The NFL and fantasy football steams into week nine and the waiver wire should get plenty of use this session. After all, there are tons of players that battling injuries and even more that are just not performing up to expected standards. Even more important, the number of teams on bye this coming week only seem like they outnumber the teams actually on the field. That’s right, there are six teams taking time away from the game (Browns, Cowboys, Broncos, Giants, Steelers and 49ers). Not only are the number of teams not playing an issue, but those teams also take many quality players out of consideration. Of course, that is where this fantasy football week nine pickups comes into focus, so there is no need to worry. Let’s get right to work and please remember that all ownership percentages come from ESPN.

Top Running Back Waiver Pickups for Week Nine

Kenyan Drake, Baltimore Ravens, 18.4% Owned

Without doubt, many managers dropped Kenyan Drake this past week after the activation and performance of Gus Edwards against the Browns in week seven. However, keeping Drake around was a prudent action after Edwards left the game against Tampa with a hamstring issue. Drake came in and produced his second quality stat line in his last three appearances. On Thursday night, Drake carried the ball seven times for 62 yards, an eye-popping 8.9 yards per attempt.

Equally important, Drake caught all five targets thrown his way, including a five-yard TD catch. For the game, Drake finished with 16 fantasy points, while Edwards had just six before leaving. While the Ravens don’t play again until Monday, Nov 7 against the Saints, there is a possibility that Edwards’ injury could linger. Even if he is 100 percent healthy, there is no guarantee that will be the case the entire season.

If a manager has Edwards and the roster space, it makes sense to stash Drake. Since the team is playing Monday night, if Edwards were to find himself unavailable, if Drake isn’t around, who would replace him? Even those managers that don’t have Edwards and looking for a stash piece, Drake fits that bill as well. If RB is a need, and with so many teams on bye this week, Drake is a solid waiver pickup

Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears, 47% Owned

A few weeks ago, Khalil Herbert was a most wanted man off of waivers when lead back David Montgomery suffered an injury. When Montogomery returned, a lot of managers sent Herbert back to the backwoods of the wire. If you are not counted among those managers, give yourself a pat on the back as Herbert has remained a force for the Bears. Of course, Chicago can use all of the force it can on an offense that has underwhelmed this season.

There is no cause for concern in that area involving Herbert, however. He has scored a touchdown in consecutive weeks and has averaged 5.2 and 6.2 yards per carry the past two games. All he needed was one more yard and he would have had 100 on the day against the Cowboys. Best of all, Herbert has scored 17 and 15 fantasy points in his last two appearances. Consistency is the name of the game in fantasy and Herbert has that in spades.

Herbert’s ownership rate is right around the 50 percent mark. He isn’t available in all leagues, but everyone that needs RB help needs to check their particular league and see if he is on the wire. With Miami and Detroit, the next two opponents on Chicago’s schedule, Herbert should be able to feast on the ground and through the air. No question, make the move on Herbert immediately if he is still wandering the waiver wasteland.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons, 50% Owned

Another running back right at the 50 percent owned level, Tyler Allgeier, if available, is a player that can help a fantasy team over the next several weeks. His fantasy output has increased every game since week five. On Sunday against the Panthers, Allgeier had his best finish of the season, through the air at least. Via the pass was how Allgeier made his mark against Carolina, catching all three of his targets for 46 yards.

The big play was the 25-yard scoring pass from QB Marcus Mariota. It was the second straight week that Allgeier reached the endzone. There is speculation that Cordarrelle Patterson will return soon from the injured list.

Until that is confirmed, however, Allgeier makes for a good bench stash for the time being. Even when Patterson does return, there is no guarantee he will be the same player he has been in the past. If Allgeier is available, picking him up definitely makes the list on this fantasy football week nine pickups edition.

Top Wide Receiver Waiver Pickups for Week Nine

Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs, 50% Owned

One trade that was pulled off before the deadline was made by the Kansas City Chiefs. While the player has been a disappointment with his old team, anyone that now has Patrick Mahomes throwing him the football demands fantasy notice. That player is Kadarius Toney. After appearing in just 10 games in his rookie season, this year has been even worse, as Toney hasn’t been on the field since week two.

He was invisible in those games, as he only had two receptions. Hamstring issues have taken their toll on Toney, but obviously, the Chiefs don’t have concerns in that area moving forward. Being on bye in week eight also gave Toney more time to heal and get accustomed to how Kansas City runs their offense.

Without doubt, there is risk here. As noted, though, if a player has Mahomes throwing him the football, he deserves a second look in fantasy. He is not available in all leagues. Those that have him on the wire, managers shouldn’t hesitate and make an immediate move to pick him up. He has the talent, and now the quarterback, to be a huge asset coming down the stretch and into the fantasy playoffs.

Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals, 46% Owned

No question, the Arizona Cardinals have not had the season they were hoping for up to this point. However, it does look like their passing game is rounding into form. Amazing what an all-everything wide receiver like DeAndre Hopkins can do, isn’t it? Fellow wide out Rondale Moore took advantage of Hopkins’ presence in the lineup against the Vikings and turned in his best game, by far, of the season.

Against Minnesota, Moore was targeted eight times, catching seven for 92 yards and a score, his first of the year. Moore now has eight or more targets in three of the last four games. In addition, Moore finished the game with 23 fantasy points, his third double digit effort in his last four appearances.

Seattle at home is the next opponent on the schedule. While the Seahawks have played better defense in recent weeks, they still are poor against the pass. If Moore is on the wire, picking him up is clearly a sensible move.

Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams, 11.8% Owned

If it takes stats to convince anyone to add a player, then there is no reason to look to Van Jefferson as a potential pickup this week. Simply stated, he doesn’t have any so far this season. However, perhaps the greatest receiver in the game, Cooper Kupp, left the game against the 49ers with an ankle injury. He is feeling ‘pretty good’ after the injury, but one can never be sure about something like that.

In any case, the Rams need all of the help they can get at the moment. Allen Robinson has looked a little better of late, but certainly nothing like the receiver he was two years ago and what the Rams hoped for when they brought him aboard this season. No doubt about it, wide receiver is extremely hard hit on the waiver wire this week.

If there is any possibility that Jefferson can duplicate the 50 catch, six touchdown performance he had last season, he is a must add. Don’t waste another second, put the claim in on Jefferson today.

Top Tight End Waiver Pickups for Week Nine

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens, 1.7% Owned

As hard as it may be to believe, a second Raven with a more accomplished player ahead of him makes this fantasy football week nine pickups edition. In this case, that player is Isaiah Likely. Against the Bucs, premier tight end Mark Andrews suffered a shoulder injury early and did not return, producing his second straight unproductive fantasy game. Reports indicate the injury is minor, meaning Andrews should play against the Saints on Monday night in week nine.

However, Baltimore is on bye the fallowing week and if there is any issue at all with Andrews, they could decide to hold him out to ensure he is healthy down the stretch. Even if Andrews does play, Likely’s performance will likely have the Ravens using more two tight end sets going forward. Against Tampa, Likely caught six of seven targets for 77 yards.

Best of all, Likely scored a touchdown, a 10-yard scoring catch that was the first of his career. Tight end is such a thin position, there is no denying that. Andrews’ owners will want to cover themselves in case he can’t go on Monday night. Those managers going up against the owner of Andrews may want to claim Likely so that their opponent cannot do so. In either scenario, making a move on Likely just makes sense.

Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos, 34% Owned

Let me be perfectly clear here. This Greg Dulcich recommendation is being made because of the lack of talent at the tight end position. If the Broncos were not on their bye this week, Dulcich would make for an excellent pickup, but they are. However, due to the position shortage, stashing him may be the answer going forward as there are four teams on bye during week ten. The selections will be particularly then at that point.

For his part, Dulcich has been the most consistent player on the Broncos since making his season debut in week six. He has scored 12, 11 and 12 fantasy points the past three weeks. Not many, if any, tight ends can point to that kind of production over that period. Dulcich has been a big play receiver for any position, as he has averaged over 20 yards per catch in two of the three games.

Clearly, the Broncos have struggled on offense this season. With the bye now on the horizon, they can look at the game film and see the kind of impact that Dulcich has in their passing game. It stands to reason that he will be even more featured in the offense when they get back on the field.

Waiting until next week to make a play on Dulcich may be a week too late. Make the move now and enjoy the benefits later is clearly recommended on this fantasy football week nine pickups edition.

Top Quarterback Waiver Pickups for Week Nine

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions, 42% Owned

After disappearing from the horizon for a couple of weeks, Jared Goff made his return Sunday against the Dolphins a spectacular one. Goff completed 27 of 37 passes for 321 yards, including a seven-yard scoring throw. His 73 percent completion rate in the game is significantly higher than the 63 percent he has averaged on the season and is a clear step in the right direction.

Best stat of all, though, is that Goff didn’t turn the ball over, after throwing interceptions in four straight games and five of six to start the year. Green Bay is next on the schedule and while they have a better than average pass defense, nothing has worked for the Packers in the past four weeks. Even when the Packers were at their best, the Lions would almost always give them a hard-fought game.

There is no reason to expect anything less this time around, especially at home. With so many teams on bye this week, Goff rises to the top of the streamer list for teams needing a quarterback.

Justin Fields, Chicago Bears, 26.2% Owned

Another NFC Central quarterback rising to the top of the week nine streamer list is none other than Justin Fields. After an inconsistent. at best, start to the season, Fields has looked like a fine-tuned quarterback the past couple of weeks. He is coming off a 17 of 23 for 151 yards passing and two TDs against the Cowboys Sunday. Further, Fields carried the ball eight times for another 60 yards and added a rushing score.

All of the above comes one week after Fields threw and ran for a touchdown against New England on the road in week seven. In fact, both of his stellar performances against the Patriots and Cowboys came away from Soldier Field. The Bears haven’t had much home cooking of late, having played four of their last five on the road.

Fortunately, the next two games are indeed in Chicago, against less than mediocre defenses in Miami and Detroit. For further proof of his worthiness, Fields has thrown a TD pass in four straight and ran one in for a score in the last two. As mentioned, there are quite a few teams on bye this week. Fields can help solve that problem. He can be a high-quality starting quarterback the next two Sundays. There is no further need for research, add Fields today.

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy football week nine pickups edition! As always, I welcome any and all suggestions, comments and input from my readers. Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Tune in for the Belly Up Fantasy Live Preview Show every Sunday morning at 11 AM EST on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or BellyUpTV. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news! 

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