Fantasy Football Week 9: Wednesday's Daily Fantasy Market Report

Week 8 of the fantasy football season had a chance to be the most interesting week all season.

How so, you might ask? The NFL trade deadline came and went on Tuesday, but as usual, no major deals were made on deadline day.

Of course, we saw the New England Patriots deal linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns, but there were rumblings of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith and even Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery being dealt.

But that's all they were—rumblings.

Even though the deadline was depressing from an entertainment point of view, we look ahead to Week 9 and the headaches it will inevitably give us.

Week 8 is where the chalk plays in DFS went to die, so hopefully Week 9 can be a bit more kind to your superstar players.

We have a few injury updates to get to, as well as a certain player coming out of retirement.

Let's get to it.

Percy Harvin Comes out of Retirement; Signs with Bills

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

In just over a week, we've seen two all-time greats retire: Wide receiver Andre Johnson and running back Arian Foster.

Well, in that same week, we are getting to see a player come out of retirement—newly signed Buffalo Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin, according to Harvin's agent Greg Barnett.

Harvin has always been a "big play waiting to happen" kind of guy in both the receiving game and running game (155 career carries), but after his time with the Minnesota Vikings, he essentially withered away, having stints with the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, and yes, the Buffalo Bills—his most recent team (in 2015) before deciding to retire.

From a fantasy perspective, he's worth a stash in deeper, season-long leagues due to the depth issues the Bills have at the receiver position, but since this slideshow is slanted towards daily fantasy, there is  zero chance Harvin will be worth a start until we see him play some snaps.

With that said, how comical would it be if Harvin has an incredible "revenge game" against the Seahawks—his old team—in Week 9 and then decides to hang 'em up again?

No dice on Harvin this week.

Buccaneers to Employ RBBC on TNF

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The running back injuries for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just keep on mounting.

Not only has the team placed Charles Sims on injured reserve and Doug Martin been on the shelf since Week 2, but in the team's Week 8 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders, the Buccaneers lost Jacquizz Rodgers to a foot injury.

On a short week and set to play on Thursday Night Football, the Buccaneers are thin at running back to say the least.

According to Jenna Laine of ESPN, expect the Buccaneers to roll out a committee of running backs in Week 9, including rookie Peyton Barber, Antone Smith and the newly re-signed Mike James.

Going up against the Atlanta Falcons, this game has a chance to be high scoring for both teams, but I cannot in good faith suggest you start any of these running backs in DFS. If forced, I'd pick Barber, but wouldn't feel too great about it.

Stay away from this backfield if you play in a Thursday slate.

49ers RB Carlos Hyde Spotted in Non-Contact Jersey at Practice

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

An update on San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde.

Well, kinda.

According to Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group, Hyde ($6,100 DraftKings; $7,000 FanDuel) was spotted at practice wearing a non-contact jersey.

Out since Week 7 with a shoulder injury, the 49ers have declined to give an official update on Hyde, which is probably to try to give themselves a leg up on their opponent in Week 9.

(Hey, I mean, they need all the "legs up" they can get, am I right?)

If I were to guess, I'd say Hyde plays, but it's definitely not for certain.

The 49ers will host the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, so if Hyde plays he'll definitely be in a good spot to rebound after missing Week 7 and having a bye Week 8. There's a a chance he won't be all that highly owned considering his injury and reports that fellow running back DuJuan Harris has earned more reps.

Hyde could definitely be an asset in Week 9 if he suits up.

Steelers TE Ladarius Green to Make His Debut Week 9?

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Could Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Ladarius Green finally make his 2016 debut?

It's a real possibility, it seems.

According to Dale Lolley of the Observer-Reporter, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Green could return in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens.

While this is an exciting prospect if you play in season-long leagues, this has very little to do with DFS for the time being.

Seeing as how Green has been out of action for quite some time due to concussion and ankle issues, it will definitely take some time for Green to get back into the swing of things.

Fellow tight end Jesse James ($2,800 DK; $5,100 FD) is the guy for Week 9—not Green.

Chiefs Place RB Jamaal Charles on IR

Colin E. Braley/Associated Press

This just sucks.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will need another surgery to repair his surgically repaired knee.

It's been well-documented, but Charles has suffered from an ACL tear twice in his career and will now need another procedure.

One could speculate that maybe Charles came back to soon and hurt the knee further, but we shouldn't assume that.

With Charles out, fellow running back Spencer Ware ($7,200 DK; $8,000 FD) is the lead dog. However, Ware is dealing with a concussion, and we have yet to receive an update on him.

If Ware plays, he's a definite DFS option in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and even if Ware doesn't play, backup running back Charcandrick West ($4,400 DK; $5,600 FD) will be in play and is quite cheap throughout the industry.

Let's monitor Ware's progress throughout the week, and here's to a speedy recovery for Charles!

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger 'Could' Play in Week 9

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

After missing just one game after undergoing meniscus surgery, it sounds like there is a good chance Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ($6,600 DK; $7,500 FD) could play, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

As Bouchette notes, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has said Big Ben "could" play this weekend.

This is a big deal considering no one from the Steelers brass to this point has commented on Roethlisberger's availability.

Big Ben is a tough character—I'm guessing he'll play.

Be sure to look out for updates on him throughout the week here in these Daily Fantasy Market Reports.

Steelers WR Markus Wheaton No Longer a Starter?

Jared Wickerham/Associated Press

Well, alrighty then.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Markus Wheaton has been supplanted on the team's depth chart by none other than fellow wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey ($3,000 DK; $5,200 FD).

The move comes after DHB caught three balls on seven targets for 30 yards and a score in Week 7 (Steelers had a bye Week 8). Also, DHB played the most snaps among all Steelers wide receivers, totaling 62 and three more than All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown ($8,900 DK; $8,200 FD).

Wheaton is definitely off the table right now in DFS, and DHB is somewhat intriguing, especially if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returns.

After Brown, the next receiver in the pecking order is somewhat up for grabs, with DHB and Sammie Coates ($4,300 DK; $5,500 FD) in the running.

The Baltimore Ravens—the Steelers' Week 9 opponent—give up the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Coates figures to be the main deep threat, but expect a shot downfield to DHB, too.

With that said, I wouldn't target DHB this week, it's just too volatile.

Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus, ESPN.com, and Pro-Football-Reference.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.