Week 8 of NFL and fantasy football action has concluded and Week 9 of NFL action will be commencing in just a few days. Even though some of the best offenses were on their bye week, we still saw some high-scoring NFL games, individual players in fantasy football, and fantasy football games. With six more teams scheduled to be on their bye week, fantasy football managers may need waiver wire pickups.
In this week’s edition of fantasy football waiver wire pickups on NFL Spin Zone, we cover player injuries, trade rumors, completed trades, and more fantasy football implications. As always, I advise adding running backs (one that will be on bye), wide receivers (one that is my namesake), quarterbacks (one that is a throwback, that throws forward), and tight ends (one with a name you can’t keep out of your mouth) who are highly available and ascending.
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 9: Running backs
Dontrell Hilliard, Titans
The Titans have established themselves as a run-first team, yet again. 314 of their 354 yards against the worst defense in the league, the Texans, were rushing yards. Granted, the Titans won’t have Malik Willis, who rushed for 12 yards on 5 attempts and handed the ball off 40 times, as their starting quarterback for the rest of the season (I think).
Still available in 97.4% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Dontrell Hilliard is the clear #2 back behind King Derrick Henry. Gaining 95 scrimmage yards with limited touches, he’s shown he can be the Titans’ change-of-pace back and/or a premier handcuff in fantasy football. He is worth stashing in all formats in deeper leagues.
D’ernest Johnson, Browns
So far, I’m 1-1 predicting that players on the trading block will get traded before the trade deadline, and the next man up will become fantasy relevant. Browns’ change-of-pace back behind Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, has requested a trade. Apparently, the Browns have granted his request and have been answering phone calls.
Available in virtually 99% of NFL.com leagues, D’ernest Johnson would catapult from third to second on the depth chart if and when Kareem Hunt gets traded (maybe the Rams?). Johnson had over 150 yards in each of the 2 games he was the feature back in last year when Chubb and Hunt were injured and out. He could do damage as the Browns’ #2 back. He is worth rostering in all formats if a trade happens. Don’t forget, though, that he will be on a bye week in Week 9.
If he’s still available, Khalil Herbert
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 9: Wide Receivers
Devin Duvernay, Ravens
The Ravens’ primary return man was asked to do it all against the Buccaneers. When Rashod Bateman got injured and left the game, Devin Duvernay was the primary wide receiver, receiving both targets and handoffs. He finished the night on offense with 4 receptions on 4 targets for 31 yards and 2 carries for 33 yards and 1 touchdown.
Only rostered in 24% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Devin Duvernay will be the Ravens’ primary wide receiver for the next few weeks. Their usual #1 receiver, Rashod Bateman, suffered a foot injury and will be out. He will also be the primary return man for the rest of the season in the unlikely chance that your league awards points for return yards. He’s scored one kickoff return in 2022, though, and could get you points that way, as well. He is a primary add in all formats and a starting option in return-yardage and PPR leagues.
Julio Jones, Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have been hard to trust in fantasy football recently. Surely Tom Brady, Leonard Fournette, and company will figure it out, though, right? Right? It’s tough to say. They have offensive line issues and their pressure rate and yards per carry reflect that. While everybody is fading them, though, now might be the time to buy in early.
Still available in 77.8% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Julio Jones was an exciting free agent addition for the Bucs this offseason. Although he’s struggled to stay healthy in 2022, he’s scored double-digit PPR points in 2 of the 3 games he’s played this season. In those 2 games, he’s received handoffs, which is one way NFL teams can compensate for offensive line deficiencies. He is worth rostering in PPR leagues.
Terrace Marshall, Panthers
The Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey trades have had quite the trickle-down effect on the Panthers’ skill players. With those two gone, there are more targets to go around. Also, Carolina has been sticking with P.J. Waker as their starting quarterback, who seems to push the ball downfield more. As a result, we’ve seen the team’s receivers have a resurgence in fantasy.
Available in virtually 99% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Terrace Marshall has been the second biggest beneficiary of targets behind DJ Moore. The 2021 2nd-round pick set a new single-game career high in targets with 9 against the Falcons. He hauled in 4 of these for 87 yards in the high-scoring overtime loss. He is worth a flier in deep PPR leagues.
If he’s still available, Mack Hollins
If he’s recently become available, Michael Gallup
Football waiver wire, Week 9: Quarterbacks
Andy Dalton, Saints
You’re probably wondering “what year is it?” Don’t worry, you didn’t get lost in time. It’s 2022, and Andy Dalton is a starting quarterback in the NFL (again). At first, he was starting in place of an injured Jameis Winston. Now, Jameis is healthy, and Andy is still the starter.
Only rostered in 14.8% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Andy Dalton has two consecutive games with multiple touchdowns. He’s been getting it done mostly with running back Alvin Kamara, wide receiver Chris Olave, and tight end Juwan Johnson. Sooner or later, he will have wide receivers Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry back. He is worth streaming in one-QB leagues and is worth rostering and starting in two-QB leagues.
If he’s still available, Marcus Mariota (nearly my weekly recommendation)
If you need a bye week streaming option with upside, Taylor Heinicke
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 9: Tight Ends
Isaiah Likely, Ravens
The preseason darling got a chance to show what he can do in the regular season when Mark Andrews got injured and left the game @ the Buccaneers. What he did was haul in 6 of his 7 targets for 77 yards and 1 touchdown.
Still available in 98.9% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, it’s likely he’s available in yours. I’m not sure if there’s ever been a tight end handcuff before, but Isaiah Likely could be just that. If Andrews misses time, likely is a priority add and must start in all formats.
Harrison Bryant, Browns
With an injury to Browns starting tight end David Njoku that will sideline him for the next, the former 4th-round pick Harrison Bryant is projected to step up. When he was asked to step up in this way in 2020 as a rookie, he responded with 4 receptions for 56 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Available in virtually 99% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, The Browns and Jacoby Brissett lean on the tight end a lot in their passing game, so Bryant could be busy over the next few weeks. He was not as busy as expected in Week 8, but neither was Njoku in Week 1. Bryant is worth rostering and streaming in PPR leagues as long as Njoku is out.
If he’s recently become available, David Njoku (injury stash)