Top-50 WR Rankings - Week 17

5 Starts & 5 Sits - Week 17

Streamers for the Desperate - Week 17

Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds

Alex Ciulla

We had our first full slate of action this past weekend since Week 4 with no teams on bye, and scoring was back up in a thrilling Week 8. In addition to the second-fewest field goals made in any week thus far, teams combined to score 84 touchdowns -- the most we've seen in so far this year. Additionally, there were more monster performances this weekend from a few welcomed stars who had disappointed in weeks past (looking at you, CeeDee Lamb). As always, another week means more storylines to overanalyze, and I'd be remiss if we didn't hit on the injuries.

A few interesting notes ahead of Week 9: Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen was non-committal on his starter for the team's game against the Vikings. QB Anthony Richardson has been one of the worst through the first two months of the season, and a switch to veteran Joe Flacco is an instant boost to all Colts' pass-catchers. React accordingly. Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales also neglected to name a starter as well. While QB Andy Dalton hasn't performed well since his three-touchdown outing in Week 3, Sunday was a stark reminder of just what a Bryce Young-led Panthers offense looks like.

Additionally, on the Panthers' front, it's expected that WR Diontae Johnson will be shipped off to a contending team before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. If you've held onto Johnson, you may be handsomely rewarded in short order. In some good news, Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa returned from a concussion and was an immediate boon to the entire Dolphins offense. WR's Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, along with RB De'Von Achane, are lineup fixtures again -- start them with confidence. Now, for the bad news. 

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love (groin) left Sunday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars and is considered day-to-day. An MRI on Monday revealed no significant damage, so it appears Love avoided a severe injury. The Packers are "optimistic" he plays this Sunday. Houston Texans WR Stefon Diggs (knee) picked up a non-contact injury late in the third quarter of Houston's win over Indianapolis. Diggs will have an MRI this week, and although he walked off under his own power -- those injuries are never good news.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had three wide receivers leave their matchup against the Packers due to injury -- all with varying degrees of severity. WR Christian Kirk (collarbone) will miss the remainder of the season -- a big loss considering they were shopping him to contenders. Standout rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) is considered day-to-day and needs to be monitored. Finally, WR Gabe Davis (shoulder) also left the game and did not return. No news on Davis yet, but the Jags are in danger of being gravely short-staffed for Week 9.

In other injury news, New England Patriots QB Drake Maye (concussion) was forced from his contest early, and if he can't clear protocol, the Patriots will go back to a Jacoby Brissett-led passing game. Lastly (although they have an entire bye-week to get healthy), San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel Sr. (ribs) and RB Jordan Mason (shoulder) exited their respective SNF game. Monitor closely.

As a reminder, this column assumes PPR scoring and will only highlight players at or around 50% ownership on Yahoo! Bye weeks kick back into effect for the next month, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers will have Week 9 off. This article will show many of the main Week 9 Waiver Wire Picks.

If you're interested in going deeper and finding diamonds in the rough for Week 9, check out ASL founder Leonard Lapadula's Week 9 Streamers For The Desperate article.

Let's dive in.

Quarterback Streamers

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (43% Owned)
The Chargers’ outing against the New Orleans Saints was one of the whackier ones, but Chargers QB Justin Herbert looked good in the 26-8 victory. Herbert put together his best fantasy performance of the season with 279 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-32 passing. It’s the third game in a row that he’s tossed for 230-plus yards, and he’s notched just one interception through seven games.

The 25-year-old will face off against the Cleveland Browns on the road in Week 9, and I like him a lot in this outing. With Cleveland’s switch to QB Jameis Winston came an impressive scoring outburst, knocking off the Baltimore Ravens 29-24. If Winston keeps it up, Herbert will likely have to air it out, particularly with his run game not as effective over the last few weeks compared to earlier in the year.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (39% Owned)

From one LA quarterback to the next. Week 8 started off on a high note on Thursday Night Football when the Rams stunned the Vikings with a 30-20 loss. Despite the controversial non-call at the end of the game, QB Matthew Stafford easily had his best outing of 2024. Stafford entered with just three total passing touchdowns but more than doubled that figure when he torched Minnesota for 279 yards and four scores.

With wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back in the fold and looking no worse for wear, the 36-year-old veteran could continue to be a useful streaming option. He and the Rams will line up against their division-rival Seattle Seahawks next Sunday.

Seattle has been Swiss-cheese on the defensive side of the ball, so it’s an excellent matchup for Stafford. Additionally, with wide receiver DK Metcalf potentially returning, Seattle could keep things interesting enough to where the game could be a shootout.

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (25% Owned)

Despite being overshadowed by rookie Washington QB sensation Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix is quietly having an astounding debut campaign with the Denver Broncos. Nix set new career highs in Denver’s 28-14 utter domination of the Carolina Panthers, completing 28 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. He even chipped in an additional score on the ground across his five carries.

The 24-year-old has now thrown just one interception since Week 3 after recording four through the first two weeks, and he’s been excellent on the ground, averaging 32.4 yards per contest. He’ll again get a sweet matchup in Week 9 against a Baltimore Ravens defense that's not what it once was. We can’t expect the rookie to toss three scores again, and Baltimore will put up more of a fight than Carolina, but we shouldn’t diminish the former Oregon Duck’s accomplishments so far. I like Nix the most of these three options, primarily because Denver’s rushing attack hasn’t been all that special.

Running Backs

Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos (15% Owned)

The waiver wire running backs are somewhat non-existent this week, as neither of the players highlighted here will likely be of assistance in Week 9. Still, they’re worth mentioning as stashes/deep-league targets. Let's start with Jaleel McLaughlin.

McLaughlin is far-and-away the second option on this team in the backfield pecking order as RB Javonte Williams currently garners Denver's “thumper” role, but he’s also far-and-away the more explosive athlete. Case in point: McLaughlin scored a touchdown reception this past weekend, hauling in his lone target for a nine-yard score.

The 24-year-old’s snap count ticked up this week, and if he keeps outperforming Williams, could make this more of a committee. McLaughlin will present as a low-end FLEX option with upside should things come to that.

Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (8% Owned)

San Fran RB Isaac Guerendo is a pure stash/handcuff at this point, but Sunday Night Football was an excellent showcase of what it might be like if he ever won the lead role. Guerendo took over for an injured Jordan Mason (shoulder) in Sunday’s 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, toting the rock 14 times for an efficient 85 yards (6.07 YPC) and scoring a touchdown, while adding three receptions and 17 yards on four targets.

Guerendo would have had an even more massive evening, but he broke a long run late in the second half and slid down inside the 5-yard line to ice the game for the 49ers. It’s the second time he’s been responsible for such a play.

Unfortunately, San Francisco is on bye next week, and head coach Kyle Shanahan commented that Mason “maybe” could have returned to the game on Sunday night, although he did not. Additionally, with the looming return of superstar running back Christian McCaffrey, the additional touches in this backfield are about to vanish. Still, it doesn’t hurt to hold Guerendo on your bench if McCaffrey’s return is delayed, as he’s earned more of a role.

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Wide Receivers

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (19% Owned)

Now, we’re getting to the fun part.

If Browns WR Cedric Tillman is still available in your league, this waiver period is likely your last chance to get him. The second-year wideout has now put together back-to-back impressive performances, combining for 15 receptions, 180 yards, and two touchdowns over the last two weeks since the departure of ex-teammate Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills.

Additionally, QB Jameis Winston led Cleveland to their first outing all season of 20 or more points. Winston was electric, racking up 334 yards and three touchdown passes against a soft Ravens defense. In one game, Winston did what former QB DeShaun Watson couldn’t since the start of 2023 – eclipse 300 passing yards and two touchdowns in a single contest.

Tillman was out-targeted by running mate Elijah Moore in this one (12) but currently appears to be one of the better plays in this passing attack. The Browns’ offense is trending up, and Tillman would be a PPR monster if he continues this kind of production. He’s a low-end WR2 moving forward.

Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders (59% Owned)

Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers likely isn’t available in your league, but you may want to check your free agent list as it’s possible a league-mate of yours dropped him. Meyers returned to the field in Week 8 after missing two games with an ankle injury and resumed his role as the WR1.

The 27-year-old reeled in 6-of-7 targets for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders’ 27-20 loss against a staunch KC defense. The TD was his second of the year, and Sunday marked the third time he registered at least six receptions in his last four appearances.

If the former undrafted free agent can stay healthy, he’ll be a useful weekly fantasy option moving forward. That applies to his Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Grab him if you can, and fire him up confidently as a strong WR2.

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills (41% Owned)

Admittedly, WR Keon Coleman was my least favorite Buffalo wide receiver target in this year’s drafts. I even slightly avoided him in dynasty rookie drafts. However, Coleman has started to come on over the last few weeks.

In his most recent outing, the rookie wide-out reeled in 5-of-7 targets for 70 yards and a touchdown – finishing as the Bills’ second-leading receiver in each statistical category behind teammate Khalil Shakir. It’s the second game in a row he’s registered seven targets.

My main gripe about Coleman was how Buffalo might deploy him, as he was not a strong press-coverage beater in college. Still, he’s exceeded my expectations and presents as a nice WR3 with massive upside.

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (47% Owned)

Conversely, Colts WR Josh Downs was one of my favorite breakout receivers heading into this season, but he’s had an Anthony Richardson problem for most of 2024. Despite this, Downs was superb in Indy’s 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans – leading the Colts with 109 yards and a touchdown on 4-of-9 receiving. No other Indianapolis pass-catcher gained more than 16 yards or caught more than one pass.

Most of the second-year wideout's production came on his 69-yard touchdown, but he’s one of the best separators in the NFL, and things might be looking up for him.

Earlier in this article, you may recall I mentioned that head coach Shane Steichen had not committed to a starter for Week 9’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Well, not only would Downs be a must-add if QB Joe Flacco takes over, but he’d also be darn close to a must-start. In the three games Flacco has appeared in, Downs has combined to amass 24 receptions, 217 yards, and two touchdowns on 30 targets. I’m not prioritizing the 23-year-old if Indy sticks with Anthony Richardson, but we may not know who starts until after waivers have been run for the week. If you’ve got an available roster spot – I’d grab him anyway.

Tight Ends

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (63% Owned)

Since WRs Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) went down with injuries, TE Cade Otton has arguably been the best play in fantasy. We should have seen this coming, as the running backs and tight ends on any given team typically benefit the most when wide-outs miss time. However, I don’t think anyone thought he'd be this good.

Otton has racked up ten targets in each of his last two contests, producing 17 receptions, 181 yards, and two scores. I don’t expect him to be available, but it is undoubtedly worth taking a look. With Evans projected to be out until after the team’s Week 11 bye, the 25-year-old will be a strong TE1 for at least two more weeks.

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (28% Owned)

This one is geared a bit more toward deeper leagues or if you're absolutely desperate for a tight end.

Surprisingly, TE Zach Ertz has been solid over the last three weeks. Ertz has at least four receptions in all but three games, and his yardage has started to tick up over the previous few weeks as well.

The targets have been pretty consistent, but this past weekend, he saw 11(!), churning out 77 yards on his seven receptions. Eleven targets is likely his ceiling, and it’s anyone’s guess if he hits that mark again. However, he’s currently the TE9 in PPR formats from Weeks 6-7 and deserves a look if you absolutely need him. Ertz and the Commanders will square off against the New York Giants in Week 9.

This past weekend, we witnessed a thrilling full slate of games, marking a return to high scoring after the bye weeks. Teams combined for a staggering 84 touchdowns, the most in 2024, despite the second-fewest field goals made. Several star players who had previously underperformed, such as Dallas WR CeeDee Lamb, reminded us of their potential. However, with excitement comes concern, particularly regarding injuries that could affect player availability.

As we look ahead to Week 9, coaching decisions loom large, especially for the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, who have yet to name their starting quarterbacks. Meanwhile, trade rumors surround Diontae Johnson, potentially shaking up the fantasy landscape. While some key players like Tua Tagovailoa have returned, injuries to others, including Jordan Love and Stefon Diggs, cast a shadow over their teams. With the return of bye weeks, savvy fantasy managers need to stay vigilant in managing their rosters and making strategic additions.