Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 9
Does Bye-pocalypse 2 have your team looking like a roster de Los Muertos? The Fantasy Footballers are here to rescue you with some quality fill-in options. These players have a very particular set of skills that can help bring you through the end of times (Week 9). You can listen to the full discussion on the podcast. If you are looking for a QB option, they are featured in the QB Streamers article.
Wide Receivers
Donte Moncrief @ GB (ESPN 60%, Yahoo 75%)
He may have been dropped in your league due to his lengthy injury, but Moncrief is back and played on 89.4% of his team’s Week 8 snaps. He has big upside with the injury to T.Y. Hilton.
Jamison Crowder on Bye (ESPN 45%, Yahoo 49%)
With 6 NFL teams on bye this week, it is going to be tough to stash a player who is on a bye. But Crowder is functioning as the top WR option in Washington.
Steve Smith Sr. vs PIT (ESPN 52%, Yahoo 54%)
Steve Smith Senor has a chance to return to action this week coming off his bye. You just can’t doubt this guy or he will tell you to get off his lawn with 80 yards and a TD.
Kendall Wright @ SD (ESPN 4%, Yahoo 6%)
Wright is the #1 WR on his team and is owned in less than 10% of leagues, that’s not right.
Sammie Coates @ BAL (ESPN 44%, Yahoo 42%)
I do not want Coates on any of my teams. I prefer my WRs to have hands, but there is upside here… I guess.
Corey Coleman vs DAL (ESPN 31%, Yahoo 42%)
The highly hyped rookie finally appears ready to make his return from his broken hand. I think this is worse news for Pryor owners than it is good news for Coleman.
Quincy Enunwa @ MIA (ESPN 57%, Yahoo 45%)
Defenses are daring Fitzpatrick to throw the ball to anyone not named Brandon Marshall. Enunwa made the Browns pay with 93 yards and a TD in Week 8.
J.J. Nelson on Bye (ESPN 1%, Yahoo 3%)
Skeletor has been named a starter in Arizona on their bye week (get it together, Michael Floyd). Nelson is a speedster who played on 92% of snaps in Week 8.
Mohamed Sanu Sr. @ TB (ESPN 47%, Yahoo 53%)
With Jacob Tamme, Julio Jones, and Tevin Coleman all dealing with injuries, Sanu can be the guy to step up in this offense.
Tyrell Williams vs TEN (ESPN 67%, Yahoo 67%)
In the last 4 weeks, Williams has 100+ yards in every game in which he did not play Denver. He has added value if Benjamin is forced to miss time with a knee injury.
Mike Wallace vs PIT (ESPN 68%, Yahoo 74%)
With ownership percentages this high, I assume Wallace is owned in all competitive leagues, but check to see if an owner was forced to drop him on his bye.
Running Backs
Charcandrick West vs JAX (ESPN 7%, Yahoo 8%)
The outlook for Jamaal Charles is bleak and Spencer Ware is in the concussion protocol. Charmander West should draw the start this week in Kansas City if you need a spot start.
Robert Kelley on Bye (ESPN 22.9%, Yahoo 35%)
Again, it is tough to roster a player who is on bye, but he will be cheaper to acquire this week than next.
Antone Smith vs ATL (ESPN 0.1%, Yahoo 1%)
Having played in Dirk Koetter’s system in Atlanta, Smith is the next disciple to step up with the Quiz Show expected to miss this Thursday’s game.
Dion Lewis @ BUF (ESPN 28%, Yahoo 33%)
James White hasn’t shown enough to hold off Dion Lewis for snaps when Lewis returns. Lewis is practicing this week, though the Patriots still have 2 weeks remaining before they must activate him.
Darren Sproles @ NYG (ESPN 60%, Yahoo 55%)
Sproles is operating as the number 1 RB in Philadelphia. Mathews, Barner, and Smallwood should be ashamed of themselves. Sproles is talented, but he is not well suited for the featured role he’s been getting.
Tim Hightower @ SF (ESPN 1.9%, Yahoo 5%)
Mark Ingram is in the dog house yet again in New Orleans, which opens the door for an RBBC with Hightower. Both may be worthy of a start this week against a San Francisco team that has no interest in playing defense.
Derrick Henry @ SF (ESPN 44%, Yahoo 48%)
Alfred Morris @ CLE (ESPN 16%, Yahoo 13%)
There must be a lot of owners out there who see this article and think “TLDNR” because if you are reading this, these RBs are already on your team.
Bilal Powell @ MIA (ESPN 48%, Yahoo 37%)
Powell is seeing enough work as the change of pace/pass catching RB in New York to have standalone value in leagues.
Mike Gillislee @ SEA (ESPN 58%, Yahoo 52%)
Plays Seattle and then goes on bye. This means that McCoy will likely return to the lineup before you feel comfortable starting Gillislee. More of a handcuff.
Duke Johnson Jr. vs DAL (ESPN 67%, Yahoo 66%)
These percentages tell me that he is owned in all PPR leagues. Duke could be a decent fill in if you are in a pinch in a standard league.
C.J. Prosise vs BUF (ESPN 8.1%, Yahoo 2%)
Showed some juice with limited touches in Week 8. Rawls is expected to miss at least one more week.
Tight Ends
Eric Ebron @ MIN (ESPN 28%, Yahoo 37%)
Ebron is one of the few TEs available who is not TD-dependent. He can rack up some decent yardage.
C.J. Fiedorowicz on Bye (ESPN 13%, Yahoo 15%)
C.J. Fedora hat guy is another player that will be tough to find space for this week. But when he returns you can be that hipster who “added Fiedorowicz before his bye”.
Dennis Pitta vs PIT (ESPN 48%, Yahoo 44%)
The workload for Pitta concerns me if Steve Smith returns to the lineup, especially with Harbaugh rededicating to the run.
Julius Thomas @ KC (ESPN 58%, Yahoo 65%)
TD or bust.
Cameron Brate vs ATL (ESPN 35%, Yahoo 41%)
Talented young player, with a talented young QB. Inconsistency will be there, but so is the upside.
Austin Hooper @ TB (ESPN 0.4%, Yahoo 1%)
Can you tell me how to get, how to get… into the end zone?
Defense/Special Teams
Dallas Cowboys vs CLE (ESPN 16.7%, Yahoo 14%)
Cleveland is still very pick-on-able, though they have been moving the ball on offense.
Carolina Panthers vs LA (ESPN 67.1%, Yahoo 74%)
Rivera’s squad is probably owned in most leagues, but you should check. They looked resurgent at home against Arizona.
Atlanta Falcons vs TB (ESPN 9.9%, Yahoo 9%)
New Orleans Saints vs SF (ESPN 0.5%, Yahoo 1%)
Atlanta and New Orleans are deep adds if you’re desperate.
Baltimore Ravens vs PIT (ESPN 46.1%, Yahoo 31%)
For those of you looking ahead, the Ravens get the Browns in Week 10 in addition to possibly facing the Steelers without Big Ben this week.