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- Week 9 Waiver Targets
By: Mike Johnson (@mjohnson_86)
These are the top players to consider adding from waivers this week. Unless otherwise noted, all players below are available in greater than 50% of Yahoo leagues (as of Sunday evening).
Week 9 teams on bye: 49ers, Steelers
QB Pickup of the Week
Matthew Stafford, LAR, Week 9 at SEA
Why: Stafford has his “Big 3” back intact with Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams all healthy for the first time this season. Coming off a four-TD game, Stafford gets a matchup with the Seahawks defense that just got shredded by the Bills and has had a “mini-bye” after playing last Thursday.
Priority: Low-to-mid priority, depending on your QB situation, matchup, and roster composition.
FAAB: 3-5%
RB Pickups
Isaac Guerendo, SF, Week 9 vs BYE
Why: Guerendo stepped in for Jordan Mason when the latter left with an injury on Sunday night. Mason has now had to leave multiple games due to the same shoulder injury, suggesting there could be a more serious issue that needs surgery or an extended absence. We still have no idea exactly when CMC will return or what his usage will be in the first couple of weeks back, making Guerendo a potential week winner if he gets a stint as the lead RB for the 49ers’ dominant rushing attack.
Priority: Medium-priority add. Especially appealing for teams who can handle him missing next week and/or have one of Mason or CMC.
FAAB: 3-5%
Tyler Allgeier, ATL, Week 9 vs DAL
Why: The Falcons have one of the top rushing offenses in the league and continue to give Allgeier touches, as he has averaged 11 touches per game over the past five weeks. This week he faces a very beatable Dallas run defense in a game that could be like Week 6 against Carolina when both Allgeier and Bijan Robinson had big games.
Priority: Low-priority add. Teams with dicey RB situations or bad matchups for their borderline starters may want to add Allgeier to take advantage of this matchup.
FAAB: 3-5%
Some additional lower-priority RB adds to consider:
Blake Corum (LAR) - Corum has clearly taken over the backup RB job for the Rams, and with Kupp and Nacua back, this offense is likely to start rolling. Corum is an immediate RB1 if Kyren Williams ever goes down.
Justice Hill (BAL) - The Ravens’ backfield usage is very much driven by game script, and with their defensive struggles recently, there is reason to believe they may be trailing more going forward, which would give Hill a path to some big games.
WR Pickups
Cedric Tillman, CLE, Week 9 vs LAC
Why: Tillman proved his Week 7 production was no fluke as he led the Browns’ offense and caught the game-winning pass in Jameis Winston’s first start. Tillman caught seven passes for 99 yards and two TDs, and nothing about the performance seemed like a fluke for the young and talented receiver who is finally seeing significant and consistent playing time.
Priority: HIGH-PRIORITY ADD
FAAB: 18-25%
Ricky Pearsall, SF, Week 9 vs BYE
Why: The talented first-round rookie stepped in as a starter for Brandon Aiyuk in his second career game on Sunday and was schemed touches and displayed the speed and athleticism that got him selected so highly. The 49ers have a bye week coming up, but Pearsall should be a big part of a very good offense going forward.
Priority: Low-priority add. Due to the incoming bye week and Pearsall’s “fine, not great” stat line in Week 8 there is a decent chance he isn’t picked up by anyone else or that you can get him with a very small bid.
FAAB: 2-3%
John Metchie, HOU, Week 9 at NYJ (Thu)
Why: The Texans are still missing Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs departed Sunday with an apparent leg injury of unknown severity. Metchie is a young and talented player who may get a big opportunity with a very good QB. He was targeted four times on Sunday despite running only nine routes, an insane rate.
Priority: Low-to-medium priority add, depending on team needs at the WR position and updates on Diggs injury situation.
FAAB: 5-7%
Some additional lower-priority WR adds to consider:
Elijah Moore (CLE) - Moore did not have the massive game that his teammate Tillman had, but he was targeted 12 times and had a very clear role on the team. Should be a PPR dream with upside given his talent profile.
Parker Washington (JAX) - Christian Kirk is out for the season and Brian Thomas Jr. also picked up a chest injury on Sunday. Washington led the Jaguars in snaps and routes and performed well with his opportunities in 2023.
Alec Pierce (IND) - Pierce continues to see a ton of playing time but his production has fallen off with Anthony Richardson at QB. The Colts may be going back to Joe Flacco, however, which would give Pierce his huge weekly ceiling back.
TE Pickups
Jonnu Smith, MIA, Week 9 at BUF
Why: Jonnu was targeted six times by Tua Tagovailoa and ran a route on 75% of the team’s dropbacks. A talented player in a good offense, Smith faces a Buffalo defense this week that limits downfield and perimeter passing, which may funnel things towards him again.
Priority: Low-priority add
FAAB: 2-3%
Mike Gesicki, CIN, Week 9 vs LVR
Why: Tee Higgins has missed three games this season. In those games, Gesicki averages seven targets per game and has been very productive. Higgins is in a contract year and the Bengals have a bye in Week 12, so it wouldn’t be shocking for him to shut it down for a couple of weeks and come back fully healthy after the bye. Gesicki has essentially operated as the No. 2 receiving option for the Bengals when Higgins has been out.
Priority: Low-priority add, higher if we get news on the severity of Higgins’ injury situation.
FAAB: 2-3%
Some additional lower-priority TE adds to consider:
Zach Ertz (WAS) - Has scored double digit PPR points in three straight games.
Noah Fant (SEA) - Has had some strong games recently and DK Metcalf may sit out this week against a beatable Rams secondary before Seattle’s Week 10 bye.
DEFENSE (Top pickups for Week 9)
Saints (at Panthers)
Commanders (at Giants)
Bengals (vs. Raiders)