Welcome to Week 9 of the fantasy season. As long as you aren't 0-8, you still have a chance to make the playoffs. If you've been following along all year and haven't won a single game, you're liar because we've been picking winners. This week will be another opportunity to improve your team on the wire, with plenty of running backs in stow.

Once again, we have some injuries to report.  Spencer Ware (concussion), Jacquizz Rodgers (foot), Will Fuller (leg), Jacob Tamme (shoulder), DeSean Jackson (concussion), and Alex Smith (concussion) all leaving their respective games.

Let’s look around the league at who is worth a bid going into Week 9. Each price recommendation will be based on a $100 FAAB budget. Be sure to also check out our weekly waiver wire analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all Week 9 options.

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 9 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - CUTS

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Running Backs

Charcandrick West (KC, RB) - $12-16

15% owned in Fleaflicker

The running back carousal continues in Kansas City. Spencer Ware left Sunday's contest in the second quarter and did not return, relegating the running back duties to West. West was solid (14 rushes for 52 yards), although we'd prefer more than 4 yards per carry versus a putrid Colts run defense. He also tacked on two catches for eight yards. The important part here is West is the only healthy back in Kansas City. Ware may not be ready on Sunday and Jamaal Charles recently had his knee re-evaluated by Dr. James Andrews (baseball fans know that is bad news). In fantasy, touches are king, and West should be in line for plenty versus Jacksonville in Week 9. The Jaguars are ranked 24th against the run, making West a RB1 at least for one week.

Tim Hightower (NO, RB) - $8-10

8% owned in Fleaflicker

How fickle and fragile the running back position is. If Drew Brees throws a pick he doesn't get benched, but Mark Ingram's fumble in the first quarter saw him relegated to the pine. In his place was journeyman Tim Hightower, who turned the opportunity into 26 carries for 102 yards versus a stingy Seahawks defense. In fact, Ingram only saw 8-of-77 touches in the backfield. After the game Saints coach Sean Payton confirmed Hightower had earned a spot in the Saints offense and would share touches going forward. It's a curious move, but owners desperate at running back won't complain. The Saints get a 49ers defense that is lost with Navarro Bowman (ACL) and are 29th versus the run. Hightower is in the RB2 consideration for Week 9 and RB3 going forward.

Antone Smith (TB, RB) – $4-7 and Peyton Barber (TB, RB) - $2-4

1% owned in Fleaflicker

Like Kansas City, the Buccaneers are having trouble getting healthy bodies at tailback. Charles Sims (IR), Doug Martin (hamstring), and Jacquizz Rodgers (foot) will all be out on Thursday, leaving Antone Smith and Peyton Barber to handle the running back duties. While Barber has the makeup to handle a heavy workload, Smith outsnapped him 22-3 on Sunday after Rodgers left. Smith, a former Falcon, is the better PPR bet versus a Falcons defense ranking 29th versus pass-catching backs. Barber did see 12 carries in Week 7 and should see 8-12 carries, which is no more than a touchdown-dependent FLEX play. Smith is a sneaky FLEX play who shouldn't cost much in FAAB.

Rob Kelley (WAS, RB) - $2-4

15% owned in Fleaflicker

If you tuned into the London broadcast, you saw a glimpse of the premium Matt Jones. Kelley, a player of a similar makeup to Jones who also has dreads, rushed 21 times for 87 yards and a touchdown in the 27-27 tie. He made use of the holes provided to him and most importantly, held onto the football. The problem with Kelley is A) there's no guarantee he plays over Jones going forward, B) Chris Thompson is really good, and C) the Redskins schedules is rough after the bye. Minnesota, Green Bay, Dallas, and Arizona are all ranked in the top 10 versus the run. Kelley is no more than a bench spot at this point.

Kapri Bibbs (DEN, RB) - $1-3

7% owned in Fleaflicker

Grabbing Bibbs is more of a gamble at this point as Devontae Booker's shoulder injury on Sunday proved to be minor. That said, we've seen how fickle the running back position is and handcuffs are valuable for both your team and your budget's sake. The Broncos have one of the easiest schedules for running backs going forward and Bibbs would become a RB1/2 should anything happen to Booker.

Also Consider: Andre Ellington (ARI, RB) - $1-3, Thomas Rawls (SEA, RB) - $3-5

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Wide Receivers

J.J. Nelson (ARI, WR) - FAAB Bid: $12-20

6% owned in Fleaflicker

It's not often you can grab a starting wide receiver at under 10% ownership, but Nelson emerged in the Cardinals offense on Sunday. He caught 8-of-12 targets 79 yards and two touchdowns. His 12 targets led the team and more importantly, he was on the field for 65-of-72 snaps (96%). Bruce Arians confirmed Nelson had supplanted Michael Floyd in the starting lineup going forward. Carson Palmer is averaging 295 yards per game, 5th best in the NFL. While owners may overlook Nelson for his bye week, but don't be foolish. Afterwards he gets San Francisco (19th), Minnesota (7th),  and Atlanta (24th). He's a WR3 going forward.

Jamison Crowder (WAS, WR) - FAAB Bid: $7-12

55% owned in Fleaflicker

How is Crowder available in half of Fleaflicker leagues? He now has consecutive games with 100+ yards and continues to be a PPR asset. The return of Jordan Reed will hurt everyone in the Redskins offense, but if DeSean Jackson (concussion) is not ready in Week 10, Crowder will be the beneficiary. It's likely Crowder is among the players who get cut due to bye week issues. Make sure you snag him in PPR formats.

Cordarrelle Patterson (MIN, WR) - FAAB Bid: $4-7

15% owned in Fleaflicker

Patterson started his third straight game on Monday, although he along with the Vikings offense had a quiet evening. Patterson hauled in all three targets for 36 yards, will all his production coming in the second half of a 20-10 loss. Patterson had scored in consecutive games entering Monday and continues to see heavy playing time for the Vikings. A former first-round pick, he's always had immense potential and provides extra value as a kick returner. Patterson gets a Lions defense ranked last against the pass this year, putting him on the WR3 map.

Also Consider:  Mohamed Sanu (ATL, WR) - $5-8, Chris Hogan (NE, WR) - $2-4, Kenny Britt (STL, WR) - $2-4

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Tight Ends

Tight end is slim picking once again, with bye weeks doing us no favors. If Jack Doyle (58%) is available, he is the No. 1 target.

Eric Ebron (DET, TE) - FAAB Bid: $5-7

55% owned in Fleaflicker

Ebron returned from injury to a Lions offense clicking in the passing game and only added to the fun. Ebron led the team catching 7-of-10 targets for 79 yards, having his best game of 2016. As Marvin Jones continues to cool off, Stafford has shown a willingness to move the ball around, as evident by Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin's recent success. Ebron gets a tough draw on Sunday versus Minnesota, although Zach Miller totaled 88 yards in Week 8. Ebron is a low-end TE1 play in a bye-heavy week.

Cameron Brate (TB, TE) - FAAB Bid: $2-4

33% owned in Fleaflicker

While desperate TE-owners may have hoped Brate would fill the absence of Vincent Jackson in Tampa's offense, but we've seen simply seen more doses of Mike Evans and the emergence of Russell Shepard. In the past two weeks, Brate has caught 6-of-8 balls for 51 yards and a score. Decent numbers for one week, but too risky for fantasy purposes. The Falcons are ranked 24th versus the pass, putting Brate on the TE2 map, but he's no more than a TD-dependent play.

Also Consider: Clive Watford (OAK, TE) - FAAB Bid: $1

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Quarterbacks

Sam Bradford (QB, MIN) - FAAB Bid: $1-2

34% owned in Fleaflicker

Bradford, along with the rest of the Vikings, stunk in Week 8. In fact, Bradford has been rather pedestrian for fantasy purposes. So why recommend him? Because the QB situation is thin and I refuse to pass on dates with the 32-ranked Lions defense. Bradford should pepper Kyle Rudolph and Stefon Diggs in plus-matchups for both options, turning in a top-14 performance in Week 9.

Josh McCown (QB, CLE) - FAAB Bid: $1-2

9% owned in Fleaflicker

If Blake Bortles is the king of garbage time, McCown has the prince title on lock. McCown completed 25-of-49 passes for 341 yards and two touchdown, jumping out to a 20-9 halftime lead. Things fell apart, but we saw what we needed for fantasy purposes. McCown made use of Terrelle Pryor's length (13 targets, 101 yards) and will have Corey Coleman back for Week 9. McCown gets a Cowboys team ranked 22nd versus the pass, and unlike Week 8 expect for the Browns to be down early and often, which is music to fantasy player's ears.

Also Consider: Nick Foles - $1

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Defense

Panthers D/ST - FAAB Bid: $4-7

74% owned in Fleaflicker

If you are in one of the 25% of leagues the Panthers are available, you need to pounce on this. The Panthers looked sluggish to start the year but came out firing in Week 8. Things got going with a 46-yard scoop and score by Thomas Davis and they continued to punish David Johnson in the backfield. The Panthers get Case Keenum and the Rams this week, making them a top-3 play in Week 9.

Chargers D/ST - FAAB Bid: $1-3

23% owned in Fleaflicker

The Chargers have been surprisingly effective on defense, led by rookie Joey Bosa (4.0 sacks in three games). Overall they have six sacks, four interceptions, and three fumble recoveries in their past three games and have averaged 8.0 fantasy points at home. They should be a sneaky play in Week 9 versus a Titans team travelling west.

 

 

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