This is the Waiver Wire Week 9! Which players should you be adding in your fantasy football leagues?
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Upcoming Bye Weeks
Week 9
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
Shallow League Adds (Players Rostered in 30-40% of Leagues)
QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (39%)
Stafford and the Rams are back. He passed for three TDs in Thursday’s win over Minnesota. (Would be a Top-10 Add if qualified)
TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (39%)
Henry has seen at least five targets for three straight weeks.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (37%)
Allgeier had 12 carries for 33 yards this week. He is not getting enough work to be a reliable flex option but offers some of the best contingent upside of any running back in the NFL. If Bijan Robinson were to miss time, Allgeier would be an RB1. (Would be a Top-10 Add if qualified)
RB Braelon Allen, New York Jets (37%)
Allen saw a significant uptick in usage on Sunday, with 12 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. If Breece Hall were to miss time, Allen would project as a top 12-15 RB. (Would be a Top-10 Add if qualified)
WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers (37%)
Pearsall is off to a solid, albeit unspectacular, start. Over his past two games, he has recorded seven catches and a 39-yard rush attempt. A bye week will provide him with an opportunity to become more acclimated. (Would be a Top-10 Add if qualified)
Standard Roster Size and Deep League Adds (Players Rostered in 30% of Leagues or Fewer)
Quarterbacks
QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (25%)
I should have been more aggressive in recommending him last week, and I won’t make that mistake again. From Weeks 5-8, Nix ranks as the QB3 overall. He took a major step forward as a passer this week — albeit against a soft defense — setting a career-high with three passing TDs. He has at least two TDs in three of his last four games.
QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (22%)
(Written before MNF)
Wilson had three TDs in Week 7. He is now a locked-in Superflex starter moving forward. The Steelers play the Giants this week, giving Wilson the chance to sweep both New York teams.
QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots (15%)
Maye appeared to suffer a concussion and was knocked out of Week 8’s win over the Jets. Before exiting, he scored on a Josh Allen-like scramble. Even if he misses this week, Maye remains an add for the rest of the season.
QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns (6%)
Winston was terrific in his debut start for the Browns, throwing three TDs and recording more yardage than Deshaun Watson did in any game during his Browns tenure.
QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants (12%)
Jones is a Superflex starter but not a viable option in single-QB leagues.
QB Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers (1%)
Willis is on the Superflex watchlist. If Jordan Love misses time due to a groin injury, Willis becomes an intriguing streamer. He rushed for 114 yards and a TD in two games earlier this season as Green Bay’s starter when Love was sidelined.
Running Backs
RB Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills (26%)
Davis is not a significant threat to James Cook‘s weekly workload, as initially thought, but he remains one of the top handcuff RBs in football. He recorded 150+ yards in Week 6 and scored a TD in Week 7.
RB Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (8%)
Guerendo had his best game as a pro in Week 8, taking over mid-game after Jordan Mason‘s shoulder injury flared up. The rookie finished with 85 yards, his first rushing TD, and a career-high three catches on four targets. Guerendo would be the top waiver wire add, but there is a strong chance Christian McCaffrey returns after San Francisco’s bye week.
RB Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (16%)
Benson would have significant value if James Conner were to miss time.
RB Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings (24%)
Chandler is the handcuff to Aaron Jones. He would only have value if an injury occurred.
RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (15%)
Kyren Williams is locked in as the lead back, but if he were to go down, Corum would immediately become a top-15 weekly play at the position.
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (25%)
I am contractually obligated to mention Zeke scoring a TD, or the AARP will stop sponsoring PlayerProfiler articles.
RB Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens (21%)
Hill offers contingent value if Derrick Henry were to miss time. If you roster Henry, handcuff him with Hill.
RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens (8%)
Mitchell is an upside stash and IR-eligible. If Henry were to go down, Mitchell would instantly challenge Hill for touches.
RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears (14%)
Johnson is the handcuff to D’Andre Swift in Chicago. While Swift dominates usage and production, Johnson has four rushing TDs this season.
RB Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12%)
Tucker was phased out this week as Rachaad White and Bucky Irving dominated touches. However, his incredible Week 6 (32.7 PPR points!) keeps him on this list as an upside stash.
RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers (11%)
J.K. Dobbins is playing well in an improving LA Chargers offense, with Vidal serving as the backup. If Dobbins were to miss time, Vidal would become a massive FAAB addition.
RB Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (5%)
Miller is a stash and the handcuff to Alvin Kamara.
RB Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans (5%)
Pierce is the handcuff to volume king Joe Mixon.
RB Chris Brooks, Green Bay Packers (0%)
Brooks has emerged as an interesting player, overtaking Emanuel Wilson as Green Bay’s No. 2 back. He offers size and speed and recorded five touches this week.
RB MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers (5%)
Lloyd should return soon. The 2024 third-round pick makes for a valuable upside stash.
RB Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers (2%)
Sanders has multiple paths to relevance. Either he or Chuba Hubbard could be traded, and he had seven targets this week —potentially by design with the trade deadline approaching. The Panthers may also choose to ease Jonathon Brooks into action if the season continues to deteriorate. Stash Sanders until the trade deadline, then consider dropping him.
RB Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins (7%)
With Miami’s offense back on track, Wright is a worthwhile stash.
Tight Ends
TE Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (28%)
Ertz has been consistent, with at least five targets in four straight games. He is one of Jayden Daniels‘ preferred targets and posted season highs with seven catches, 77 receiving yards, and 11 targets this week.
TE Tyler Conklin, New York Jets (19%)
Conklin has scored in back-to-back games. He is a depth TE or bye-week fill-in option, with four targets in each of the last two games.
TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (8%)
Gesicki’s top two performances this season have come in games without Tee Higgins. In Week 2, Gesicki caught seven passes for 91 yards. On Sunday, he recorded seven catches for 83 yards. With Higgins nursing a quad injury, Gesicki could be a viable lineup option if Higgins remains out.
TE Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins (6%)
Smith’s target share remained steady with Tua Tagovailoa back under center. He has seen at least six targets in three consecutive games, keeping him on the TE streaming radar. Smith is trending upward.
TE Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (30%)
Fant had a disappointing performance, even with DK Metcalf sidelined. He remains a low-end option, best suited as a bye-week fill-in at this point.
TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (3%)
Strange could be a valuable pickup for TE premium leagues. With the Jaguars likely leaning on 12 personnel due to WR issues, Evan Engram could shift to the slot, allowing Strange to serve as the in-line TE. He posted season highs with five catches for 59 yards on Sunday.
TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers (1%)
Sanders drew only one target, a significant letdown after receiving 11 targets over Weeks 6 and 7. He remains a speculative play only.
Wide Receivers
WR Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (19%)
Tillman is the top waiver wire add available this week. He caught two TDs on seven catches for 99 yards this week. Last week, he had eight catches for 81 yards. Tillman is fully stepping into the Amari Cooper role. Be aggressive with this one — Tillman was a Day 2 pick last year and looks the part of a player who could provide production for the rest of the season.
WR Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns (3%)
The less expensive option in Cleveland, Moore thrived in Winston’s first start. He was targeted 12 times and caught eight passes for 85 yards. Moore cracks the top 10 this week.
WR Demario Douglas, New England Patriots (31%)
Douglas may be cut in many leagues due to poor recent production, but he appears to be one of Maye’s preferred targets. Douglas has recorded three games with nine or more targets since Week 3.
WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (15%)
Legette caught a TD and was targeted seven times against the Broncos. His usage could increase over the second half of the season as Carolina looks to develop their first-round pick and expand his role in the offense. Additionally, Diontae Johnson could be traded.
WR Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (16%)
Wilson had five catches on six targets and scored a TD in Week 8. Arizona’s offense showed major signs of life in their win over Miami. Wilson now has 26 catches and three TDs this season.
WR Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (14%)
Palmer is trending up. He has caught six passes for 135 yards over the past two weeks. Currently, he’s a stash option for deep-leaguers.
WR Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowbos (21%)
Tolbert had another low-scoring performance, with CeeDee Lamb dominating the targets (17). Tolbert is a depth piece only for now and could be on shaky ground when Brandin Cooks returns.
WR Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams (9%)
Robinson is depth-only and TD-dependent, but he caught two touchdowns last week, so he’s worth mentioning.
WR Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13%)
Shepard was targeted five times on Sunday, catching three of them for minimal yardage. Jalen McMillan and Shepard led the Tampa Bay WR room in targets. He is a deep-league option only.
WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (4%)
A disappointing week for Franklin, but I want to monitor how he produces in Week 9.
WR Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (1%)
Coker is an intriguing prospect. He participated in the NFL Combine out of Holy Cross, which is no small feat. He has 68 or more receiving yards in three of the last four weeks. At 6’3″, he has size and caught a touchdown pass this week against the Broncos. If Diontae Johnson is traded, Coker will join Legette on the field and compete for targets.
WR Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars (1%)
With Christian Kirk done for the season, Brian Thomas Jr. banged up, and Gabriel Davis dealing with an injury, Jacksonville’s once-deep wide receiver room is now thin. Washington, a second-year WR from Penn State, looks poised to take on a full-time role. He caught four passes for 46 yards and played over 70-percent of the snaps this past week.
WR Kalif Raymond, Detroit Lions (1%)
Raymond is trending up. He scored two TDs on Sunday, one on a 90-yard punt return and another on a reception. He also scored a TD in Week 7. Dan Campbell singled Raymond out last week while discussing the loss of Jameson Williams. The Lions boast one of the best offenses in the league.
WR Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (1%)
Boutte had a career-high six targets, catching three for 46 yards while playing over 80-percent of the snaps. He has led New England WRs in snaps for three consecutive games. He’s a deep-league option.
WR John Metchie, Houston Texans (1%)
Metchie could see more work in Houston’s depleted receiving room. He caught three passes on four targets last week. A productive player at Alabama, Metchie could finally get his opportunity for extended playing time.
WR Xavier Hutchinson, Houston Texans (15%)
I mentioned Hutchinson when Nico Collins went down, but it didn’t pan out. With Stefon Diggs now dealing with an injury, Hutchinson might get a second chance.
Top 10 Overall Additions (Players Rostered in 30% of Leagues or Fewer)
1. WR Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
2. QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
3. RB Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers
4. QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots
5. WR Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns
6. RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
7. QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
8. TE Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
9. WR Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars
T10. TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
T10. RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
T10. WR Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
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