Find position rankings, additional analysis and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.
Every Monday of the season, theScore’s justin boon drops the recommended waiver wire pickups.
Alignment percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players registered in less than 50% of the leagues are taken into account.
Week 9 goodbye
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Denver Broncos
- New York Giants
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields, Bear
| Next | Registered | FOB |
|---|---|---|
| against MIA | 41% | $9 |
Fields was on fire at the start of Week 8 but had to operate for a short week against a tough Cowboys defense. Turns out, none of that mattered.
The 23-year-old continued his solid game by posting a fantastic fourth consecutive weekly top-12 performance.
- Week 5: QB12
- Week 6: QB7
- Week 7: QB5
- Week 8: QB3 (before Monday Night Football)
The sophomore signalman is in charge of the Bears’ offense and comes into his own as an NFL quarterback.
He gives fantastic managers enough with his arm (150-200 passing yards, 1-2 TDs) while punishing defenses with his legs. Fields has the second-most rushing yards of any QB this season, behind only Lamar Jackson, and has recorded at least 47 rushing yards and/or one rushing touchdown in seven straight games.
Chicago’s schedule is also about to get a whole lot easier, with matchups against the Dolphins, Lions and Falcons over the next three weeks.
You can start Fields as a solid QB1 fantasy for the next month and maybe longer.
Risky streaming options: Marcus Mariota against LAC (26% aligned), Taylor Heinicke against MIN (7% aligned), Andy Dalton against BAL (14% aligned)
Risky streaming options (if healthy): Ryan Tannehill at KC (14% registered)
Darts Broadcast Options: PJ Walker at CIN (6% aligned), Mac Jones against IND (15% aligned)
Darts broadcast options (if starter is off): Malik Willis at KC (7% aligned)
Hideouts of the secondary week: Jimmy Garoppolo (49% registered)
Running backs
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs
| Next | Registered | FOB |
|---|---|---|
| against RTE | 34% | $14 |
Pacheco left many fantastic managers disappointed after last-minute news that he would be the Chiefs’ starting running back in Week 7. While he delivered 43 yards on eight carries, the Kansas City backfield is remained a three-headed committee with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon sharing the charge.
However, the rise of the seventh round to “starter” status should always be seen as a positive. Many rookies are getting a usage boost after the bye week, which means the best may yet be yet to come for Pacheco.
Keep in mind that the Chiefs have one of the easiest starts to the fantasy playoffs, with matchups against the Texans (Week 15) and Seahawks (Week 16). Houston gives up the most fantasy points to opposing runners, and Seattle is fifth in that category.
Make sure Pacheco is listed until we see how the Chiefs’ RBs are deployed coming out of their bye – he could continue to carve out more touches.
Kenyan Drake, Ravens
| Next | Registered | FOB |
|---|---|---|
| at NO | 31% | $12 |
If you need more immediate help in your starting lineup, the Ravens point guard position could be up for grabs again after Gus Edwards suffered a hamstring strain to make him questionable for Week 9.
Of note: Baltimore’s bye is in Week 10, so if Edwards sits out a game, he’ll have three weeks to heal before the team’s next contest.
If Edwards is inactive, the Ravens would look to Drake, who has progressed well in the last two games in which he played at least 50% of the offensive snaps. Drake had 127 yards and a scoring on 11 touches in Week 6, then had 67 yards and a TD on 11 touches in Week 8.
The Saints are no longer a feared running defense, which makes this matchup even more appealing and would put Drake in the low-end RB2/high-end RB3 range for fantasy.
Nyheim Hines is above the 50% mark but should be listed in most leagues.
High potential backups such as Alexander Mattison (45% registered), Rachel White (30% registered), Jaylen Warren (5% registered), Samaje Perine (7% registered) and Zamir white (2% registered) should be registered in most leagues.
Cam Akers (42% registered), Jeff Wilson (35% registered) and by Ernest Johnson (3% registrants) could see their values increase significantly depending on what happens Tuesday at the NFL trade deadline.
Flexible Options: James Cook at NYJ (22% registered), Dontrell Hilliard at KC (12% registered)
Flexible options (if healthy): Chuba Hubbard at the CIN (43% registered)
Flexible options (if the starter fails): Deon Jackson at NE (8% registered)
Risky flexible options: Ronnie Rivers at TB (1% rostered), Jerick McKinnon vs TEN (7% rostered), JaMycal Hasty vs LV (9% rostered), Travis Homer at ARI (0% rostered)
Risky (if healthy) flex options: Kyren Williams at TB (45% registered)
Risky flex options (if the starter is out): Justice Hill in NO (4% registered)
Dart throwing flex options: Kenneth Gainwell at HOU (16% registered), Boston Scott at HOU (1% registered), Sony Michel at ATL (6% registered), JD McKissic vs MIN (15% registered)
Other safeguards to consider: Darrel Williams vs. SEA (2% registrants), Jordan Howard vs. BAL (0% registrants)
Hideouts of the secondary week: Latavius Murray (40% registered)
Wide Receivers
Josh Palmer, Chargers
| Next | Registered | FOB |
|---|---|---|
| at ATL | 24% | $19 |
Mike Williams is set to miss at least four weeks with a sprained ankle, and Keenan Allen is still recovering from the hamstring issue that sidelined him for six games and limited him in the Chargers’ last outing.
Allen was also unable to practice on Monday – a sign that he still hasn’t made it 100% out of the team’s bye week.
This makes Palmer a must-have. Even if Allen adapts, Palmer will be Justin Herbert’s No. 2 receiver against a Falcons defense giving up the most fantasy points to fumbles.
In the three games Palmer has played full-time this season, he has stat lines of 4-30-1, 6-99-0 and 9-57-0.
Palmer will maintain WR3/flex value with WR2 on the rise as long as Williams is out.
Rondale Moore, Cardinals
| Next | Registered | FOB |
|---|---|---|
| vs SEA | 35% | $9 |
Moore is coming off one of his best days as a professional – a seven-catch, 92-yard and one-touchdown effort in a loss to the Vikings.
He’s now posted quality stat lines in three of his last four appearances, including at least six catches in those three outings.
With DeAndre Hopkins commanding a ton of defensive attention and Marquise Brown until at least the end of November (and possibly longer), Moore will have a chance to continue that streak for the foreseeable future.
It can be cast as a fantasy WR3/flex option until further notice.
Kadarius Toney, Garrett Wilson, Devin Duvernay, Darnell Mooneyand Wan’ Dale Robinson are above the 50% registered mark but should be registered in most leagues.
Elijah Moore (40% registered), KJ Hamler (1% registered), marvin jones (5% registered), Kendrick Bourne (1% registered) and Nelson Agholor (2% registrants) could see their values increase significantly depending on what happens Tuesday at the NFL trade deadline.
Flexible options: Romeo Doubs at DET (46% registered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling against TEN (24% registered), Isaiah McKenzie at NYJ (41% registered)
Flexible options (if Cooper Kupp is absent): Van Jefferson at VG (24% registered)
Risky flexible options: Alec Pierce at NE (41% rosters), Demarcus Robinson at NO (0% rosters), Mecole Hardman vs TEN (24% rosters), Terrace Marshall at CIN (1% rosters), Damiere Byrd vs LAC (0% rosters) , Mack Hollins at JAX (7% registered), Zay Jones vs LV (20% registered), Julio Jones vs LAR (18% registered)
Risky (if healthy) flex options: Corey Davis vs. BUF (21% registrants), Nico Collins vs. PHI (15% registrants)
Dart throwing flex options: Parris Campbell at NE (38% aligned), KJ Osborn at WAS (4% aligned), DeAndre Carter at ATL (5% aligned), Mike Thomas against CAR (1% aligned), Tyquan Thornton against IND (6% aligned), Kalif Raymond against GB (1% registered), N’Keal Harry against MIA (0% registered)
Flexible dart throwing options (if healthy): Christian Watson at DET (4% enrolled)
Hideouts of the secondary week: Darius Slayton (7% registered), Donovan Peoples-Jones (24% registered)
Injured receivers to hide: Jahan Dotson v MIN (22% registered)
Other receivers to store: Khalil Shakir at NYJ (2% registered
Wounded reserve hideouts: Jameson Williams (25% registered), Treylon Burks (17% registered)
tight ends
Isaiah Likely, crows
| Next | Registered | FOB |
|---|---|---|
| at NO | 5% | $7 |
As we mentioned in the Drake section, the Ravens’ Week 10 bye could persuade them to hold off on some of their injured starters this week in an effort to get them back healthy for the stretch run.
That may include Mark Andrews, who came into last week’s game with a knee issue and left early with shoulder and ankle issues.
Andrews is the team’s de facto No. 1 receiver, and his presence will be needed if Baltimore plans to make a playoff push. The decision to keep him out might be a little easier for the Ravens after their rookie tight end made a pretty good impression on Andrews when the veteran left last week.
He probably had six passes for 77 yards and a score, finishing with the second-most points of any tight end in Week 8.
If Andrews is unavailable, Probably will slip right in as a quality starter in real life and a locked-in top-10 option in fantasy.
Greg Dulcich and Robert Tonyan are above the 50% registered mark but should be registered in most leagues.
Broadcast options: Evan Engram vs. LV (43% registered)
Risk broadcast options: Tyler Conklin vs. BUF (12% registrants), Cade Otton vs. LAR (13% registrants), Juwan Johnson vs. BAL (11% registrants), Hunter Henry vs. IND (39% registrants)
Risk streamer options (if starter out): Foster Moreau at JAX (3% registered)
Darts Broadcast Options: Noah Fant at ARI (10% registered), Will Dissly at ARI (13% registered), Logan Thomas against MIN (6% registered), Cole Kmet against MIA (23% registered)
Hideouts of the secondary week: Harrison Bryant (8% registered)
tusks
Week 9 streamers
| Crew | Next | Registered |
|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | against RTE | 29% |
| bengals | vs RCA | 40% |
| dolphins | at CHI | 43% |
| vikings | was | 20% |
| Cardinals | vs SEA | 11% |
| Packers | at TED | 47% |
Favorable upcoming times: Chiefs (29% registered), Giants (10% registered), Saints (31% registered)
#Fantasy #Waiver #Wire #Week