Pigskin Papers: 2023 Waiver Wire Week 9
Levis Looked Great Sunday—And Not Just Because of the Throwback
(Published October 30, 2023)
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Welcome to the Waiver Wire, Week 9. Ready to go trick or treating in the fantasy free agent pool? So am I.
The big story in Week 8 was the QBs. Five starters exited their games with injuries this past week (I’m including Desmond Ridder in the 5, although it sure felt like a benching). Five is a lot. Multiple backup QBs either started games or relieved starters in Week 8, with mostly bad results. On the plus side, one of those backups was making his NFL debut and he burst onto the scene with 4 TD passes. Going into Monday night, Will Levis was the QB6 for the week. He’ll be a hot pickup this week—more on that below.
With so many backups now starting, and Kirk Cousins done for the season, the QB position is getting very dicey beyond the first 8 or 9 very obvious fantasy QB1s, and especially for those in 2-QB (Superflex) leagues where things are downright bleak. The overall quality of QB play is dropping, and in some cases has gotten pretty hard to watch. I was at the NYJ@NYG game on Sunday and I can attest to this. Can you recall another NFL game with 24 punts and 24 first downs? Anyway, with all oft he injures and the Byes restarting, fantasy managers are scrambling for QBs. I’ll try to help you at that position, and everywhere else of course.
This isn’t a strong week for Waivers, and you’ll see a lot of names I’ve already mentioned multiple times. Still, it’s critical to make use of the Waiver Wire to improve your team where you can.
OK, let’s get to the Waiver Wire for Week 9!
WEEK 9 BYES: The Byes are back. Off this week: DEN, DET, JAC, SF.
The Process: Each week, I try to identify the top Waiver Wire targets and evaluate the short and long term prospects of those players. I also do my best to reveal which players who are coming off a big week are fool’s gold. Finally, I endeavor to find streamers who might help you in a pinch. Note that this advice is primarily intended for Season-Long leagues, and NOT Dynasty leagues.
Some of the players I’ll talk about won’t be available in your league. As a general rule, I list players who are available in more than 50% of leagues. But what does that even mean? A 10 team league with 6 bench spots will have a much larger free agent pool than a 14 team league with 8 bench spots. Most leagues fall somewhere in between. This isn’t “one size fits all.”
Week 9 Waiver Wire:
QB: As I said above, lots of you probably need help at this position, at least in the short term, and especially with 4 fantasy-viable and healthy QBs on bye. Sam Howell, a regular in this column, shouldn’t be available anywhere but if he is, he’s your #1 QB add. Similarly, column regular Kyler Murray is also worth adding if he’s somehow not rostered. Here are some QBs you should actually be able to target:
Will Levis (@PIT). Is this fool’s gold? Beginner’s luck? What a start for the second rounder!We’ll learn a lot more about Levis on Thursday night at the Steelers. My guess is that if Levis keeps playing well, he’ll keep the job even when Ryan Tannehill is healthy enough to play. The Titans need to plan for the future and this is a great opportunity for them to start to see what they have in Levis, and for him to get his feet wet. He’s certainly worth an add and some FAAB, given the overall state of the QB position. If he turns into a pumpkin, so be it. He has a strong arm, he’s tough, and he has Hopkins who he’s wisely leaning on (so far).
Derek Carr is a regular fixture of this column. Is he great? No. Does Taysom Hill vulture him some? Yes. But is he serviceable? 100%, and the Saints’ offense is getting better. Carr has topped 17 fantasy points in 3 straight weeks. Like I said, he’s eminently serviceable and especially with the position so thinned out.
*****BREAKING NEWS ON TUESDAY: Josh Dobbs is being traded to the Vikings. Is he a great QB? No. But Dobbs has been a surprisingly good fantasy producer on a team with sub-par weapons. His rushing ability helps his floor. Once he is acclimated, and assuming he gets the starting job, he should be even better on a team with excellent pass catchers and especially once Justin Jefferson returns. He’s definitely worth targeting if he’s on your waiver wire.
If you’re stuck, Baker Mayfield has a pretty favorable schedule the next 2 weeks: @HOU and then vs. TEN. He’s much safer than most if not all of the backups who might be available right now.
Are you really stuck? I’d add Bryce Young before any of the more recent fill-ins, or someone like Zach Wilson or Mac Jones, and especially if you just need a streamer for a week or two. Young is still a work in progress, but the Panthers host the Colts in Week 9 and then play at the Bears on TNF in Week 10, and those are favorable matchups.
Lenny Fourns is Back! Should You Pay Up?
RB:
I keep listing Chuba Hubbard, and am surprised to see him at below 50% on some platforms. He’s a very good add but I suspect he’s not available in most leagues.
Leonard Fournette signed with the Bills on Monday and he’ll be a very popular pickup this week. Personally, I wouldn’t pay the FAAB price that it will take to get him. Yes, he’s been a very good back when he’s been on a great offense, and he’s effective as a pass catcher and at the goal line. But the path to volume and high-value touches is uncertain given other personnel, and I have no idea how much the Bills will use him. He’s worth adding as a stash for sure, but that won’t be so easy to do without overpaying.
Emari Demercado is the Cards’ back to roster (and flex if you need it) until James Conner returns.
A few depth names to consider: Ezekiel Elliott, Cam Akers, Pierre Strong, Justice Hill, and Royce Freeman (I’m assuming you can no longer get Darrell Henderson).
And some worthwhile stashes: Zach Charbonnet, Rico Dowdle, Antonio Gibson, Jamaal Williams, and Kendre Miller.
Pop Douglas—Is the Nickname About to Fit?
WR:
Rashid Shaheed. He’s been mentioned before in this column, and he came through in Week 8 with this unusual stat line: 3-153-1. Big play threats who don’t get much volume are always risky plays. But as I said above, I think this offense is improving.
Demario Douglas. His target share should go up with Kendrick Bourne being lost for the season and Davante Parker suffering a concussion. He’s got some juice as a playmaker (unlike most of the other players on the NE offense) and could be a steady producer in the second half of the season, on a team that will play catch-up pretty often. He led the Pats in targets (7) and catches (5) in Week 8.
Depth adds: It’s the usual suspects from prior weeks—Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, Cedric Wilson, Khalil Shakir, Jameson Williams, and Josh Reynolds.
Stashes (and there are a lot of them - every year we see a couple of younger WRs emerge as fantasy viable in the second half of the season): Michael Wilson, Jonathan Mingo, Treylon Burks, Marvin Mims, K.J. Osborn (his value will depend a lot on who the Vikings add to their QB room), JSN, and Quentin Johnston (and especially if Josh Palmer misses time).
If Taysom Hill is Available, Make Him a Priority
TE:
Taysom Hill. I’ve listed him for something like 5 straight weeks and somehow he’s still available in some leagues. How is that possible after what he’s been doing? He went off this past week (TE1 on the week), this time as a rusher. How many times do we need to see this from him? Yes, it can be inconsistent, but Taysom qualifying as a TE is a cheat code. Get in on the cheating if he’s somehow available in your league.
Trey McBride. I listed him as an add last week, and after his massive performance on Sunday, he’ll be a popular target where he is available. He won’t catch 10 passes on 14 targets every week, but the Zach Ertz injury opens the door to decent target volume, and Kyler Murray’s return won’t hurt.
Logan Thomas and Jake Ferguson have been column regulars. Ferguson is a low-end starter at this point, and Thomas has been a decent option at a weak position.
Donald Parham will have streamer appeal for as long as Gerald Everett is sidelined, and especially if Josh Palmer also misses time. He’s a decent depth add.
Other depth adds: Tyler Conklin and Michael Mayer.
PK Streamers, Week 9: Two from the same game: Matt Gay (@CAR) and Eddy Pineiro (vs. IND), also Blake Grupe (vs. CHI), and Ka’imi Fairbairn (vs. TB).
D/ST Streamers, Week 9: ATL (vs. MIN), LV (vs. NYG), IND (@CAR), GB (vs. LAR, if M. Stafford is out).
Good luck with your waiver wire claims!
DH
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