Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

How are you fantasy football owners feeling after Week 8? Better get ready because we have another week to hit these waivers hard as the fantasy football playoffs come closer.

We saw a ton of action Week 8 and saw some productive fantasy outings from last week’s article that included Mitchell Trubisky, Derek Carr, Marlon Mack, Jalen Richard, and Chris Herndon. Also, we saw some injuries pile up as the week concluded. So who you are going to add this week?

Key Tips:

Stay ahead of your bye weeks. In Week 9, Arizona, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, New York Giants, and Philadelphia are on bye weeks. The Bye-Pocalypse is here.

Make trades with bye weeks in mind. Trade for players that already had their bye weeks.

In Week 10, Baltimore, Denver, Houston, and Minnesota are all on byes.

Without further ado, here are your waiver wire targets for Week 9!

Week 9 Waiver Wire QB Pickups

Joe Flacco

ESPN: Less than 35% owned

My quarterback pickup of the week Flacco needs to be added. The Ravens are going to be playing the Steelers at home in Week 9 where Flacco has performed much better. They have only played three home games this season and Flacco has scored an average for 20 plus points across those three contests. Flacco’s best fantasy game of this season was against these same Steelers back in Week 4, when he totaled 26 fantasy points. He passed for 363 yards and two scores in that game. After eight weeks, the Ravens lead the NFL in pass attempts per game (44.1). Pittsburgh on the road allows the third most pass attempts per game (44). Flacco could also be a great long-term addition as his remaining strength of schedule is the easiest among all quarterbacks.

Case Keenum

ESPN: Less than 16% owned

Similar to Flacco, Keenum also plays much better at home. In three of his four home starts, this season Keenum has averaged 20 fantasy points and 285 passing yards. I like Keenum in Week 9 at home in this spot versus the Houston Texans. Houston on the road has allowed the fifth most passing attempts, eight most completions, fourth-most passing touchdowns (2.5). This is a long shot pickup that and one that people in the daily fantasy community are considering this week as a contrarian player. If you’ve been thinking about testing the waters of DraftKings or some other DFS site, make sure you check out this review of Draftkings to help you get started in the early stages.

C.J. Beathard

ESPN: Less than 8% owned

Playing on Thursday night football, it’s always a risk starting a quarterback on a short week. However, Beathard should be able to get it done against these terrible Oakland Raiders secondary. Again, I like to stream my quarterbacks playing at home. At home, this season Beathard had his best game of the season back in Week 5 against the Cardinals. He scored 23 fantasy points. Now entering Week 9 against Oakland expect Beathard to be productive against a team that has allowed the fifth most fantasy points per game to the quarterback over the past two weeks. The Raiders rank dead last in yards per pass attempt on the road this season (10.1), so expect Beathard to complete some long passes in this matchup.

*Priority Order* FAAB Spend: Flacco, Keenum, Beathard 5% of the total budget

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Week 9 Waiver Wire RB Pickups

Derrick Henry & Dion Lewis

ESPN: Less than 80% owned

People are dropping these guys. Especially with them coming off the bye week, you need to be on the lookout for these Titans’ running backs. Running backs are tough to come by and these guys get volume in their offense. Both of them are coming off their best performances of the season in Week 7. I still believe that offensive coordinator Matt LeFleur can change the Titans’ offensive woes around before the season ends. In Week 9, the Titans will head to Dallas. The Cowboys have allowed the fewest rushing yards/game at home so Henry will need a touchdown. The Cowboys have been suspect against the pass-catching backs though so prioritize Lewis over Henry for Week 9 and beyond. Lewis is the best add.

FAAB Spend: 5%

Josh Adams

ESPN: Less than .4% owned

He’s looked the best as the early-down runner. Corey Clement just got four touches in Week 8, and Wendell Smallwood continued to be worked mostly in the passing game. Adams looks like the best to come out of the bye week as the primary ball-carrier unless the Eagles decide to trade for somebody during their bye week. Over the past two weeks, Adams has averaged 6.0 yards per carry, versus Smallwood’s 3.3 and Clement’s 1.0. Eagles have a bye in Week 9, followed by the Cowboys in Week 10.

FAAB Spend: 1%

Devontae Booker

ESPN: Less than 12% owned

The Denver Broncos just love to use the running back by committee approach. Even with the absence of Royce Freeman, the Broncos leaned heavily on both Booker and Philip Lindsay in their Week 8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Lindsay is clearly the team’s best running back, but with timeshare still intact Booker will have value at least till Freeman returns. In Week 8, Booker tallied 78 rushing yards on nine carries and four receptions on four targets for 23 yards.

FAAB Spend: 1%

Elijah McGuire

ESPN: Less than 1% owned

He’s back! Elijah McGuire is eligible to return from the injured reserve in Week 9 and it appears to have come at the perfect time. The Jets lost Bilal Powell back in Week 7 and rolled with the duo of Isaiah Crowell and Trenton Cannon in Week 8. The duo disappointed in Week 8 against Chicago and looks like they could use the services of McGuire. Through 8 games, no Jets running back has more than 11 receptions. McGuire would definitely be a boost in the passing game. He had 17 receptions on 26 targets on limited playing time in 2017. McGuire and the rest of the Jets running backs have a great matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. The Dolphins have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to the running back position this season and the second-most rushing attempts. Now it will be unknown how much McGuire will be utilized so Cannon is another player you could add. Cannon is a freak athlete and actually saw more snaps (54%) than Crowell (46%) in Week 8.

FAAB Spend: 3%

Honorable Mentions: Doug Martin OAK

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Week 9 Waiver Wire WR Pickups

DeVante Parker

ESPN: Less than 22% owned

FAAB Spend: 5%

Injuries have continued to pile up for the Miami Dolphins at the wide receiver position. DeVante Parker stepped up on Thursday night, finishing with six reception for 134 yards good for 19 fantasy points. Now, one of those receptions came off a crazy deflection, but still, it was a great outing for the Louisville product who has been in the Adam Gase doghouse all season. Coach Adam Gase expects Parker to remain with the Dolphins beyond the NFL trade deadline Tuesday, Safid Deen of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Regardless of he stays in Miami or not, Parker is worth the add in most fantasy formats. The Dolphins will be taking on the Jets in Week 9, who have been decimated by receivers this season. They have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position over the past four weeks.

Christian Kirk

ESPN: Less than 21% owned

FAAB Spend: 3%

Christian Kirk has to be Josh Rosen’s favorite target. The rookie wide receiver caught three of seven targets for 42 yards and a touchdown in Week 8 against the 49ers. Kirk after eight weeks has the second most targets on Arizona. With the bye week coming I think Kirk should be picked up and stashed. We saw improvements in the offense in the post-McCoy offense so Kirk is somebody that needs to be on your radar. The Cardinals will take on the Chiefs in Week 10, where they will need all the offense they can get.

Tre’Quan Smith

ESPN: Less than 9% owned

FAAB Spend: 5%

In Week 8, Tre’Quan Smith played (77 percent) against the Vikings. The biggest win from Week 8 from Smith may not have been his output, but again output by Cameron Meredith. Meredith played just 9 snaps and had zero targets. Smith compiled 18 yards on three catches versus the Vikings. He was targeted four times. Smith’s schedule rest of season is also extremely good. Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Pittsburgh. Majority of these teams rank in the top ten of fantasy points allowed to the WR position.

Courtland Sutton

ESPN: Less than 9% owned

FAAB Spend: 5%

With the Demaryius Thomas trade rumors spreading like wildfire, I think it might be time to pull the trigger on Courtland Sutton. I have been advocating for Sutton to get added the last few weeks, and his numbers back it up. On the season he has actually out-snapped Thomas (69% to 55%). Sutton has also scored touchdowns in two of his last four games and led the team in receiving in Week 8. The Thomas trade does look like it will get done. According to Thomas, there’s a 50-50 chance he is dealt. Next Sunday brings a tough matchup against a Texans defense that has excelled at keeping opponents in front of them, surrendering just 10.9 yards per reception.

D.J. Moore

ESPN: Less than 11% owned

FAAB Spend: 5%

The breakout is coming. Dating back to Week 2, Moore as now totaled at least 49 yards in four of his last six games. Moore had his best game in his young career in Week 8. He compiled five receptions for 90 yards and added two rushing attempts for 39 yards. The Panthers are starting to manufacture ways to get Moore the ball and that should continue for the rest of the season. Torrey Smith missed Week 8 which resulted in Moore had a season-high in snaps (71%), second to only Devin Funchess (74%) at the wide receiver position. According to Brad Evans of Yahoo Fantasy, Moore ranks number five between Michael Thomas and Brandin Cooks, in yards per route run. Moore becomes a great plugin play at the wide receiver position this week as well with the Panthers facing off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. The Buccaneers have allowed the third most fantasy points per game to the wide receiver position.

Kendrick Bourne

ESPN: Less than .1% owned

FAAB Spend: 1%

Bourne leads the 49ers in target rate, targets (28), and second in routes run (88) over the last 4 weeks. He caught seven of 10 targets for 71 yards in Week 8. Pierre Garcon missed this game and with the short week/trade rumors, there’a good chance Bourne could be the go-to guy on Thursday. Right now though Bourne appears to be just behind Marquise Goodwin, but ahead of rookie Dante Pettis. Have to like his upside versus the Raiders on Thursday night.

Keke Coutee ESPN: Less than 19% owned Will Fuller has a torn ACL, and will miss the rest of the season leaving a gaping hole in the Houston passing game. Coutee has already shown glimpses of fantasy relevance in multiple games this season making him a hot waiver wire target this week. Just make sure to keep an eye on his hamstring injury. Coach Bill O’Brien acknowledged Monday that it’s too early to tell if Coutee (hamstring) will return for Sunday’s game in Denver, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports. If Coutee continues to be plagued by the injury, look for Vyncint Smith. He looks to be next in line for work as a wide receiver in the Houston offense. FAAB Spend: 7%

Honorable Mentions: Rashard Higgins CLE, Josh Reynolds LAR, Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB, Brandon LaFell OAK, Anthony Miller CHI, David Moore SEA

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Week 9 Waiver Wire TE Pickups

Jordan Thomas

ESPN: Less than .1% owned

FAAB Spend: 1%

Thomas played a season-high 88.5% of the offensive snaps last Thursday night for the Houston Texans. With most owners flocking to Keke Coutee, with the Will Fuller injury Thomas should not be overlooked. Thomas brought in all four of his targets for 29 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8. The rookie tight end saw extended playing time with Ryan Griffin inactive. Thomas’ Week 7 was an obvious career game and could help him carve out a larger role in the Houston offense. Even if Griffin returns Thomas could still find himself with a role in the offense. Especially if Coutee is still limited by his hamstring injury. The Texans will face the Broncos in Week 9 who have allowed the seventh-most receiving yards to the tight end position this season.

Jack Doyle

ESPN: Less than 32% owned

FAAB Spend: 1%

Jack Doyle finally returned to the lineup after a hip injury kept him out since Week 2. In his return, he caught six of seven targets for 70 yards and a touchdown. Andrew Luck absolutely loves to target his tight ends and that is why there is optimism surrounding him for the rest of the fantasy football season. The team has a bye week in Week 9, so there’s a chance that Doyle gets overlooked. Do not overlook him. Add him and have a tight end you can confidently start the rest of the season. Doyle dominated the snaps over Eric Ebron 75% to 18%. According to Graham Barfield of NFL.com in three games where Doyle has played this year, Ebron’s snap rates are 45% (Week 1), 26% (W2), 18% (W8). Doyle out-targeting Ebron 22 to 11.

Ed Dickson

ESPN: Less than .5% owned

FAAB Spend: 1%

My man Ed Dickson coming in with the touchdown! Dickson finally returned from injury and caught both of his two targets for 54 yards and a touchdown against the Lions. Seattle has been desperate for playmakers at the tight end position so Dickson may have already done enough to separate himself from Nick Vannett. Vannett out-targeted and out-snapped Dickson in this contest, but I would be surprised to see Seattle not get Dickson on the field more. I think you can start Dickson again this week against the Los Angeles Chargers who have are tied for the second most red-zone targets allowed to the TE position.

Chris Herndon

ESPN: Less than 1% owned

FAAB Spend: 1%

Herndon now has a touchdown reception in three consecutive weeks. The Jets are so banged up at the wide receiver position that Herndon is becoming a favorite target for the Sam Darnold. He’ll look to extend his touchdown streak in Week 9 against the Dolphins which is a great matchup. The Dolphins have allowed the most red-zone targets, red-zone touches, and receiving touchdowns to the tight end position this season. Considering all Herndon does his catch touchdowns, this sets him up perfectly.

*TE Priority* Doyle, Dickson, Herndon, Thomas

Defense/Special Teams Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups

Carolina DST vs Buccaneers

Tampa Bay has given up the fourth-most fantasy points to Team Defenses this season.

ESPN: Less than 50% owned

Cowboys DST vs Titans

Tennesse has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to Team Defenses this season.

ESPN: Less than 14% owned

Bills DST vs Bears

Chicago has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to Team Defenses over the past two weeks.

ESPN: Less than 12% owned

– Andrew Erickson is a fantasy writer for Gridiron Experts. Follow me and vote in my twitter poll!

Most popular waiver wire add this week? #WaiverWire — Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) October 30, 2018

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