Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 9

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.

Bye weeks

• Pittsburgh Steelers
• San Francisco 49ers

Quarterbacks

Bo Nix, Broncos

Nix has posted over 20 fantasy points in three of his last four outings, finishing as a top-10 fantasy QB each time.

The rookie has at least 60 rushing yards or a rushing touchdown in four straight games and has thrown for eight scores over that span.

Now, Nix gets to take on a bottom-five Ravens pass defense that just surrendered over 334 yards and three TDs to Jameis Winston.

While Nix still has a long way to go as a real-life passer, he's a strong fantasy streamer and a potential QB1 in good matchups.

Streaming options (if healthy): Drake Maye at TEN (15% rostered)

Streaming options: Matthew Stafford at SEA (39% rostered), Jameis Winston vs. LAC (6% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Derek Carr at CAR (12% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Aaron Rodgers vs. HOU (47% rostered), Justin Herbert at CLE (43% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starting): Joe Flacco at MIN (2% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Trevor Lawrence at PHI (49% rostered), Daniel Jones vs. WSH (12% rostered), Gardner Minshew at CIN (3% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Malik Willis vs. DET (0% rostered), Bryce Young vs. NO (3% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at TEN (1% rostered), Mason Rudolph vs. NE (1% rostered), Will Levis vs. NE (7% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Russell Wilson (22% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Drew Lock (0% rostered)

Running backs

High-upside backups

For the second straight week, there isn't a clear plug-and-play running back on the waiver wire.

Isaac Guerendo is an interesting bye-week stash with Jordan Mason aggravating his shoulder injury this week. But it appears Christian McCaffrey could return in Week 10, which would relegate Guerendo to backup duties at best.

So instead, we'll use this space to remind you about all the high-upside backups who should be rostered in most leagues, including Braelon Allen (37% rostered), Blake Corum (15% rostered), Ray Davis (26% rostered), Jaylen Wright (7% rostered), Kimani Vidal (11% rostered), Ty Chandler (24% rostered), Trey Benson (16% rostered), and Dameon Pierce (5% rostered).

Each of those backs is one injury away from a significant role in their respective offense, which would potentially turn them into top-20 fantasy RBs.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Zach Charbonnet are just over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

Flex options: Tyler Allgeier vs. DAL (37% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Tyjae Spears vs. NE (47% rostered)

Risky flex options: Jaleel McLaughlin at BAL (15% rostered), Antonio Gibson at TEN (27% rostered), Roschon Johnson at ARI (14% rostered), Justice Hill vs. DEN (21% rostered), Ezekiel Elliott at ATL (25% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Jerome Ford vs. LAC (44% rostered),

Dart-throw flex options: Samaje Perine vs. TB (5% rostered), Dalvin Cook at ATL (23% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Kendre Miller (5% rostered), Sean Tucker (11% rostered), Emanuel Wilson (7% rostered), Tyler Goodson (9% rostered), Pierre Strong Jr. vs. LAC (0% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell (1% rostered), D'Ernest Johnson (5% rostered), Audric Estime (1% rostered), D'Onta Foreman (1% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (4% rostered), Jamaal Williams (2% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Jaylen Warren (46% rostered)

Trade-deadline stashes: Miles Sanders (2% rostered), Khalil Herbert (7% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: MarShawn Lloyd (5% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (8% rostered)

Wide receivers

Cedric Tillman/Jerry Jeudy/Elijah Moore, Browns

With a quality system and a quarterback who's willing and able to push the ball downfield, Cleveland's pass-catchers are suddenly interesting for fantasy.

In their first game with Winston under center, the Browns' passing attack came to life with Tillman (7-99-2), Jeudy (5-79-0), and Moore (8-85-0) all producing strong stat lines.

The matchup was favorable, but this is still a result that fantasy managers should be chasing with Tillman being the most intriguing of the bunch as an upside WR3. Meanwhile, Jeudy and Moore should also be added as WR4/flex options.

Jakobi Meyers, Josh Downs, Jauan Jennings, and Jalen McMillan are close to or over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

WR3/flex options: Keon Coleman vs. MIA (41% rostered)

WR4/flex options: Christian Watson vs. DET (49% rostered)

Flex options: Jalen Tolbert at ATL (23% rostered), Rashod Bateman vs. DEN (45% rostered), Noah Brown at NYG (1% rostered)

Risky flex options: Demarcus Robinson at SEA (9% rostered), Xavier Legette vs. NO (15% rostered), Jalen Coker vs. NO (0% rostered), DeMario Douglas at TEN (31% rostered), Joshua Palmer at CLE (14% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Adam Thielen vs. NO (13% rostered), Quentin Johnston at CLE (15% rostered), Sterling Shepard at KC (13% rostered), Michael Wilson vs. CHI (16% rostered), Allen Lazard vs. HOU (38% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Dontayvion Wicks vs. DET (34% rostered), Kayshon Boutte at TEN (1% rostered), Trey Palmer at KC (4% rostered), Xavier Hutchinson at NYJ (0% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. NE (0% rostered), Kalif Raymond at GB (1% rostered), Jalen Nailor vs. IND (2% rostered), Darius Slayton vs. WSH (13% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud vs. DAL (17% rostered), Mason Tipton at CAR (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): John Metchie III at NYJ (0% rostered), Tim Jones at PHI (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Ricky Pearsall (37% rostered), Jacob Cowing (1% rostered)

Trade-deadline stashes: Mike Williams (10% rostered)

Tight ends

Taysom Hill, Saints

Hill returned to the field this week with six touches for 41 yards, resuming his role as a boom-or-bust fantasy streamer.

Since there aren't any obvious pickups at tight end this week, Hill becomes the most appealing option given the injury to Saints backup running back Kendre Miller and the upcoming matchup with the Panthers.

The Panthers have allowed teams to run all over them, even permitting No. 2 backs like Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Allgeier, Roschon Johnson, and Zack Moss to reach double-digit fantasy points.

It's not hard to envision a scenario where the Saints give Hill some extra touches en route to a strong weekly fantasy finish.

Streaming options: Hunter Henry at TEN (39% rostered), Zach Ertz at NYG (28% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Mike Gesicki vs. LV (8% rostered), Isaiah Likely vs. DEN (43% rostered), Will Dissly at CLE (1% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. HOU (19% rostered), Juwan Johnson at CAR (3% rostered), Jonnu Smith at BUF (6% rostered), Noah Fant vs. LAR (30% rostered), Colby Parkinson at SEA (17% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Grant Calcaterra vs. JAX (0% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Ja'Tavion Sanders vs. NO (1% rostered), Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. NE (6% rostered), Noah Gray vs. TB 91% rostered), Brenton Strange at PHI (3% rostered), Theo Johnson vs. WSH (1% rostered), Foster Moreau at CAR (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 9 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Giants DEF (6% rostered), Falcons DEF (10% rostered)

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