Week 9 of the NFL seasons gives fantasy owners the dismay of six teams on their bye week. Once again, the waiver wire will be pivotal, to fill voids left by the excessive number of byes. Byes are not the only reason the waiver wire is vital in Week 9. As the NFL enters the midpoint of the season, it is time to stop holding out hope some of your high draft picks will turn things around and move on. Use the waiver wire to plug those holes and maybe find some permanent replacements. Here are the best players to grab for Week 9 of the 2017 NFL season.
Top Quarterback
Josh McCown– New York Jets
Without trying to sound like a broken record, but for the second week in a row, Josh McCown is the best quarterback to grab off the waiver wire. McCown is coming off his third straight fantasy game with 18 fantasy points or more. He is spreading the ball around, making it difficult for defenses to take away all of his receiving options. Additionally, McCown has added to his fantasy production with two rushing touchdowns. With another six teams on their bye in Week 9, McCown is a great plug-and-play option, even against a tough Bills defense.
Top Running Back
Alex Collins – Baltimore Ravens
There are not too many options at running back for Week 9, but Alex Collins is available in roughly two-thirds of Yahoo leagues and is coming off his best game of the season. Collins is averaging a crisp 6.0 yards per attempt. He has yet to score a touchdown this season, but if he can continue to average 13.8 rushing attempts per game (which is what he has averaged over his last four games), the touchdowns will come. If Collins could find more work in the passing attack, he would be a serviceable RB2 for, at least, the next few weeks.
Top Wide Receiver
Robbie Anderson–New York Jets
Josh McCown’s new favorite target gets the nod for the wide receiver to pick-up in Week 9. Anderson is coming off a career-high 104 yards receiving and matching a career high with six receptions. He is averaging an above league average 16.1 yards per catch to go with 3.4 receptions per game this season. Anderson caught four passes for 22 yards in Week 1 against the Bills, but since then he has developed better chemistry with McCown and increased his role in the Jets’ offense.
Top Tight End
George Kittle– San Francisco 49ers
With six teams on their bye weeks and a dearth of quality tight ends in fantasy this season, George Kittle may be the best option to grab for Week 9. Kittle offers some value in a PPR league, having four or more receptions in three starts this season. He plays Arizona in Week 9. Kittle had two receptions for 35 yards against Arizona in Week 4 this season. Kittle has improved since Week 4, while the Cardinals have given up three receiving touchdowns to tight ends in their three games since Week 4.
Top Defense
Buffalo Bills
With the best turnover margin in the NFL and a third-place ranking in points per game, the Buffalo Bills should not be available in nearly as many leagues as they are. The Bills face the Jets on Thursday night this week. The Jets have the ability to move the ball and put some points on the board. However, the Jets are also prone to getting sacked (giving three or more in five straight weeks) and turning the ball over averaging 1.75 times per game this season. Get the Bills defense this week and consider them a long-term option.
Top Kicker
Robbie Gould – San Francisco 49ers
Six teams are on bye this week. If you need a kicker, veteran Robbie Gould is available in the majority of leagues. Gould has averaged 8.9 points against the Cardinals in his career. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are giving up 9.3 points per game to kickers this season, eighth most in the league. The 49ers have been demoralized in recent weeks but the addition of Jimmy Garropolo should give San Francisco a shot in the arm.
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