Fantasy football is back! We bring you our weekly list of players who have some downside as potential waiver wire busts. Some of these players may appear in our waiver wire suggestions, but this list is designed to point out factors that could affect or limit their production.
Fantasy football waiver wire advice, Week 9: Hot players with potential downside
Fantasy football is back! So are injuries and now bye weeks, though, so you may be looking for a short-term fix or a long-term solution. There are some players who are hot on the waiver wire lists who could have some potential downside. We bring you the top-five list here.
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WR Donte Moncrief — Indianapolis Colts (owned in 3 percent of all leagues): There are already calls for Moncrief to pass Hakeem Nicks on the depth chart, and his performance in the loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday night made the calls even louder. With Reggie Wayne sidelined and day to day with an elbow injury, Moncrief is the most talented option to start opposite T.Y. Hilton. While Nicks has more total targets, he only saw six targets to Moncrief's 12 Sunday. Until his role becomes more defined he will remain a boom or bust play.
WR Andrew Hawkins — Cleveland Browns (owned in 33 percent of all leagues): Hawkins is hot on the waiver wire because of Jordan Cameron's third concussion in less than two years. Hawkins has been a big boost to the Browns offense with the suspension of Josh Gordon and leads in receiving but the Browns offense is hardly a juggernaut. With Gordon's return three weeks away teams' should be able to key on Hawkins who just has one touchdown on the year. Hawkins might be the most targeted receiver but Miles Austin and Travis Benjamin own the end zone for the Browns with two and three touchdowns respectively.
WR John Brown — Arizona Cardinals (owned in 10 percent of all leagues): Brown is a very talented wide receiver, and he does lead the Cardinals in touchdown receptions with four. Sunday was his breakout game with 10 targets that he corralled into five receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown. Brown was targeted the same amount as perennial Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald. It bodes well for his future that Brown is earning this trust but rookie wideouts are notoriously inconsistent, and we expect Brown's numbers to reflect that trend. He should remain a boom or bust play this season.
RB Bobby Rainey — Tampa Bay (owned in 24 percent of all leagues): Rainey is hot on the waiver wire because of another Doug Martin injury, but has been mostly mediocre this year in Tampa. There are rumors of a Martin trade which makes sense since rookie running back Charles Sims is expected back this week from short-term injured reserve. Sims might get worked in slowly, but he is expected to see a ton of carries once he shakes off the rust. Rainey might be a nice handcuff to Sims but as a standalone option his value remains low.
QB Robert Griffin III — Washington (owned in 36 percent of all leagues): RG3 is inactive this week but could return in Week 9 when Washington faces the Minnesota Vikings. Colt McCoy has replaced the inconsistent Kirk Cousins and is playing fairly decent right now. If McCoy holds down the position well enough it seems unlikely Washington will rush Griffin back. Griffin struggled last season returning from the ACL injury he suffered his rookie season. Washington is playing on Monday Night Football and barring an injury or complete meltdown McCoy could remain the starter until Washington is assured Griffin is fully healthy.
