Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Deep Dive. Week 9
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Deep Dive. Week 9

The Waiver Wire is crucial to fantasy football success, so we've created the Waiver Wire Hub to help you dominate your league.

I'll be using Yahoo's "percentage rostered" data. Players are listed in order of priority by position. Only players who are available in at least 75% percent of leagues are considered.

These players are rostered in most leagues but would be priority adds over anyone mentioned in this column if available in your league.

  • Khalil Herbert (Available in 36% of leagues)
  • Kenyan Drake (Available in 69% of leagues)

Justice Hill

  • Available in 96% of leagues

Injuries are starting to pile up for the Ravens once again. RB J.K. Dobbins is already on Injured Reserve, and No. 2 RB Gus Edwards left Thursday's game with a hamstring injury and did not return. RBs Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill are next in line.

Hill has been one of the more efficient backs this season. Despite seeing limited carries each week, he’s averaged more than five yards per carry in all but one game this season. That level of efficiency and explosiveness could serve him well if he’s called to shoulder a larger load next week.

FAAB: 15%

Demarcus Robinson

  • Available in 100% of leagues

Remember the injuries I just mentioned? Yeah, they’re also hitting the pass catchers. WR Rashod Bateman and TE Mark Andrews also failed to finish the Thursday night game. In their stead, veteran WR Demarcus Robinson had his best game of the season. His 49 snaps (PFF) tied a season-high and represented the third time in four games he topped 45 snaps. Keep an eye on injury reports over the next week.

FAAB: 15%

Kalif Raymond

  • Available in 99% of leagues

WR Kalif Raymond is making the most of his opportunity over the last few weeks. Fellow WRs DJ Chark and Jameson Williams will not be available for at least several more weeks so the No. 2 role for the Lions remains wide open. Raymond has at least 55 snaps (PFF) in three straight games and 75+ receiving yards in consecutive games. He’s a fine option in deeper formats especially with six teams on bye next week.

FAAB: 15%

Van Jefferson

  • Available in 76% of leagues

Here’s to hoping I was a week early on WR Van Jefferson. He was activated ahead of Sunday’s game and did not record a single target, but he did play 55% of snaps. He’s been a strong producer in this offense in the past, and the ankle injury suffered by WR Cooper Kupp late in the game could force Jefferson into a more prominent role. Early reports are that Kupp is day-to-day but keep an eye on injury reports this week.

FAAB: 10%

Additional Waiver Targets

K.J. Osborn

  • Available in 96% of leagues

WR K.J. Osborn was a preseason favorite of mine, but it’s fair to say he’s been a disappointment thus far. However, things might be starting to turn around. He’s averaging five targets per game over his last five games, and he scored his second TD of the year this week.

More importantly, WR Adam Thielen (knee) and TE Irv Smith Jr. (ankle) picked up injuries this week. If either/both are unable to suit up next week, Osborn enters a potentially high-volume role.

FAAB: 10%

Darius Slayton

  • Available in 93% of leagues

Rookie WR Wan’Dale Robinson has gotten all the hype in recent weeks, but it’s been veteran WR Darius Slayton who has quietly put together an impressive month. Slayton has at least six targets and 11 fantasy points in three of four games and has topped 44 snaps in three straight (PFF). The Giants are on bye next week, so only stash him if you can afford to wait a week.

FAAB: 10%

Isaiah Likely

  • Available in 95% of leagues

It’s rare for a TE to be a priority waiver consideration, but that’s the reality for Ravens rookie TE Isaiah Likely. Teammate and fellow TE Mark Andrews was questionable heading into Thursday night and ultimately left with a shoulder injury.

Likely paced all Ravens pass-catchers and set career-best marks in targets (7), receptions (6), and receiving yards (77). He also scored his first NFL TD. If Andrews is forced to miss additional time, Likely offers immense upside at a shallow position.

FAAB: 10%

Bills running back James Cook cuts back against Packers Adrian Amos. Credit: Jamie Germano/USA Today Network.

James Cook

  • Available in 78% of leagues

Rookie RB James Cook has rendered fellow RB Zack Moss obsolete. On a night where Moss posted his second straight game without playing a snap, Cook ripped off 76 total yards on just six touches. Incumbent RB Devin Singletary remains the unquestioned starter but those who drafted Cook as a Zero RB candidate could have their patience rewarded. Cook is a must-add if you roster Singletary.

FAAB: 7%

Tyler Conklin

  • Available in 89% of leagues

The highest-scoring TE on Sunday, Tyler Conklin had faded from relevance in recent weeks after a strong start to the season. However, a two-TD performance has vaulted him back into the streaming conversation. The Jets don’t want to use WR Elijah Moore, but at least they want to use Conklin. His 10 targets this week were a season-high but he’s been on the field for at least 44 snaps (PFF) in every game this year.

FAAB: 7%

Travis Homer

  • Available in 100% of leagues

RB Kenneth Walker has taken his backfield by storm and is not ceding many touches to his teammates. That said, in his first game back from IR, RB Travis Homer was the only other RB to receive touches behind Walker. Fellow RB DeeJay Dallas did not record a single carry. It looks like Homer is the handcuff you want to stash if you roster Walker.

FAAB: 5%

Dontrell Hilliard

  • Available in 88% of leagues

RB Dontrell Hilliard might be one of the most important handcuffs that no one seems to be talking about. Despite RB Derrick Henry dominating the Texans (again), Hilliard chipped in nine touches for 95 yards from scrimmage. Long story short, if you roster Henry, you need to make sure Hilliard is stashed on your bench. 

FAAB: 5%

Mack Hollins

  • Available in 93% of leagues

His usage has been erratic this season, but veteran WR Mack Hollins offers some level of intrigue in deeper formats. He has three games with at least eight targets and four games with five targets or fewer. He’s also seeing at least 50 snaps per game (PFF). Working behind WRs Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow, it’ll be tough to predict when he’ll have a splash game, but he’s worth a look with six teams on bye next week.

FAAB: 5%

Terrace Marshall Jr.

  • Available in 99% of leagues

The once highly-touted WR Terrace Marshall Jr. was a certified bust as a rookie. However, he’s slowly starting to turn things around. Who knew he needed QB PJ Walker to unlock his true potential?

Fellow WR DJ Moore will be the unquestioned No. 1 option for this offense, but Marshall had a career-best performance this week (4 / 87). His 74 snaps (PFF) were 31 more than his previous season-best, so he’s certainly trending in the right direction.

FAAB: 3%

JaMycal Hasty

  • Available in 91% of leagues

The departure of RB James Robinson from Jacksonville vaulted RB Travis Etienne into the RB1 role but left the RB2 spot wide open. Third-year RB JaMycal Hasty appears to have taken control of that spot. His seven touches in Week 8 were a season-high and he offers little utility on his own unless there’s an injury to Etienne. He’s a mere depth handcuff at this stage.

FAAB: 3%

Caleb Huntley

  • Available in 96% of leagues

RBs Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley have done an admirable job filling in for RB Cordarrelle Patterson over the last several weeks. However, the latter is set to return from IR next week. Huntley is still worth stashing or holding if you roster Patterson and want insurance. Huntley is averaging over 11 rushing attempts per game over the last five weeks.

FAAB: 3%

QB Streamers for Week 9

Taylor Heinicke

  • Available in 93% of leagues

It was another productive week for the veteran journeyman. QB Taylor Heinicke has topped 200 passing yards and 20 fantasy points in consecutive weeks. He’s firmly in the streaming tier of QB options, as a whopping six teams are on bye next week. Start Heinicke with confidence against the Vikings in Week 9.

FAAB: 5%

Marcus Mariota

  • Available in 74% of leagues

The Kyle Pitts game finally happened. As a result, QB Marcus Mariota posted his best fantasy performance of the season. He tallied season-high marks in passing completions (20), passing yards (253), and passing TDs (3). However, it’s his rushing baseline that keeps him fantasy relevant. He’s topped 30 rushing yards in four straight games and five times this season.

FAAB: 3%

Defense Streamer for Week 9

Seattle Seahawks

  • Available in 88% of leagues

The Seattle Seahawks had a rough start to the year on the defensive end but have turned it on in recent weeks. Over their last three games, they’ve held opponents to an average of 12 points per game, racked up 14 sacks, and nabbed four turnovers. A divisional matchup with the Cardinals awaits.

FAAB: 1%