Season-long fantasy footballers and DFS junkies alike face a major challenge as NFL Week 9 byes see the Cardinals, Ravens, Lions, Texans, Chiefs and Seahawks all go on hiatus. With six teams on bye for the first time this season, we'll have to dig even deeper on the waiver wire for replacement value in fantasy leagues of all sizes.
Plus, owners will be trying to replace the losses of Le'Veon Bell and Matt Forte, making DeAngelo Williams, Jeremy Langford and others popular waiver targets for everyone. Let's take a look at the best pickups at each position.
MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL: Week 9 Waiver Wire
Best fantasy RB pickups for Bye Week 9
Byes: Chris Johnson, Andre Ellington, David Johnson, Theo Riddick, Ameer Abdullah, Justin Forsett, Alfred Blue, Charcandrick West, Marshawn Lynch
DeAngelo Williams has apparently been a neglected handcuff that could come back to haunt many Le'Veon Bell owners. Bell's injury makes Williams the key target for Bell owners and handcuff trolls — though we should call them sharp opportunists. With Matt Forte also going down with a knee injury, Jeremy Langford will be a popular and necessary add for many fantasy owners.
Titans rookie David Cobb (15 percent) finishes his time on short-term injured reserve and could play this week at New Orleans. No Titans RB thus far has seized a featured role in terms of touches or efficiency. Giants RB Orleans Darkwa was 14-percent owned after emerging in Week 7, but his Week 8 back injury will see him dropped a ton this week, making him a decent speculative add in deep leagues.
MORE: Week 9 fantasy football rankings:
Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Defenses | Kickers
Best fantasy WR pickups for Bye Week 9
Byes: Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, Michael Floyd, Kamar Aiken, Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Jeremy Maclin, DeAndre Hopkins, Nate Washington, Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett
Tavon Austin scares owners off with low catch totals, but he has established himself too much in this increasingly functional Rams offense to be owned in less than 50 percent of leagues. The home run threat makes him a nice flex in standard leagues.
Tavon Austin is averaging 19.7 Fantasy PPG over his last four games. Seven all-purpose touchdowns in seven games. Translating in YR3
— Russell Clay (@RussellJClay) November 2, 2015Malcom Floyd (28 percent) remains the bye-week fantasy dynamo he's always been. As long as Philip Rivers is quarterback of the Chargers, Floyd is capable of breaking a long touchdown in any game, especially with Keenan Allen (kidney) out. Spend some FAAB on Kamar Aiken (21 percent) as the presumed No. 1 Ravens WR with Steve Smith Sr. on injured reserve.
Best fantasy QB pickups for Bye Week 9
Byes: Carson Palmer, Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, Brian Hoyer, Alex Smith, Russell Wilson
Sam Bradford is 40 percent owned in ESPN leagues and performed decently in Week 7 despite losing future Hall of Fame LT Jason Peters early against Carolina. Bradford had two TDs wiped off the board by receiver error and now gets the extra week for Peters to recover, as Chip Kelly prepares for a Dallas defense that sometimes struggles against Philly's tempo.
For deeper leagues, Jay Cutler (20 percent owned) faces a Chargers defense allowing the fifth-most yards per attempt and has quietly put together a bounce-back season by his standard. Among the sub-10 ownership group, Kirk Cousins (6.6 percent) gets a trailing game script from Vegas as Washington plays New England.
Best fantasy TE pickups for Bye Week 9
Byes: Jimmy Graham, Travis Kelce, Eric Ebron, Crockett Gillmore
Those who have been conservative with their auction budget and suffer from a hole at tight end just received great news with Denver acquiring Vernon Davis. The San Francisco offense destroyed his fantasy value and left him at 15-percent owned. But there's still gas in the tank.
Jumpman-Jumpman-Jumpman, Vernon's up to something. #tbt #HurdlingHumansAlert https://t.co/0s88w1uk0C
— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2015For immediate impact, Zach Ertz (48.8-percent owned) saw increased usage before the bye and faces a Dallas defense that gave it up to Seattle TEs up the seam and on crossing routes. Austin Seferian-Jenkins (14 percent) is soon to make his much-needed return to the Tampa offense from a shoulder injury.
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