Fantasy football is about drafting, attacking the waiver wire, trading, and setting optimal lineups. As we turn our attention to Week 9, fantasy waivers are top-of-mind. So, let’s walk through four under-rostered players who merit more attention this week.
Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire Targets | QB, RB
If you need fantasy help (as most of us do), here are some players with short- and longer-term value, many of whom might be available in your leagues. Roster share is based on ESPN fantasy league data.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints — 99% available on waiver wires
You read that right: Taysom Hill is available in 99% of ESPN leagues as of Tuesday afternoon. That will change dramatically in the coming days. With Jameis Winston out for the year and reports indicating he’s not expected to be the team’s starter next year, Hill (for now) should be viewed as Saints’ present and future franchise QB.
He showed very well last year in spot starts for an injured Drew Brees, averaging about 20 fantasy points per game. There’s no reason to believe he couldn’t be a top-14 QB the rest of the way.
The question is when “the rest of the way” begins, as he’s been sidelined with a concussion. For now, he is absolutely worth adding off waivers ahead of Week 9. Worst case, Trevor Siemian continues to run the offense until Hill returns to the field.
When that happens, Hill would become a must-start option in 2QB leagues and a fantastic streamer in 1QB leagues. If you don’t have a top-10 QB, make Hill a high priority this week.
Michael Carter, New York Jets — 31% available on waiver wires
This call should be obvious, but since nearly one-third of leagues still haven’t caught onto Michael Carter’s upside, he needs to be a focal point of today’s column. Last week, I traded Christian Kirk (a low-end WR2 at the time) for Carter (a low-end RB3 at the time).
The writing was on the wall — Carter was going to take off. The rookie is exceptional in the passing game, and with Corey Davis out and the inexperienced (but seemingly exceptional) Mike White at QB, Carter dominated touches en route to a monster Week 8 performance.
If you need an RB, don’t get caught up in the Adrian Peterson hype. Don’t think Mark Ingram will salvage your season. Carter is a great bet for RB2+ production the rest of the way, even with Ty Johnson poaching touches.
Although the Jets will often be playing from behind, Carter’s passing-game usage makes him impervious to bad game scripts. Get him off waivers immediately. For me, acquiring Carter turned out to be the difference between losing and winning in my fantasy football league last week.
Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire Targets | WR, TE
Need help at the pass-catching positions? Here’s who you could look to add at WR and TE as we head into Week 9.
Odell Beckham, Jr., Cleveland Browns — 19% available on waiver wires
It’s insane to think Odell Beckham Jr. has fewer fantasy points than Braxton Berrios, the Jets’ sixth-best WR (based on receiving yards). But this is the state of things in Cleveland.
On the one hand, there is no good reason to roster the formerly elite Giants receiver. Whether it’s a function of quarterback play, injuries, or offensive scheme, the fact is that Beckham has not been the same since joining the Browns.
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So the question is, should we assume nothing will change? Because I’ve found when teams battling for the playoffs are struggling, they often make changes. Some are subtle. Others are large-scale. The Browns are in last place in the AFC North at 4-4. Kareem Hunt is on the shelf. Donovan Peoples-Jones missed Week 8. Jarvis Landry can’t do it alone. Beckham has zero touchdowns and is averaging only 39 yards a game.
We have to believe — for the sake of Cleveland’s dimming postseason hopes — that they will find a way to get him more involved. I would be shocked if he didn’t step up. The question is, how much?
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers — 92% available on waiver wires
Fantasy success isn’t just about targeting popular players — it’s about finding diamonds in the rough. When Pittsburgh drafted Pat Freiermuth in the second round this year, he appeared to be one or two seasons away from becoming useful in fantasy, especially with Eric Ebron standing in the way.
A mid-week hamstring injury for Ebron compounded an already tough season for the 28-year-old, who has only 13 targets across six contests. Meanwhile, Freiermuth entered Week 8 with 20 targets.
I pushed the rookie all last week — on this website, in our newsletter, on the “In the Mood” podcast, and on Twitter Spaces — as a fantastic streamer. Given what we saw this past weekend, the urgency couldn’t be greater, especially for those lacking a top-10 fantasy TE.
While Freiermuth won’t give you 10+ points every week, he’s a good bet for top-14 production going forward. That makes him a solid fantasy waiver wire add ahead of Week 9, regardless of Ebron’s health status.
