One of last week’s top quarterback waiver wire pick-ups, Kirk Cousins finished top five while fantasy prognosticators darling Sam Darnold and the Jets wide receivers were complete fantasy football busts. This week’s top pick-ups Teddy Bridgewater who looks like he is fitting in nicely to the Saints offense and Mason Rudolph, as a one week streamer, who gets a weak Dolphins' defense as he comes off injury and a bye week. The Titans look like a new team with Ryan Tannehill under center. He’s helping the fantasy football value of all the skills players around him, so far.
There are several waiver wire adds that could help those fantasy football team owners missing players because of the Week 9 bye. Finding a running back will likely be difficult depending on the size of your league, but you will have options at all other positions, especially in shallower leagues, at tight end and defense.
Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one. “(S)” indicates a streaming option this week.
Teams on the Bye:Bengals, Falcons, Rams, Saints
QUARTERBACKS
1 Ryan Tannehill, Titans
2 Gardner Minshew (S), Jaguars
4 Derek Carr (S), Raiders
3 Jimmy Garoppolo (S), 49ers
5 Matt Moore, Chiefs
6 Daniel Jones, Giants
7 Mason Rudolph, Steelers
8 Mitch Trubisky, Bears
You should be able to get what you need this week, whether a starter, one week filler, back-up or future match-up based play. Ryan Tannehill struggled last week but will likely be the Titans starter the rest of the way. Minshew, Garoppolo, and Carr played well for once last week and are solid streamers this week with the possibility they have turned a corner for the rest of the season.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Jamaal Williams, Packers
2 Jaylen Samuels (S), Steelers
3 Mark Walton, Dolphins
4 Kenyan Drake (S), Cardinals
5 Adrian Peterson, Redskins
6 Rashad Penny, Seahawks
7 Tra Carson, Lions
8 Ty Johnson, Lions
9 Darius Guice*, Redskins
10 Jay Ajayi, Free Agent
It’s time for Jamaal Williams to be 100%owned in leagues. Hang on to Kenyan Drake as his recent trade to the Cardinals gives him a short term boost with David Johnson and Chase Edmonds battling injuries.
With John Conner battling injury, Jaylen Samuels returns this week as the Steelers top option in a favorable message strictly based on volume.
Ty Johnsons was expected to be the Lions top option in the running game last week but it was the recently signed Tra Carson. Both are decent adds in deeper leagues.
Darius Guide is nearing a return and will immediately slot in as the Redskins top running back option.
Wide Receivers
1 Marquise Brown, Ravens
2 Diontae Johnson, Steelers
3 AJ Brown, Titans
4 DeVante Parker, Dolphins
5 Chris Conley (S), Jaguars
6 Darius Slayton, Giants
7 Tyrell Williams, Raiders
8 Danny Amendola, Lions
9 Hunter Renfroe (S), Raiders
10 Cole Beasley, Bills
11 Auden Tate, Bengals
If you’re looking for a wide receiver, it’s a great week to add one even in deeper leagues. As the Ravens come out of their bye week, Marquise Brown is available in many leagues. Diontae Johnson has been flying under the radar for a few weeks now. He’s a solid add with Mason Rudolph healthy again. You can read more on Johnson here as he was a TFG Deep Sleeper in Week 8. AJ Brown continued to succeed with Ryan Tannehill under center for the Titans. Expect his success to continue with Tannehill his quarterback. The Jaguars have a great passing match-up this week as do the Raiders.
Tight Ends
1 Daniel Fells, Texans
2 Jonnu Smith, Titans
3 Chris Herndon*, Jets
4 Cameron Brate, Buccaneers
5 Jason Witten (S), Cowboys
6 Tyler Eifert, Bengalis
7 Noah Fant, Broncos
Daniel Fells has become a regular part of the Texans even though touchdown dependent. Jonnu Smith will remain a solid starting option so long as Delanie Walker is out. Chris Herndon could make his return this week and if so, makes for a TE1 option. It’s time to move on from OJ Howard (if you haven’t already) and add Cameron Brate.
Defenses
1 Jets (v. Dolphins)
2 Browns (v. Broncos)
3 Panthers (v. Titans)
4 Broncos (v. Browns)
5 Cowboys (v. Giants)
6 Seahawks (v. Buccaneers)
7 Eagles (v. Bears)
FOR WEEK 10: Colts (v. Dolphins)
Need a one week filler with the Saints and Rams on a bye week? The defenses referenced above each play teams that have either struggled this season or are having problems producing offense due to injuries or poor play. Any defense playing the Dolphins is a solid play this season.
WEEK 9 INJURY REPORT
WEEK 8 PLAYER RANKINGS
WEEK 8 DEEP SLEEPERS