Week 9 of the NFL season was one of the most confusing slates of football I've ever experienced.
Both the Bills and Cowboys were double-digit favorites entering the week and were upset by the Jaguars and Broncos, respectively. Backup signal-callers Jordan Love, Colt McCoy, Jacoby Brissett, Mike White and Trevor Siemian got the starts for their respective teams, though White — who looks like the Jets' best quarterback — was replaced by Josh Johnson. Patrick Mahomes' woes continued and the Chiefs barely eked out a win against an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers team. Running back James Conner exploded for three touchdowns. The Browns put up 41 points without Odell Beckham Jr. And the Chargers actually won a close game.
We have four teams on bye in Week 10, meaning managers will need to find replacements for the following players:
Bears: David Montgomery, Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Khalil Herbert and Justin Fields
Bengals: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Joe Mixon and C.J. Uzomah
Texans: Brandin Cooks and Tyrod Taylor
Giants: Daniel Jones, Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram
Managers will also need a longer-term replacement for Chase Edmonds, who suffered a high-ankle sprain on his first play of the game and is expected to miss time.
Whether you need an injury replacement, bye week fill-in or a Week 10 streamer, make sure to check out The Action Network’s top targets at each position — all of which are available in at least 50% of Yahoo! leagues — that you should prioritize come Tuesday night.
Note: Yahoo! roster percentages are reflected in parenthesis and as of Monday.
Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups
Fantasy Waiver QBs to Target
Teddy Bridgewater, Broncos (26% rostered)
Bridgewater stunned the Cowboys in Week 9 and completed 19 of 28 attempts for 249 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He finished with 22 fantasy points — the fifth time this season he has crested the 20-point mark — and will be at least a top-eight QB for the week. He isn't the most exciting play, but he is QB15 through nine games. The Broncos face the Eagles in Week 10, who have been tough against fantasy quarterbacks. He'll be a fine bye week replacement and should be rostered in all two-quarterback/superflex leagues.
Priority: Medium if streaming quarterbacks, higher in two-quarterback/superflex leagues.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (28%)
Garoppolo completed 28 of 40 attempts for 326 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a tough Week 9 matchup against the Cardinals defense. He put up 20 fantasy points during a game in which they were trailing for almost the entirety and will finish as a top-10 quarterback for the second week in a row. The 49ers, who now have top weapon George Kittle back, will face the Rams in Week 10. Los Angeles' defense has been tough this season, but was just lit up for 28 points against the Derrick Henry-less Titans. Garoppolo should be a decent streamer this week.
Priority: Medium if streaming quarterbacks, higher in two-quarterback/superflex leagues.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington (9%)
Heinicke will be well rested coming off of Washington's much-needed Week 9 bye. He struggled, as predicted, in the Football Team's last contest against a tough Broncos defense, which just shut down the Cowboys. The hope is that tight end Logan Thomas, who missed five games on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, can return after the bye and running back Antonio Gibson returns to somewhat full strength. With no timetable for Ryan Fitzpatrick's return, Heinicke will be a serviceable streamer against the leaky Buccaneers defense.
Priority: Low to medium if streaming quarterbacks, higher in two-quarterback/superflex leagues.
Fantasy Waiver RBs to Target
Eno Benjamin, Cardinals (<1% rostered)
Running back James Conner stole the show with Chase Edmonds exiting after his first play with an ankle injury. Conner saw 21 carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns and tacked on five catches on five targets for 77 yards and a touchdown. Benjamin was also in the mix and saw nine carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. He may be worth a roster spot as Conner's backup given it looks like Edmonds suffered a high-ankle sprain and will likely miss time. The Cardinals face the Panthers next week, whose defense has been formidable against the run.
Priority: Medium.
Jordan Howard, Eagles (12%)
Another day, another Eagles running back not named Kenny Gainwell sees the lion's share of work. Howard had 17 attempts for 71 yards and a touchdown in a juicy matchup against the Chargers, ahead of both Boston Scott and Gainwell (though Gainwell did find the end zone on just two carries). It's Howard second straight appearance with double-digit carries and a score and it appears he is the one to roster in this messy, Nick Sirianni-wielded committee. He will be an RB3/flex play in a tough matchup against the Broncos this week.
Priority: Medium.
Devonta Freeman and Le'Veon Bell, Ravens (20%, 5%)
Freeman led the Ravens' backfield with Latavius Murray sidelined and saw 13 carries for 79 yards. He also caught two of three passes for four yards and a touchdown. Bell also found the end zone on 11 carries for 48 yards. Both have good upside this week against the Dolphins if Murray sits once again.
Priority: Medium for Freeman, low for Bell.
Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden, Patriots (6%, 10%)
Stevenson led the team in rushing with 10 carries for 62 yards and tacked on two catches for 44 yards in spite of exiting with a head injury. Behind him was Bolden, who saw eight carries for 54 yards and caught two passes for 27 yards. Lead running back Damien Harris also suffered a head injury and saw 15 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. It's unclear at this time if Harris' or Stevenson's injuries will keep them out of any playing time. Stevenson seems to be out of Bill Belichick's doghouse and could have standalone value in deeper leagues. Bolden would likely need an injury to one of Harris or Stevenson to be a viable fantasy play.
Priority: Medium for Stevenson (higher in dynasty/keeper formats), low for Bolden.
Mark Ingram II, Saints (38%)
Ingram saw an uptick in work in his second game for the Saints. He had nine carries for 43 yards and caught all five passes for 21 yards in spite of some shaky quarterback play from Trevor Siemian. The Saints' signal-caller situation downgrades all of their offensive weapons, though I do expect Ingram to be involved regardless and offer somewhat of a safe floor moving forward.
Priority: Low to medium.
Jermar Jefferson, Lions (<1%)
Jefferson made his rookie debut in Week 8 with Jamaal Williams surprisingly sidelined. He saw six touches for 29 scrimmage yards and scored the team's lone touchdown. He will have value as D'Andre Swift's backup if Williams misses more time, and may have even done enough to earn some playing time regardless.
Priority: Low if Williams misses time, higher in keeper/dynasty formats.
Ty Johnson, Jets (13%)
Johnson saw four carries for 21 yards, caught two of three passes for 40 yards and found the end zone for the second week in a row and third time in four games. He remains the No. 2 option in a low-upside offense behind Michael Carter in terms of workload and will have a tough Week 10 matchup. The Jets face the Bills in their next contest, whose run defense is top notch. Johnson will be a flex play in PPR formats with four teams on bye.
Priority: Low, slightly higher in PPR formats.
Fantasy Waiver WRs to Target
Rashod Bateman, Ravens (36% rostered)
Bateman had a relatively quiet day against the Vikings in his third NFL game. He trailed Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews in terms of targets and finished as the Ravens' second-best receiver with five catches on eight targets for 52 yards. He's flashed serious talent since coming off injured reserve and is seeing a significant snap share, indicating he has carved out a role in this offense. The Ravens face the Dolphins this week in a mouth-watering matchup, which should put Bateman in the low-end flex conversation.
Priority: Medium to high, highest in dynasty/keeper formats.
Elijah Moore, Jets (27%)
Moore popped off in Week 9 and caught seven of eight targets for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Perhaps more impressive is the rookie's breakout performance came amid suboptimal play from a Mike White-Josh Johnson committee. He carries some risk as a member of the Jets and has a tough Week 10 matchup against the Bills' shutdown pass defense. That said, he could be a valuable asset rest-of-season and beyond: The Jets face Miami twice, Houston, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay over the next eight weeks which should offer some upside for Moore as a streamer/flex play.
Priority: Medium to high, highest in dynasty/keeper formats.
Tim Patrick, Broncos (25%)
Patrick had his best game of the season this week and caught four of five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. It's encouraging to me that his workload hasn't fallen off a cliff with the return of Jerry Jeudy. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater clearly likes Patrick, who should be a WR3/flex play moving forward.
Priority: Medium.
Russell Gage and Olamide Zaccheaus, Falcons (16%, 1%)
I did not have an Olamide Zaccheaus breakout on my Week 9 bingo card, though that seems to be the theme of this odd slate. Zaccheaus caught all three of his targets for 58 yards and two touchdowns in a tough matchup against the Saints, though it was Gage who led the team in targets. He caught seven of eight targets for 64 yards and is the preferred add of the pair given his more consistent workload/involvement.
Priority: Medium for Gage, low for Zaccheaus.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns (13%)
Peoples-Jones saw just three targets in Week 9 but produced big time. He caught two passes for 86 yards and a touchdown and now has 257 yards and three touchdowns over the last three games in which he has played. He is a nice complementary piece in this offense to Jarvis Landry and should see an increased involvement with Odell Beckham Jr. gone. This week's matchup against the Patriots is tough, but he could have longer term value in light of his improved situation.
Priority: Low to medium.
DeSean Jackson, Raiders (4%)
Amid a crazy week for NFL news was the Raiders signing Jackson to add much-needed depth with Henry Ruggs III gone. Jackson began the season with the Rams and exploded in Week 3 for 120 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he remains a boom-or-bust player and probably won't see enough volume to be a reliable starter. He is a deep-league add only.
Priority: Low.
Fantasy Waiver TEs to Target
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (40% rostered)
I am once again asking you to add Freiermuth. He may struggle in Week 9 on Monday Night Football against the Bears, whose defense is top notch against tight ends, but he has a great Week 10 matchup against Detroit. He found the end zone last week against the Browns and has exactly seven targets in each of the past two games. He will be a fringe top-12 play come next week at a lean position.
Priority: High if streaming tight ends, highest in dynasty/keeper formats.
Dan Arnold, Jaguars (27%)
Arnold put up a lukewarm performance in a brutal matchup against the Bills this week and caught four of seven targets for 60 yards. He has at least seven targets and 60 yards in three of the last four games. His schedule gets much lighter with the Colts, Falcons, Titans, Texans and Jets on deck over the next seven weeks. He should be a borderline top-12 play with four teams on bye.
Priority: Medium if streaming tight ends.
Tyler Conklin, Vikings (38%)
Conklin had a quiet Week 9 and caught five passes for 45 yards. He does have seven targets in each of the last two games, which is impressive for a tight end. Waivers are lean this week, however, and you could do worse than Conklin as a streamer/bye-week fill-in.
Priority: Medium if streaming tight ends.
