Week 8 was another exciting week of fantasy football. I hope your teams are doing well. As for my three teams, they are all still in the playoff race with one the teams in my keeper leagues being in 1st, and my other teams (one keeper and one dynasty) being in 5th place. My teams went 1-2 last week and all have a 5-3 record now.

My team scores this week ranked 2nd, 2nd and last (12th). Unfortunately for one of my teams with the 2nd highest score in the league, the team I was matched against had the highest score in the league. I hate when that happens.

My team that came in last was hurt by in-game injuries, but also because Chris Godwin (WR, TB) is now out for the season. I have kept him on my roster in hopes I can trade him away as a keeper for next year to acquire a replacement and keep my team competitive. I will look at the rosters of teams that are likely out of the race to see if I can identify a potential trade.

I write about my teams and my actions as a whole to help you manage your teams. Not only are my strategies and actions applicable to teams in my circumstances, but they are applicable to teams in the opposite circumstances. For example, from the perspective opposite my team's circumstance, injuries open the opportunity for losing teams to cannibalize the longer term assets of winning teams.

If your keeper or dynasty team is out of it this year, then this is the time of year to make trades for next year with teams that are in it, but might have just lost an important player like Godwin. The waiver wire becomes thin in the back half of the season, so we must look to trades more than the waiver wire now.

On to the Week 9 streamers...

If you are familiar with my format of "Streamers for the Desperate" articles, then skip the following introduction.

This article is based on the principles I wrote about in How To Own Your League's Waiver Wire.

I name this article as such because it is generally for deeper roster leagues (18-to-24-man rosters) and as the season progresses, especially in the 24-man roster leagues, the pickings can get very thin. For example, you won't see QBs Justin Herbert (LAC), Matt Stafford (LAR) and Bo Nix (Den) in this article because he isn't available in my leagues. However, you will see them in Alex Cuilla's article, Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds because he is less than 50% owned in Yahoo leagues.

I list the players that are available on waivers in my three leagues and generally that scored more than 10 fantasy points (PPR). The players with an asterisks are available in my 24-man roster league. As we get deeper into the season, no matter how slim the options, I always list a couple available players for each position from my 24-man league.

I have loosely ranked the players but you need to decide which players are right for your team. Your criteria for deciding will be different depending on your need and if you are in a redraft, keeper or dynasty league.

The ranking in parenthesis after each player is the strength of this week's opponent against that position. So a "1st" indicates the most difficult opponent for that position, and a "32nd" indicates the weakest opponent against that position.

As much effort as it is, I make waiver requests every week for all of my teams. I don't just try to fill in obvious immediate needs, but look to make my team better to the last man on the roster. A deep roster creates resilience against injury. It also results in other teams having less good options, increasing the opportunity to trade to teams that truly are desperate and thereby build my draft pick arsenals.

Quarterbacks

• Jameis Winston, Cle v LAC (11th) - Winston had an outstanding Week 8 performance with 27 completions for 334 yards, 3 TDs and no Ints on 41 attempts, only slightly marred by 1 lost fumble. He has now cemented the starting role for the Browns. Snag him from your waiver wire quickly if he's available. 
• ^*Joe Flacco, Ind @ Min (24th) - Flacco filled in nicely for Anthony Richardson in Weeks 4 thru 6 where he averaged 24 completions, 239 yards, 2.3 TDs and 0.3 Ints on 36 attempts per game. In Week 8, Richardson had another disappointing performance. Flacco clearly gives the Colts the best chance to win moving forward, and so Richardson's starting job is now on the bubble. If Flacco takes over the starting role and he's available, then grab him quickly.
• ^*Malik Willis, GB v Det (20th) - Willis filled in for Jordan Love after exiting the game due to injury. If Willis starts in Week 9, he is a decent streaming option.
• *Gardner Minshew, LV @ Cin (29th) - Minshew completed 24 passes for 209 yards, 2 TDs on 30 attempts, and 2 rushes for 6 yards. Against a soft Bengals D, Minshew should be at his best in Week 9.
• Derek Carr, NO v TB (32nd) - Carr is expected to be back in Week 9. In Weeks 1 thru 5 he averaged 18 completions, 198 yards, 1.6 TDs and 0.8 Ints on 26 attempts per game. That's not terribly exciting, but he is up against the Buccaneers soft D in Week 9.
• Bryce Young, Car v NO (15th) - Young started for the Panthers in Week 8, filling in for the injured Andy Dalton. He had 24 completions for 224 yards, 2 TDs and 2 Ints on 37 attempts. If Dalton remains out in Week 9, you could expect moderate fantasy output from the developing sophomore against an average pass D.
• ^*Jacoby Brissett, NE @ Ten (10th) - Drake Maye was concussed in Week 8 and Brissett did a decent job filling in, leading the Patriots to a come back win. If Maye is out in Week 9, Brissett is a decent streaming option for Week 9.
• ^*Mason Rudolph, Ten v NE (8th) - Rudolph completed 22 passes for 266 yards, 1 TD and 2 Ints on 38 attempts and 4 rushes for 29 yards and 1 TD. If Will Levis is out for Week 9, Rudolph is an okay streaming option against a stiff Patriots D for Week 9.

Running Backs

• Tyrone Tracy (R), NYG v Wsh (17th) - It appears that Tracy has been on a trajectory to take the starting role from Singletary. He was having a monster game in Week 8, rushing for 145 yards and a TD on 20 carries and catching 2 of his 3 targets for 5 yards, until he sustained a head injury. It's unclear when he will be back, but if he is available on your waiver wire, this is an opportunity you don't want to miss.
• Roschon Johnson, Chi @ Ari (27th) - Johnson only carried the ball 2 times for 6 yards and a TD in Week 8, but he has had 4 TDs in his last 4 games on an average of 6 carries per game. D'Andre Swift will continue to carry the bulk of the load going forward, but against a Cardinals soft run D in Week 9, Johnson will likely get some moderate volume.
• Jaleel McLaughlin, Den @ Bal (7th) - McLaughlin had an exceptional Week 8 leading the Broncos in rushing yards with 8 carries for 47 yards and catching his only target for 9 yards and a TD. He's been getting consistently getting touches all season, from 4 to 9 touches per game for the last four weeks. That should continue going forward, but expectations should be tempered against a stout Ravens run D.
• Zach Charbonnet, Sea v LAR (20th) - Charbonnet rushed 3 times for 4 yards and a TD and caught 3 of 4 targets for 20 yards. Charbonnet has had from 5 to 8 touches per week for the last 4 weeks, and that should continue against the Rams in Week 9.
• Miles Sanders, Car v NO (24th) - Sanders was fantasy relevant in Week 8 with 1 carry for 7 yards and catching all 7 of his targets for 38 yards. The 7 receptions is a career high for Sanders but could be a preview of things to come with Bryce Young back under center using Sanders as a check down option. Furthermore, Sanders volume might increase if Chuba Hubbard is traded.
• ^*Alex Ingold, Mia @ Buf (28th) - Ingold rushed once for 3 yards and caught all 3 of his targets for 19 yards in Week 8. Ingold is a versatile veteran fullback and has been getting more touches every week for the last four weeks. Playing behind De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert he isn't fantasy relevant unless your team is desperate.
• ^*D'Ernest Johnson, Jax v Phi (6th) - Johnson rushed once for 3 yards and caught 1 of 2 targets for 20 yards in Week 8. This is his lowest volume in the past four weeks. Johnson is not a reliable fantasy option and should only be started in deep leagues if your team is desperate.

Receivers

• Darius Slayton, NYG @ Pit (20th) - Slayton caught 4 of his 7 targets for 108 yards with Daniel Jones behind center in Week 8. If coach Brian Daboll decides to start Drew Lock instead of Jones, the speedy Slayton could see continued higher volume going forward as Lock is more apt to attempt deep throws than Jones.
• Michael Wilson, Ari v Chi (9th) - Wilson caught 5 of his 6 targets for 31 yards and 1 TD against a stout Dolphins D in Week 8. Expect Wilson to get a moderate volume in Week 9 against the Bears.
• Elijah Moore, Cle v LAC (1st) - Moore was rewarded with more volume after catching all 6 of his targets in Week 7. With Jameis Winston taking over, in Week 8 Moore caught 8 of his 12 targets for 85 yards, leading the Browns in targets. Expectations should be tempered for Week 9 as the Browns go up against the number 1 D in Week 9. The Browns have a Week 10 bye, and a tough schedule Weeks 12 thru 14. However, with Winston under center, Moore has fantasy starter potential.
• ^*Kalif Raymond, Det v GB (12th) - Raymond caught both his targets for 14 yards and a TD in Week 8. (He also returned a punt for a TD.) Raymond is marginally fantasy relevant but could see moderate volume in Week 9 as long as Jameson Williams remains sidelined.
• Demarcus Robinson, LAR @ Sea (14th) - Robinson caught 2 of his 3 targets for 35 yards and 2 TDs against a soft Vikings D in Week 8. He is a low volume TD dependent fantasy option for Week 9. 
• ^*Noah Brown, Wsh @ NYG (16th) - Brown caught 3 of his 6 targets for 73 yards, including a 52-yard hail-Mary TD. He also saw a significantly increased snap share (82 percent) and operated as the Commanders No. 2 receiver. Brown could be inline for an increased target volume going forward.
• Jalen Coker (R), Car v NO (27th) - Coker caught 4 of his 6 targets for 78 yards and a TD. Coker has averaged 3 catches on 3.5 targets for 44 yards and 0.25 TDs per game for the last four weeks. Coker has potential value going forward, especially if Dointae Johnson and/or Adam Thielen remained sidelined or are traded away. He's worth at least a stash in dynasty leagues.
• ^*Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ten v NE (21st) - Westbrook-Ikhine has only caught 5 of 10 targets for 58 yards in the last 3 weeks, but he converted 3 of his 5 catches to TDs. With the departure of DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs, he has taken the No. 3 receiver role and had a 93 percent snap share. His target share should increase as he continues to integrate with the starting offense.
• ^*Cedrick Wilson, NO v LAC (23rd) - Wilson was out in Week 8 due to injury. If he is healthy for Week 9 and you are desperate for a WR, Wilson is worth a mention. In Weeks 6 and 7 he totaled 8 catches on 10 targets for 85 yards and a TD.
• ^*Nelson Agholor, Bal v Den (5th) - Agholor caught 3 of his 6 targets for 36 yards and a TD in Week 8. This was his first TD of the season, and this is only the second week in the season that he has more than 1 reception. With a 50% catch-to-target ratio and usually very low volume, Agholor a risky fantasy start if you are desperate.
• Xavier Legette (R), Car v NO (27th) - Legette caught 4 of his 7 targets for 34 yards and a TD in Week 8, the most volume he's seen since Week 4. Legette's role should grow as the Panthers QB situations stabilizes, especially if Dointae Johnson and/or Adam Thielen remained sidelined or are traded away.
• ^*DJ Turner, LV @ Cin, (17th) -

Tight Ends

• ^*Jonnu Smith, Mia @ Buf (16th) - As expect, with Tua Tagovailoa back in Week 8, Smith's volume went down, catching 4 of his 6 targets for 20 yards. However, even with moderate volume Smith can be a marginal streaming option.
• ^*Will Dissly, LAC @ Cle (6th) - With Quentin Johnston and Hayden Hurst out in Week 8, Dissly caught 5 of 7 targets for 41 yards in Week 8. If Quentin Johnston and, to a lesser degree, Hayden Hurst are healthy for Week 9, expect Dissly to return to his usual 3 or 4 targets per game.
• Mike Gesicki, Cin v LV (18th) - Gesicki caught 7 of 8 targets for 73 yards and lost a fumble in Week 8, leading the Bengals in receiving yards with Tee Higgins sidelined. Gesicki's bump-up in volume could continue if Higgins remains sidelined in Week 9.
• ^*Noah Fant, Sea v LAR (30th) - Fant caught all 3 of his 4 targets for 22 yards in Week 8. If DK Metcalf is still out for Week 9, Fant could be inline to see an uptick in volume against the Rams soft D.
• ^*Adam Trautman, Den @ Bal (28th) - With Greg Dulcich's diminished role and Lucas Kruill's in-game injury, Trautman got significant target volume in Week 8 and made the most of it, including an exciting 1-handed 19-yard TD grab. In total, Trautman caught all 4 of his targets for 85 yards and a TD. Trautman's performance was a game-changer for the Broncos, and he could be inline for a greater target share going forward because of it.
• Tyler Conklin, NYJ v Hou (1st) - Conklin caught 3 of 4 targets for 42 yards and a TD in Week 8. This was a typical performance by Conklin, but expectations should be tempered against the Texans tough D against TEs in Week 9.
• Colby Parkinson, LAR @ Sea (24th) - Parkinson caught both his targets for 17 yards in Week 8. Parkinson relatively low volume, but expect him to bounce back a bit in Week 9.
• Brenton Strange, Jax @ Phi (3rd) - With Christian Kirk's in-game injury, Strange had a bump in volume, catching all 5 of his targets for 59 yards. With Kirk out for the season, the Jaguars could move to more 2-TE sets and Strange could continue to see a bump in targets going forward.
• Noah Gray, KCC @ LV (8th) - Gray caught all 3 of his targets for 23 yards. Gray has almost a perfect catch per target record, catching 17 of 18 targets so far this season. However, Travis Kelce, is still the top-dog TE for the Chiefs, so Gray's volume will continue to be moderate to light.

Kickers

• Will Reichard, Min v Ind (22th)
• Will Lutz, Den @ Bal (26th)
• Jake Elliott, Phi v Jax (18th)
• Brandon McManus, GB v Set (14th)

Defense / Special Teams

• Washington Commanders @ NYG (31st)
• Seattle Seahawks v LAR (19th)
• Houston Texans @ NYJ (20th)
• Philadephia Eagles v Jax (18th)
• Los Angeles Rams @ Sea (24th)

^*Available in my league with 24-player rosters