We are now officially into the second half of the 2022 fantasy season. The playoffs are rapidly approaching, making these mid-season tilts must-win games. Our Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 9 will help you improve those odds during this brutal bye week.
Here are the top fantasy-relevant, low-rostered Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 9 free agents to target with FAAB recommendations.
Week 9 byes: Browns, Cowboys, Broncos, Giants, Steelers, 49ers
FAAB denotes Free Agent Acquisition Budget
Devin Duvernay (WR) Baltimore Ravens (10% FAAB) – Despite having five total touchdowns so far in 2022, Duvernay is still un-rostered in close to 70% of ESPN leagues. Although volume is a concern, that is mitigated somewhat by the news that Rashod Bateman re-injured his foot and could miss a month. That makes Duvernay Baltimore’s unquestioned No. 1 wideout. Also, it makes adding him to your roster the top priority ahead of this week’s matchup with New Orleans.
Josh Palmer (WR) Los Angeles Chargers (6% FAAB) – Mike Williams is expected to miss at least four weeks. That means Palmer will be the No. 2 wide receiver in a Chargers’ offense that ranks 4th in passing. No. 1 WR Keenan Allen hasn’t been fully healthy since Week 1. If Allen is still limited, Palmer could be used in a similar fashion as he was prior to LA’s Week 8 bye. In that game, Palmer snagged 9-of-12 targets for 57 yards.
Kenyan Drake (RB) Baltimore Ravens (5% FAAB) – After Gus Edwards exited Week 8 with a hamstring injury, Drake acted as Baltimore’s feature back. Edwards is questionable heading into Week 9. Consider Drake a solid insurance policy or a nice flex option if Edwards sits.
Greg Dulcich (TE) Denver Broncos (5% FAAB) – Be aware that the Broncos are off the week. However, that might allow you to snag a potential TE1 for a discount this week. Since debuting in Week 6, Dulcich has ended Denver’s three-man TE committee. Dulcich has scored or exceeded 50 yards in all three games and topped an 80% snap share in Week 8. View the third-round rookie as a potential top-12 option down the stretch, making him worth an add even on a ‘0’ week.
Kyren Williams (RB) Los Angeles Rams (5% FAAB) – Williams (ankle) still hasn’t been activated but there is speculation that the rookie will have a legitimate shot at carving out a significant role as soon as he is. The Rams now rank 31st in rushing and desperately need some kind of offensive spark. Williams is small and not particularly fast. But Jourdan Rodrigue implied the fifth-rounder could see significant snaps as soon as he is cleared. With Cam Akers vying to be traded and the rest of LA’s backs doing nothing, there is no downside to adding Williams as a potential playoff contributor.
Also, Check out our Rookie Scouting Profile of Kyren Williams.
Marcus Mariota (QB) Atlanta Falcons (5% FAAB) – It’s actually quite remarkable how good Mariota has been with such little volume. Mariota ranks 24th in attempts but enters Week 9 as a top-10 fantasy signal-caller. This slate is particularly brutal with six teams on bye. Conversely, Mariota is an excellent streaming option at home against a Chargers squad allowing the 15th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Justin Fields (QB) Chicago Bears (4% FAAB) – Another solid Week 9 streamer, Fields has posted top-5 fantasy numbers over the past three weeks. A huge part of that production has come via 217 rushing yards in those three contests. Only Lamar Jackson has rushed for more yards than Fields’ 424.
Isaiah Likely (TE) Baltimore Ravens (4%) Yet another Ravens starter, TE Mark Andrews, is also dinged up. If Andrews has to rest a week, Likely would be an instant TE1 on Monday night. After Andrews exited Week 9, Likely delivered a 6/77/1 performance. However, even if Andrews suits up, Likely could see an increase in snaps with Rashond Bateman ailing. Likely is worth an add in all formats.
Darius Slayton (WR) New York Giants (4% FAAB) – Over the last three weeks, Slayton is the WR35 in PPR formats. Dating back to Week 5, Slayton has exceeded 50 yards and double-digit fantasy points in 3-of-4 games. The Giants are off in Week 9 but Slayton has solidified a starting spot in the team’s lineup and is worth a stash-and-cash add.
Kalif Raymond (WR) Detroit Lions (4% FAAB) – His value is finite, but as long as D.J. Chark is on IR, Kalif Raymond has stepped up as Detroit’s main perimeter threat. In the last two games, Raymond has topped 75 receiving yards. This was after he commanded 12 targets in Weeks 4-5 filling in out of the slot. Raymond has logged over 85% of Detroit’s snaps over the last three games and should remain a big part of an offense that plays nothing but favorable game scripts.
Tyler Conklin (TE) New York Jets (4% FAAB) – It is unwise to rely on the Jets’ passing game with Zach Wilson under center. But, Conklin was terrific again in Week 8. That reflects back to the opening three games of the season when Conklin was a fantasy darling. Don’t overreact to Sunday, but Conklin should be on your radar if you’re having to enter Week 9 without George Kittle, Dalton Schultz, or Pat Freiermuth.
Mack Hollins (WR) Las Vegas Raiders (3% FAAB) – Surprisingly, Hollins is the WR40 at the midway point of the 2022 season. Rostered in only 6.4% of ESPN leagues, few people seem to have noticed that Hollins is having a fine season. And that makes the veteran wideout a savvy bargain.
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR) Carolina Panthers (3% FAAB) – Carolina’s passing attack has looked competent the last two weeks. What a difference a coach can make. Last week, Marshall had a career-best 9 targets and 87 yards. Marshall was also in on 93% of the Panthers’ snaps. The floor is still extremely low, but Marshall is worth a speculative add in this brutal bye week.
JaMycal Hasty (RB) Jacksonville Jaguars (1% FAAB) – Hasty hastily received seven touches in his first game as Jacksonville’s RB2. He’s mostly just insurance for Travis Etienne managers, but Hasty is worth a minimal add in larger leagues, post haste.
