NFL Waiver Wire: Week 9 Pickups

The first of the dreaded six-team byes is upon us, making this an important week for the waiver wire. There are some good options at wide receiver, depending on the status of injured teammates, while running back is a bit thinner. Be sure to scour the wire in each league because there are usually one or two players with a high ownership out there waiting to be picked up.

If there are questions about the players mentioned or in general, feel free to hit up the comments section.

Byes: Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Philadelphia, Arizona, Jacksonville



This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. 

QUARTERBACK

Primary Targets

Ryan Fitzpatrick, TB - Fitzpatrick almost led an improbable comeback Sunday, tying the game in Cincinnati only to see the Bengals win it on a last-second field goal. Fitzpatrick is relevant in all formats given what he accomplished earlier this season. He had three consecutive 400-yard games with a 11:4 TD:INT rate before getting benched against a tough Bears defense in Chicago. This week's matchup in Carolina isn't the best, but the Panthers' pass defense is average. Just hope there's some rope here in case Fitzpatrick gets off to a similar start he had in Chicago. FAAB: $10-$20

Secondary Targets

Alex Smith, WAS - Smith is one of the better streaming options this week and is owned in less than 50 percent leagues on almost all sites. While the Falcons are coming off a bye, they are one of the worst defenses in the leagues against the pass. Their 8.1 YPA against is the seventh highest in the league and their 17 passing touchdowns allowed are tied for fourth most despite having last week off. Game flow suggests Atlanta should put up points in this one, so Smith will have to throw more than usual, even if his receiving options are well below league-average. FAAB: $2-$4

Hail Mary

Nathan Peterman, BUF - Derek Anderson left the game on the Bills' final drive Monday and could miss time with the team waiting for Josh Allen to return. At this point, no matter who the locker room wants, the only option to turn to is Peterman. There's something to be said in any two-quarterback, super-flex league about having a starting quarterback, which is the case here. There's not much more to say than that about Peterman's upside against the Bears this week. FAAB: $1-2, adjust in the formats mentioned above

RUNNING BACK

Secondary Targets

Trenton Cannon, Elijah McGuire, NYJ - The season-ending injury to Bilal Powell leaves a lot of work available in the backfield. Cannon was the trendy pickup toward the end of last week only because McGuire can't be activated off IR until this week. Cannon profiles as more of a change-of-pace back at 5-foot-10, 185. while McGuire (5-10, 215) is capable of being a three-down back. Isaiah Crowell is the top running back for the Jets and short of an injury isn't going anywhere. However, someone will spell Crowell from time to time and handle third-down work; McGuire has the greater upside of the two. FAAB: Cannon $1-$2; McGuire $3-$6

Hail Mary

Josh Adams, PHI - Adams finished Sunday's game in London with 10 touches for 67 yards, as he's earning a bigger role in the offense. In Adam's last game against Carolina he had four carries for 17 yards. Meanwhile, teammate Corey Clement has seen his role decrease the last three weeks with his touches going from 14 to 10 to five over his last three contests. No one in the backfield will be viable this week with the team on bye, and it'll be tough to read how the touches are split up Week 10 when they play again. Still, it appears Adam's arrow is pointing upward in a backfield that has always used a committee approach. FAAB: $1-$2

WIDE RECEIVER

Primary Targets

Keke Coutee, Tyler Ervin, HOU - Will Fuller's connection with Deshaun Watson had him worthy of being a No. 1 wide receiver before his season-ending ACL injury. His absence opens more targets and snaps for both Coutee and Ervin. Coutee missed Thursday night's game against the Dolphins and his ownership dropped to 20 percent on Yahoo. Coutee had two games of double-digit fantasy points before a dud against Buffalo and then getting hurt against Jacksonville. His status this week against the Broncos is uncertain. If he misses the game, Ervin will be in an even more prominent role. While Ervin had only one catch for four yards against Miami, he did have a touchdown called back due to a penalty. FAAB: Coutee $8-$16; Ervin $2-$4

Secondary Targets

DeVante Parker, MIA - Parker has the best upside of any Miami wide receiver and was finally able to show that potential on Thursday Night Football. While one of his catches was on a fortuitous bounce, he finished the game with six catches for 134 yards. His nine targets were a team high and with Albert Wilson on IR and Kenny Stills (groin) banged up, Parker should play a big role again this week. That is, if he's not traded by Tuesday's 4 p.m EDT deadline. FAAB: $2-$4

Anthony Miller, Taylor Gabriel, CHI - A groin injury sidelined Allen Robinson Sunday, allowing for both Miller and Gabriel to have more prominent roles on offense. Neither had standout days, though Miller scored a touchdown and Gabriel had 4-52 in less than optimal conditions for a passing game. It's unclear how much time Robinson will miss with his injury, and Miller probably has the better floor of the two while Gabriel has the higher ceiling. FAAB: Miller $4-$8; Gabriel $4-$8 (prefer Miller slightly)

D.J. Moore, CAR - Moore had a breakout day Sunday, finishing with 129 yards from scrimmage, including five catches for 90 yards. He benefited from the absence of Torey Smith and could be in line for another big week against Tampa By this week if Smith is out again. Devin Funchess (3-3-27) should be a bigger presence as well, and his lack of targets last week was likely due to being shadowed by Jimmy Smith. Greg Olsen and Curtis Samuel ($1-$2 in deep formats) are another two mouths to feed, so don't overreact too much Sunday's performance by Moore, especially if Smith returns. FAAB: $2-$4

David Moore, SEA - Moore has scored in three consecutive games, getting 11 targets in that span, tied with Tyler Lockett and second only to Doug Baldwin's 12. A 2017 seventh-round pick with 4.43 speed, the 6-1 Moore has shown the ability to stretch the field and has scored three of his four touchdowns in the red zone. He played a season-high 45 snaps Sunday against Detroit, while veterans Brandon Marshall and Jaron Brown have been relegated to afterthoughts in the passing game. He likely won't get more than about 4-5 targets a game, but he appears locked in as the third receiver for Seattle. FAAB: $1-$3

TIGHT END

Secondary Targets

Chris Herndon, NYJ - It's hard to trust any receiver on the Jets but after scoring a touchdown in three consecutive games it's obvious Sam Darnold has a good rapport with Herndon. Herndon, like Darnold, is a rookie out of Miami whose draft status (fourth-round pick) was probably affected by an MCL injury. It's telling the Jets felt comfortable enough to part way with Austin Seferian-Jenkins this offseason and rookie quarterbacks typically like the short, safe routes run by the tight end. FAAB: $2-$4