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Alongside our famous waiver wire pickups list, and our weekly waiver wire columns by position, this column focuses on suggested waiver wire bidding percentages for fantasy football owners in leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB). Week 8 brought plenty of curveballs to throw our way, from the myriad injuries to the Jets somehow beating the Bengals. That leaves many scrambling for answers as the season's second half draws near. Take stock of your record, your needs, upcoming byes, when your league's trade deadline is, other team's budgets, and let's get cracking.
As a caveat, these prices do not by any means indicate how much these free agent players will go for. Each league values players differently and will continue to do so. These values are here to provide a baseline or priority order to understand roughly how much you should be looking to spend on a particular player. Specific needs are always reasonable cause for a manual override.
It's difficult to toe the line between appropriate action and overreaction, but following context-aware volume is typically the best strategy. Monitor the injury reports and always err on the side of high-ceiling stashes for the end of your bench if bye weeks allow it. Whatever your needs, here's my median FAAB bid ranges and adds heading into Week 9.
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FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks
Justin Fields (QB, CHI) - FAAB Bid: 4-6%
22% rostered
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: Yes, Fields has to play the Steelers defense in Pittsburgh and then gets his bye. That’s not ideal. Fields, playing without Matt Nagy in the building, completed 19 of his 27 passes for 175 yards and a score (with an INT) with 103 rushing yards on 10 totes. San Francisco couldn’t pin him down and this makes his third consecutive game with increased rushing totals. He’ll make mistakes, but any QB capable of 100-yard rushing games is automatically on our radars. The rookie draws some promising looks in Baltimore, Detroit, and Arizona after the bye. Perhaps Nagy learned something from afar in scheming for Fields.
Justin Fields had 41 drop backs yesterday these are his stats on designed rollouts out of the pocket.
Passing 4/4, 40 yards, TD.
Rushing 89 of 103 yards.
Maybe the Bears should keep doing that. pic.twitter.com/U4bEOrmrWQ
— Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) November 1, 2021
Taysom Hill (QB, NO) - FAAB Bid: 4-6%
3% rostered
With Jameis Winston out for the season, Hill may swoop in as a savior for the Saints and fantasy teams alike in Week 9 against a vulnerable Falcons defense. Hill has been out since suffering a serious concussion in Week 5 and clearing concussion protocol can be complicated. That said, Mike Florio said Hill was expected to clear the protocol for Week 9 at this point in time. Remember Weeks 11-14 last year when Hill started and threw for four TDs while rushing for another quartet? He had 39 total rushes across those games, and any usage similar to that makes him a solid add in most formats. Monitor the practice reports and mobilize for Hill.
Mike White (QB, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%
2% rostered
As everyone predicted, White became the first Jets quarterback to post a 400-yard game since Vinny Testaverde in 2000. Yes, of course White’s first NFL start would result in 37-of-45 passing for 405 yards, three scores, two INTs that came from tips, and a two-point conversion as a wide receiver. He did this while missing a series in the third quarter too. It was impressive as he utilized his RBs underneath and took shots when needed. He’s earned another start on Thursday in Indianapolis, with those in 2QB formats firing up the young stud.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs
Boston Scott (RB, PHI) - FAAB Bid: 15-25%
Jordan Howard (RB, PHI) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
19% rostered & 2% rostered
Kenneth Gainwell led the Eagles in carries, but that’s where his positives end. He only gained 27 yards, not gaining well at all, as Scott tallied 60 yards and Howard notched 57 yards with two TDs apiece on their respective 12 carries. It was a maddening day for those speculating on Philly’s offense, as the 44-point day still yielded duds from Gainwell, Jalen Hurts, and DeVonta Smith. With Miles Sanders on IR and another amazing RB matchup on tap for Week 9 in the Chargers, we have no choice but to respect the results and target Scott and Howard as more effective power runners while Gainwell rotates in.
its gonna be really annoying to see Jordan Howard waiver wire articles this week 😐 https://t.co/vByyjizrBH
— Uncle Leo (@Uncle__Leo) October 31, 2021
Jeremy McNichols (RB, TEN) - FAAB Bid: 15-25%
5% rostered
Derrick Henry was spotted receiving medical attention with his cleat off in the first half on Sunday but played out the game, only to have us wake up on Monday to news he may have suffered a season-ending foot injury. We await the MRI but must prepare for life without The King for a while. With Darrynton Evans out for the season himself, Jeremy McNichols will absorb much of the work while Tennessee undoubtedly works a trade out. McNichols will be a solid PPR play but has never logged more than two carries in a game so far. If you aren't in PPR leagues then you'll want to turn to this next familiar face.
Adrian Peterson (RB, FA) - FAAB Bid: 15-25%
1% rostered
Joining McNichols is one of the all-time greats in Peterson, who the Titans signed on per Ian Rapoport.
Source: The #Titans are signing FA RB Adrian Peterson, putting him on the practice squad then elevating him to the roster.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2021
There’s nothing stopping Tennessee from signing the veteran and also making a trade for someone like Ronald Jones II or Tevin Coleman, but we must act regardless. Even for the crummy 2020 Lions, Peterson averaged 3.9 yards per carry and found paydirt seven times. It won’t be pretty, but the future HoF RB could be viable in deep leagues once again if the Titans lean on him. We must pay now, but it remains to be seen what his game shape is.
Rex Burkhead (RB, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
0% rostered
With Mark Ingram II off to New Orleans, Burkhead was the man for the Texans as they tried to keep up with the Rams. There wasn’t much action to go around, as Burkhead “led” the RB room with 48 total yards on eight opportunities. However, he did get the rush TD while Phillip Lindsay and David Johnson combined for a measly 11 total yards on six opportunities. Somehow, Scottie Phillips got more run than either of them with 20 yards on seven touches. Overall, it’s a frightful picture and the committee lowers everyone’s ceiling, but Burkhead is the 1A to stash at the moment. Maybe Tyrod Taylor can return in Week 9 and open the playbook up a bit.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers
DeVante Parker (WR, MIA) - FAAB Bid: 10-12%
36% rostered
Parker returned from his hamstring injury and went right back to being a heavily-targeted piece of Miami’s offense, seeing a season-high 11 targets for eight catches and 85 yards. He’s secured at least seven targets in all five of his games in 2021 and will continue to be a reliable source of volume with Will Fuller V out. I know the Tua Chronicles can be maddening, but their run game isn’t outstanding and Houston’s defense is vulnerable for Week 9. There's a chance he gets dealt at the deadline as well. Kansas City if they can't get Allen Robinson, maybe?
devante parker vs the bills' #1 ranked pass D, after missing 3 weeks with a hamstring injury:
11 targets
8 catches
85 yards
91% snaps
28% target shareparker is averaging 5 rec for 65 yds per game this season. available in over 50% of sleeper leagues.
— pete astronaut aboard the pitts-8 rocket rogers (@petemrogers) November 1, 2021
Rashod Bateman (WR, BAL) - FAAB Bid: 6-8%
31% rostered
Bateman’s first two NFL games saw him record six targets in each contest, but Sammy Watkins had been out. Watkins himself saw at least seven looks in each of Baltimore’s first four games but Bateman is on the upward trend as a talented rookie. Bateman is the third option at best behind Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown, with the rushing attack still being a heavy hand. However, the weekly threat of hanging 40 points on an opponent means Bateman is worth flex consideration.
Russell Gage (WR, ATL) - FAAB Bid: 4-6%
10% rostered
Gage was merely a shadow in Week 8, not even logging a target despite matching Tajae Sharpe on snaps (36) and routes run (21) without Calvin Ridley. Kyle Pitts remains the leading man while Hayden Hurst mixes in and Atlanta leans on two-RB sets to utilize Cordarrelle Patterson. It means the floor on Gage is...well, this. I do think they’ll learn how to free up Pitts, Patterson, Gage, and the like without Ridley drawing bracket coverage. Don’t let Gage languish on the wire in deeper leagues.
Jamal Agnew (WR, JAX) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
2% rostered
Agnew drew a team-high 12 targets as Jacksonville scrambled for life in a 24-point loss to Seattle. He was able to reel in six of those for 38 yards and his first TD of the year. He’s now seen at least six targets in three straight games and outworked Laviska Shenault Jr., running seven more routes on three more snaps. The Jags will often find themselves needing to urgently pass and Agnew is gaining momentum, trust, and confidence.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth (TE, PIT) - FAAB Bid: 4-6%
10% rostered
With Eric Ebron out, Freiermuth continued his upward usage trend with a second straight seven-target game. He brought in four of those looks for 44 yards and an acrobatic, top-tapping TD in the 15-10 victory. The bar at TE remains low and Freiermuth should be a weekly threat for top-10 value at the position with JuJu Smith-Schuster’s vacated targets tilting his way.
Steelers are becoming a third and Freiermuth type team
— Michael Beck (@MichaelBeck56) October 31, 2021
Dan Arnold (TE, JAX) - FAAB Bid: 4-6%
4% rostered
We identified Arnold last week as having a strong target share heading into Jacksonville’s bye and he popped with 10 targets in Week 8. Even without a touchdown, Arnold’s 68 yards on eight catches made him a strong PPR play. With 23 targets in his last three games, Arnold is a viable starter in 12-team formats on a pass-happy team whose ground attack has been clipped. They’ll certainly need to throw against Buffalo in Week 9!
Since joining the #Jaguars, Dan Arnold is tenth in the NFL among TEs in total catches with 18 and has hauled in 72% of his targets. Good stuff, Duval Dan!
— Jordan de Lugo (@jordandelugo) November 1, 2021
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams
New Orleans Saints Defense (vs. ATL) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%
46% rostered
Available in over half of Yahoo leagues, the New Orleans defense clinched a victory over the Tampa Bay Tom Bradys in Week 8 with three sacks, two picks, a fumble recovery, and a TD. They now get a Falcons team that mustered 13 points against Carolina sans Calvin Ridley, yielding three sacks with two INTs for Matt Ryan. Don’t overlook this potent D at home.
Miami Dolphins Defense (vs. HOU) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%
12% rostered
We’ll either get another week of Davis Mills roulette or the return of a rusty Tyrod Taylor. Either way, Houston has little by way of weaponry beyond Brandin Cooks and makes for a plus streaming target. The Dolphins are widely available thanks to facing Josh Allen and the Bills last week while Houston has surrendered multiple sacks in six straight games.
Las Vegas Raiders Defense (at NYG) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%
9% rostered
The Raiders face the turnover-prone Danny Dimes and Big Blue in Week 9 as LV looks to make it eight straight games with multiple sacks to open their season. That impressive run has only led to nine turnovers so far, but they are widely available and no one’s first thought for a streaming dart. Put pressure on Jones and you create opportunities for errant throws and strip-sacks.
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