Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Advice

The waiver period of Week 9 may be over but that does not mean you still can’t make moves to improve your roster before Thursday night’s game.  While many big names were likely claimed on Wednesday let’s take a look at some players who might still be floating around the waiver wire that you should grab.

Quarterback

Nick Foles, KC- With Alex Smith dealing with an injury the Chiefs are going with Nick Foles at quarterback in Week 9 against the Jaguars.  The Jags are allowing the 12th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and Foles is coming off a Week 8 performance which saw him throw for 223 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts.  With Smith under center the Chiefs game plan is much more reserved and heavily features the run but with Spencer Ware likely out and Foles starting at QB the offensive game plan could shift to the passing attack and boost the fantasy value of Foles for those looking for a bye week replacement.

Sam Bradford, MIN- Bradford is never going to WOW you with his quarterback play but the Vikings find themselves with a favorable matchup against the Lions in Week 9 who are allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and have struggled mightily against the pass all season long.  Seeing as Minnesota’s running game has really struggled it’s likely that Bradford will need to throw if the team hopes to win.  In Week 8 Bradford, despite being under constant pressure, threw for 228 yards and a touchdown against the Bears.  If he can find the end zone twice in Week 9 he will definitely meet his value for fantasy owners.

Running Back

Antone Smith, TB- The Buccaneers will be without Jacquizz Rodgers in Week 9 after he suffered a foot injury in Week 8 against the Raiders.  Smith will be the fourth running back to start for the Buccaneers this season and it will come against his former team in the Atlanta Falcons.  Smith has never been a feature back during his tenure in the NFL but he is a big time home run threat and if Tampa can get him the football in space there’s a chance for a long touchdown run.  There is no guarantee for production here but if you find yourself in need of a running back to replace Rodgers then Smith is the man to grab.

C.J. Prosise, SEA- Prosise carried the ball four times for 23 yards and caught four passes for 80 yards in Week 8 against the Saints.  This production has led to Pete Carroll announcing that Prosise and Christine Michael will share the workload in Week 9 against the Bills.  The Seahawks used a third round pick to draft Prosise this year and are now willing to give him a bigger workload to see what they have in the kid.  The shared workload will limit his upside but he is also capable receiver which will boost his value in PPR leagues.

Wide Receiver

Corey Coleman, CLE– Coleman is expected to make his return to the Browns in Week 9 against the Cowboys after missing the previous six weeks due to injury.  In Week 2 before getting injury Coleman caught five passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns.  His injury led to the emergence of Terrell Pryor and now healthy he and Pryor for a solid receiving duo for Josh McCown to throw to.  Coleman was taken in the first round by Cleveland and has the ability to be a real playmaker in the passing attack which makes him a must add if he is on your waiver wire.

Tavon Austin, LA– Before the bye week Austin caught 10 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown against the Giants.  In Week 9 the Rams will face off against the Panthers who are allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.  The Rams passing attack is woeful but Austin sees enough targets and catches enough passes to have value in PPR formats even though he rarely exceeds 50 yards receiving.

Tyreek Hill, KC- With news that Jeremy Maclin did not practice on Wednesday due to a groin injury those who own Maclin will want to go and grab rookie Tyreek Hill.  Hill is coming off a career best performance in Week 8 which saw him catch 5-of-6 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.  Hill has now caught four touchdown passes on the year and while his weekly production has been inconsistent an injury to Maclin would certainly boost his offensive involvement.  In Week 9 the Chiefs will be at home to face a Jaguars defense that is allowing the sixth most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season.

Tight End

Cameron Brate, TB– The inconsistencies of the Buccaneers passing attack have limited the upside of Brate this season but he is coming off a Week 8 contest where he caught 3-of-5 passes for 22 yards and a touchdown.  In Week 9 the Buccaneers will face a Falcons defense that is allowing the sixth most fantasy to opposing tight ends and allowed two touchdowns to Buccaneers tight ends in Week 1 although neither was to Brate given his role on the team at the time.

Jack Doyle, IND–Doyle is just 50 percent owned in standard leagues and the return of Donte Moncrief in Week 8 hurt his value but heading into Week 9 T.Y. Hilton is dealing with a hamstring injury that has him questionable to play against the Packers.  The Packers are allowing the 10th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season and if Hilton is unable to go Doyle would be Andrew Luck’s No.2 receiving option and really bump up his value as we have seen this season.