Waiver Wire Pickups Week 9

Week nine is approaching, so if your team is riding the Brady train, it will have to come to a brief stop. That’s because New England, along with five other teams, are on a bye. Those other teams are Washington, Chicago, Cincinnati, New England, Arizona, and Houston. So studs like A.J. Green, David Johnson, and Rob Gronkowski will have to take their spot on the bench while owners give those bench warmers their chance to shine. But if you have no options on your bench that intrigue you, then you’ve come to the right place.

QB

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Ryan Tannehill (22%)

Fresh off the bye with his new workhorse running back, Tannehill gets the lowly Jets defense, who gave up two touchdowns and 341 passing yards to Josh McCown last week.

Sam Bradford (16%)

The Vikings offense has slowed down a bit, but Bradford gets the Detroit Lions who have given up the most points to quarterbacks. Jerick McKinnon should be back to take the pressure off Bradford and Matt Asiata.

Colin Kaepernick (7%)

The QB options for week nine are not sexy, unless you are a fan of any QB against the Saints. So far on the season, 4 of the 7 quarterbacks the Saints have thrown at least two touchdowns. Let’s just hope the bye week and the home matchup gives Kaep an extra boost.

RB

Charcandrick West (8%)

West should see plenty of playing time with Jamaal Charles taking a trip to the doctors and Spencer Ware leaving week eight with a concussion. He gets a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville defense.

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Rob Kelley (35%)

With Matt Jones out, the Redskins decided to deploy Kelley as their main back, while using Chris Thompson as their passing/third downs back. Kelley carried the ball 21 times in week eight and found the end zone as well. Unfortunately, the team will be on a bye in week nine, and we don’t know just yet how serious the injury to Jones is. If it is a multiple week injury, Kelley will be a must add, so might as well try to add him now.

Antone Smith (1%) and Peyton Barber (7%)

Jacquizz Rodgers is expected to miss Thursday nights game for the Buccaneers, so that means the running backs are Antone Smith and Peyton Barber. Smith out-touched Barber in week eight, 22-3, but that number should be a lot closer on Thursday night. Barber profiles as an every down back while Smith is more of a change of pace back.

James Starks

If you have the roster spot, now might be a great time to pick up Starks. The Packers strangely released Kniles Davis, so it appears no one will be in his way once Starks returns from injury, which should be week 11. He’s a great RB insurance option for the playoffs if a problems with your starting RB’s arrise.

Other names

Derrick Henry, Tim Hightower, Bilal Powell, Mike Gillislee

WR

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Jamison Crowder (49%)

He seems to make an appearance in the waiver wire pickups every week. Once again, he put in work, this time in London, where he caught nine passes for over 100 yards and a touchdown.

Corey Coleman (42%)

The rookie wide receiver will be returning from a hand injury that has kept him out since his two touchdown performance in week two. The Browns have made it clear that Josh Gordon will not suite up for them again, despite the fact that he has completed his rehab assignment. The only real competition for targets is Terrelle Pryor, who has emerged as the number one receiver in Coleman’s absence.

Quincy Enunwa (45%)

He led the team in targets and scored a touchdown this past week against the Browns. The second wide receiver role will hold some value, even with the Jets offense being as bad as it is.

TE

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C.J. Fiedorowicz (15%)

Many fantasy owners are looking to catch lighting in a bottle when it comes to the waiver wire. Fiedorowicz might not be that guy, but he does give you a high floor at a position that has been messy as a whole. His targets and receptions have been consistent, and he’s caught three touchdown passes in his last five games.

Eric Ebron (37%)

Whenever Ebron has played he has been on the map for starting tight ends, thanks in part to the reinvented Mathew Stafford. In week eight, he returned from injury, drawing 10 targets to go with 79 yards. His schedule isn’t great in the short term, as he has a bye in week 10 and faces Minnesota next week and week 12, but it does ease up after that.

DEF

Baltimore (31%) vs. Pittsburgh

Dallas (14%) at Cleveland

Oakland (49%) vs. Denver