Week 9 Waiver Wire (Fantasy Football)
We are finally rounding the corner to the second half of the season with just a handful of weeks until the playoffs. Yet again, we have more injuries to deal with and a bye week for the Bengals, Rams, Eagles, and Browns. Let’s dive into some options on the waiver wire to help you get a win in Week 9.
Remember to listen to the Fantasy Footballers Week 9 Waiver Wire episode for Andy, Mike, and Jason’s targets and who you can drop to make room. Also, check out some excellent companion pieces to help you make the best decision for your waiver targets like the Target Report, Injury Recap, and Snap Count Observations.
Editor’s Note: Click on any player name to open up their Player Profile!
WRs
Sterling Shepard, Giants (Rostered: ESPN 57% / Yahoo 43%)
@WSH, PHI, BYE, @CIN
Week 8 — 6/59/1 on 8 targets
Christian Kirk, Cardinals (Rostered: ESPN 51% / Yahoo 59%)
MIA, BUF, @SEA
Week 8 Bye
Week 7 vs SEA — 8 targets for 5/37/2
Mike Williams, Chargers (Rostered: ESPN 42% / Yahoo 53%)
LV, @MIA, NYJ
Week 8 @DEN — 8 targets for 5/99/1
Marvin Jones, Lions (Rostered: ESPN 54% / Yahoo 49%)
@MIN, WSH, @CAR
Week 8 vs IND — 7 targets for 3/39/2
Quintez Cephus, Lions (Rostered: ESPN 0% / Yahoo 0%)
@MIN, WSH, @CAR
Week 8 — healthy scratch
Allen Lazard, Packers (Rostered: ESPN 32% / Yahoo 34%)
@SF, JAX, @IND, CH
Out since Week 3
Could return from IR this week
Jalen Reagor, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 14% / Yahoo 24%)
BYE, @NYG, @CLE, SEA
Week 8 vs DAL — 6 targets for 3/16/1 — 1/6/0 rushing
Mecole Hardman, Chiefs (Rostered: ESPN 27% / Yahoo 30%)
CAR, BYE, @LV
Week 8 vs NYJ — 9 targets for 7/96/1
Henry Ruggs, Raiders (Rostered: ESPN 51% / Yahoo 48%)
@LAC, DEN, KC
Week 8 @CLE — 4 targets for 2/8/0
Tim Patrick, Broncos (Rostered: ESPN 17% / Yahoo 19%)
@ATL, @LV, MIA
Week 8 – Did not play
Russell Gage, Falcons (Rostered: ESPN 17% / Yahoo 13%)
DEN, BYE, @NO, LV
Week 8 @CAR — 3 targets for 2/25/0
Sterling Shepard, Christian Kirk, and Mike Williams may already be rostered in your league, but it’s worth checking your waiver wire, just in case. Now that Shepard is healthy, he is making an impact on offense catching six of his eight targets for 59 yards and a touchdown on Monday night. Kirk is finally building on his prior history with QB Kyler Murray, scoring two touchdowns in back-to-back games while defenses are preoccupied with WR DeAndre Hopkins. Williams is always a player that makes you reach for the Pepto Bismol every week, but he can come away with big games that win you weeks. He can give you a handful of receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown or more, or he can completely flop.
Lions WR Kenny Golladay is banged up again so it could be Marvin Jones‘ time if he isn’t traded. He scored two touchdowns against the staunch Colts defense and the Lions are no stranger to playing from behind. The game script will lean toward Jones seeing a heavy dose of targets if Golladay is sidelined.
RBs
Phillip Lindsay, Broncos (Rostered: ESPN 59% / Yahoo 65%)
@ATL, @LV, MIA
Week 8 vs LAC — 6/83/1 — 3 targets for 1/3/0
Gus Edwards, Ravens (Rostered: ESPN 5% / Yahoo 30%)
@IND, @NE, TEN
Week 8 vs PIT — 16/87/1 — 1 target, zero catches
J.K. Dobbins, Ravens (Rostered: ESPN 49% / Yahoo 68%)
@IND, @NE, TEN
Week 8 vs PIT — 15/113/0 — 2 targets for 1/8/0
Zack Moss, Bills (Rostered: ESPN 36% / Yahoo 54%)
SEA, @ARI, BYE, LAC
Week 8 vs NE — 14/81/2 — 1 target, zero catches
JaMycal Hasty, 49ers (Rostered: ESPN 46% / Yahoo 42%)
GB, @NO, BYE, @LAR
Week 8 @SEA — 12/29/1 — 1 target for 1/2/0 — 1 fumble
Damien Harris, Patriots (Rostered: ESPN 31% / Yahoo 47%)
@NYJ, BAL, @HOU
Week 8 @BUF — 16/102/1
Wayne Gallman, Giants (Rostered: ESPN 15% / Yahoo 24%)
@WSH, PHI, BYE, @CIN
Week 8 — 12/44/1 — 0 targets 0/0/0
Jordan Wilkins, Colts (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 2%)
BAL, @TEN, GB
Week 8 @DET — 20/89/1 — 1 target for 1/24/0
Nyheim Hines, Colts (Rostered ESPN 42% / Yahoo 29%)
BAL, @TEN, GB
Week 8 @DET — 5/8/0 — 5 targets for 3/54/2
DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks (Rostered: ESPN 12% / Yahoo 25%)
@BUF, @LAR, ARI
Week 8 vs SF — 18/41/1 — 5 targets for 5/17/1
Malcolm Brown, Rams (Rostered: ESPN 36% / Yahoo 31%)
BYE, SEA, @TB, SF
Week 8 @MIA — 10/40/0 — 2 targets for 2/17/0
Cam Akers, Rams (Rostered: ESPN 34% / Yahoo 31%)
BYE, SEA, @TB, SF
Week 8 @MIA — 9/35/0 — 1 target for 1/19/0
Latavius Murray, Saints (Rostered: ESPN 53% / Yahoo 62%)
@TB, SF, ATL, @DEN
Week 8 — 8/17/0 — 3 targets for 3/14/0
Tony Pollard, Cowboys (Rostered: ESPN 18% / Yahoo 19%)
PIT, BYE, @MIN, WSH
Week 8 @CHI — 8/17/0 — 3 targets for 3/14/0
Brian Hill, Falcons (Rostered: ESPN 7% / Yahoo 11%)
DEN, BYE, @NO
Week 8 @CAR — 11/55/0 — 3 targets for 2/9/0
It may seem like there are plenty of options on the waiver wire when it comes to running backs, but most of them are shots in the dark. I personally want nothing to do with the Ravens and the Rams backfield. There are too many question marks and no clear winner when it comes to volume.
DeeJay Dallas and JaMycal Hasty are the most intriguing names heading into Week 9. Dallas exploded in his workhorse role with Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde sidelined. He played nearly 80% of the offensive snaps with 18 rush attempts, 41 yards, and a rushing TD. He was also involved in QB Russell Wilson‘s high-flying passing game with five targets, five receptions, 17 yards, and a receiving TD. If Carson or Hyde cannot go in Week 9, Dallas will once again see the touches.
Hasty was the beneficiary of a very battered 49ers team. Tevin Coleman did start but exited early with a knee injury. That left Hasty with the volume. San Francisco will need any and all available pass-catchers down the stretch with QB Jimmy Garoppolo hurt and TE George Kittle likely out for the season. His rookie nerves showed with an early fumble, but he did end with a decent game of 12 rush attempts, 29 yards, and a touchdown. He will need to step up for the 49ers and is worth a shot on volume alone.
TEs
Dallas Goedert, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 62% / Yahoo 62%)
BYE, @NYG, @CLE, SEA
Week 8 vs DAL — 1 target for 1/15/0
Jordan Reed, 49ers (Rostered: ESPN 0% / Yahoo 0%)
GB, @NO, BYE, @LAR
COULD return for Week 9
Ross Dwelley, 49ers (Rostered: ESPN 0% / Yahoo 0%)
Week 8 @SEA — 4 targets for 1/16/1
Austin Hooper, Browns (Rostered: ESPN 46% / Yahoo 39%)
BYE, HOU, PHI, @JAX
Week 8 – Did not play
Logan Thomas, Washington (Rostered: ESPN 8% / Yahoo 21%)
NYG, @DET, CIN
Week 8 Bye
Week 7 vs DAL — 4 targets for 4/60/1
Eric Ebron, Steelers (Rostered: ESPN 51% / Yahoo 45%)
@DAL, CIN, @JAX
Week 8 — 5 targets for 4/48/1
Trey Burton, Colts (Rostered: ESPN 10% / Yahoo 22%)
BAL, @TEN, GB
Week 8 @DET — 4 targets for 3/9/0 — 1/2/1 rushing
Robert Tonyan, Packers (Rostered: ESPN 46% / Yahoo 65%)
@SF, JAX, @IND
Week 8 vs MIN — 7 targets for 5/79/0
If, for some odd reason, Dallas Goedert is still available, scoop him up immediately. He is rostered in 62% of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, so it’s unlikely.
It’s time to stop sleeping on Logan Thomas out of Washington. He has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games on four targets for at least 42 yards or more. He saw 14 and 15 yards per receptions in his last two games and QB Kyle Allen looks to Thomas to move the chains. He is rostered in only 8% of ESPN leagues and 21% of Yahoo leagues and is quietly bringing some light to the tight end landscape. Washington had a bye in Week 8 and your league mates may have forgotten about his production during his break.
Good luck in Week 9 and remember to listen to the Fantasy Footballers Week 9 Waiver Wire episode for QB and DST streamers. For a full article on D/ST streams, check out the series by our own Ryan Weisse.