Week 9 Waiver Targets

By :: Tony Kneepkens (@tonytk44)

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). Priorities and FAAB recommendations are meant to differentiate between some of the options available and are assuming 12-team, single-QB, fantasy formats.

Week 9 teams on bye: Buccaneers, Browns, Eagles, Jets

Roster/bench management feel a little easier this week with four teams on bye compared to the six from last week. Even so, I don’t see as many widely available spot starting options to be picked up this week, either. Another significant RB injury opens up a high-priority, spend-all-the-FAAB waiver recommendation and beyond the top of the market, there are several more RB options to consider for spot starts or longer stashes. I only have two medium-priority recommendations, or higher, who aren’t RBs this week.

QB Pickups

J.J. McCarthy, MIN, Week 9 at DET

• Carson Wentz is set for season-ending shoulder surgery and JJM is rumored to be set to return from his ankle injury this week on the road in Detroit. McCarthy still has everything going for him that made him a fantasy sleeper before the season, including an elite coach/playcaller and one of the top WR duos in the NFL to throw to.

• Low-priority add. The waiver wire is pretty thin at QB and the four starting QBs on bye include an elite QB option and two more who have been in starting consideration for much of this fantasy season. McCarthy is my favorite widely available QB for both an immediate spot start and as a longer-term stash.

• 5% or less of FAAB.

Other QB spot-start options ::

• Sam Darnold (SEA) - Seattle is coming off of its bye and plays on the road against a Washington team on a short week off of MNF.

• Trevor Lawrence (JAX) - The Jags are favored on the road against the Raiders in a game that both teams are coming into off of their bye.

RB Pickups

Tyrone Tracy, NYG, Week 9 vs SF

• Tracy is slated to take control of the Giants’ RB room after teammate Cam Skattebo’s season-ending ankle injury. He has 19 carries for an 85-1 rushing line over the past two weeks and added two receptions for 14 yards in last week’s game.

• High-priority add. Any RB with a clear path to lead-back duties could be considered a priority, but I’m especially interested in Tracy playing for this version of the NYG offense that Jaxson Dart has brought some life to. Tyrone showed just last year (1,100 scrimmage yards, 38 receptions) that he has the skill set to thrive in a more featured RB role when called upon.

• 100% of FAAB.

Tyjae Spears, TEN, Week 9 vs LAC

• Spears out-gained Tony Pollard 82-53 last week in a game each back saw a dozen touches in. Spears has touch counts of nine, eight, and 12 over his last three games and 172 scrimmage yards and a TD to show for his efforts.

• Medium-priority add. Even on a terrible Titans’ offense, Spears belongs on fantasy rosters, especially in PPR formats. He has enough standalone value to be used as a Flex option if you have to, and he could increase in value down the stretch by taking more work from Pollard and/or the Titans offense improving as a whole.

• 10 - 20% of FAAB.

Tank Bigsby, PHI, Week 9 - bye

• Bigsby rushed nine times for 104 yards spelling Saquon Barkley after he left with a groin injury and appeared to be the preferred option to Will Shipley among the Eagles backup RBs. Barkley claimed to be “fine” after the game, and it is possible he could/would have returned if the score had been closer.

• Medium-priority add. If we are to believe Saquon, this might be too aggressive for a player who is only probably the best handcuff back and on a team heading to their bye. I wanted to list Bigsby as a bit of a priority though, especially for managers who roster Barkley, as the Eagles next game is Week 10 on Monday Night Football, and you’ll want to have your bases covered for the chance that Saquon winds up as a game-time decision.

• 5 - 15% of FAAB.

Bam Knight, AZ, Week 9 at DAL

• Trey Benson remains on IR and other Cardinals RBs remain widely available on waivers coming out of the team’s Week 8 bye. Knight saw 25 carries and six targets in the two games before the bye, seeing a larger share of the RB work than the just-released Michael Carter in both games.

• Low-to-medium priority add. Knight is usable this week as the likely lead RB against a generous Dallas defense. It’s also entirely possible Benson isn’t cleared at his first opportunity, and if Knight shows well this week, it could keep him in the mix even after Benson’s return.

• 10% or less of FAAB.

Some additional RBs to consider for Week 9 spot starts ::

• Ollie Gordon II (MIA) - Had 10-46 rushing and caught a 20-yard TD last week playing several snaps while sharing the field with superstar De’Von Achane, who led the Phins in carries (18) and targets (seven). I believe both backs will remain involved in the game plan this week at home against the Ravens on TNF.

• Kyle Monangai (CHI) - Has seen 20 carries the past two weeks to D’Andre Swift’s 30. Both backs should have ample opportunities playing on the road against the Bengals in a game with an early implied point total of 52.0.

• Michael Carter (AZ) - Saw 16 carries and seven targets in the two games before the bye playing a complementary role to Knight, but was released Monday, with reports indicating he may be brought back within a few days. If he’s back on the roster and active in Week 9, he’s also usable this week in deeper PPR formats on the road in Dallas.

Some additional lower-priority RBs to consider ::

• Isaiah Davis (NYJ) - Had 109 scrimmage yards in the Jets win over the Bengals last week and has been a solid complement to Breece Hall since Braelon Allen landed on IR. The Jets are on bye this week.

• Dylan Sampson (CLE) - Rushed three times for zero yards and caught five of six targets for 29 yards playing additional snaps after Quinshon Judkins left with a shoulder injury. The Browns are another team on bye.

• Emanuel Wilson (GB) - Was second among all Packers with 87 scrimmage yards in their SNF win over the Steelers. An injury-away RB option on a good offense behind a veteran RB.

• Tyler Allgeier (ATL) - Scored his fourth rushing TD in seven games in last week’s loss to the Dolphins.

• Brian Robinson (SF) - Top handcuff to CMC.

• Blake Corum (LAR) - Top handcuff to Kyren Williams.

• Jaydon Blue (DAL) - Top handcuff to Javonte Williams.

• Devin Neal (NO) - Played a complementary role to Alvin Kamara last week. He saw no carries and had more targets (three) than Kamara (two). I’m hoping, for both backs’ sake, that usage is adjusted moving forward.

WR Pickups

Kayshon Boutte, NE, Week 9 vs ATL

• Boutte caught another deep TD pass from Drake Maye last week. He’s up to 10-223-4 on a dozen targets over the Pats’ last three games.

• Medium-priority add. The matchup against the Falcons is fine but Boutte remains my favorite long-term add at the WR position. I believe the Drake Maye breakout season will continue and Boutte will be along for the ride.

• 10 - 20% of FAAB.

Troy Franklin, DEN, Week 9 at HOU 

• Franklin was fantasy WR1 for the week through Sunday, smashing the hapless Dallas defense for a 6-89-2 performance in their comfortable victory. He’s had 18 targets and scored three TDs over the Broncos last two games.

• Medium-priority add. Franklin’s long-standing chemistry with QB Bo Nix is hard to ignore. They won’t get any more shots at the Dallas defense this year but my money would be on Franklin continuing to feature in Denver’s passing game alongside Courtland Sutton moving forward, which would equate to more fantasy-relevant weeks down the stretch.

• 10 - 20% of FAAB.

Christian Watson, GB, Week 9 vs CAR

• Watson returned from last season’s ACL tear to complicate the Packers’ pass-catching options behind breakout fantasy and real-life star TE Tucker Kraft. The speedy Watson led GB WRs with four catches and 85 receiving yards in his return.

• Low-to-medium priority add. Watson brings a unique size-and-speed combination, even among the freaky group that is NFL WRs. He will fight with Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, and Dontayvion Wicks for WR snaps and targets before Jayden Reed’s eventual return to further complicate matters.

• 10% or less of FAAB.

Some additional WR adds to consider ::

• Chimere Dike/Elic Ayomanor (TEN) - The Titans’ pair of rookie fourth-round WRs each saw eight targets last week and combined to catch half of Cam Ward’s completions (11 of 22) and more than half of his yards (145 of 259).

• Alec Pierce (IND) - Caught two passes for 69 yards last week. The big-play threat has topped 60 yards in four of his six appearances this year but hasn’t found the end zone yet.

• Tre Tucker (LV) - Tucker leads the Raiders in catches, receiving yards and receiving TDs this year. The team brought in Tyler Lockett but is rumored to be shopping Jakobi Meyers before the trade deadline as well.

TE Pickups

Harold Fannin Jr., CLE, Week 9 - bye

• Fannin leads the Browns in all major receiving categories this season and continued the trend with 6-62-1 last week. The Browns are featuring Fannin and veteran David Njoku (4-37-1) in unique roles independent of each other.

• Low-priority add. Both of my favorite widely available TE options to consider this week are on bye. I think Fannin can be considered a borderline TE starter in PPR formats after the bye week.

• 5% or less of FAAB.

Some additional lower-priority TE adds to consider ::

• Mason Taylor (NYJ) - Another rookie TE headed to his bye week. Another rookie TE who I believe will be featured for his team in the second half of the season.

• Isaiah Likely (BAL) - Hasn’t done much yet this year in his limited action, but  this is a bet on Lamar Jackson’s return and more passing volume and efficiency to go around.

DEFENSE (Top pickups for Week 9)

1. Rams (home vs Saints) worthy of ~$5 FAAB as a spot starter

2. 49ers (at Giants)

3. Jaguars (at Raiders)