Well we are (nearly) done with another week of 2022 action, so time to finetune your roster with our Week 9 Waiver Wire pickups. Making the right moves on the waiver wire is how you can really win your league. Getting those upside depth pieces, and cutting the players that are going to struggle from your roster is going to help you going forwards
Bye Weeks
We now have to start dealing with bye weeks too. Because when your roster is already struggling with injury, why not?
Teams on bye this week:
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Denver Broncos
- New York Giants
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
Rules for Selection & Order Priority
For a player to be considered to be added, they have to:
- Have an rostered % of 50% or under on ESPN
- Players below are listed by their roster %, not priority. Know your league settings. If there is a high-priority add, you’ll know.
Jared Goff (DET) v GB 42.6% rostered
Goff put his previous struggles aside against the Dolphins, going for 27 from 37 for 321 yards and a single TD. Detroit’s offense needed to get back on track, after a struggle against Dallas the week before. Goff and the Lions take on the Packers next week, who have a solid defense but they have given up big plays at times. The concern will be if Goff is needed for finishing drives, or handing the ball to either of his capable RBs, but if you are in real need for a QB Goff could be it.
Justin Fields (CHI) v MIA 26.2% rostered
Fields is proof that rushing QBs are always going to be valuable. The Bears offense isn’t great, but it does seem to have found something. Fields has now thrown and least 1 TD in every game since Week 5, as well as scoring a rushing TD in each of his past two games. The rushing yards give you a decent week to week floor, and it seems like the turnovers are starting to be controlled. Next up is a Miami defense that has been able to frustrate, but Fields rushing ability should mean another decent performance.
Andy Dalton (NO) v BAL 20.4% rostered
Dalton is looking good at the helm of the Saints offense which is still without the majority of it’s receivers. The Ravens secondary isn’t one to avoid, making him a decent streaming candidate.
Others to Consider
- Marcus Mariota (ATL) v LAC 24.0% rostered
- PJ Walker (CAR) @CIN 2.1% rostered
Khalil Herbert (CHI) v MIA 47.8% rostered
The Bears offense is built on establishing the run, and has been splitting work between David Montgomery and Herbert. The upside with Herbert is that when Montgomery was forced to miss time the backfield was his. The downside is that when he hasn’t gotten into the endzone he hasn’t really had much appeal.
Nyheim Hines (IND) @NE 45.7% rostered
Hines role hasn’t worked out the way that was hoped for in the offseason as a dump off option for the Colts and change of pace back. It’s hard to see his involvement increasing unless there was an injury to Jonathan Taylor, but with Taylor missing some time in the game with an ankle injury, we could see that happen soon.
Kenyan Drake (BAL) @NO 18.4% rostered
Drake has established a role in the Baltimore backfield, being used as a change of pace back and as a receiver. He has been used to carry the ball when needed, and current starter Gus Edwards suffered a hamstring injury.
Caleb Huntley (ATL) v LAC 5.4% rostered
Huntley has been getting a decent number of carries for the Falcons, but his fantasy appeal could nosedive if Cordarelle Patterson returns to practice this week.
D’Ernest Johnson (CLE) BYE 1.2% rostered
Johnson is a speculative selection, and might amount to nothing. The Browns backfield is led by Nick Chubb, and barring injury that is unlikely to change. But, in a run-first offense having the backup is worth owning and Kareem Hunt’s future is up in the air. There have been alot of rumours of a trade, and with the deadline looming that has to happen soon.
Others to Consider
- Chuba Hubbard (CAR) @ATL 35.6% rostered
- Latavius Murray (DEN) BYE 32.6% rostered
- James Cook (BUF) @NYJ 25.7% rostered
- Isiah Pacheco (KC) v TEN 24.7% rostered
- Ronnie Rivers (LAR) @TB 0.4% rostered
Romeo Doubs (GB) @DET 46.7% rostered
Doubs is the primary receiver for the Packers. It’s not the title that it used to be when the Packers and Aaron Rodgers where a high-firing effective offense, but you are still getting a starting WR on an offense led by Rodgers. A nice matchup against the Lions increases his appeal for this week.
Rondale Moore (ARI) v SEA 46.6% rostered
Moore had his best game of the season against the Vikings, as he caught 7 of 8 for 92 yards and a score. While he isn’t the primary receiver in the offense, until Marquise Brown returns from injury he is the clear number 2.
Devin Duvernay (BAL) @NO 29.1% rostered
Duvernay has some value in the offense as a big-play option. Rashod Bateman was questionable leading into the matchup against Tampa Bay, and then was ruled out during it. In deep leagues, Duvernay has some flex appeal.
Mecole Hardman (KC) v TEN 27.8% rostered
Coming off the back of a bye week, the Chiefs should be looking to keep the momentum of their offense going. Hardman grabbed headlines in Week 7 before the bye week, but had good performances in Week 5 and Week 6. The Titans secondary is going to need to deal with Travis Kelce, which should allow Hardman the space to operate.
Mack Hollins (LV) @JAX 6.4% rostered
Hollins continues to get usage in the Raiders offense, working as the receiver that is overlooked as defenses look to limit Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow. The Jaguars secondary is one that you can definitely take advantage of. The question will be if Darren Waller returns, which looks likely, as that will limit his role in the offense.
Darius Slayton (NYG) BYE 2.5% rostered
This pickup isn’t for this week, as the Giants are on bye. But, this Giants offense continues to find success through the air. Slayton is currently a starter in the offense, and getting a decent target share. With the Giants moving on from Kadarius Toney, Slayton’s role should be stable.
Others to Consider
- Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG) BYE 34.9% rostered
- Parris Campbell/ Alec Pierce (IND) @NE (29.9/ 29.3% rostered
- Odell Beckham Jr. (FA) 18.9% rostered
Greg Dulcich (DEN) BYE 34.0% rostered
Dulcich looked great this past week in the UK when he became involved in the game. The rookie is being used effectively in the Broncos offense, and looks like he can be a reliable option at the TE position. You need to hold him through this week, as he is on bye, but his target share and production can’t be overlooked.
Evan Engram (JAX) v LV 32.2% rostered
This offseason I spoke to a few guys I bounce ideas off, and I said I felt Engram might be a thing. Looks like that could well be correct as he is getting a decent share of targets (including redzone) in the offense. At a position that is few and far between in terms of talent, you could do worse than Engram for a bye-week plugin.
Tyler Conklin (NYJ) v BUF 16.2% rostered
Conklin started the season strongly, then fell away and now has had a strong performance against the Patriots. It might feel like an over-reaction to chase the points, with his 2 TD game, but the Bills defense can be attacked effectively at the TE position, and I can see the Jets looking to simplify things for Zach Wilson to limit turnovers.
Others to Consider
- Robert Tonyan (GB) @DET 49.7% rostered
- Isaiah Likely (BAL) @NO 1.7% rostered
- Foster Moreau (LV) @JAX 1.2% rostered
Miami Dolphins @CHI 42.7% rostered
The Bears offense has been limiting the turnovers recently, but their offensive line has still been struggling with protecting their QB. The Dolphins defense has been able to make plays when it has been given the opportunity.
Minnesota Vikings @WAS 9.8% rostered
The Vikings defense matches up against a Washington offense that has been able to make plays, but has turned over the ball and struggled to limit sacks. A nice streaming option in a week with alot of teams on bye.
Others to consider
- Indianapolis Colts @NE 48.9% rostered
- Kansas City Chiefs v TEN 6.1% rostered
Matt Prater (ARI) v SEA 23.5% rostered
Prater returned to action this past week after struggling with an injury. Didn’t perform kickoff duties, but managed to kick at goal. The Cardinals have a nice matchup against the Seahawks this week. Prater’s leg means that he is constantly in range, and is accurate when given the opportunity. Kicking in a dome too, which is always a positive.
Chase McLaughlin (IND) @NE 2.9% rostered
The Colts offense is struggling. They moved from Matt Ryan, but that didn’t really do too much for them against Washington this past week. Against the Patriots I can’t see things getting much better. McLaughlin has been able to convert opportunities when given the chance, and is likely to see plenty of stalled drives this week.
Others to consider
- Wil Lutz (NO) v BAL 9.6% rostered
- Michael Badgley (DET) v GB 0.7% rostered
There you have it! Any questions, or want some more specific help for your league on who to drop, just reach out. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. And checkout out rankings for each Week.
Image Credit: Quinn Harris – USA TODAY Sports
