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

• Cleveland Browns
• Dallas Cowboys
• Denver Broncos
• New York Giants
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• San Francisco 49ers

Quarterbacks

Justin Fields, Bears

Fields was on fire entering Week 8 but had to operate on a short week against a difficult Cowboys defense. Turns out none of that mattered.

The 23-year-old continued his strong play by posting a fourth straight top-12 weekly fantasy performance.

• Week 5: QB12
• Week 6: QB7
• Week 7: QB5
• Week 8: QB3 (prior to Monday Night Football)

The sophomore signal-caller is in command of the Bears' offense and coming into his own as an NFL quarterback.

He's giving fantasy 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 recorded at least 47 rushing yards and/or a rushing touchdown in seven consecutive games.

Chicago's schedule is about to get much easier, too, with matchups against the Dolphins, Lions, and Falcons over the next three weeks.

You can start Fields as a solid fantasy QB1 for the next month and maybe more.

Risky streaming options: Marcus Mariota vs. LAC (26% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. MIN (7% rostered), Andy Dalton vs. BAL (14% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Ryan Tannehill at KC (14% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: P.J. Walker at CIN (6% rostered), Mac Jones vs. IND (15% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out): Malik Willis at KC (7% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Jimmy Garoppolo (49% rostered)

Running backs

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

Pacheco left many fantasy managers disappointed after the last-minute news that he'd be the Chiefs' starting running back in Week 7. While he delivered 43 yards on eight carries, Kansas City's backfield remained a three-headed committee with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon sharing the load.

However, the seventh-rounder's rise to "starter" status should still be viewed as a positive. Many rookies get a post-bye week bump in usage, meaning the best might 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 is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing runners, and Seattle is fifth in that category.

Make sure Pacheco is rostered 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

If you need more immediate help in your starting lineup, the Ravens' lead back job could be up for grabs again after Gus Edwards suffered a hamstring strain to make him questionable for Week 9.

It's worth noting: Baltimore's bye is in Week 10, so if Edwards sits out one game, he'll get three weeks to heal up before the team's next contest.

If Edwards is inactive, the Ravens would turn to Drake, who's stepped up nicely in the two most recent games in which he played at least 50% of the offensive snaps. Drake poured in 127 yards and a score on 11 touches in Week 6, then amassed 67 yards and a TD on 11 touches in Week 8.

The Saints are no longer a feared run defense, which makes this matchup even more enticing and would put Drake in the low-end RB2/high-end RB3 range for fantasy.

Nyheim Hines is above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Alexander Mattison (45% rostered), Rachaad White (30% rostered), Jaylen Warren (5% rostered), Samaje Perine (7% rostered), and Zamir White (2% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Cam Akers (42% rostered), Jeff Wilson (35% rostered), and D'Ernest Johnson (3% rostered) could see their values increase significantly depending on what happens at the NFL trade deadline Tuesday.

Flex options: James Cook at NYJ (22% rostered), Dontrell Hilliard at KC (12% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Chuba Hubbard at CIN (43% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out): Deon Jackson at NE (8% rostered)

Risky flex 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 flex options (if healthy): Kyren Williams at TB (45% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Justice Hill at NO (4% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Kenneth Gainwell at HOU (16% rostered), Boston Scott at HOU (1% rostered), Sony Michel at ATL (6% rostered), J.D. McKissic vs. MIN (15% rostered)

Other backups to consider: Darrel Williams vs. SEA (2% rostered), Jordan Howard vs. BAL (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Latavius Murray (40% rostered)

Wide receivers

Josh Palmer, Chargers

Mike Williams is expected to miss at least four weeks with a high ankle sprain, 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 Monday - a sign he's still not 100% coming off the team's bye week.

That makes Palmer a must-add. Even if Allen suits up, Palmer will be Justin Herbert's No. 2 receiver going against a Falcons defense giving up the most fantasy points to wideouts.

In the three games Palmer has been a full-time player this season, he turned in stat lines of 4-30-1, 6-99-0, and 9-57-0.

Palmer will maintain WR3/flex value with WR2 upside as long as Williams remains out.

Rondale Moore, Cardinals

Moore is fresh off one of his best days as a pro - a seven-catch, 92-yard, 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 all three of those outings.

With DeAndre Hopkins commanding a ton of defensive attention and Marquise Brown out until at least late November (and possibly longer), Moore will have a chance to continue this streak for the foreseeable future.

He can be started as a fantasy WR3/flex option until further notice.

Kadarius Toney, Garrett Wilson, Devin Duvernay, Darnell Mooney, and Wan'Dale Robinson are above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Elijah Moore (40% rostered), K.J. Hamler (1% rostered), Marvin Jones (5% rostered), Kendrick Bourne (1% rostered), and Nelson Agholor (2% rostered) could see their values increase significantly depending on what happens at the NFL trade deadline Tuesday.

Flex options: Romeo Doubs at DET (46% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. TEN (24% rostered), Isaiah McKenzie at NYJ (41% rostered)

Flex options (if Cooper Kupp is out): Van Jefferson at TB (24% rostered)

Risky flex options: Alec Pierce at NE (41% rostered), Demarcus Robinson at NO (0% rostered), Mecole Hardman vs. TEN (24% rostered), Terrace Marshall at CIN (1% rostered), Damiere Byrd vs. LAC (0% rostered), Mack Hollins at JAX (7% rostered), Zay Jones vs. LV (20% rostered), Julio Jones vs. LAR (18% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Corey Davis vs. BUF (21% rostered), Nico Collins vs. PHI (15% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Parris Campbell at NE (38% rostered), KJ Osborn at WAS (4% rostered), DeAndre Carter at ATL (5% rostered), Mike Thomas vs. CAR (1% rostered), Tyquan Thornton vs. IND (6% rostered), Kalif Raymond vs. GB (1% rostered), N'Keal Harry vs. MIA (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Christian Watson at DET (4% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Darius Slayton (7% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones (24% rostered)

Injured receivers to stash: Jahan Dotson vs. MIN (22% rostered)

Other receivers to stash: Khalil Shakir at NYJ (2% rostered

Injured-reserve stashes: Jameson Williams (25% rostered), Treylon Burks (17% rostered)

Tight ends

Isaiah Likely, Ravens

As we mentioned in the Drake section, the Ravens' Week 10 bye might persuade them to hold some of their injured starters out this week in an attempt to get them healthy for the stretch run.

That may include Mark Andrews, who entered last week's game with a knee issue and left early with shoulder and ankle problems.

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 on the sidelines might be a little easier for the Ravens after their rookie tight end did a pretty good Andrews impression when the veteran departed last week.

Likely hauled in six passes for 77 yards and a score, finishing with the second-most points of any tight end in Week 8.

If Andrews isn't available, Likely will slide right in as a quality real-life starter and a locked in top-10 option in fantasy.

Greg Dulcich and Robert Tonyan are above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streamer options: Evan Engram vs. LV (43% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Tyler Conklin vs. BUF (12% rostered), Cade Otton vs. LAR (13% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. BAL (11% rostered), Hunter Henry vs. IND (39% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if starter out): Foster Moreau at JAX (3% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Noah Fant at ARI (10% rostered), Will Dissly at ARI (13% rostered), Logan Thomas vs. MIN (6% rostered), Cole Kmet vs. MIA (23% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Harrison Bryant (8% rostered)

Defenses

Week 9 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Chiefs (29% rostered), Giants (10% rostered), Saints (31% rostered)