Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Advice

Well Week 8 was certainly much more trick than treat for most fantasy owners as there were tons of letdown performances and injuries to some key players which should lead to a very active waiver wire period as we enter Week 9.  Week 9 is also the bye weeks for some impactful fantasy players as the Patriots, Cardinals, Bears, Bengals, Texans and Redskins all are getting the week off.  With that said let’s take a look at what players should be on your team this week.

-FAAB bids based off of $100 budget

Quarterback

Colin Kaepernick, SF- Kaepernick has been a solid fantasy play since being named starter, putting up point totals of 18 and 14 in standard league formats with the majority of his fantasy production coming by way of his legs as he has rushed for 150 yards on 17 carries over his first two starts.  The 49ers had a bye in Week 8 and find themselves with a favorable matchup at home against a Saints defense which ranks towards the bottom of the league in nearly all categories and play much worse on the road than at home.  The 49ers passing attack is limited but Kaepernick’s running ability against a bad defense should make him a viable option if you need a bye week replacement.

FAAB Bid $5-$10

Josh McCown, CLE-  McCown returned from injury in Week 8 and turned in a solid performance against a bad Jets secondary as he threw for 341 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.  The Browns passing attack is markedly better with MCown under center and seeing as the Browns will often be trailing in games he should throw a ton.  In Week 9 the Browns do face a tough Cowboys defense but I am thinking that McCown should throw enough to be a viable starting QB for those looking for a bye week replacement.

FAAB Bid $5-$10

Ryan Tannehill, MIA- It has been another tough season for Tannehill who just can’t put it all together despite the fact that Miami may have one of the more talented receiving duos in football with Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker.  The Dolphins will be coming out of a bye in Week 8 to face a Jets defense that is allowing the 9th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and have struggled to defend the pass in general all year long.  Tannehill will certainly be a risky play but they will be at home and the Jets have a relatively strong run defense which could put this game in Tannehill’s hands if Miami is going to win.

FAAB Bid- $0-$5

Running Back

Charcandrick West, KC –  West becomes the back to own in Kansas City after the Chiefs running back situation took another blow in Week 8 with news that Jamaal Charles was going to seek an opinion on his knee from Dr. Andrews and with Spencer Ware suffering a concussion against the Colts.  In 2015 West carried the ball 160 times for 634 yards and four touchdowns while adding 20 catches for 214 yards and another score.  After Ware went down in Week 8 West carried the ball 14 times for 52 yards and added two catches for eight yards.  West figures to be the Chiefs lead back in Week 9 against the Jaguars who just allowed the Titans to rush for 183 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8. 

FAAB Bid- $20-$30

Derrick Henry, TEN – Henry is purely a handcuff add as we head into Week 9 after DeMarco Murray suffered a minor toe injury in Week 8 which is expected to have him limited at practice this week.  Henry carried the ball 16 times for 60 yards and a touchdown in Week 8 against the Jaguars and would become an elite fantasy running back if Murray was to miss time.  In Week 9 the Titans will face off against the Chargers who are allowing the fifth most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

FAAB Bid- $15-$20

Tim Hightower, NO – The Saints benched Mark Ingram in Week 8 which led to Hightower taking over as the lead back and he ran all over a Seahawks defense, totaling 102 yards on 26 carries.  This performance should not surprise fantasy owners as Hightower took over as the Saints lead running back in 2015 after Ingram was placed on IR.  In eight games last season Hightower carried the ball 96 times for 375 yards and four touchdowns while adding 12 catches for 123 yards.  According to a report Hightower is expected to see an increased workload in Week 9 against a 49ers defense that is allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season and if Ingram gets off to a slow start we could see Hightower again take over as the lead back.

FAAB Bid-$10-$15

Wide Receiver

Donte Moncrief, IND– Moncrief returned from injury in Week 8 and caught four of nine targets for 41 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs.  He is currently owned in 60 percent of standard leagues but if Week 8 was any indication he figures to be heavily involved in the Colts passing attack as long as he remains healthy.  Speaking of health, T.Y. Hilton has been dealing with a balky hamstring which forced him to leave the game in Week 8 for a bit and could have him hampered leading into Week 9 which would make Moncrief the No.1 receiver if Hilton is unable to go.  Even if Hilton plays the value is here and Moncrief is a must own and start in all formats.

FAAB Bid- $10-$15

Mohamed Sanu, ATL–  With Julio Jones hobbled in Week 8 against the Packers the Falcons passing attack heavily relied on Sanu and he stepped up to catch 9-of-10 targets for 84 yards and a touchdown.  The Falcons have a quick turnaround in Week 9 as they play the Thursday night game against the Buccaneers.  Jones will likely be active but who knows how effective he will be which could lead to another big game for Sanu against a Buccaneers defense that was just torched by the Raiders passing attack.

FAAB Bid- $5-$10

Percy Harvin, BUF- Harvin came out of retirement on Tuesday and signed with the Buffalo Bills who are in desperate need of receiving help.  While it’s unknown just what kind of football shape Harvin is in he did play five games last year for Buffalo, totaling 19 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown.  When healthy and focused Harvin is a big time playmaker so there is reason to be intrigued by his return to football.  For now Harvin is a speculative add and worth a minimal bid just because of his upside although it’s unlikely he is ready to suit up in Week 9 or would have a big role in the offense right away.

FAAB Bid- $0-5

Tight End

Eric Ebron, DET– Ebron returned to the field for the Lions in Week 8 and turned in a big performance, catching seven passes on 10 targets for 79 yards.  When on the field this season Ebron has been heavily targeted in the Lions passing attack as his size and athleticism makes him a mismatch for linebackers and safetys who try and cover him.  If now healthy Ebron is a top 10 tight end and can approach top 5 if is usage continues in this offense.

FAAB Bid- $5-$10

Dennis Pitta, BAL – Pitta continues to be a stable figure in the Ravens passing attack and while he has only really had one big game this season he has been targeted 10 times in each of the previous two weeks and does find himself with a favorable matchup in Week 9 as the Ravens face a Steelers defense that is allowing the 10th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.  Pitta is averaging five catches on eight targets for 48 yards this season but his increase in targets of late should lead to solid production going forward.

FAAB Bid $5-$10

Lance Kendricks, LA – Kendricks has totaled 27 targets over the last four weeks which includes three weeks of seven or more targets coming his way.  Before the Rams went on the bye Kendricks caught 7-of-9 targets for 55 yards against the Giants and the week before that he caught 5-of-8 targets for 34 yards and a touchdown against the Lions.  It appears that Case Keenum is a fan of his tight end which bodes well for his fantasy value.  In Week 9 the Rams face off against a Panthers defense that is allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.  Now expectations should be limited as the Rams passing attack is dreadful but in PPR formats Kendricks holds value thanks to the number of targets he is getting and his matchup this week.

FAAB Bid- $0-$5