Fantasy Football: Week 9 Watch List Candidates

Scouring the waiver wire can be a daunting and time-consuming task due to the sheer amount of talent that is usually available in a league each and every week. The purpose of this article is to identify players who should be put on watch lists, so that fantasy owners can be proactive and aware of potential free agent gems over the course of the 2018 regular season. Keep in mind that the names listed below are owned in a small percentage of leagues, but nonetheless offer statistical upside and therefore warrant our attention. The last edition of this article included names like Tre’Quan Smith and Jalen Richard. Now, let’s look ahead to Week 9 and players to watch for.

DeVante Parker (36% Owned)

On the verge of being written off by fantasy owners, DeVante Parker emerged in Week 8 to the tune of 6 receptions for a career-high 134 yards on 9 targets. In the process, the Louisville product salvaged his job security with the Miami Dolphins amidst constant trade speculation. That also landed him on the Week 9 Waivers episode. Parker now finds himself as a premier option on offense for Adam Gase, and is worth a speculative add for those in need of wide receiver depth. DeVante only has 8 catches for 174 yards on the 2018 season, but he should remain in the WR3 mix with Albert Wilson on injured reserve.

Devontae Booker (15% Owned)

Make no mistake, Phillip Lindsay is the running back to own in Denver for fantasy purposes. Even so, Devontae Booker was tasked with an increased workload this past week and he delivered with 13 offensive touches for 101 yards from scrimmage. Royce Freeman being sidelined with a high-ankle sprain allowed Booked to flourish, and that trend should continue for as long as the rookie out of Oregon is forced to miss time. Booker is worth adding as a short-term option at tailback in PPR leagues.

Anthony Miller (10% Owned)

With Allen Robinson out of the picture in Week 8, Anthony Miller delivered his best rookie performance to date with a 3-37-1 receiving line. He now has three touchdowns for the season and is emerging as one of Mitchell Trubisky’s favorite weapons with 18 targets over the past three weeks. The talented 24-year-old out of Memphis should be placed on watch lists, if not added in most formats due to his upside. Miller now has at least 35 yards receiving in three of his past four games, and should continue to see his role expand in the second half of the 2018 campaign for Chicago.

Danny Amendola (48% Owned)

Surprisingly, Danny Amendola ranks as the PPR WR12 since Week 6 with a 19-186-1 receiving line. Over that span, he has seen 24 targets directed towards him as a focal point of Miami’s aerial attack. He even managed to throw a 28-yard passing touchdown last week! Amendola warrants a roster spot in most leagues, especially with more bye weeks on the horizon. He is also a player to watch instead of confidently start, as his production could fluctuate if Kenny Stills is able to return from a groin injury this week.

Doug Martin (56% Owned)

It’s difficult to place a substantial level of trust in Doug Martin, but volume is king in fantasy football. The often-unreliable running back ran for 72 yards last week as a replacement for Marshawn Lynch, which firmly places him on the fantasy radar from a workload perspective. Now 29 years old, Martin is a shell of his former self in terms of talent. Regardless, his output should be monitored closely alongside Jalen Richard in Oakland’s backfield for the remainder of the season. This past Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers, Martin received 12 touches and manufactured them into 69 yards from scrimmage. At this point, he appears to be the safest bet for volume on the Raiders.