Week 9 Waiver and Free Agent Pick Ups
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

Teams on Bye – St. Louis, New England, New York Jets, San Francisco

Quarterbacks:

Carson Palmer, QB Oakland Raiders
Still only owned in 50% of leagues. He should be rostered in almost all leagues. Palmer has posted 15+ points in 6 out of 7 games.

Matt Hasselbeck, QB Tennessee Titans
Five games in a row between 11-14 points. It looks like the job is his. For now.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB Buffalo Bills
He could be on your waiver wire coming off of bye . In 5 of 7 outings, FitzPeePee has scored between 16 and 27 points. Caution, he’s been bad in 2 of his last 3 games. Those games were against tough defenses and he has Houston on deck this week. I’m not real excited about this.

Russell Wilson, QB Seattle Seahawks
It’s been an up and down fantasy season. Wilson has been serviceable, posting double digits in 5 of 8 starts. 17 more points on Sunday is an encouraging sign. A fickle Minnesota defense comes to town in Week 9.

Running Backs:

Jonathan Dwyer, RB Pittsburgh Steelers
Fortunately, he is owned less than half of leagues. Another 115 yards on 18 touches on Sunday. That’s two great week in a row. The indications are that he will maintain his starting role upon the return of Mendenhall and Redman. I think they still cut in to his production enough to make it a tricky proposition long-term. Dwyer should at least be owned while we see how it shakes out. He is a talented player that can be used in the interim at the very least. Dwyer should be a top pick up this week.

Peyton Hillis, RB Kansas City Chiefs
Trick or Treat? I liked him preseason. I can admit I hate him now. I would never trust him on my roster. If we are being optimistic, there is room in KC for him to produce if he’s healthy and/or any good. As usual Week 8 was a TRICK. Owned in 35% of leagues.

Ronnie Brown, RB San Diego Chargers
Another guy I never trust. Fact are facts though, and I’m not going to be guilty of steering anybody wrong here. Eleven touches for 102 yards on 8 targets in Week 8. Brown is averaging a very steady 6.5 points the last 4 games. A fringe flex play. Better than we would have ever thought.

Wide Receiver:

Titus Young Sr., WR Detroit Lions
Nate Burleson goes down. Senior comes up. 100 yards, 2 touchdowns, 9 targets on Sunday. The oldest youngest man in the league has big play potential.

Ryan Broyles , WR Detroit Lions
If you were desperate and read last week, hopefully you followed our Ryan Broyles advice. At some point, this kid is going to be a critical component of the Lions offense. He catches the ball and scores touchdowns. As evidenced again by his 37 yards, 1 touchdown, and 5 targets on Sunday.

Chris Givens, WR STL
Our favorite Rams receiver. Astonishingly, he is still only rostered in 15% of leagues. 63 yards and a touchdown in Week 8. Givens is a big play guy. Amendola’s return is going to affect him the least.

Kendall Wright, WR Tennessee Titans
He’s been useful all year. With Hasselbeck pulling the trigger there is plenty to go around for everyone. 11 fantasy points on Sunday.

Cecil Shorts, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
The time has come. It’s time to pick him up. Shorts is owned in 10% leagues so he is almost guaranteed to be on your wire. 12 more targets for 116 more yards against the Packers.

Justin Blackmon, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
How could we ever recommend two Jaguar receivers in the same article? I promise, it’s just how things shook out. Blackmon has been coming on slowly now for a while. I like this pickup as a possible long-term flex play. 8 targets for 67 yards on Sunday.

Donald Driver, WR Green Bay Packers
A touchdown and almost nothing else on Sunday. As long as Jordy Nelson is out and Aaron Rodgers is throwing it, Driver is at least a desperation option you have to mull over.

Tight End:

Brandon Myers, TE Oakland Raiders
He literally gets 5 points every week. Exactly five.

Tony Moeaki, TE Kansas City Chiefs
8 targets for 57 yards in his best game of the season is hardly anything to write home about. You wonder if Moeaki has been a little slower to heal than Jamaal Charles, and may just now be regaining his form. Keep an eye on it.

Dallas Clark, TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He’s probably also in the “keep an eye on it” category. Every week he is getting involved. The Bucs offense is creating huge voids in the middle of the field. Be early on Clark if you need tight end help.

Dwayne Allen, TE Indianapolis Colts
He’s surpassed Coby Fleener as the more enticing Colts tight end option. He’s scored a serviceable 3-10 points in 5 of his last 6 games. He had over 6 points in three of those games.

Anthony Fasano, TE Miami Dolphins
5 of 7 games between 4 and 9 fantasy points. You could do a lot worse.

Defense:

Tampa (at Oak)
Double digit fantasy points in 5 of 7 games. Their stock was low for a few weeks before waxing Minnesota. They will be well rested and game planned when they head west in Week 9.

San Diego (vs KC)
Their floor has been a steady 7 points with upside for 20. Kansas City is in disarray. These division games can be tricky so proceed with some caution here. The Raiders defense had 14 points in Week 8 @KC

Washington (vs CAR)
They’ve scored 12 or more points in all three home games this season. They should be well prepared to defend Cam Newton after facing RG3 in practice everyday.