RADIO
Michael Florio's deeper-league waiver wire pickups and fantasy football sleepers for Week 9. His top free agent options for 14-team fantasy leagues or deeper.
The trade deadline is now behind us. The roster shakeups may be complete for NFL teams (barring any signings), but it never stops for our fantasy football teams. The grind never stops -- especially for those in deeper leagues who typically are upset when reading waiver wire articles, because many of the players listed in them are rostered already.
But as you know, that is never the case here. This weekly article of mine is a safe place for you freaks and geeks who love scouring depth charts for that hidden third string gem. This article is garnered exactly for you - the deeper league fantasy football player!
With the trades done and us having a better sense of rosters, we can put those Week 9 waiver wire claims in.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets for Week 9
Taysom Hill has been out due to injury, meaning that he likely remains available in many leagues, including those deeper ones. Jameis Winston tore his ACL in Week 8, ending his season. Hill hasn’t officially been named the starter, but he was on track to return in Week 9, so we can connect the dots. Last year in four starts Hill scored between 17.5 and 24 fantasy points, showing that he brings a safe floor and a bit of a ceiling. He did so because of what he can do with his legs -- he rushed for over 40 yards in every game, and had multiple rushing TDs in two of them. He also ed the Saints in goal line carries during those four starts. That floor will keep him in the QB1 discussion each week. Trevor Siemian can be streamed in two-QB leagues if Hill is not ready for Week 9.
Tyrod Taylor is nearing a return. In fact, Week 9 looks likely for him to play. He needs to be rostered in all two-QB leagues, but even in deeper one QB formats. He scored nearly 24 fantasy points in Week 1, and 16.5 before getting injured in Week 2 -- rushing for 40 yards or a TD in those games. He brings a safe floor due to his legs and will likely have to pass a lot as the Texans will trail often. He can be streamed in the right matchups.
Jeremy McNichols and Adrian Peterson are both worth grabbing after Derrick Henry was sidelined due to a foot injury, expected to keep him out for eight weeks or so. There is no replacing Henry, who was off to one of the best RB starts in NFL history, but these two will attempt to do so. McNichols knows the offense, while Peterson is a 36-year-old signed off the street. McNichols is my preferred waiver wire add as he is more explosive and will be utilized in the passing game. He has a game this season with 12 targets and multiple others with at least three. I anticipate a split on the ground, at least early on. Peterson has the safer floor of the two, as he will likely handle a larger share of the ground work once acclimated in the offense. He will not be utilized much in the passing game and does not have much burst left. Last season he had the third-fewest percentage of runs to go for 10-yards among backs with 150 carries -- only Todd Gurley and Frank Gore were worse. But, he will likely handle goal line work in a strong offense. These two are the top RB waiver wire adds for Week 9, with McNichols being the upside play and Peterson having the safer floor.
Derrick Gore played just 20 percent of the snaps, but made the most of his opportunity, rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. In fact, he had both touches inside the 10-yard line last night. Any RB that gets significant touches on the Chiefs should be picked up in fantasy, Gore in no different.
Jordan Howard went from the practice squad to the end zone in Week 8 - twice. Howard saw three carries inside the 10, turning them into two touchdowns. He finished with 12 carries for 57 yards and two scores on 24 percent of the snaps. The game script was perfect for a downhill runner like Howard, and the Eagles typically won’t be playing with a multiple score lead, but his usage with Miles Sanders sidelined cannot be ignored. I don’t love him in a traditional 12-team league, but he should be added in anything deeper than that. At the very least, he has a chance of finding the end zone each week Sanders is out.
Mark Ingram II made his return to the Saints, playing 29 percent of the snaps with six carries and two targets for 52 total yards. But, the usage was encouraging since it was his first game after getting traded mid-week. His role could also grow with Taysom Hill at the helm. Last year when Hill started, the Saints ran on 52 percent of their plays which would have been the second-most over a full season. We also saw the Saints use Latavius Murray more during those games, so if that is the case Ingram could have flex appeal in the right matchups. He was dropped in many fantasy leagues while with the Texans, so he could be sitting on the waiver wire even in deeper formats.
Jaret Patterson played 24 percent of the snaps in Week 8, seeing 11 carries and one target going for 46 yards. He actually had more opportunities than Antonio Gibson in this one, who has been hampered by a shin injury. Washington is on bye next week, but Patterson is still a waiver wire stash as this Gibson injury has been lingering and Washington is falling out the race.
Rex Burkhead led the Texans RBs by playing 48 percent of the snaps in Week 8. He saw four carries for a team high 21 rushing yards and scored a touchdown. He also led their backs with four targets, catching three for 27 yards. Scottie Phillips was the second RB here, playing 26 percent of the snaps to go with five carries for 11 yards and three targets. This is a tough backfield to trust, but in deeper leagues, any RB getting work is worthy of rostering.
Jamal Agnew was the lone bright spot for the Jaguars in Week 8. He saw a team-high 12 targets, catching six of them for 38 yards and a touchdown. The volume is nothing new for Agnew. He has seen at least six targets in three straight games, scoring double-digit fantasy points in each. In his last three games he has 10.9, 12.8 and 15.8 fantasy points as the primary slot receiver for the Jaguars. He should definitely be picked up off the waiver wire in deeper formats.
Nico Collins caught all four of his targets for 55 yards, going for a season-high 9.5 fantasy points. The Texans second-receiver has been more involved as of late. That isn’t a role that has been fantasy viable with Davis Mills, but that could change with Tyrod Taylor returning. He is worth stashing off the waiver wire and monitoring his usage with Taylor.
Tajae Sharpe was given more opportunity after Calvin Ridley announced he was stepping away from football to focus on his mental health. Nothing but good thoughts to Ridley, and we all can’t wait to see him back doing what he does best -- if and when he ever chooses to do so. Sharpe tied for the team lead in targets (six) and catches (five), while leading Atlanta with 58 receiving yards. He has actually been the receiver that has stepped up in both games Ridley missed, while Russell Gage did not have a target in Week 8. In the London game against the Jets Sharpe saw five targets, catching four for 53 yards. The opportunity alone is enough to pick him up off the waiver wire in deeper formats.
Dan Arnold saw 10 targets, the second-most on the Jaguars in Week 8. He also lead them in catches (eight) and yards (68). While it was a season-high in targets, the usage is nothing new for Arnold in Jacksonville. Arnold has at least five targets in each of his last three games, with eight in two of them. He scored double-digit fantasy points in these two games as well. Tight end has been the toughest position to find reliable fantasy options in shallow leagues, let alone deeper ones. A tight end seeing this sort of volume should definitely be picked up off the waiver wire.
Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.
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