It’s another tough bye week upcoming, as the Falcons, Saints and Rams are all off, creating more lineup concerns and havoc for many fantasy owners. But you won’t get any real empathy for dealing with the situation, as all of us have to deal with the same challenges every week. We prepare you to tackle the Fantasy personnel situations rather than complaining about them. We’ll help you make the best use of your Fantasy Football FAAB Budget.
You will not always find the ideal plug-ins on the waiver wire, though, as many have pulled a lot of the best items off the shelves as they deal with bye weeks and injuries. Visiting the free agent list nowadays is like entering a discount store and not seeing too many items that will attract you. The ones that do look good get sold right away. Fortunately, we are discerning shoppers and can help you locate the right purchases at the best prices.
For another take on the top adds for Week 9, check out Joel Bartilotta’s Week 9 Waiver Wire.
Fantasy Football FAAB Pickups for Week 9
Running Backs
Tra Carson, Lions (Two percent owned in Fantrax Leagues): He led the team in carries in Week 8, much to the chagrin of those who spent a significant amount of FAAB on Ty Johnson. Carson was recently cut by Green Bay and was still out-snapped by Johnson. Carson finished with an uninspiring 34-yard, 12-carry line and has the look of a stopgap option, but you have to take a flier on a guy who may have a chance to emerge as the true lead ball carrier for any team.
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 10 percent of your budget. Don’t spend too much based on one week of mediocre production, he does have a lot to prove.
Adrian Peterson, Redskins (87 percent owned): He is certainly more widely available on some other sites and is definitely worth the add for bye week or injury usage. The future Hall of Famer has rushed for 275 yards over the past three games as Washington has demonstrated a renewed commitment to the running game. Peterson still runs with determination and some juke even though he does not have the same power and burst he did in his prime. He is a decent filler type if you need one.
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 27 percent of your budget. It’s a good depth move to nab him but he’s not essential.
Alexander Mattison, Vikings: He is heavily unowned on some other sites and is a necessary handcuff to Dalvin Cook, who is looking like the best RB in Fantasy Football right now. We cannot forget Cook’s injury history, though, and Mattison has looked like one of the best backup RBs in the league whenever he gets touches. He has averaged 4.9 yards per carry:
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 5 percent of your budget, but you must own him if you roster Cook. Just because D.C. is healthy now and performing so well, that is no reason to not have his handcuff. Cook does remain susceptible to some minor injury issues because of his past health history.
Wide Receivers
Chris Conley, Jaguars (25): He finished with 103 yards and a TD in Week 8 and has totaled 186 yards in his past two games. He has been irrelevant in the past and consistency is an issue. But Conley has been reborn in Jacksonville as a big-play type. He is worth rostering as a Fantasy WR4 with good streamer appeal.
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 15 percent of your budget.
Alex Erickson, Bengals (25): We highlighted him last week, but apparently not enough of you listened. He has 234 receiving yards and over 37 Fantasy points per game in the last two games. He is a good yardage-after-the-catch sort and can find soft spots in a defense. He will be useful whether the Bengals are competitive or playing catch-up.
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 10 percent of your budget.
Russell Gage, Falcons (2): He had seven receptions for 58 yards as Gage assumed the old Mohamed Sanu role in Atlanta’s first game without the traded wideout. As Atlanta’s third receiver, Gage will have some Fantasy WR promise. The team will continue to engage in many high-scoring affairs, so he will have more opportunities to be a quality contributor in a busy passing game.
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: Eight percent of your budget.
Tight Ends
Darren Fells, Texans (42): He has a pair of two TD games in his last four outings and two games of six receptions in his last three. Fells has always been a blocker first in the past but the Texans have coaxed some receiving acumen out of him. He was the second-highest scoring TE of Week 8 and has arrived as a viable option.
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 10 percent.
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (25): He was quiet on Monday night but registered 51 and 41 receiving yards in the two games prior to Week 8. Gesicki is starting to show signs of becoming more comfortable as a pro and with his impressive abilities and potential. You could see him start to produce well in the near future.
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: Two percent will be enough to acquire him.
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, Raiders (63): This is a pivotal season for Carr in which he had to prove he could still be the starter the Raiders wanted him to be. So far, he has succeeded and started to increase his Fantasy production over the past two weeks. He has thrown for 578 yards and five TDs over the past two games. Carr also has a friendly upcoming schedule, with matchups against the Lions’ league-worst pass defense and dates with Cincinnati (22nd-ranked pass defense) and the Jets (24th).
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: Three percent of your budget should get it done.
Ryan Tannehill (46): He has more weaponry and a better supporting cast than he ever did in Miami. Tannehill threw for over 300 yards in his first Titans start two weeks ago and three TDs in Week 8. He is a respectable streamer if you need one.
Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: Three percent.
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites of 2019. With multi-team trades, designated commissioner/league managers, and drag/drop easy click methods, Fantrax is sure to excite the serious fantasy sports fan – sign up now for a free year at Fantrax.com.