Fantasy Football: Waiver Wire Rankings (Week 9)

First off, it’s too bad for Zach Miller of the Bears who had a serious leg injury on Sunday. We hope he has a quick and strong recovery. Now, as for this upcoming week’s waiver wire, there are a pair of Bears wide receivers that are widely available, but that doesn’t mean they are the top options out there. With players like Alex Collins, Corey Davis and Robby Anderson being under-owned, there are still names out there that can help your team.

Keep in mind, we realize that the list of names below may not reflect how your own waiver wire options look. If Darren McFadden, Marlon Mack, JuJu Smith-Schuster, or other names of note are available, chances are, you’d see them ranked near the top of our list. Instead, the list of players that you’ll find currently have a consensus ownership percentage of less than 50% based on Yahoo! and ESPN leagues. Have a look below to see how the experts rank them and find out what our featured pundits are willing to pay to grab them off the waiver wire. If you’re in need of a streaming defense this week, they’re also naming the top options to consider.

Week 9 Byes: Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota, New England, Pittsburgh

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Featured Experts:
Joe Bond – Fantasy Six Pack
Mike Tagliere – FantasyPros
James Hatfield – Hatty Waiver Wire Guru
Bobby Sylvester – FantasyPros

*Ownership % derived from a consensus of Yahoo & ESPN leagues

On a mobile device? Click here for rankings table

Q1. Give us your thoughts on a waiver wire target (or two) you especially like as a pickup.

“It still blows my mind that Corey Davis is available in roughly 75 percent of leagues. This is a player who didn’t play in a single preseason game with Marcus Mariota, yet walked on to the field in his first game and saw 10 targets, catching six of them. That’s the only full game he’s played. Do you know how many other Titans wide receivers have had a game with more than six catches? One. There is a reason the Titans selected him at No. 5 overall – they needed a possession-style receiver. With Delanie Walker banged up and Eric Decker a disappointment, they need Davis more than ever. You won’t find a 7-8 target per game guy on the waiver wire for the remainder of the season, which is why I’m good using the rest of your FAAB budget on him, though if he’s still on waivers, you likely don’t have to in your league. You need to ensure you get him.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“Corey Davis is a must-own at this point. When he last played, he looked like a difference maker for the Titans. The only thing holding me back from going all in on him is a number of weapons they have on that team, which means Mariota will spread it around. Even still I would go with at least 50% of my leftover FAAB. However, if you are desperate for RB, which most of us are, I would go heavier (60-70%) on Alex Collins. He leads the league in yards per attempt and it appears the Ravens have finally figured out he is their best true runner.”
– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)

“There are two clear-cut pickups who are owned in less than 50% of leagues this week. Alex Collins, running back of the Baltimore Ravens, and Corey Davis, the wide receiver picked 5th overall by the Titans. Both have league winning upside, but plenty of question marks involving expected usage moving forward. If Collins fumbles again, all of his progress toward claiming the head-dog job is shot. If Corey Davis reaggravates his injury, the Titans may elect to sit him out the remainder of the season. With that said, there is a realistic path to Collins becoming a top 15 RB and Davis being an every week WR2. I wouldn’t pay a ton to land either because neither is a sure thing, but I’d spend $15-$20 on both which should prove to be a winning bid in most leagues.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

“At this point in the season finding a usable RB can be difficult, but Alex Collins is a running back to target for the rest of your fantasy season. He has burst and can also make catches out of the backfield. Even if you don’t need a RB at this point, he is worth stashing on your bench to keep him away from other owners. If you don’t need a RB, then 5% of your budget is all you should spend and if you are in dire need of one then consider 8-10%.”
– James Hatfield (Hatty Waiver Wire Guru)

Q2. For owners renting a D/ST in Week 9, what readily available option (under 40%) should they target and why?

“The Cardinals defense has become a shell of its former self, but coming off their bye week to play against a struggling rookie quarterback just might be the key to success. The 49ers also lost their starting left tackle in Joe Staley and their starting right tackle missed Sunday’s game while he was still in the concussion protocol. Even on the road in San Francisco, trust them to get the job done.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“Arizona Cardinals are the easy choice here as they get to face the 49ers. The Niners have been a team to target from the start of the season, but they are an even better target now that they have switched to Beathard at QB. Expect a lot of sacks and you can bet on a turnover or two as well for Arizona.”
– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)

“Arizona is the pickup of the week for D/ST streaming as they take on San Francisco. This is an easy streaming defense selection for the week.”
– James Hatfield (Hatty Waiver Wire Guru)

“The Titans had one nightmare game against DeShaun Watson (just like Seattle and every defense besides the Jags), but besides that, they have been quite a pleasant surprise this season. This week, Tennessee comes off the bye against Joe Flacco (or Ryan Mallett!) after surrendering just 35 points and forcing 6 turnovers over their previous three games.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Thank you to the experts for naming their top waiver targets. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.