Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers and Reaches: Plug-and-Play Starters
With Week 9 right around the corner and six NFL teams on a bye this weekend, it's time to scour the waiver wire in search of those last minute additions to your fantasy football squad that could swing you from a loss to a win.
Some of these players may already be on your team, but are just looking for a chance to shine.
Others are just hanging out on the waiver wire begging you to add them before they have a great game.
This may be the week they explode.
For an all you can eat buffet of fantasy football information, you can follow Nathan on Twitter @NathanWaddell.
Josh Freeman, TB
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Freeman enters Week 9 as the seventh-best quarterback in fantasy football. Yes, the seventh. You read that correctly.
Over his last four games, Freeman has averaged 247 passing yards and one touchdown while limiting his interceptions to just one over that same four game stretch.
Week 9 serves up the juicy matchup of an Atlanta Falcons defense that has surrendered 30 fantasy points to quarterbacks each week.
While facing the Falcons defense is helpful, the emergence of a sustaining runner like RB LeGarrette Blount will prove even more useful.
Now that defenses must pay attention to the Buccaneers rushing attack, Freeman will find even more passing opportunities available.
Chad Henne, QB
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Things seem to be a bit off kilter in Miami.
When your kicker is knocking through 10 field goals in two weeks, it's time to reflect on the situation and figure out what isn't clicking on offense.
So let's hope the Dolphin coaching staff spent some time sorting through the issues, and have reached a satisfactory conclusion.
If they are looking at the same numbers that the rest of the world has seen, then Henne should be chucking the ball on Sunday like he did playing sandlot football as a kid.
The Baltimore Ravens rank second in fantasy points allowed to signal callers, allowing on average 28 points per game.
The Ravens secondary has at times appeared disheveled, confused, and downright slow. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall may find a way to finally have a big day, but slot receiver Davone Bess should rack up solid production.
And the only way Bess and Marshall can produce, is if Henne is having a good day as well.
Jason Campbell, OAK
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The Jason Campbell Project got off to a rocky start in 2010, with Campbell surviving just two week as the starting quarterback.
But following QB Bruce Gradkowski's injury, Campbell has taken full advantage of his second chance averaging 250 yards and two touchdowns over his last two starts.
In Week 9, Campbell faces off with a Chiefs pass defense that has been sinking slowly over the last few weeks and now allows 21 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks on a weekly basis.
Campbell is a hard guy to trust week to week, but as a spot starter, he should fill in nicely.
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Chester Taylor, CHI
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Admittedly, it's tough to start a running back that has received just seven carries over his last two starts.
But there is reason for optimism.
Bears offensive coordinatior Mike Martz has publicly stated that Taylor will be the goal line back moving forward. Additionally, Taylor should take on a larger role in the offense as well.
Even without a goal line carry in Week 9, Taylor should find ways to produce against a Bills defense that is allowing 28 points to running backs every week.
In Week 8, the Bills allowed 30 fantasy points to Chiefs running backs, and neither one of them even found the end zone.
So if you need a reach play with potential big upside, go pluck Taylor off the waiver wire. He may just reward your courage.
Brandon Jacobs, NYG
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When RB Ahmad Bradshaw snatched the starting role, and Jacobs let loose his helmet in to the stands, many assumed that Jacobs would fade in to the twilight rarely to be heard from again.
Sadly, at least for Bradshaw owners, that has not been the case.
Jacobs is getting short yardage carries on top of goal line carries, and has been making the most of his opportunities with five touchdowns in the last six games.
Jacobs and the Giants travel to Seattle this weekend to face off with a Seahawks defense that is surrendering 27 fantasy points to running backs on a weekly basis.
With so many fantasy points to go around, Jacobs is sure to find some production and has a shot at keeping his touchdown streak alive.
Shonn Greene, NYJ
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Yes, for those of you keeping track at home, Greene is the third backup running back to be listed.
Maybe there's a trend here.
Greene has been consistently losing touches to an over-the-hill LaDainian Tomlinson ever since the season started. And deservedly so.
But in Week 9 Greene should find his way to at least a few more carries, and thus production, running against a Lions defense that allows 25 fantasy points to running backs every week.
So if you're in need of a player to fill your flex position, Greene should be a strong candidate.
Brandon Jackson, GB
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No, you probably can't go get Jackson off your league's waiver wire.
Yes, you can start him this week with a fair amount of confidence.
Over the last two weeks, the Cowboys defense has allowed 366 totals yards to running backs.
While Jackson doesn't posses the same skill set as LaDainian Tomlinson or Maurice Jones-Drew, he will have plenty of opportunities to produce.
Jackson claimed the 13th spot in my Week 9 running back rankings, and unless the Packers simply decide to never run the football, there's no reason Jackson couldn't end up as a top 10 running back for Week 9.
Mike Williams, TB
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If you own Williams, congratulations. He may just finish the season as the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
If you don't own Williams, for the love of all that good and holy, rush to your waiver wire and see if your league happens to the one of the 20 percent in which Williams is not owned.
Williams had his best game of the season in Week 8 catching four balls for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Week 9 brings a road trip to Atlanta to face a defense giving up a whopping 40 points on average to wide receivers.
If you're not sure just how big those 40 points are, consider that the best team against wide receivers, the Carolina Panthers, allow just 10 fantasy points to wide receivers.
So get Williams in your lineups and sleep like a baby.
James Jones, GB
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Packer wide receiver Donald Driver has already declared himself out for Sunday's contest against the Dallas Cowboys.
While that's bad news for Driver owners, it's nice that we knew early and could adjust quickly.
The Cowboys are allowing 31 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, and while WR Greg Jennings has been hot, he can't claim all 31 for himself.
If Jones can't get it done this week with a full complement of opportunities against a soft defense, he may never get it done.
Seyi Ajirotutu, SD
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Ajirotutu is a player you've probably never heard of, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be on your roster for the next few weeks.
The Charger receiving corps has been decimated by injury, yet QB Phillip Rivers just keeps chugging along and Ajirotutu should benefit in Week 9.
The Texans pass defense has been downright pitiful, allowing opposing wide receivers to total 30 points on any given week.
Of course a player like Ajirotutu with limited proven production comes with the risk of not producing anything.
Caveat Emptor.
Greg Olsen, CHI
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The Buffalo Bills give up 3.5 more fantasy points to tight ends than any other defense, and a full eight points more than an average defense allows.
As tight ends Todd Heap, Marcedes Lewis, and Dustin Keller can attest, the Bills sure do enjoy giving up multiple touchdowns to tight ends.
Hopefully the Bears coaching staff spent the bye week figuring out ways to get Olsen more invovled, as he caught 10 passes and two touchdowns in the first three weeks and the Bears managed victories in each contest.
Jacob Tamme, IND
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Considering that Tamme is still available in 60 percent of leagues, it seems that not everyone has come to understand the potential of one Jacob Tamme.
That's fine, and could work to your benefit considering that tight ends Antonio Gates and Zach Miller are expected to miss Sunday's games.
Tamme converted six of his nine targets for 64 yards and a touchdown against Houston in Week 8.
While the Eagles aren't giving up massive points to tight ends, you have to have faith in any receiver catching balls from Peyton Manning.
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