Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 9

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Week 9 Byes

• Denver Broncos
• Detroit Lions
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• San Francisco 49ers

Quarterbacks

Will Levis, Titans

At this point in the season, there aren't many starting-caliber fantasy quarterbacks available on waiver wires. So when a rookie arrives on the scene and blows away expectations, it's worth pursuing.

Levis threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns and also ran seven times for 11 yards in his first NFL start - a win over the Falcons.

The degree of difficulty will be turned up on the road in Pittsburgh on Thursday. The Steelers aren't the scariest matchup, but it will be a better test to see whether Levis can become a fantasy starter.

For now, he should be treated as a QB2/streamer/stash with untapped potential. And if he struggles on the short week, you can drop him for another bench stash.

Kyler Murray and Sam Howell are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but would be the top adds this week - if available.

Risky streaming options: Derek Carr vs. CHI (37% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo vs. NYG (13% rostered), Gardner Minshew at CAR (16% rostered), Baker Mayfield at HOU (30% rostered), Bryce Young vs. IND (12% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Mac Jones vs. WAS (9% rostered), Zach Wilson vs. LAC (5% rostered), Tyson Bagent at NO (5% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): P.J. Walker vs. ARI (1% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. MIN (0% rostered), Mitch Trubisky vs. TEN (0% rostered), Brett Rypien at GB (0% rostered), Clayton Tune at CLE (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if healthy): Desmond Ridder vs. MIN (13% rostered), Kenny Pickett vs. TEN (19% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Ryan Tannehill (5% rostered), Sam Darnold (2% rostered), Colt McCoy (0% rostered), Carson Wentz (0% rostered)

Running backs

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Charbonnet is coming off his best game this season, with 64 yards from scrimmage on seven touches and playing 59% of the Seahawks' offensive snaps.

Though the uptick in usage was likely due to Kenneth Walker's calf injury, the fact Charbonnet keeps excelling on limited touches is promising. The rookie looks the part of an NFL starter, now he just needs the opportunity to get more work.

Playing alongside Walker, Charbonnet is proving he can be a weekly flex option in fantasy. However, if Walker were ever to miss time, the rookie would be the definition of a fantasy league-winner.

Leonard Fournette, Bills

Fournette has finally found a home, joining a now-crowded Bills backfield that already featured James Cook, Latavius Murray, and an injured Damien Harris.

The 28-year-old appeared to be declining on the Buccaneers last year, but he could fit in nicely as a complementary piece in Buffalo. Either way, he'll need to prove he has more left in the tank than what another veteran, Dalvin Cook, brought to the Jets.

Lombardi Lenny will likely start in the role Harris occupied - splitting time with Murray. But if Fournette is in shape and ready to contribute, he should quickly overtake Murray and provide a solid pass-catching presence behind the explosive Cook.

It's a role that could offer RB3 fantasy value, with RB2 upside if Cook were ever sidelined.

Darrell Henderson, Chuba Hubbard, Tyjae Spears, Cam Akers, and Roschon Johnson are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Emari Demercado at CLE (36% rostered), Devin Singletary vs. TB (20% rostered), Royce Freeman at GB (22% rostered), Justice Hill vs. SEA (39% rostered)

Risky flex options: Ezekiel Elliott vs. WAS (46% rostered), Jeff Wilson Jr. at KC (39% rostered), Joshua Kelley at NYJ (28% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell vs. DAL (32% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Latavius Murray at CIN (18% rostered), Rico Dowdle at PHI (3% rostered), Jamaal Williams vs. CHI (36% rostered), Antonio Gibson at NE (48% rostered), Jerick McKinnon vs. MIA (34% rostered), Chase Edmonds at HOU (1% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Elijah Mitchell (27% rostered), Kendre Miller (8% rostered), Zamir White (3% rostered), Matt Breida (6% rostered), Trayveon Williams (0% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (8% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (4% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Jaleel McLaughlin (43% rostered), Samaje Perine (25% rostered)

Wide receivers

Rashid Shaheed, Saints

Shaheed has been an impactful No. 3 receiver for the Saints this year. The 25-year-old is the WR32 in fantasy points per game despite a dip in production during the three outings when Derek Carr played through a shoulder injury.

Outside of those contests, Shaheed has receiving stat lines of 5-89-1 (Week 1), 4-63-0 (Week 2), 2-85-1 (Week 6), and 3-153-1 (Week 8) while also adding six carries for 33 yards on the season.

With two favorable matchups on deck with the Bears and Vikings, Shaheed could find his way into your lineup as an upside flex option.

Khalil Shakir, Bills

All eyes were on tight end Dalton Kincaid last week, but one could argue Shakir benefitted just as much from Dawson Knox being placed on injured reserve.

The Bills leaned more on their three-receiver sets, which led to Shakir nearly doubling his previous season high by playing 65% of the snaps. The sophomore wideout made the most of his opportunity, catching all six of his targets for 92 yards.

It's hard to imagine the coaching staff reducing Shakir's usage after that performance, so fantasy managers would be wise to scoop him up immediately. Ideally, you'd stash him for one more week to see if the trend continues, but he could sneak into your lineup as a flex.

Tank Dell and Jahan Dotson are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Brandin Cooks at PHI (41% rostered), Jayden Reed vs. LAR (17% rostered), Tyler Boyd vs. BUF (48% rostered), Jonathan Mingo vs. IND (6% rostered), Quentin Johnston at NYJ (19% rostered), Michael Wilson at CLE (15% rostered), Demario Douglas vs. WAS (3% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Curtis Samuel at NE (48% rostered)

Risky flex options: DJ Chark vs. IND (10% rostered), Jalin Hyatt at LV (5% rostered), Jameson Williams (41% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson at LV (19% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): DeVante Parker vs. WAS (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Odell Beckham Jr. vs. SEA (28% rostered), Trey Palmer at HOU (0% rostered), Allen Lazard vs. LAC (17% rostered), Rashod Bateman vs. SEA (21% rostered), Justin Watson vs. MIA (0% rostered), Noah Brown vs. TB (0% rostered), Julio Jones (7% rostered), Treylon Burks (21% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Van Jefferson vs. MIN (3% rostered), Jamison Crowder at NE (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Marvin Mims (16% rostered), Zay Jones (23% rostered)

Deep stashes: Jalen Tolbert (0% rostered), Jake Bobo (1% rostered), Tyquan Thornton (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Trey McBride, Cardinals

The stash section from my Start, Sit, Stash, Quit column strikes again with McBride breaking out a few days later.

The Cardinals were fourth in targets thrown to their tight ends entering Week 8, and with Zach Ertz being placed on injured reserve, it was easy to connect the dots to McBride's numbers rising.

However, the fact that he drew 14 targets and caught 10 for 95 yards and a score in a difficult matchup with the Ravens should make fantasy managers very bullish on his rest-of-season outlook.

Few tight ends offer that kind of ceiling, making McBride a priority add as a potential fantasy TE1 for the remainder of the year - especially with Kyler Murray returning soon.

Logan Thomas and Jake Ferguson are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streamer options: Taysom Hill vs. CHI (35% rostered), Michael Mayer vs. NYG (19% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if healthy): Luke Musgrave vs. NYG (22% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Hunter Henry vs. WAS (28% rostered), Jonnu Smith vs. MIN (37% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. LAC (7% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if healthy): Gerald Everett at NYJ (24% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if starter is out): Donald Parham Jr. at NYJ (3% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Chigoziem Okonkwo at PIT (27% rostered), Cade Otton at HOU (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options (if starter is out): Daniel Bellinger at LV (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 9 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Patriots DEF (27% rostered), Bengals DEF (26% rostered), Buccaneers DEF (32% rostered)