Fantasy Football: Week 9 Waiver Wire
We’re at midseason and now it’s time to look to Week 9 and most importantly, which players you should potentially look to scoop up in your league. For the full breakdown listen to today’s Week 9 Waiver Wire podcast or jump straight to the waivers on YouTube.
Wide Receivers
PIT JuJu Smith-Schuster (49% owned)
Week 8: 7/193/1 on 10 targets
Remaining Schedule: Bye, @Ind, Ten, GB, @Cin, Bal, NE, @Hou, Cle
JuJu Smith-Schuster had been gaining more and more playing time as the season progressed and it paid off in a big way last week. His ownership in fantasy leagues has been increasing as well and after his performance in Week 8, he’ll be close to 100% owned. If you want him, expect to spend a bulk of your FAAB to get him. You may get lucky as his bye week is this week and may turn some of your league mates off to him as they may need to fill the position Week 9.
SEA Paul Richardson (31% owned)
Week 8: 6/105/2 on 7 targets
Remaining Schedule: Was, @Ari, Atl, @SF, Phi, @Jax, LAR, @Dal, Ari
Richardson has been a top target for Wilson this season but has not been able to convert many of them to receptions. That changed last week as he hauled in a season-high 6 receptions for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns. Richardson leads all Seattle wide receivers with 5 receptions on 7 red zone targets and 4 touchdowns on the season. He may not have a safe floor but his upside is worth a roster spot as the Seahawks should see enough red zone opportunities to give Richardson decent value.
SEA Tyler Lockett (39% owned)
Week 8: 6/121/0 on 8 targets
Remaining Schedule: Was, @Ari, Atl, @SF, Phi, @Jax, LAR, @Dal, Ari
Lockett has 3 more targets and 4 more receptions than Richardson but has yet to score a touchdown on the season. Given the red zone target difference and execution, Richardson is the better option of the two Seattle wide receivers.
LAR Cooper Kupp (42% owned)
Week 8: Bye
Remaining Schedule: @NYG, Hou, @Min, NO, @Ari, Phi, @Sea, @Ten, SF
Cooper Kupp has been the most productive wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams. He is just 2 targets behind the target leader, Robert Woods, through Week 7. Kupp leads the Rams receivers with 3 touchdowns on the season. A big reason for that is because Cooper Kupp has been targeted a team-high 13 times in the red zone. That’s 10 more targets than the next wide receiver on the team. It’s clear, Jared Goff trusts Kupp most on this team and you should as well. Coming off the bye week, he’ll be someone you’ll want to insert into your lineup this week.
NO Ted Ginn (72% owned)
Week 7: 2/68/0 on 4 targets
Remaining Schedule: TB, @Buf, Was, @LAR, Car, @Atl, NYJ, Atl, @TB
Ted Ginn has been the number 2 wide receiver for Drew Brees and will likely continue to be given the questionable status of Willie Snead. Ginn has 275 receiving yards and a touchdown in his last 3 games. You’ll want to own a top 2 target for Drew Brees down the stretch. Ginn is owned in the majority of leagues but if he is on your waivers, try your best to add him.
NYJ Robby Anderson (28% owned)
Week 8: 6/104/1 on 6 targets
Remaining Schedule: Buf, @TB, Bye, Car, KC, @Den, @NO, LAC, @NE
Robby Anderson is the number one wide receiver on a team that will see plenty of negative game scripts which spells more opportunities. Anderson had his best game of the season last week and has been productive in the past 3 weeks. He is a risky play as his floor is low but could provide you with a boom week here and there. He’s nothing more than a bye-week fill-in or flex option.
Al Bello/Getty Images
WAS Jamison Crowder (61% owned)
Week 8: 9/123/0 on 13 targets
Remaining Schedule: @Sea, Min, @NO, NYG, @Dal, @LAC, Ari, Den, @NYG
Jamison Crowder had his best game of the season in Week 8. He was targeted (13) more last week than he was in the previous 3 weeks combined. We all knew Crowder was capable of these games and expected more heading into this season. He is still owned in the majority of leagues but if he is available to you, make a run for him as his upside is greater than most on waivers with Kirk Cousins throwing to him. Doctson came back down to earth as a result of Crowder showing up. Crowder is the WR to own here as he already has more chemistry with Cousins.
WAS Josh Doctson (42% owned)
Week 8: 1/1/1 on 3 targets
Remaining Schedule: @Sea, Min, @NO, NYG, @Dal, @LAC, Ari, Den, @NYG
See Jamison Crowder above.
ATL Mohamed Sanu (64% owned)
Week 8: 6/74/1 on 7 targets
Remaining Schedule: @Car, Dal, @Sea, TB, Min, NO, @TB, @NO, Car
Sanu is the clear number two wide receiver in the Atlanta Falcons offense. He has 12 more targets than Taylor Gabriel in 1 fewer game. He is the only Falcons wide receiver with multiple touchdowns on the season. The offense as a whole has struggled but that shouldn’t scare you off Mohamed Sanu as he provides a safe floor when healthy. This offense will find its way and Sanu will be a benefactor.
NYG Sterling Shepard (57% owned)
Week 8 Bye
Remaining Schedule: LAR, @SF, KC, @Was, @Oak, Dal, Phi, @Ari, Was
Coming off a bye, Sterling Shepard heads into Week 9 as the only viable option at wide receiver for Eli Manning. His 57% ownership is surprisingly low given his situation but his bye week last week could be the reason. He is a must-own in all formats as he should be an every week starter on your roster going forward.
Running Backs
BAL Alex Collins (34% owned)
Week 8: 18/113/0 — 2/30/0 on 2 targets
Remaining Schedule: @Ten, Bye, @GB, Hou, Det, @Pit, @Cle, Ind, Cin
The most productive running back on the Ravens, Alex Collins should see an increased workload after his performance last week. He has more than 100 rushing yards than Javorius Allen. He has double-digit carries in each of the last 4 games including his season-high 18 in Week 8. Collins could be a solid option at running back as the position is scarce. Only 34% owned he is worth the pickup and roster spot. If you don’t need the running back depth, he could be a good piece in a trade package.
Todd Olszewski/Getty Images
IND Marlon Mack (45% owned)
Week 8: 11/27/0 — 3/36/1 on 5 targets
Remaining Schedule: @Hou, Pit, Bye, Ten, @Jax, @Buf, Den, @Bal, Hou
If you can afford a stash, Marlon Mack could pay off big in the second half of the fantasy season. Rumors of a Frank Gore trade could be what the offense needs to finally feature the best running back on the team in a much bigger capacity. Up until this point, Gore has been the workhorse and has not done anything to wow fantasy owners. Marlon Mack had his season-high in carries last week with 11. He had a dismal 27 rushing yards, however, he was also involved in the passing game as he caught 3 targets for 36 yards and a touchdown. Stash him and hope either Gore gets traded or the Colts smarten up and give the bulk of carries to the rookie.
DAL Darren McFadden (36% owned)
Week 8: DNP
Remaining Schedule: KC, @Atl, Phi, LAC, Was, @NYG, @Oak, Sea
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’d rather not deal with the headache of a backfield in Dallas. Whether it’s McFadden or Morris, you will not get anything close to Elliott production. There are better options on waivers than either one of these players. McFadden is 30 years old and has not seen the field this year and Morris has 13 carries on the season and is not a reliable every down back. Rod Smith showed some promise a couple of weeks ago against the 49ers with 8 carries for 61 yards but that was due to game script as the Cowboys blew out the 49ers in that game. This will be a full-blown RBBC situation and not a very good one. It will be easiest to obtain Smith of the 3 backs so maybe target him with the hopes he emerges here.
DAL Alfred Morris (8% owned)
Week 8: 3/3/0
Remaining Schedule: KC, @Atl, Phi, LAC, Was, @NYG, @Oak, Sea
See Darren McFadden above.
DAL Rod Smith (1% owned)
Week 8: DNP
Remaining Schedule: KC, @Atl, Phi, LAC, Was, @NYG, @Oak, Sea
See Darren McFadden above.
NE Rex Burkhead (8% owned)
Week 8: 4/15/0 — 7/68/0 on 7 targets
Remaining Schedule: Bye, @Den, @Oak, Mia, @Buf, @Mia, @Pit, Buf, NYJ
Prior to Week 7, Rex Burkhead had missed the previous 4 weeks with a rib injury. Since returning, he has 10 carries for 48 yards and 8 receptions for 79 yards in the last 2 weeks. Burkhead has looked explosive when on the field but given the carousel at running back for the Patriots, he isn’t a trustworthy option in 12 team leagues.
PHI Corey Clement (1% owned)
Week 8: 10/54/0
Remaining Schedule: Den, Bye, @Dal, Chi, @Sea, @LAR, @NYG, Oak, Dal
Corey Clement had 10 carries for the second time this season in Week 8 but it was clearly based on game script. The Eagles had a decent lead for the majority of the game which led to more run plays than normal. The last time Clement had 10 carries was in Week 4 and that was followed up with 7,2, and 1 carries in the next 3 games. I wouldn’t buy into his usage last week as a sign for an increase in work moving forward. I’d keep him on waivers or let someone else chase last week’s numbers.
*Update – With the addition of Jay Ajayi, this all but eliminates and fantasy relevance for Clement.
MIA Damien Williams (1% owned)
Week 8: DNP
Remaining Schedule: Oak, @Car, TB, @NE, DEN, NE, @Buf, @KC
After the Dolphins shockingly gave up Jay Ajayi today, the running back situation is a giant question mark. I would expect both Williams and Drake to split the workload until one emerges as the clear back. I don’t expect that to happen. I see Williams as the early-down back and Drake as the third down, change of pace back for the foreseeable future. This could be a “hot hand” situation for the rest of the season. I’d give this time before you react to it unless you are desperate.
MIA Kenyan Drake (1% owned)
Week 8: 6/22/0
Remaining Schedule: Oak, @Car, TB, @NE, DEN, NE, @Buf, @KC
See Damien Williams above.
NYG Orleans Darkwa (47% owned)
Week 8 Bye
Remaining Schedule: LAR, @SF, KC, @Was, @Oak, Dal, Phi, @Ari, Was
Now passed his bye week, Orleans Darkwa can continue as the lead back in the Giants offense. He has already shown with volume he can be an effective fantasy option. Darkwa is worth a spot on your roster as a bye-week fill-in or a flex option.
Tight-Ends
IND Jack Doyle (51% owned)
Week 8: 12/121/1 on 14 targets
Remaining Schedule: @Hou, Pit, Bye, Ten, @Jax, @Buf, Den, @Bal, Hou
Jack Doyle is the reception leader in the Colts offense. Given the scarcity in the position, Doyle is a must own as he has more target opportunities than the majority of tight ends. Doyle has 42 receptions on the season which ranks 2nd behind Zach Ertz who has just one more reception. He has 32 receptions in the last 3 games and you can anticipate his target volume to continue as Jacoby Brissett has himself a favorite target and it’s not T.Y. Hilton.
WAS Vernon Davis (12% owned)
Week 8: 2/20/0 on 4 targets
Remaining Schedule: @Sea, Min, @NO, NYG, @Dal, @LAC, Ari, Den, @NYG
Jordan Reed will likely miss Week 9 giving more value to Vernon Davis who up until last week has been very effective even with Reed on the field. If you are struggling at the tight end position or streaming, Vernon Davis is a decent option this week and could provide a solid floor moving forward.