Week 9 Priority Waiver Targets

I wanted to include some players for all you home league heros out there! These are some of my favorite players that should be available in most home leagues based on inclusion criteria of being rostered in <50% of ESPN leagues. I will list out the players in my ranked order instead of breaking into tiers for how I prioritize them. If you are in need of a spot start at certain position then feel free to prioritize those players. You may also move QBs and TEs up in priority if you play in a Superflex or TEP league. I will offer FAAB suggestion ranges for each player followed by a list of droppable players. Please note you do not have to drop these players and all suggestions are general as it is impossible to cover all nuances of individual leagues. Feel free to reach out to me on twitter @stephmiller57 or find me in the Deposit Kingdom Discord with any questions, good luck everyone!

Chuba Hubbard (42.9% Rostered, Suggested FAAB 15-30%) is my top waiver add if available as he is going to maintain his role as lead back despite Miles Sanders return from injury and new offensive play caller. Hubbard dominated the backfield with 45 snaps and 17 touches while Sanders only played 12 snaps and saw 2 touches. Hubbard has been the better runner all season earning a PFF run grade 76.6 (19th among RBs) with 3.9 YPA average than Sanders 48.7 (58th among RBs) with 3.0 YPA average this season. Hubbard is currently the best of these waiver options to be a viable long term fantasy starter, everyone of you should go get him on your roster if he is available.

Zach Charbonnet (30.2% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 15-30%) had 5-53 rushing and 2-11 receiving line registering season high usage in snaps, rush share, and route rate in a week where Kenneth Walker was questionable to play. The increase in early down work could be related to Walker not being fully healthy, but Charbonnet also took over all the third down and 2 minute work which he was splitting with DeeJay Dallas, who only played on special teams. Charbonnet is my favorite high upside handcuff at this point with a nice boost in his receiving work who has possibly earned a bigger role in the run games as well and huge injury contingent upside making for a very worthy waiver add.

Trey McBride (7.8% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 15-30%) was on my list previously as I thought he would see a usage bump after we saw his role expanding in recent weeks even before Zach Ertz was injured and placed on IR. Fast forward to week 8 and OMG I never saw this coming… 88% routes run, 40% target share, 39% TPPR, and 26 PPR points later and McBride is a huge priority this week and could realistically finish as a top 5 TE this season. Now that the Cardinals traded Josh Dobbs to the Vikings on Halloween, Kyler Murray season feels closer than ever, which should be a huge boost to the Cardinals passing game. Oh and one last and very important note in the words of the great Evan Silva, did I mention McBride is a “MF’N Mackey Award Winner?” (I edited for the children, your welcome Pete).

Emari Demercado (39.2% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 10-20%) played 41 of 49 snaps the first three quarters, then hardly played the last quarter while the game was mostly out of reach in a trailing script. Damien Williams had been mixing in on early downs and left with a foot injury. Demercado is likely one of the best options available at running back if you need a start next week, despite a tough matchup, but he will likely be relegated to stash territory once James Conner returns, likely in week 10.

Demario “Pop” Douglas (1.2% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 8-15%) should be the Patriots number one receiver after Kendrick Bourne had a season ending ACL injury and the possibility Devante Parker misses week 9 with a concussion. Douglas lead the Patriots with 84% routes and 22% of targets with 22% TPPR in week 8. Douglas saw 100% of snaps in 11 personnel with the return of Juju Smith-Schuster whom he split these snaps with earlier in the season further validating his ascension as the leading slot receiver where Smith-Schuster only only played in 11 personnel after the Bourne injury. The Patriots offense may not be the most exciting but the 6th round rookie has demonstrated an ability to earn targets and produce strong YAC ability in college and continues to earn targets in the NFL. These statistical efficiency metrics on top of the increased opportunity due to injuries on the offense instill some confidence that Douglas may produce viable fantasy outputs, making him a priority add at the WR position.

Kyler Murray (31.8% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 8-15%) season feels closer than ever now that the Cardinals have traded Josh Dobbs to the Vikings. The rookie Clayton Tune is said to start week 9, it feels like week 10 is when Murray is most likely to return. Murray is the type of player you want to pickup to maximize your upside as you finish strong and head into the fantasy playoffs. Murray has never finished with less than 18.6 PPR points per game on average in a season and has more upside than any other QB you will find at this point on waivers.

Sam Howell (30.3% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 8-15%) passed for 397 yards and 4 TDs Sunday against the Eagles. Howell is not afraid to let it fly and continues to lead the league in drop backs (369) with 5th most yards (2146), and is in a 3 way tie for 6th most TDs (13). While Howell may not be the best real life quarterback with only a 60.7 PFF pass grade, ranking 26th, and continues to lead the league in sacks (41), he is putting up fantasy numbers as he was the QB1 in PPR points last weeks and sits as the QB8 in PPR scoring this season overall.

Khalil Shakir (0.2% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 3-8%) was a huge beneficiary when Dawson Knox missed with wrist surgery and the Bills played less 2 TE sets and much more 11 personnel. Shakir ran 73% of routes, much more than Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield who were previously competing for the WR3 role earlier in the season. Shakir also saw 6 targets for 92 yards and was the only one of the three receivers to see any targets, solidifying himself as the preferred WR3 option on the team. Shakir is a nice add at the wide receiver position and can be used in a spot start if Knox continues to miss time forcing the Bills to continue using more 3 WR sets.

Devin Singletary (33% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 3-8%) split rush work with Dameon Pierce with 34% of rush attempts and ran 30% of routes with a 10% target share and 25%TPPR. Pierce is still being used as the goal line back and Mike Boone is playing a lot of the third down role and also saw a 5% target share and 70% of LDD work making no one in this backfield a viable fantasy start at this time. Singletary is a viable stash based on the fact he maintained solid usage coming off the bye, signaling week 6 was not a fluke and maintains injury contingent upside.

Taysom Hill (14.8% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 3-8%) is back on the list after continuing to produce week 8 even when Juwan Johnson returned from injury. Hill’s route percentage did drop significantly, however, the Saints continue to use Hill as a rusher and receiver and he saw double digit touches this game, including 2 in the red zone which he converted to TDs. It is obvious the Saints will continue to value this weapon and design packages for him, you can either complain about Taysom vulturing TDs or pick him up yourself.

Rico Dowdle (2.8% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 1-5%) is a high priority stash for me. Full disclosure, I am a huge Cowboys fan and had very high hopes for Tony Pollard, but after yet another disappointing performance where the Cowboys had a blow out win it is becoming more evident something is missing. The usage is there, however the efficiency is not, as Pollard only has 28% of runs go for more yards than expected, ranking 5th worst in the league. We also saw Dowdle have a season high 35% of snaps coming off the bye week. Yes, this was a blowout script, but this is not the first blowout the Cowboys have faced this season. Dowdle remains a high priority injury contingent stash, but it is becoming more feasible that he could carve out a larger role alongside Pollard as well.

Michael Wilson (8.9% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 1-5%) is maintaining his usage as the Cardinals WR2 and ran a route on 85% of drop backs and saw 17% target share. Wilson operates as a downfield threat as well, increasing his big play upside. I like collecting these Cardinal pieces ahead of Kyler Murray’s likely week 10 return, where I remain hopeful all the passing weapons increase in value on this offense.

Rashid Shaheed (18.4% Rostered ESPN, Suggested FAAB 1-5%) the epitome of a boom/bust receiver went boom in week 8. Shaheed finished with 24 PPR points as the WR 7 with a 10% target share, despite only running a route on 52% of drop backs. Shaheed is very difficult to trust as his usage is anything but consistent; however, he continues to produce. I like rostering him as a high upside play whenever I am in need of a plug and pray fill at WR or come from behind victory Hail Mary.

Drops

Kirk Cousins, Desmond Ridder, Tyrod Taylor, Jerick McKinnon, Keaontay Ingram, Zach Evans, Jordan Mason, Dalvin Cook, Antonio Gibson, Allen Lazard, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Kendrick Bourne,