Week eight of the 2023 NFL season is over and we are at the halfway point. This is the part of the season where you will need to buckle down, as the waiver wire options are worse, but so are the injuries on your roster. Your fantasy football season now hangs in the balance and there is only one place left to turn – the waiver wire. I’m going to provide you with the best options available. If I don’t mention someone whom you think I should be talking about, just know there are many reasons why I overlooked them. Maybe they are owned in most leagues. Maybe they are so bad I don’t even consider them. Maybe it’s because your opinions cannot be trusted. After all, you are here. So let us examine who our best week nine waiver wire players for your championship run are…
Week Nine Waiver Wire QBs
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders (36% rostered)
I was actually kind of surprised that Sam Howell is only rostered in 36% of leagues. The QB1 of week 8, Howell had 397 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Howell is also the QB8 on the season. Howell isn’t sexy, but he is the king of accumulating garbage time stats. Blake Bortles rule is in effect and if you need quarterback help, Howell needs to be on your roster.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (41% rostered)
If you need quarterback help, it is time to go for a Hail Mary. Kyler Murray has just been activated off of I.R. and will be promoted to the active roster in the next couple of weeks. The fact is, none of your choices on the waiver wire are good at this point. Kyler Murray represents the potential for top-ten quarterback play the rest of the season. If he is available in your league and you have been streaming, it is time to get yourself a set-and-forget starter.
Week Nine Waiver Wire RBs
Pierre Strong Jr., Cleveland Browns (5% rostered)
Jerome Ford was a surprising start, but his opportunities were limited so Pierre Strong ended up getting some usage. Strong finished the day with 11 touches for 81 yards, ending as the RB25. I don’t know if Strong is worth grabbing off the waiver wire. I just know there isn’t anything better available.
Darrell Henderson/Royce Freeman, Los Angeles Rams (48%/16% rostered)
I’ll be honest here. I’m not sure which running back I want on the Rams. Darrell Henderson led the backfield in carries with 15 touches for 85 yards, but he was just elevated from the practice squad for the second time. Royce Freeman had 9 carries for 44 yards and 1 touchdown, making him the higher scorer in week 8. You probably want one of these guys, but neither is very good.
Week Nine Waiver Wire WRs
Quentin Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers (28% rostered)
With Josh Palmer re-aggravating his knee, there is a clear path for Quentin Johnson to get more opportunities. With Palmer out, Johnson had his best game of the season with 6 catches for 50 yards. First-round talent. Elite quarterback. A clear path to opportunities. Quentin Johnson should be one of the top waiver wire adds for week 8. He might be the only guy I truly like this week.
Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders (50% rostered)
With Sam Howell as a top-ten quarterback, it might be worth finally getting back on the Jahan Dotson bandwagon. We’ve been telling you for weeks that Jahan Dotson is cuttable, but in the last two weeks, Dotson has had 18 targets. Dotson finished week 8 with 8 catches for 108 yards and 1 touchdown. It isn’t hard to talk me into wanting Dotson. I loved his college tape and he looked good as a rookie. Dotson has a ton of upside. The only thing holding him back is that he plays for the Washington Commanders.
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (10% rostered)
Michael Wilson isn’t a guy you should burn a waiver on, but once he clears I think he is worth a stash. In week 8, Michael Wilson had 4 catches for 58 yards. With Kyler Murray coming back, Michael Wilson has a ton of athletic traits and an upgrade at quarterback gives him the potential to be a league winner down the road. Nobody is going to be claiming him on waivers, but once he clears, Wilson should be on a roster.
Week Nine Waiver Wire TEs
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (20% rostered)
We’ve finally come to that part of the fantasy season where we finally come back to Taysom Hill. Taysom Hill is the TE10 on the season. Over the last four weeks, Hill has been the TE5. And in week eight, Taysom Hill was the TE1 doing Taysom Hill things. 44 yards passing 63 yards rushing. 14 yards receiving. Oh, and he had two touchdowns. Taysom Hill is actually one of the safest bets to finish the year as a top-ten tight end. He’s done it for years. It just gets inconsistent. I wouldn’t burn a waiver on him, but if he clears waivers and I need a tight end, I’d pick him up.
