Fantasy Football 2019: Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
Carr threw three touchdown passes in the Raiders' Week 8 loss to the Texans.
Eric Christian Smith/AP/Shutterstock
Only two teams were on bye in Week 8 and it will be more challenging in Week 9 with the Bengals, Falcons, Rams and Saints all off. The trade deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 30, and it's possible that shifts the value of a few players.
Below are players I recommend adding who are owned in under 40% of leagues on Yahoo, ESPN or CBS.
Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold, New York Jets
Throw out the game against the Patriots. Few quarterbacks have success against them. While Darnold threw three interceptions against the Jaguars, he passed for 218 yards with two touchdowns. The Jets have one of the best schedules ahead, with the Dolphins, Giants, Redskins, Raiders, Bengals and Dolphins. If the offensive line can protect Darnold, some good games are ahead.
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
Carr has been playing better and threw three touchdowns for the first time this season against the Texans in Week 8. He has passed for at least 285 yards in three consecutive games and has five touchdowns and one interception over the last two games. The Raiders host the Lions, who have allowed 10 passing touchdowns in the last three games. They have allowed Kirk Cousins and Daniel Jones to each throw four touchdown passes.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Tannehill has done a good job in his first two starts. He has completed more than 70% of his passes with five touchdowns and one interception. Tannehill only threw for 193 yards against the Buccaneers, but passed for three touchdowns.
Running Backs
Mark Walton, Miami Dolphins
Walton was already starting to see his role increase, and with Kenyan Drake traded to Arizona, Walton is in line to be the lead back. Walton had 14 carries for 66 yards in Week 7 and is averaging 4.6 yards per rush. Kalen Ballage could take away some goal-line carries, as he has scored in each of the last two games, but Walton is in line for 15 touches and could catch several passes as the team plays from behind. It's not a good offense, so the ceiling is limited.
Jaylen Samuels, Pittsburgh Steelers
Samuels was inactive for Monday night football, but he was practicing leading up to the game. He had a knee procedure a couple of weeks ago and is close to a return. Samuels caught 11 passes over the last two games he played and is the backup to James Conner when he returns.
Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are on bye, but Henderson had double-digit touches against the Bengals and there's always concern for the health of Todd Gurley. Henderson had 11 carries for 49 yards and caught two passes for 20 yards against Cincinnati. He had 12 touches the week before. Malcolm Brown is the backup when he's healthy, but Henderson has displayed explosiveness and should be held on the bench if there's room.
Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers' running game is one to invest in. Tevin Coleman is the main back, but whoever is the second back for that week is worth playing. Matt Breida injured his ankle at the end of the first half and had 13 touches. The 49ers play Thursday night, so there's a chance Breida sits. If he does, Mostert can be considered a start against the Cardinals. Mostert had nine carries for 60 yards with a touchdown against the Panthers. Jeff Wilson Jr. also left the game with a stinger and his status for Thursday is in question.
Derrius Guice, Washington Redskins
Guice is a stash in deeper formats. He is back at practice with the Redskins and is eligible to return in Week 11. He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in September and should be given a chance to play, although it's in a bad offense.
Tra Carson, Detroit Lions
The backfield in Detroit is a mess. Carson, who was signed less than two weeks ago, got the start and the first few carries against the Giants in Week 8 when most expected Ty Johnson to be the primary back. Johnson played the most snaps with 23 and had eight touches, while Carson played 19 snaps and had 12 carries for 34 yards. He wasn't used in the passing game, so that hurts him in PPR formats. No back had much room to run. Carson is an add in deeper formats. He's the bigger back of the group at 227 pounds and could see goal-line touches.
Wide Receivers
Chris Conley, Jacksonville Jaguars
Dede Westbrook has been on the injury report the last couple of weeks and he left Sunday's game with a shoulder and neck injury. Conley has become more involved in the offense in the last two games, and if Westbrook misses time, it will only help Conley, especially in Week 9 against the Texans. Conley had seven targets for the second consecutive game catching four passes for 103 yards with a touchdown against the Jets in Week 8. He had three catches for 83 yards the week prior against the Bengals.
Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills
Beasley isn't going to blow up for 150 yards and huge games, which is why his ownership remains low. Beasley had a high floor in PPR formats and can be overlooked, especially within bye weeks. Beasley has at least six targets in five of seven games. He has at least nine points in PPR formats in every game except one and has scored in the last two games. The next three weeks the Bills play the Redskins, Browns and Dolphins.
Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions
With four teams on bye and a great matchup with the Raiders, Amendola can at least be looked at this week. Matthew Stafford is playing well and the Lions could lean on the pass more with the lack of great options at running back. Over the last two games, Amendola has 19 targets. He caught all eight targets against the Giants for 95 yards. Against the Vikings in Week 7, Amendola caught eight passes for 105 yards.
Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams
Reynolds won't help in Week 9 with the Rams on a bye. Brandin Cooks left the game against the Bengals with a concussion for the second time this season. He had a concussion in the Super Bowl in 2018. There's a chance Cooks misses multiple games. If he does, Reynolds has value. Reynolds has been productive when one of the Rams receivers is out. He was second on the teams with eight targets and caught three passes for 73 yards with a touchdown, while playing 89% of the snaps.
Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears
Miller has seen his playing time increase in recent weeks, and while it's difficult to trust anyone in the Bears' passing offense outside of Allen Robinson, Miller has a great matchup against a bad Eagles secondary. Miller caught all three targets for 67 yards against the Chargers and caught five of nine targets for 64 yards the week before against the Saints.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Johnson has been a favorite of Mason Rudolph. Entering Monday's game against the Dolphins, Johnson had 20 targets in three games with Rudolph and scored two touchdowns.
Alex Erickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Erickson has been heavily involved in the offense the last few weeks. The Bengals have a bye in Week 9 and A.J. Green could return in Week 10, so there are better options. In deep formats, he can be considered as the Bengals will be passing often. He caught six passes for 97 yards against the Rams in Week 8. He caught eight of 14 targets for 137 yards against the Jaguars in Week 7. Erickson has 27 targets over the last three games.
Tight Ends
Chris Herndon, New York Jets
Another reminder about Herndon. He was suspended for the first four games and sat out the last three due to a hamstring injury. He appears on track to return this week. Tight end Ryan Griffin had four catches for 66 yards with two touchdowns for the Jets, and Herndon will get targets. The Jets could trade wide receiver Robby Anderson and that could open up more targets for Herndon.
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
Smith was mentioned here last week. As long as Delanie Walker is out, Smith will be on the field often. Smith took advantage of a favorable matchup against the Buccaneers, catching six of seven targets for 78 yards with a touchdown. He had three catches for 64 yards the week before after replacing Walker early in the game.
Darren Fells, Houston Texans
Fells has been getting looks in the red zone and has scored four times in the last four games. He has at least 13 points in PPR formats in three of the last four games. He caught all six targets for 58 yards with two touchdowns against the Raiders in Week 8.
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert continues to play a lot of snaps as the Eagles use more two tight-end sets. He played 75% of the snaps against the Bills and scored for the second straight game. Goedert has 17 targets the last three games and has at least nine points in PPR formats.
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