RADIO
There's just five weeks left before the fantasy playoffs for most of you. If you're hurting at the wide receiver position we are here to help. Some big time players are on bye this week as Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Antonio Brown, among others, will be unavailable for fantasy owners.
As usual, my wide receivers waiver wire column for Week 9 is split into a few different sections. Based on your league size, and whether it's PPR scoring, the recommended waiver wire pickups are arranged from higher priority to lower priority ones. I also point out a few players that can be cut in most formats.
If you are not exactly sure who you should add (or drop) from your teams, or have a question about your lineups, you can find me on twitter @ChrisMangano and I will be more than happy to help you out.
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Frontrunners for Week 9 - Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
Sterling Shepard (WR, NYG) - 56% owned (10% FAAB)
Jeremy Maclin (WR, BAL) - 54% owned (8-10% FAAB)
If Shepard or Maclin are on your wire they should be top priority. Each are their team's number one receiver and should be solid fantasy starts from now until the end of the season. We'd prefer Shepard, as he's in a higher volume passing attack but both should be owned.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR, PIT) - 45% owned (10% FAAB)
With Martavis Bryant left relegated to watching the game from the sidelines, Smith-Schuster took his opportunity and ran with it, quite literally, with a 97-yard touchdown catch. He tacked on another six catches for 96 yards and tied Antonio Brown for the team lead in targets with 10. Smith-Schuster is looking like a weekly must start in all formats.
Marqise Lee (WR, JAC) - 35% owned (4-5% FAAB)
Before the team's Week 8 bye, Lee had seen 10 and six targets and posted back-to-back double-digit PPR games. Another guy who is his team's clear number one option, Lee needs to be owned. The return of Dede Westbrook may cut into his targets eventually, but we don't know how involved he'll be at first and he probably won't get many red zone looks. Lee is still the priority target among Jags WRs.
Robby Anderson (WR, NYJ) - 27% owned (3-4% FAAB)
At the time of this writing Anderson ranks PPR WR6 on the week. He led the Jets with a 30% target market share, and leads the team in targets over the last three games. He broke out in a big way hauling in six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. He ranks 13th among all receivers in air yards on the season and has a big weekly ceiling.
Robert Woods (WR, LAR) - 29% owned (2-3% FAAB)
Woods hasn't posted a big fantasy day yet, but he's trending towards that direction. In the last three games before the team's Week 8 bye, Woods led the team in targets, yards, air yards and was averaging just under 12 PPR points per game. His time is coming and at worst he is a solid weekly start.
In The Running - Week 9 Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
Corey Davis (WR, TEN) - 26% owned (4-5% FAAB)
Remember him? Apparently a lot of owners have forgotten as he is available in 74% of Yahoo leagues. The Titans will be coming out of the bye and reports are Davis will be ready to go. This offense needs a spark and he could be it. He's worth a stash as he has big time potential.
Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA) - 38% owned (2-3% FAAB)
Paul Richardson (WR, SEA) - 30% owned (1-2% FAAB)
While Richardson will be a big waiver add this week, owners should think about adding Lockett instead. Lockett out-targeted Richardson eight to seven and ranks second on the team in targets since the Week 6 bye and leads Richardson 15 to nine over that stretch. Lockett is also second in air yards and weighted opportunity behind only Doug Baldwin. Richardson is a fine add, but we'd prefer Lockett.
Cooper Kupp (WR, LAR) - 42% owned (2-3% FAAB)
Kupp is another guy who was dropped on the bye but should pay dividends down the stretch. Kupp had 13 targets the last two weeks before the break and is Jared Goff's number two target. He is better suited for PPR formats as his low yardage total makes him a tough start in standard leagues.
Travis Benjamin (WR, LAC) - 14% owned (2-3% FAAB)
Benjamin led the Chargers with nine targets and seems to have become Phillip River's number two option. Over the last two weeks he ranks second on the team in targets, and has scored 30.4 PPR points. His bonehead punt return safety not withstanding, Benjamin looks like he has become a big part of this offense. This offense has a lot of mouths to feed so he'll have some down weeks, but he has big upside.
Dark Horses - Week 9 Wide Receivers Waiver Wire
Josh Doctson (WR, WAS) - 43% owned (2-3% FAAB)
Doctson disappointed in his shot as the starter seeing just three targets but did turn his only catch into a touchdown. He finished third on the team in targets and is little more than a bench stash at the moment. Still, he has upside if he can take over the number one role and with Jordan Reed dealing with a hamstring injury his role could increase.
Brandon LaFell (WR, CIN) - 6% owned (1% FAAB)
While everyone waited to see what rookie John Ross could do, it was actually LaFell who took on the number two role. Over the last two weeks he is second only to A.J. Green on the team in targets with 12 and has eight catches for 106 yards and a touchdown over that span. He is a great bye-week fill-in for teams in need.
Ryan Grant (WR, WAS) - 0% owned (1% FAAB)
While Doctson disappointed, rookie Grant had a mini-breakout. Though he only caught five catches for 28 yards, he was second behind Jamison Crowder in targets with seven. He nearly had a touchdown grab, but couldn't reel in a low pass in the end zone. Jordan Reed exited the game with a non-contact hamstring injury and could miss time which would boost Grant's value.
Dontrelle Inman (WR, CHI) - 3% owned (1% FAAB)
Someone on the Bears needs to catch passes, especially with the loss of Zach Miller (send prayers as his injury sounds even worse than expected), and Inman has flashed some ability with the Chargers. The Bears are on bye in Week 9, so this is only an add for teams who don't need him right away. Inman could be a great stash for the playoff run.
Time To Say Goodbye
Terrelle Pryor (WR, WAS) - 78% owned
Pryor got just one target in Week 8 and looks like he is being phased out of the offense. If you have him on your bench, drop him for a high-upside player.
Willie Snead (WR, NO) - 58% owned
Snead played just four snaps while the Saints other slot receiver, Brandon Coleman played 49. Snead just hasn't been able to regain his form and is better left dropped for a player who can actually help.
John Brown (WR, ARI) - 35% owned
Brown was trending as a good WR2 in a pass-heavy offense, but with the loss of Carson Palmer and the likelihood of Drew Stanton killing the fantasy value of all Cardinals players, Brown is a drop candidate.
