Week 8 was an unusual week in the middle of the season with no teams on a bye week and all 32 teams in action. Week 9 the bye weeks are back, though, so be sure to get your team ready for the Steelers and 49ers getting the week off.
In each of the last few weeks, many fantasy matchups were decided by big-name players leaving early due to injury or illness and not returning. This week, most of those injuries seemed to happen to wide receivers, especially for the Jaguars. With injuries mounting and bye weeks looming over the next few weeks, it’s important to jump on the waiver wire to tune up your season-long fantasy team for the rest of the season. Check out my favorite adidtions listed below.
Before we get to the pickups, though, here are some of the players who left early or were sidelined on Sunday with new injuries to monitor in the coming week
New injuries from Week 8 to watch:
- QB Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
- QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
- QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots
- WR Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
- WR Brian Robinson Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
- WR Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Gabe Davis, Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
- WR Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With those injuries in mind, here are some of my top names to watch for on waiver wire Week 9:
WR Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
The Browns’ offense lost Amari Cooper ($6,000; 1.3 FPTS) and Deshaun Watson last week, but I loved what that did for Cedric Tillman ($3,300; 28.9 FPTS) who was my top waiver wire add last week and got his own spotlight article as well.
Tillman delivered on his promise this week and hauled in seven of his nine targets for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was the second-highest-scoring WR of the week heading into the two prime time contests and fell just one yard short of hitting the 100-yard bonus and getting over 30 fantasy points.
TILLY PUTS US AHEAD!#BALvsCLE on CBS and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/nLKMAgT9Tu
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 27, 2024
He showcased a strong rapport with Jameis Winston ($5,200; 27.56 FPTS), who is highlighted below, and it seems that he has taken over Cooper’s route tree. Tillman ranked second on the team in targets and led the way in receiving yards while being the only receiver with a touchdown. With that many targets and plenty of big play potential, he should be a good play the rest of the way.
He’s still available in over 80% of leagues, but that won’t last long after his huge game in Week 8. Next week, the Browns are home against the Chargers before their bye week. They come back with the Saints, Steelers and Broncos, but Tillman has shown enough to be a great grab even if you’re not just looking for a short-term fix.
Other wide receiver pickups who I like a lot coming out of week 8 include Ricky Pearsall (playing Sunday night), Kalif Raymond ($3,400; 15.4 FPTS), Elijah Moore ($3,700; 16.5 FPTS), Nick Westbrook-Ikine ($3,000; 11.9 FPTS) and Jalen McMillan ($3,700; 9.2 FPTS).
One other important situation to watch this week will be the Jaguars, who lost their top three WRs to injury as Christian Kirk (shoulder), Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) all left with what could be serious injuries. Parker Washington ($3,000; 7.6 FPTS) had three catches for 46 yards while stepping up and could be in a bigger role as a sleeper going forward depending, on the severity of his teammate’s injuries.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons beat the Bucs despite the fact that Tampa looked great in their creamsicle uniforms and got a goofy safety on this play which included Tyler Allgeier ($5,100; 3.3 FPTS).
AND THAT’S A BUCS SAFETY 🙏
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/ZmwM1PWXMY
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 27, 2024
Allgeier didn’t lose points for the fumble since the Bucs did not recover it and it was (correctly) charged to Kirk Cousins ($6,200; 28.64 FPTS), who still had a monster game. While that fumble made things much closer than the Falcons’ fans were hoping it would be, they still held on to win, 31-26. Allgeier was heavily involved even though he didn’t have a huge statline. He had 12 carries but only managed 33 yards.
The reason why Allgeier is worth adding if you are searching for running back help is that he continues to get consistent work every week for the Falcons. He’s owned in under 40% of leagues but has gotten 5+ carries in seven straight weeks. He had 100+ yards and a touchdown two weeks ago against the Panthers and also had a big week in Week 4 against the Saints. When the Falcons play from ahead, they go very run-heavy and use both Allgeier and Bijan Robinson ($7,200; 22 FPTS).
The Falcons have a juicy upcoming schedule the next two weeks, taking on the Cowboys and the Saints, who both rank in the top five in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. While it may drive Bijan’s fantasy backers crazy, Allgeier will still get work and bring good upside for the next few weeks and can be an emergency option if needed.
There aren’t many other emerging options to consider. Zach Charbonnet ($5,400; 11.4 FPTS) is available in about half of leagues, and Alexander Mattison ($5,600; 9.4 FPTS) is 60% owned. If neither of them are available, Kimani Vidal ($5,300; 1.6 FPTS) has sleeper potential but is still a deep pickup at this point.
QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
Last week, my top QB add was Bo Nix ($5,600; 29.76 FPTS), who was the No. 2 QB in the week and is still only 25% owned going into next week’s matchup against the Ravens, who have been a great matchup for opposing QBs. Nix plays the Chiefs, Falcons, Raiders and Browns in the upcoming weeks, and he’ll be a strong play from the waiver wire if you can grab him.
Another great pickup option that emerged in Week 8 was Jameis Winston ($5,200; 27.56 FPTS), who was very impressive in his first start for the Browns. He led them to a win over the visiting Ravens by throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns.
In today’s dub, @Jaboowins set the record for most passing yards by a QB making their Browns debut pic.twitter.com/J4Nronbhvk
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 27, 2024
Winston has under 10% ownership but has looked good while working with Tillman and the rest of the Browns offense. Next week he faces the Chargers before the bye week, but then has a favorable matchup with the Saints in what could be a revenge game for him.
Aside from Nix and Winston, Matthew Stafford ($5,500; 25.76 FPTS) is too available with 40% ownership now that his receivers are back. Justin Herbert ($5,400; 24.02 FPTS) has also looked much better and seems to be past his ankle sprain that slowed him earlier this season.
TE Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers
Speaking of Herbert and the Chargers offense looking better, Will Dissly ($3,000; 9.1 FPTS) has emerged as a very usable tight end the past two weeks with Hayden Hurst (groin) out.
Dissly is on 99% of waiver wires but has posted at least 4.0 fantasy points in six straight weeks. He has at least three catches in each of those six games. He had eight catches on 11 targets for 81 yards and 16.1 FPTS last week on Monday Night Football and built on that by catching 5-of-7 targets for 41 more yards this week.
The veteran TD has the potential to continue to grow in this offense as one of Herbert’s go-to’s, but you will want to keep a close eye on Hurst’s status if you’re backing Dissly. If you want other options, check out Adam Trautman ($2,500; 18.5 FPTS) of the Broncos who had a huge week while Zach Ertz ($4,200; 14.7 FPTS) continues to be a steady producer. Brenton Strange ($2,500; 10.9 FPTS) was busy after the Jags’ WR injuries too, so he’s worth monitoring as that situation clarifies.
Commanders DST
The Commanders DST ($2,900; 5 FPTS) needed a last-second Hail Mary from Jayden Daniels ($7,300; 25.24 FPTS) to save the day after giving up two second-half touchdowns. Even though this didn’t do anything for the DST, it’s still worth checking out as one of the best higlights of the year:
HAIL NOAH!!!!!!!!!!
📺 #CHIvsWAS CBS pic.twitter.com/nRr3sIF17K
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 27, 2024
Prior to the Bears’ rally that forced the Daniels’ magic, the DST held the Bears in check, allowing barely over 100 passing yards to Caleb Williams ($6,000; 10.3 FPTS) and recovering a fumble along with two sacks.
On the season, they have forced seven turnovers and racked up 21 sacks. They had monster games against the Browns and Panthers in favorable spots, and they’ll get another great matchup next week as they head to New York and face the Giants, who will be a short week after playing on Monday Night. Looking ahead, the Commanders have the Steelers in Week 10 before three straight top-10 matchups vs. DST against the Eagles, Cowboys and Titans.
Other options that are widely available but can work as streaming options for Week 9 include the Saints DST (at the Panthers) and the Falcons DST (vs. the Cowboys).
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
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