Waiver Wire Targets Week 9 2017

By Armando Marsal
Armando Marsal
We have a couple of situations which should create some interesting decisions on waivers this week. The 49ers trade for Jimmy Garoppolo and Ezekiel Elliott is set to miss the next six games while he serves his suspension. As far as Garoppolo is concerned, he can be added off of waivers and stashed until he gets up to speed with the 49ers offense. The Cowboys running back situation is a little foggy as we could see a committee with Elliott sidelined, but both backs in that backfield should be added. Then you also have to take bye weeks and injuries into consideration, so the waiver wire could certainly be helpful to fantasy owners this week. That said, below are some players to target off of the waivers this week, so let’s jump right into.

Quarterback

Josh McCown – Jets: McCown has thrown two or more touchdowns passes in each of his last four games, eclipsing 300 passing yards once during that stretch and scoring 18+ fantasy points three times. He faces a Bills defense that is dealing with injuries and has allowed 1,025 passing yards in their last three games, as well as five passing touchdowns. He is volatile nonetheless, but with byes and injuries, McCown makes for a viable streaming option this week.

Others to consider: Jimmy Garoppolo – 49ers, Teddy Bridgewater - Vikings

Running Back

Damien Williams - Dolphins: Williams has been operating as the Dolphins No. 2 running back this season and with the Jay Ajayi trade, he could become the team's starting back. Williams could see a significant volume boost and could also catch passes out of the backfield. He is far from a lock to become an every week fantasy option, but should be added just in case he pans out. Kenyan Drake will likely serve as his backup.

Alex Collins – Ravens: Collins has established himself as the Ravens early-down back and rushed for 113 yards on 18 carries in Week 8 against the Dolphins, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He has 10 or more touches in four consecutive games and will likely see double-digit touches on a consistent basis moving forward. The Ravens still have matchups against the Packers, Colts, and Browns, all which bode well for Collins. He is just 32.1 percent owned in ESPN leagues, so he remains a free agent in a good amount of leagues.

Marlon Mack - Colts: Mack has double-digit fantasy points (PPR formats) in all but two games this season and has now scored a touchdown in two of his last four games, while receiving 10 or more touches three times during that stretch. He has played in at least 48 percent of the snaps in each of the last two games and could continue to see his role increased as the season progresses. He is a back that can be helpful immediately and also a good stash if you do not need his services at this time.

Others to consider: Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden – Cowboys, Dion Lewis – Patriots; Orleans Darkwa - Giants

Wide Receiver

Mohamed Sanu – Falcons: Sanu has been peppered with 17 targets in the last two games, catching 12 of those targets for 139 yards and a touchdown. He has scored 10 or more fantasy points in all but one game this season and the only game he did not score that many points was against the Bills where he left early due to a hamstring injury. Sanu is far from a high upside receiver, but he does provide fantasy owners with some consistency and can be very helpful to those dealing with byes and/or injuries. The Falcons still have matchups against the Cowboys, Bucs (twice), and Saints (twice) all of which can be considered favorable situations for Sanu.

Robby Anderson – Jets: Anderson has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games and five or more targets in all but one game this season. He accounts for 21 percent of the Jets target share and has played in 81 percent of the snaps. This is an offense that will likely be chasing points often, so the volume should remain consistent for Anderson. In Week 9, he faces a Bills defense that has allowed a receiver to find the pay dirt in four consecutive games.

Others to consider: Paul Richardson – Seahawks; JuJu Smith-Schuster – Steelers, Corey Davis – Titans

Tight End

Vernon Davis – Redskins: Jordan Reed suffered a hamstring injury in Week 8 and could miss Week 9, while Niles Paul is out with a concussion. By default, Davis should step into a larger role. In the one other game that Reed missed this season, Davis caught 5-of-5 targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. This week’s matchup is tough, but based on potential volume alone, he can be considered a viable streaming option.

Others to consider: Tyler Kroft – Bengals

For any questions, feel free to reach out to me on the Twitter machine @Armando_Marsal. Best of luck to all.