Fantasy Football Week 9: Waiver-Wire Pickups
Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead (35) during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Seahawks 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The waiver wire is what will end up making or breaking your fantasy football season. Here are a few players that could help you off the wire in Week 9.
Just like last week, we have six teams unavailable because they are on a bye. We are also coming off a week where some key injuries took place and valuable handcuffs could now be starters for Week 9. The fantasy football implications are, as always, near endless.
For these purposes, we will being using Yahoo! Fantasy Football as a guideline. Any player that is 50 percent owned or less is eligible.
Here are the players you should be targeting on the fantasy football waiver-wire for Week 9.
Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) catches a pass over the defense of Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Chris Kirksey (58) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
5. Dennis Pitta, TE – Baltimore Ravens (44% Owned)
This might not scream “must-add” on the surface, but due to circumstances, owners need to invest a waiver-wire claim on Pitta.
There are six teams on a bye this week and the tight ends who will not be available are Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Zach Miller, Tyler Eifert, Jordan Reed and C.J. Fiedorowicz. Four of those six tight ends finished as top-five fantasy tight end for Week 8.
Pitta has average just shy of nine targets per game over the Ravens last six games and gets a favorable matchup in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over the Steelers last two games opposing tight ends are averaging five receptions and 100 receiving yards. They also have given up two touchdowns over the last four games to opposing tight ends.
Oct 27, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) celebrates after a touchdown run in the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
4. Derrick Henry, RB – Tennessee Titans (48% Owned)
People have been patiently waiting for Henry to breakout in 2016 and although it wasn’t spectacular, he did have his best game of the season in Week 8.
More from NFL Spin Zone
On Thursday Night Football, Henry finished with 20 touches, 97 yards and one touchdown. However, that isn’t the main reason you want to target Henry on the waiver-wire this week. The Titans No. 1 running back, DeMarco Murray, injured his toe in the first half of the game. It is worth noting Murray did come back in the game after the injury, played and played well. Keep in mind C.J. Anderson did the same thing on Monday Night Football in Week 7 before landing on IR days later.
This isn’t to say Murray’s injury is serious or that he will even miss Week 9’s game. Yet, it is a reminder he is no stranger to the trainer’s room. Between 2011-15 Murray has only played an entire 16-game season just once due to various injuries. With the fantasy playoffs right around the corner, if Murray were to miss any time Henry would be the Titans starting running back and be in RB1 territory.
Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman (19) celebrates his second touchdown of the game during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
3. Corey Coleman, WR – Cleveland Browns (42% Owned)
It might be hard to remember, but Coleman was off to a terrific start to his rookie season. Back in Week 2, he finished their game against the Baltimore Ravens with five receptions, 102 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately for Coleman and fantasy owners, Coleman broke his hand in practice before their Week 3 game.
Now, Coleman is just about back to 100 percent and should suit up and start as the Browns No. 2 wide receiver opposite of Terrelle Pryor. The Browns Week 9 game is against the Dallas Cowboys who just lost their starting cornerback Morris Claiborne and safety Barry Church both to injuries this past week against the Philadelphia Eagles. With the Cowboys secondary as vulnerable as ever, Coleman has a good chance to get open for some big plays. Not to mention, the Browns will more than likely be trailing in this game and will be forced to throw a lot.
Remember that big game I mentioned Coleman had back in Week 2? That came with Josh McCown under center who just returned to the Browns starting lineup last week. All of these factors make Coleman a solid plug and play for owners in their FLEX spot.
Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Charcandrick West (35) scores a touchdown past New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) during the second half in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 20-27. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
2. Charcandrick West, RB – Kansas City Chiefs (9% Owned)
If you don’t know by now, the Chiefs primary running back Jamaal Charles looks highly questionable to play again in 2016. With Charles’ 2016 status in serious doubt, West was the Chiefs No. 2 running back behind Spencer Ware.
In last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, Spencer Ware suffered a concussion and was forced to leave the game. With Charles and Ware out, West finished the game with 60 total yards on 16 touches. It’s very possible Ware could miss Week 9’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If that’s the case, West would be the team’s starting running back on Sunday and would be a good bet for 18+ touches.
The risk here is Ware could be cleared to play in Sunday’s game and the claim for West could be a wasted one. We’ve seen plenty of players get cleared from the league’s concussion protocol in a week. Heck, we saw Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams get cleared for a Thursday Night game after suffering a concussion on Sunday. Then again, we’ve seen players take a couple of weeks before getting cleared.
If you’re a Spencer Ware owner you need to target West no matter what. If you don’t own Ware and are looking for a RB2 for Week 9, just know the risk in adding him if Ware were to be cleared for the concussion protocol.
Aug 11, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) runs past New England Patriots cornerback Cyrus Jones (24) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
1. Tim Hightower, RB – New Orleans Saints (5% Owned)
Hightower is the No. 1 priority add for fantasy owners this week. Unlike Charcadrick West, Hightower could be a fantasy mainstay for the rest of the season. Let’s face it: once Spencer Ware gets cleared, West will more than likely go back to being a handcuff. That might not be the case with Hightower.
In last week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, running back Mark Ingram fumbled a ball in the first quarter. After that, he never saw the field again and Hightower went on to finish the game with 102 rushing yards on 26 carries. Moving forward, the Saints backfield clearly has a lot of question marks that will not get any sort of definitive answers for a week or two.
What we do know is the coaching staff clearly does not believe in or trust Ingram. If they did, they wouldn’t have flat-out benched him after three carries and one fumble. As a result, we know Hightower is going to more playing time and carries moving forward. How much exactly? We can’t be too sure at this point but the reward could be big. If Hightower runs well next week against the San Francisco 49ers and/or if Ingram fumbles again, Hightower could end up being the starter for the remainder of the season.
Aug 12, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver J.J. Nelson (14) against the Oakland Raiders during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Other Receiving Votes
Here are a few more names you want to consider when you go through your fantasy football waiver wire.
New York Jets WR Quincy Enunwa (45% Owned) – He now has back-to-back games with 73+ receiving yards and a touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Sammie Coates (42% Owned) – A few weeks back, Coates was one of the biggest waiver-wire targets after a monster game in Week 5. He lost some of his luster since then, but that was due to an injury. The Steelers are coming off their bye week and Coates and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger both had time to get healthy. They could be ready to make some magic happen again real soon.
Los Angeles Rams WR Kenny Britt (39% Owned) – Just like with Coates, Britt lost some his luster since a big week. After a huge game in Week 6 Britt had a poor fantasy outing in Week 7 and a bye week in Week 8. He’s now back this week and on pace for over 1,000 receiving yards this season.
Detroit Lions TE Eric Ebron (38% Owned) – In his first game back from injury, Ebron finished Week 8 with seven receptions for 79 yards. He’s worth an add and start in a week where so many TE1’s are on a bye.
Pittsburgh Steelers TE Ladarius Green (8% Owned) – He could be ready to make his 2016 debut this week. Green’s athleticism in the Steelers high-powered offense could turn into fireworks.
Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright (6% Owned) – He now has a touchdown in two out of the last three games. He’s clearly the Titans best wide receiver and should be a WR3 from here on out.
Arizona Cardinals WR J.J. Nelson (3% Owned) – He finished last weeks game with two receiving touchdowns and he is now a starter for the Cardinals. He has big play ability written all over him.
Falcons Tight End Austin Hooper (1% Owned) – As mentioned before, there are a lot of tight ends on a bye this Week. Jacob Tamme is expected to miss Thursday Night Football so Hooper will fill in as the Falcons starting tight end.