Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire Must-Adds

Remember that injured Oakland Raiders wide receiver you released a couple weeks ago? How about that unproductive rookie tight end in Detroit, who caught your eye in the season opener? This week, managers should go back to their old fantasy flames and rekindle a favorable past.

Young players, especially rookies, may need a couple of months on the field before they establish consistency. In some cases, giving up on a promising talent during the first half of the year may come back to bite you down the stretch.  

If you dropped an early-season performer because of injury and he shines on the waiver wire, try to reclaim your draft gem.

In the Week 7 Sunday Night Football showcase, the Green Bay Packers proved two running backs can remain fantasy-relevant in their offense.

We'll dive deeper into every topic while highlighting six must-add players from the waiver wire. All of them are owned in fewer than 70 percent of Yahoo pools as of Monday 3 a.m. ET. The free-agent acquisition bids are based on $100 budgets in 12-team leagues.

QB Gardner Minshew II, Jacksonville Jaguars (54 Percent Owned)

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In leagues with hyperactive waiver-wire activity, Gardner Minshew II has likely popped up as a streamer over the last several weeks. He still has some fantasy juice as a strong starting option next week against the Houston Texans, who lost defensive end J.J. Watt for the season with a pectoral injury.

In addition to Watt, cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr., who replaced Johnathan Joseph (hamstring/neck), suffered a concussion. Newly acquired cover man Gareon Conley broke up a pass on the Oakland Raiders' final offensive drive, but he also gave up chunk yardage, which included two scores, in the first three quarters Sunday.

Houston goes into a division matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars wounded, while Minshew just threw a season-high three touchdowns against the New York Jets in Week 8. Before Sunday, the Texans ranked 29th in passing yards allowed. Going forward without their top defensive player and second-best pass-rusher means the defense could experience a rough outing in the upcoming game.

For Week 9, managers won't have New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees or Los Angeles Rams signal-caller Jared Goff in their lineups because of bye weeks. In a favorable matchup, Minshew slides into QB1 territory.

Free-Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB): $5

RB Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (62 Percent Owned)

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Aaron Jones finished second in scoring under point-per-reception league settings (41.60), and Jamaal Williams listed in the top 10 among running backs (18.60), per FantasyPros.

Williams has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, he reached paydirt as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher.

Since Williams suffered a concussion in Week 4, he's returned to a decent offensive role. Head coach Matt LaFleur seems comfortable with his top two tailbacks sharing touches in the backfield.

Williams led the team in rush attempts (14) for Week 6. Over the last two outings, he saw eight targets and converted those looks into seven receptions for 40 yards and two touchdowns. Although Jones logged a 67-yard catch-and-run play for a score Sunday, the short passing game has also kept Williams on the fantasy radar. 

In any given week, Williams could carry the majority load on the ground or come down with three to five receptions. He's a solid flex option for the remainder of the season with RB2 upside against weaker run defenses. 

FAAB amount: $10

WR Tyrell Williams, Oakland Raiders (65 Percent Owned)

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When wideout Tyrell Williams suits up to play, he's going to score a touchdown—book it. That's true for this season.

Williams emerged as an early fantasy football darling when he reached paydirt in each of his first four contests with the Raiders, racking up 216 yards along the way. The 27-year-old battled plantar fasciitis and missed two games. Last week, head coach Jon Gruden said the wideout's condition hadn't improved over the Week 6 bye. 

Gruden's comments prompted many managers to drop Williams, and you can capitalize on that move. The fifth-year veteran returned to action for Sunday's game against the Texans and picked up where he left off. The 6'4", 205-pound pass-catcher secured three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown but couldn't haul in two critical targets on the team's final drive. 

Williams may want those last plays back, but he produced enough to warrant a spot in your starting lineup again. If No. 16 for the Silver and Black suits up to play, start him without giving your decision a second thought. 

FAAB amount: $15

WR DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks (66 Percent Owned)

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Typically, fantasy owners will flock toward players with a high target or touch share because more opportunities likely lead to solid point totals, especially in PPR leagues. DK Metcalf doesn't fit into that category, though he saw nine targets last week.

In Sunday's contest, quarterback Russell Wilson only targeted Metcalf five times, but the rookie second-rounder made the most of his chances to produce, specifically in the red zone. He hauled in three catches for 13 yards and two scores. In the big picture, that's not an attractive line because of touchdown-dependency, but we must dig deeper into the wideout's prospective role. 

The Seattle Seahawks lost Will Dissly for the season. He led the team in touchdown catches (four)—with all his receptions inside the 20-yard line—before going down with a torn Achilles in Week 6. Without the 6'4", 265-pound tight end, Wilson may look to Metcalf (6'4", 229 lbs) as the primary red-zone threat in the passing game. 

In Week 9, the Seahawks will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who gave up the most yards through the air heading into Sunday's contests. Metcalf could rack up a significant number of yards, but owners should keep an eye on his red-zone targets. If he's the go-to option in closed quarters, keep him on your roster for the remainder of the year. 

FAAB amount: $7

TE T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions (65 Percent Owned)

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In Week 1, T.J. Hockenson splashed onto the fantasy football scene with six receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut, exploiting holes in the Arizona Cardinals' pass defense. Since then, he's logged fewer than 33 receiving yards in each outing.

The rookie first-rounder finished with a single target and one catch for 21 yards in a favorable matchup with the New York Giants' 23rd-ranked pass defense Sunday. 

Despite his streak of quiet games and inability to take advantage of a high-scoring contest against a subpar defense, Hockenson deserves one more chance in an ideal matchup. 

Oakland has allowed 10 receptions for 123 yards and three touchdowns to tight ends Jimmy Graham and Darren Fells over the last two weeks.

The Raiders defense has struggled to cover tight ends in recent seasons and reopened the doors of fantasy paradise for players at the position following their Week 6 bye.

NFL teams spend hours preparing for opponents. The Detroit Lions can't miss Oakland's subpar coverage in the seam areas on the scouting report. If fantasy owners want to take a gamble on a player at the position with high upside, Hockenson is the perfect option in Week 9.

FAAB amount: $5

TE Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans (19 Percent Owned)

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For managers who prefer to pick up on production trends rather than matchups, Jonnu Smith offers an alternative option to Hockenson at tight end.

Since Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill took over as starter, Smith has recorded nine catches for 142 yards and a score. He's in a starting role because of Delanie Walker's ankle injury.

Walker may be slow to return because he dislocated the same ankle Week 1 last season. In Week 7, he only logged five offensive snaps before exiting in the first half of that game. The 35-year-old didn't practice at all before the team listed him out for Sunday.

For now, with Tannehill under center, Smith has starting potential. As Sunday's team leader in receptions (six) and yards (78), with 10 targets in the last two games, the third-year tight end's fantasy outlook is trending up while Walker recovers from a re-aggravated injury. 

FAAB amount: $5