Week 9 Byes: Green Bay, Cleveland, Las Vegas, and Seattle
Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. These players include potential bye-week fill-ins, players who are returning from injury, and defenses to look at in advance.
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (68% rostered on Sleeper)
Cousins quietly has the fourth most passing yards in the NFL, tied for the fourth most passing touchdowns, and has an offensive line that has given up the fourth fewest quarterback pressures in the league this season. He looks comfortable in the offense and, after their bye in Week 12, has a nice run of matchups to close out the year.
WR Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (82% rostered on Sleeper)
There is a chance Williams was dropped when he got suspended, so if he is available, he should be rostered. Detroit has three great matchups in a row for wide receivers, and Jared Goff is in the MVP consideration.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (52% rostered on Sleeper)
That Jim Harbaugh does good things. The team has finally realized they have a great quarterback and are using him. Since the bye week, Herbert has thrown over 225 yards every game, and the team has quite an excellent schedule for quarterbacks looking forward. Herbert is coming into his own with no interceptions in each of his last six starts, which is the longest active streak in the NFL. The Chargers have the fifth-best schedule for quarterbacks, with matchups against the Bengals, Ravens, and Falcons in the next few weeks. The team is in the playoff hunt; plus they have already had their bye week.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (44% rostered on Sleeper)
Some managers might drop Nix after an average outing against the Ravens on Sunday. However, he remains a solid option to target, especially for the fantasy playoffs. The Broncos face the Colts, the Chargers, and the Bengals in the playoffs. The Bengals are the fourth-best matchup for opposing quarterbacks, and Denver looks to still be in the playoff mix (at least currently), so we can hope to see Nix giving it his all that week.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Running Backs
Khalil Herbert, Cincinnati Bengals (39% rostered on Sleeper)
The trade deadline brought us news of Herbert heading to the Bengals from the Bears, looking to fill the shoes of Zack Moss, who will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury. Herbert has done little if anything, this year, but he is a veteran who has had success in the past. It will be him and Chase Brown, and Herbert could be extra valuable if Brown happened to get injured. Herbert will take to the field this week.
Emari Demercado (2% rostered on Sleeper) and Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (25% rostered on Sleeper)
If you look up workhorse in the dictionary, you will see a picture of James Conner. He has the sixth most rushing yards this season and averages a 72% RB share in Arizona. Handcuffing a back that rarely finishes an entire season and is a massive piece of the team's offense is the right thing to do. If Conner ever missed time, Trey Benson would slide directly into that role. If Benson is already rostered in your league, consider Emari Demarcado, who would turn into a third-down option if Conner was injured.
Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills (26% rostered on Sleeper)
Davis is another excellent example of a handcuff running back that would see their usage soar if the starter ahead of them were to go down. Davis has been averaging a 33% rushing share in Buffalo and has finished as RB23 or better in three out of the past four weeks, making a case for his stand-alone value.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Wide Receivers
Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys (17% rostered on Sleeper)
Cooks has been on IR with a knee infection and is eligible to return this week against the Eagles. It is unclear if we will see him this week, but the Cowboys need him desperately with CeeDee Lamb dealing with a shoulder issue. The Cowboys are imploding and not the best offense to invest in, but they do have the tenth-best schedule for wide receivers moving forward.
Darius Slayton, New York Giants (26% rostered on Sleeper)
Daniel Jones and the Giants pass-catchers have some excellent matchups moving forward, and someone besides Malik Nabers has to catch the ball, right? Right? Actually, Slayton has been doing his part, with almost 500 yards receiving so far this season. With Malik Nabers sidelined in Weeks 5 and six, he averaged a 48% target share. The Giants play Carolina this week, which is a good matchup on its own, and then they go on a bye, which might be enough to put managers off. After the bye week, they have perhaps the best schedule to close out the season, with the best being against the Ravens in Week 15, who have, on average, given up over nine fantasy points over expectation to opposing wide receivers.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins (28% rostered on Sleeper)
When it comes to tight ends this week, most managers will be targeting Mike Gesicki (48% rostered on Sleeper), so while managers are spending all their money, you could consider Smith, who has steadily been playing more snaps and demanding more targets. The Dolphins play the Jets in Week 14, which is a bad matchup for tight ends, but before that, they have four games against teams that have all given up fantasy points over expectation.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Defense/Special Teams
Detroit Lions (59% rostered on Sleeper)
Detroit has seemed not to miss a beat with the loss of Aiden Hutchinson. They are allowing the sixth-fewest points per game and added to their defense by acquiring pass rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Browns just before the trade deadline. They have a trio of games starting next week, playing the Jags, Colts, and Bears, which are all great opportunities for the Lions to perform well defensively.
Arizona Cardinals (6% rostered on Sleeper)
Suddenly, the Cardinals find themselves alone atop the NFC West. There seems to be a belief in the desert that this team could win the division, and the defense has done its best to turn it on. Arizona traded for edge rusher Baron Browning from Denver before the trade deadline, and they will play the Jets this week. Aaron Rodgers has thrown seven interceptions this year, tied for the seventh most among quarterbacks. Arizona is on a bye in Week 11, but following that, they have five excellent matchups in a row.
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