The fantasy football season rounds the halfway point after a chaotic Week 8. Le’Veon Bell, Steve Smith, Matt Forte and countless others went down with severe injuries, forcing fantasy owners to scramble as they start making playoff pushes.
Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 9: Bye week replacements for Cardinals, Ravens, Lions, Texans, Chiefs, Seahawks
With six teams on bye and countless fantasy stars getting injured, Week 9 is going to be a gold rush on the waiver wire.
To make matters worse, there are six teams on bye this week -- the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks all have the week off. So in addition to the injuries, fantasy owners won’t have top players like Calvin Johnson, Marshawn Lynch, Larry Fitzgerald, Chris Johnson and Jeremy Maclin available. Needless to say, it’s going to be a mad scramble to the waiver wire.
To help you out, here is a short list of waiver wire options for Week 9. All players are owned in 50 percent or less of Yahoo! leagues.
Quarterbacks
Players on bye: Carson Palmer, Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Brian Hoyer, Alex Smith, Russell Wilson
Waiver wire options
Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills: Should be healthy coming off the bye. Rustiness is a concern, but he was a borderline QB1 before getting injured.
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders: Is having the second-year breakout we thought Teddy Bridgewater would have. An every-week starter at this point.
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans: Expected to come back this week. Gets a good matchup with the New Orleans Saints’ terrible defense.
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears: Has just one interception in past three games. Faces a San Diego Chargers’ defense that can’t stop anyone.
Ryan Fitzpatrick/Geno Smith, New York Jets: Both players are banged up, so watch the injury reports. Whoever gets the start has QB2 appeal against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The mistakes are cut down -- he hasn’t thrown a pick since Week 4. The New York Giants’ defense just gave up seven touchdowns last Sunday. Winston isn’t a bad streaming option.
Running backs
Players on bye: Chris Johnson, Andre Ellington, David Johnson, Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, Joique Bell, Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Alfred Blue, Chris Polk, Charcandrick West, Marshawn Lynch, Thomas Rawls
Waiver wire options
DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers: If you’re a Le’Veon Bell owner, chances are you already picked up Williams.
Jeremy Langford, Chicago Bears: The next man up with Matt Forte expected to miss a couple weeks.
Charles Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Is probably more valuable in real life than fantasy, but the flex upside is there.
Orleans Darkwa, New York Giants: Looks like the new goal line back, but he did suffer a back injury this week.
Antonio Andrews, Tennessee Titans: You’ll only start Andrews when you’re out of options. You won’t be happy about it.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts: Still more speculative than anything. We’re waiting on him to find a real role with Frank Gore in the picture.
Wide receivers
Players on bye: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown, Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, DeAndre Hopkins, Nate Washington, Jeremy Maclin, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Lockett
Waiver wire options
Marvin Jones, Cincinnati Bengals: Continues to be boom-or-bust, but a matchup with the Cleveland Browns’ defense could mean one of his “boom” weeks.
Stevie Johnson, San Diego Chargers: Could see more targets with Keenan Allen out indefinitely.
Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers: See above.
Rueben Randle, New York Giants: Somehow didn’t do much despite the Giants racking up 416 total yards. He’s a low-upside guy, but someone you can use if you’re desperate.
Justin Hardy, Atlanta Falcons: More of a speculative stash. The rookie started in place of Leonard Hankerson and could see his role expand if Hankerson is forced to miss another game.
Jamison Crowder, Washington: Ran as the clear No. 2 receiver with DeSean Jackson out, but his role will decrease with Jackson expected to return.
Tight ends
Players on bye: Crockett Gillmore, Eric Ebron, Travis Kelce, Jimmy Graham
Waiver wire options
Vernon Davis, Denver Broncos: Change of scenery might help him out, as well as catching balls from Peyton Manning instead of Colin Kaepernick.
Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers: By far the biggest beneficiary of Ben Roethlisberger’s return. He’s back on the TE1 map.
Jacob Tamme, Atlanta Falcons: Seems to have found a real role in the offense. Worth a dice roll.
