift upon his return, Williams is a red-zone monster. The biggest negative with Williams thus far has been the lack of targets despite being such a good receiving threat in past years. He has only five targets with four catches for 29 yards.
Is Jamaal Williams a good play against Seattle?
The Lions are eighth in the NFL in rushing attempts, third in yards, second in touchdowns, and first in yards per carry. Seattle offers one of the best matchups in the league for Williams to put forth a dominant performance. Their defense ranks 28th in rushing attempts, 30th in rushing, and allow 4.9 yards per carry.
It’s safe to expect a heavy workload for Williams and backup Craig Reynolds in Week 4. Detroit should thrive with their elite offensive line as they pick on Seattle’s undersized and under-talented run defense. There’s a solid chance Williams has an RB1 output this week and remains a top-six back until Swift returns.
One of the biggest potential boosts for fantasy managers would be giving Williams his usual target share. Swift has been targeted 12 times to Williams’ five. Will Williams inherit the primary receiving role with Reynolds stepping into Williams’ backup role?
We’re hoping so since his upside would shoot to the moon. It’s possible Reynolds gets a larger workload than we’re hoping and Williams simply takes over the starting job. While Williams would still be a great starter, he would lose some of the upside that could make him a season-changing pickup off the waiver wire.