2024 NFL Fantasy Football waiver messaging: Green Bay’s response to Christian Watson’s injury and Josh Downs’ rise | NFL News

From Jordan Love’s defensive tackle in Green Bay to Lamar Jackson’s unsung offensive hero against the Baltimore Ravens, we’re taking a look at some of the NFL’s top fantasy football waiver targets ahead of week five of the 2024 season.

Ladd McConkey – WR, Los Angeles Chargers

• Week 4 points: 17.7

With the offseason departures of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler, Hollywood is starting an open hearing for a spot on Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh’s trustee group. Quentin Johnston got off to a strong start with three touchdowns in four games after being criticized in his rookie year, while Ladd McConkey followed up on Sunday with five catches for 67 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The introduction of offensive coordinator Greg Roman has made the Chargers focus more on creating a tempo-controlling running game that they lacked last year with his former Baltimore Ravens teammates JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards. The idea is that this opens up the field more for young forward Herbert, where second-round rookie McConkey hopes to play a significant role.

Xavier Legette – WR, Carolina Panthers

• Week 4 points: 19.6

There are, albeit small, signs of life for the Carolina Panthers and Dave Canales as they continue to live behind veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, who took over from benched Bryce Young in Week 3. Adam Thielen is sidelined with an injury and Carolina’s receiving opportunities are slim compared to the offenses surrounding them, but one of the final positives Sunday was the performance of Xavier Legette.

The first-round rookie had six catches on 10 targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, followed by two catches for 42 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders last week. He is becoming a rare spark in an offense that has been unable to move the ball in the first two weeks, and his role will increase as the season continues.

Justice Hill – RB, Baltimore Ravens

• Week 4 points: 21.6

Justice Hill ranks pretty high on the list of the NFL’s most underrated and underrated weapons. Derrick Henry headlined the game in Baltimore after another bruising display on Sunday night, when he ran for 199 yards and a touchdown to lead the Ravens to a 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills, but his dominance led to a team-high scoring performance. six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown for Hill as one of Todd Monken’s most versatile chess pieces on offense.

He has become something of a perfect complement to Henry’s power, maintaining his speed despite being set back by an Achilles injury in 2021. Lamar Jackson’s wide range of options leaves some doubt as to who will be feasting on this Ravens team on any given week, but Hill has proven to be a significant two-way threat in the backfield.

Josh Downs – WR, Indianapolis Colts

• Week 4 points: 22.2

Josh Downs has some of the fastest feet in the game. A devastating double play set him free for a four-yard touchdown Sunday as the Indianapolis Colts beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-24, during which Downs had eight catches for 82 yards and a score. He’s starting to establish himself as one of the smartest route runners and most effective pass rushers in the league, and his return from injury has added a new dimension to the Colts alongside Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce.

Downs had 68 catches for 771 yards and two touchdowns with Gardner Minshew in his rookie season before suffering a sprained ankle in training camp that delayed his season start. On Sunday, he looked as if he was free to jump off the pick, restoring his threat against men and as a trusted operator for Shane Steichen underneath.

Wan’Dale Robinson – WR, New York Giants

• Fourth week points: 18.1

Malik Nabers is New York’s player of the moment, a first-round pick who has already blossomed into one of the NFL’s most explosive and productive young wide receivers, looking to ignite the Giants’ offense. Opposite him, Wan’Dale Robinson is on pace to have a career year after catching 26 balls for 194 yards and a touchdown in four games in 2024.

His 38 targets are bettered only by Nabers (52), including 14, who caught 11 catches for 71 yards in Thursday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Robinson came out of college with a reputation as an off-the-catch threat and an elusive mover with whom to stretch defenses horizontally, and as teams devote more resources to thwarting Nabers, his production increases.

Dontayvion Wicks – WR, Green Bay Packers

• Week 4 points: 24.8

Christian Watson’s injury will certainly add more responsibility to Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who has clearly gained the approval of his quarterback Jordan Love since entering the league with a fifth-round pick in 2023. Wicks had a team-high five catches on 13 targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay’s 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, in which he played on 76% of snaps, a nod to his broader role in the coming weeks. Wicks recorded 39 catches for 581 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie campaign, and his size, speed and ability to separate the ball earned him more opportunities to play alongside the likes of Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed.

Week five begins on Thursday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Atlanta Falcons at 1:15 live on Sky Sports NFL in the early hours of Friday; Also stream with NOW.

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