Waiver Wire Pickups Week 9
What a wild and strange fantasy week. Entering Monday Night Football, the QB1 on the week is Mike White, with Jimmy Garoppolo right on his heels. The Jets boast two top 10 scoring running backs in Michael Carter (RB1) and Ty Johnson (RB). While the top of the wide receiver scoring was dotted with more familiar names, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Randall Cobb, and Jamal Agnew all found their way to get into the top 20. And just for kicks, Dan Arnold is your TE2 on the week. We didn’t have to worry about many byes last week with just two teams off, but Week 9 bumps that number up to four with the Lions, Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Football Team all on hiatus this week. As always, we also have a new set of injuries to deal with, the most fantasy-relevant being the loss of Derrick Henry. James Robinson was also injured Sunday, but fortunately, he’s listed as day to day and should be able to go next week. Let’s dive into these week 9 waiver wire pickups!
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QB Waiver Wire Pickups
Mike White
New York Jets (3% Sleeper Rostership / 0.6% ESPN Rostership)
When a quarterback throws for over 400 yards, and he’s not rostered in basically every league, I am forced to recommend him as a waiver wire pickup. I don’t make the rules; I just follow them. White has another game where he’s set up to succeed after throwing for 405 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday against Cincinnati. The Jets coaching staff schemed to White’s strengths this past week, allowing him to check down to the running backs (20 targets combined for Michael Carter and Ty Johnson), and to utilize his underneath and intermediate weapon, Jamison Crowder (nine targets). This Thursday, he faces a Colts team giving up the 11th most fantasy points to the quarterback position. I don’t know that I am actually brave enough to start White in start one quarterback leagues, but I could be tempted to do so in superflex leagues. Even if I just pick him up this week and let him stew on the bench, I’d feel much better knowing he’s on my roster than if he goes out and puts up another strong performance this Thursday.
RB Waiver Wire Pickups
Jeremy McNichols
Tenessee Titans (5% Sleeper Rostership / 1.9% ESPN Rostership)
Priority number one on the waiver wire this week is easy. It’s Jeremy McNichols. Derrick Henry suffered a Jones fracture on Sunday in the first quarter and will be out for at least the next six to ten weeks. He might make it back if the Titans make a deep playoff run, but that doesn’t help us in fantasy one bit. Henry’s 71.1% snap share is the fourth-highest for running backs, and his 219 rushing attempts represent 84.2% of all Titan rushing attempts in 2021. His rushing share is the highest in the league, by a significant margin, with the next closest running back, Najee Harris capturing 78.5% of the Steelers rushing attempts. The hole this creates in the Titans rushing attack will likely take a few players to fill, but the primary back is expected to be Jeremy McNichols. McNichols will not match Henry in rushing production; not many players can, but he will see the starters rushing volume, and he also happens to be a very good pass catcher, which will help boost his scoring in PPR leagues. McNichols 21 receptions are 14th most at the running back position, despite averaging just 22% offensive snaps a game through the first eight weeks. He’s not just a compiler either, McNichols averages 9.7 yards per reception, which is fifth highest in the league for running backs. The Titans did sign Adrian Peterson, but they had to sign someone after Henry’s injury. Before signing AP, the only running backs on the active roster were McNichols, fullback Khari Blasingame, and practice squader Mekhi Sargent. Let your league mates chase the name AP, and you go ahead and pick the player that will end up being the Titans starting running back instead.
Boston Scott
Philadelphia Eagles (24% Sleeper Rostership / 4.5% ESPN Rostership)
With Miles Sanders placed on the IR, the Eagles decided to shake the mothballs off Boston Scott on Sunday and let him play a little football. Scott entered Sunday’s action with ten total touches on the season, eight of which came last week after Sanders was injured in the first quarter. This week Scott had 12 rushing attempts in the Eagles suddenly run-heavy offense. Though Kenneth Gainwell led the Eagles with 13 rushing attempts, most of his work came in the fourth quarter when the Eagles were already leading 38-0 over the Detroit Lions. Scott and Jordan Howard (also 12 rushing attempts) both had two rushing touchdowns, and Scott led the running backs with 60 rushing yards. His lone target was the only one any running backs saw on Sunday as the Eagles attempted just 16 passes on the day. It’s unlikely that Scott sees a better situation than he did this past week, facing a Lions defense giving up the third-most fantasy points to the running back position and having to only rush for a total of four yards on his two touchdowns. Still, we can’t ding him for taking advantage of a great situation. With the Eagles suddenly committed to the run and getting to face a Chargers defense giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs, Scott is set up for at least one more productive week.
Ty Johnson
New York Jets (10% Sleeper Rostership / 5.3% ESPN Rostership)
Please don’t pick up all of the Jets players I’m suggesting this week. Just one Jet per fantasy roster, please, for everyone’s safety. If you need a spot start from a running back, you could do worse than Ty Johnson. Johnson has double-digit fantasy points in three straight games. He had six targets and 71 receiving yards this week against the Bengals, a week after seeing seven targets and 65 receiving yards against the Patriots. Johnson should be heavily targeted for at least one more game with Mike White under center with at least one more week.
WR Waiver Wire Pickups
DeVante Parker
Miami Dolphins (50% Sleeper Rostership / 56% ESPN Rostership)
After missing the past two weeks dealing with a hamstring, DeVante Parker returned Sunday and stepped right back into his role as a target hog for the Dolphins. Parker’s 11 targets finished just behind Jaylen Waddle to finish second for Miami Sunday. He’s been targeted no less than seven times in each game he’s played this year and is now averaging 8.6. targets per game. He’s also scored 16+ fantasy points in back-to-back weeks, and next week’s matchup sets up perfectly for another strong week. Next Sunday, the Dolphins and Texans face-off in what could be a low-key shootout. Tyrod Taylor should be ready to return for the Texans improving the outlook for Houston’s wide receivers facing a Miami defense that is giving up the second-most fantasy points to the position (28.62). The Texans give up the 11th most fantasy points per game to wide receivers (24.28), so we should expect a ton of fantasy points from Parker next week. Parker can be plucked off your waiver wires and inserted directly in your starting lineup as your WR3.
Jamal Agnew
Jacksonville Jaguars (3% Sleeper Rostership / 1.6% ESPN Rostership)
Just as we all predicted after D.J. Chark broke his leg against the Bengals in Week 4, Jamal Agnew has become the Jaguars most targeted wide receiver (yes, this is sarcasm). In the past three games, Agnew has out-targeted Marvin Jones (25-23) and Laviska Shenault (17 targets). Agnew saw 12 targets this week against Seattle as the Jaguars decided to “attack” the Seahawks defense with mostly underneath routes. Though he only converted six of those targets into 38 receiving yards, he added a touchdown to give him 15.8 points this week. He’s had at least five receptions each of the past three weeks and six receptions in two of the last three games. Agnew also provides bonus points if you happen to play in leagues that give points for kick and/or punt returns, as he is the primary player in both those roles. Agnew is purely a volume play, but he happens to play on a team with an awful defense that loves to pass. The Jaguars have now attempted at least 41 passes in three of their seven games, with at least 33 pass attempts in six of seven games. As long as Jacksonville continues their pass-happy ways, Agnew is a player worth rostering.
Jamison Crowder
New York Jets (30% Sleeper Rostership / 18.7% ESPN Rostership)
With Corey Davis unable to play this past Sunday, and the Jets playing this Thursday, Jamison Crowder becomes an interesting play. Crowder tied a season-high with nine targets on Sunday and had a season-highs with eight receptions and 84 receiving yards. Crowder’s game complements Mike White’s quite well, as he works primarily underneath on quick-developing routes, allowing White to get rid of the ball quickly. Even if Davis can play Thursday, Crowder still presents a good floor option, as he’s seen at least six targets in every game this season. His ceiling is limited, and you’ll need a touchdown for him to break 20 fantasy points, but he should be able to give you at least 9-15 fantasy points, which is valuable out of your flex positions.
TE Waiver Wire Pickups
Pat Freiermuth
Pittsburgh Steelers (26% Sleeper Rostership / 6.2% ESPN Rostership)
Since playing a season-low 36% offensive snap share in Week 3, Pat Freiermuth has seen his snap share bounce back in a big way. He played on 53%, 49%, and 60% of snaps entering Pittsburgh’s Week 7 bye. Before the bye, Freiermuth also set a season-high in both targets and receptions, with seven of each, against the Seattle Seahawks. With Eric Ebron unable to play due to a hamstring injury suffered in practice on Thursday, this week looked like it could be a good one for Freiermuth, and he did not disappoint. Freiermuth’s seven targets were second-most for the Steelers this week. He hauled in four of those targets for 44 yards and a beautiful touchdown reception.
Another great look at the TD catch by Steelers rookie TE Pat Freiermuth #Steelers pic.twitter.com/QXgVpV2ZIx
— Steelers Depot 🎃🧙♀️👻 (@Steelersdepot) October 31, 2021
Even if Ebron can come back in Week 9, Freiermuth was already the favored receiving target in Pittsburgh anyway. Before Sunday, Freiermuth had started three games compared to Ebron’s two and had out-targeted Ebron 20/13. Pick him up this week before the rest of your league realizes that this Sunday was just a continuation of Freiermuths’ ascension.
Dan Arnold
Jacksonville Jaguars (11% Sleeper Rostership / 1.9 ESPN Rostership)
Urban Meyer loves Dan Arnold. Meyer traded former 2020 ninth overall selection C.J. Henderson to the Pathers for Arnold and third-round draft pick after Arnold played the first three games of his season with the Carolina Panthers. After easing him into the offense with just two targets in his debut, Arnold has seen at least five targets in every game since. Sunday, Darnold was targeted ten times, bringing in eight of those passes for 68 receiving yards. Two weeks before that, Arnold’s eight targets led Jacksonville in their loss to the Titans. Over the past three weeks, Arnold has a total of 23 targets. The Jaguars offense, for better or for worse, is currently centered around Arnold and Jamal Agnew, and with tight end production being difficult to find, Arnold is a must-add.
