Last Sunday was brutal on one position in particular: Quarterback. In the early window of games, Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Desmond Ridder, Kenny Pickett, and Tyrod Taylor were all hurt, adding more backup uncertainty and creating even more competition for your FAAB bids ahead of Week 9 fantasy waiver wire pickups.
Across the other positions, it's also time to monitor the Week 9 statuses of Travis Etienne (ankle), Darren Waller (hamstring), Kendrick Bourne (knee), and Drake London (groin). There also are four key teams about to have their bye: Jacksonville, Denver, Detroit, and San Francisco. That leaves fantasy football owners scrambling once again for depth and viable, healthy starting options.
Whether you're thinking short- or long-term, how should you prioritize the pickups, either through the running of waivers or allocation of your free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB)? Here's your advice and buying guide for the latest week of the fantasy open market:
WEEK 9 FANTASY: Top waiver pickups | Trade advice
Week 9 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. Kyler Murray, Cardinals (Yahoo league availability: 44%). Murray (knee) practiced in full last week and will be ready to return to action against the Falcons in Week 10. (UPDATE: Cardinals' coach Jonathan Gannon announced Monday that Murray could start in Week 9.) Once he's back under center, he can run and pass his way to low-end QB1 numbers. His value goes up with the rash of injuries to starters at the position in Week 8. Projected FAAB bid: 3-5% of total budget
2. Sam Howell, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 55%). Howell keeps putting up points -- be it in garbage time or early in the game -- and the Commanders are finally letting him loose when trailing and allowing him to throw a ton, sacks and all. He should be rostered as at least a top backup in shallow leagues and can be a semi-reliable starter in deeper leagues. Projected FAAB bid: 3-5% of total budget
3. Will Levis, Titans (Yahoo league availability: 97%). Levis lit up the Falcons with DeAndre Hopkins and other receivers against a shocked defense. There wasn't much fluky about his rookie debut, and he can build on that with a reasonable schedule ahead, including the next three weeks vs. Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
4. Derek Carr, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 64%). Carr seems to be getting comfortable, as the Saints put him in easier passing situations and have taken pressure off him in the red zone. The 310 yards and two TDs in Indianapolis are the kinds of games he should be having in back-and-forth matchups. The Bears and Vikings over the next two weeks make him a prime streamer. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
5. Mac Jones, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 91%). He had two TDs with 162 passing yards against the Dolphins, which is passable for a streamer. He's a limited-ceiling QB, but he can get hot again in a potential shootout with Howell and the Commanders in Week 9 ahead the Patriots also hosting the Colts in Week 10 ahead of their Week 11 bye. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
6. Zach Wilson, Jets (Yahoo league availability: 95%). Wilson produced decent numbers last week thanks to Breece Hall's run-after-the-catch ability and 25 rushing yards against the Giants. He can do more to provide some deep-league streaming relevancy at home vs. the Chargers in Week 9. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 9 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. Emari Demercado (Yahoo league availability: 64%). OK, this time we're not fooling. He is the clear top replacement back for James Conner (knee) with two weeks of evidence. His 20 carries for 78 yards in a negative game script vs. the Ravens confirms it. He can keep coming through as borderline RB2, at least for one more week. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams (Yahoo league availability: 55%). Henderson was once again activated to lead the backfield with 15 touches in Dallas, compiling 85 scrimmage yards as the leading receiver. It was an ugly overall game in a contest that also saw Matthew Stafford (thumb) go down, but the Rams should lean more on a run-heavy attack for the Packers' matchup in Week 9. Any back getting that much work has to be rostered. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
3. Royce Freeman, Rams (Yahoo league availability: 78%). In Week 7, Henderson scored. In Week 8, it was Freeman getting on the board with a TD to go along with nine carries for 54 yards. He could see an uptick in work to help in pass protection should Brett Rypien need to start over Stafford. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
4. Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 53%). Rhamondre Stevenson is the clear lead, but Elliott is still getting his share of high-leverage touches. A positive game script vs. Washington can help in Week 9. He still needs to be rostered as a handcuff. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
5. Devin Singletary, Texans (Yahoo league availability: 80%). Singletary didn't take over the backfield in Carolina, but he matched Dameon Pierce with 12 touches. Singletary had just 43 yards on his 10 carries and two catches, while Pierce had 46 running alone. That screams situational committee. Be wary that tough matchups now await. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 9 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Jahan Dotson, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 49%). Dotson wasn't dropped a lot despite him doing next to nothing for the first half of the season. The second-year man finally showed his alpha potential again with a team-high eight catches for 108 yards in Week 8, including a pretty 21-yard TD from Howell. He should be locked in now, and the Patriots are a not bad spot to stay hot. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
2. Rashid Shaheed, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 64%). Shaheed once again looked like New Orleans' best receiver, hauling in all three of his targets for 153 yards and a TD in Week 8. He's booming more than busting, and that gives him flex potential in all matchups, including in a highly favorable Week 9 tilt against Chicago. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
3. Brandin Cooks, Cowboys (Yahoo league availability: 59%). Cooks, fully healthy, is now operating as the savvy No. 2 playing off red-hot CeeDee Lamb. It also helps Dak Prescott has been playing much better, before and after the bye. Cooks is now integral to a pass-happier team with the running game sputtering, and he should get plenty of key targets again with a chance to produce well vs. the Eagles' leaky secondary. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
4. Jayden Reed, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 83%). Between Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, Jordan Love is showing more confidence in the rookie Reed in relation to the second-year wideouts. He caught four-of-six targets for a team-high 83 yards against the Vikings. He should be viable if needed as a WR3 vs. the Rams. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
5. Demario Douglas (Yahoo league availability: 97%). JuJu Smith-Schuster did catch a TD from Jones, but Douglas got plenty of work in the slot with a team-high five catches. He managed only 29 total scrimmage yards, but watch for a bigger role with Kendrick Bourne (knee) and DeVante Parker (concussion) banged up. He's a PPR special. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
Week 9 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Taysom Hill, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 91%). Sometimes, you just need to throw out what you think about usage and a position and embrace a special talent producing in key situations. That's what Hill is doing as the best complement runner to Alvin Kamara (nine carries, 63 yards, two TDs in Week 8) and the best complementary passer to Derek Carr (44 passing yards). He's almost becoming a weekly TE/flex in 12-team leagues. Projected FAAB bid: 9-10% of total budget
2. Trey McBride, Cardinals (Yahoo league availability: 81%). The kid didn't waste time jumping on his second-year breakout minus Zach Ertz (quad). McBride led the Cardinals with 10 catches for 95 yards against the Ravens in a tough matchup. He will remain a key target along with Marquise Brown and Michael Wilson in what has been a tight-end friendly offense. He's playable vs. the Falcons, Texans, and Rams in Weeks 10-12. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
3. Gerald Everett/Donald Parham Jr., Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 75%). Check the hip injury from Week 8, but should Everett (hip) suit up for the Jets, he steps into a spot against a defense that can contain wide receivers but leave some key holes in the middle of the field. If Everett remains out, look for Parham Jr., who showed his value on Sunday night with a 4-43-1 line. Projected FAAB bid: 6-8% of total budget
4. Luke Musgrave, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 78%). Musgrave was able to play with his ankle injury against the Vikings, but he had just two catches for nine yards. He hasn't been fully immersed in the offense to be more than a streamer, but the Rams struggle against TEs. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
5. Tyler Conklin, Jets (Yahoo league availability: 93%). He was blanked against the Giants, as Zach Wilson needed only Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and other tight end C.J. Uzomah to catch passes in a thrilling overtime win. Conklin can be used more for sure in a fine streaming spot vs. the Chargers at home. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
Week 9 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. Los Angeles Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 74%). The Chargers have some dynamic pass-rushers, and after having some success against the Bears on Sunday night, they can do more damage vs. Zach Wilson and the Jets.
2. Las Vegas Raiders (Yahoo league availability: 87%). Maxx Crosby and friends can come through at home vs. the Giants and Jets in consecutive weeks over the next two games.
3. Minnesota Vikings (Yahoo league availability: 91%). The Vikings' defense is starting to come together nicely for Brian Flores and can stay active again with the banged-up Falcons on tap.
4. Indianapolis Colts (Yahoo league availability: 92%). The Colts' defense will work to rebound with big plays against the giving Panthers on the road.
5. New England Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 73%). The Patriots' pass rush also should have chances for sacks and takeaways against Sam Howell at home.
6. Washington Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 73%). Daniel Jones can put numbers like Howell but also give up the ball and succumb to a tough front in this game.
7. New York Giants (Yahoo league availability: 94%). They woke up with some key plays against the Jets, led by Kayvon Thibodeaux, and they will look to tee off on the Raiders.
