Week 9 Waiver Wire: Jonathan Baldwin and Top 7 Receivers Available

Who are the best fantasy football Week 9 receiver pickups?  Week 9 of the NFL season is among us.  At this point your roster should be solid.

If not, you’re in luck.  I’ve got your best options for Week 9’s waiver wire.

There are still a handful of excellent options at wide receiver available on the waiver wire for Week 9.  The best part is these receivers are still available in a majority of league formats.

Jonathon Baldwin

After an injury riddled start to 2011, Jonathon Baldwin looks to have rebounded and lived up to the Chief’s selection of him in the first round of last April’s NFL draft.

With the loss of both Tony Moeki and Jamal Charles to injured reserve, the Kansas City Chiefs are desperate for playmakers.

Enter Jonathon Baldwin.

In his first full game back from injury, Baldwin trumped starting wide receiver Steve Breaston with eight targets compared to his four.  Baldwin also recorded hauled in five of those eight targets for 82 yards and one electrifying touchdown.

As defenses continue to focus on Dwayne Bowe, Matt Cassel’s favorite target, Jonathon Baldwin’s stock will continue to rise.

This week, the Chiefs and Baldwin square off against the Miami Dolphins.  The Dolphins’ pass defense ranks in the bottom six in the league and allow over 270 yards passing per game.

Early Doucet

Early Doucet makes an interesting play as Week 9 waiver wire pickup.  He is officially the third receiver on the Arizona Cardinals’ depth chart but has obviously taken over the second position from struggling receiver Andre Roberts.

Following the departure of Anquan Boldin in 2010 and then Steve Breaston in 2011, the Cardinals lacked a legitimate second option after Larry Fitzgerald.  Roberts was thought to be the answer after being drafted in 2010.  However, his dismal performance this season, including a zero catch performance last week does not bode well for the youngster.

Early Doucet, on the other hand, is making his opportunity count.  For years, he has been buried on the Cardinal’s depth chart and trying to crawl to the top.

Following a strong showing against the Baltimore Ravens defense in Week 8, Doucet and the struggling Cardinals have the opportunity to explode against the 1-6 St. Louis Rams.

If that doesn’t convince you, Doucet has received the 13th most targets among ALL receivers, tight ends and running backs over the past four weeks.  He is averaging nine targets per contest over that span.

Laurent Robinson

Laurent Robinson makes for another intriguing pickup on the Week 9 waiver wire.

Robinson is a tricky pickup this week.  While he has been putting up good numbers, he still stands fourth in the Dallas pecking order for targets behind Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten.

However, Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo looks to have established an excellent rapport with Robinson.  In the past four weeks, Robinson has shined and recorded two 100-plus-yard performances with one touchdown during that span.

He may be the third wide receiver on the depth chart, but Robinson is quickly making a case for WR3 consideration.

This week against a putrid Seattle Seahawks secondary, start everyone from the Dallas receiver corps you can get your hands on.

Michael Crabtree

Michael Crabtree needs no introduction.  He is, without a doubt a steal if still available on the Week 9 waiver wire.

Last week he recorded five catches for 54 yards and one touchdown against one of the elite cornerbacks in the league in Cleveland Browns’ Joe Haden.

The injury bug hit Crabtree early this season, but the San Francisco 49ers standout looks to be on the rebound and has erupted for 14 catches and 130 yards over the past two weeks. 

If his numbers aren't enough to prove his value in the second half of the season, the San Francisco schedule should do the trick.  The 49ers have the Arizona Cardinals twice, the Seattle Seahawks once and the St. Louis Rams twice.

The rest of the season is open season for Michael Crabtree.

Preston Parker

Preston Parker is another significant Week 9 waiver wire pickup.  Against the Saints in Week 6, Parker recorded two receptions for 34 yards and one touchdown.

With opposing defenses more focused on Kellen Winslow II and Mike Williams, Parker has emerged from the shadows and put together a respectable showing thus far in 2011.  His explosiveness and roles on the kick- and punt-return teams should not go unnoticed, either.

He is second on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 22 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns.  Mike Williams, the Bucs No. 1 receiver, has recorded 31 receptions for 330 yards and one touchdown.

Did I mention he is only owned in less than three percent of all leagues?

The Saints have been susceptible to the pass this season and inconsistent at best. 

Greg Little

Greg Little is another interesting Week 9 waiver wire pickup and for the rest of the 2011 season.

Little has been a favorite pickup of mine throughout the year.  His potential as a converted running back to wide receiver means at any time he could breakout with yards after the catch.

The absence of any other reliable targets on the Cleveland Browns roster, with exception to tight end Benjamin Watson, also bodes well for Little.

He may not have exploded yet and his production seems to be limited to the vanilla nature of the Browns’ offense.  Little, though, has received an NFL sixth best 10.0 targets per game over the past four weeks.

As the Cleveland Browns continue to slide, they may switch from game-planning to evaluation mode.  This will benefit Little, as Browns’ quarterback Colt McCoy will be the focal point of that evaluation.  He already throws for a league most 41 pass attempts per game.

If things get uglier in Cleveland, Little may benefit in fantasy points with McCoy airing it out to finish the season.

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Darrius Heyward-Bey is not a new phenomenon on the waiver wire.  Week 9, though, looks to be a breakout for the former first round draft pick.

The Oakland Raiders and new quarterback Carson Palmer are on the verge of the playoffs for the first time in a long time. 

Heyward-Bey can be an integral piece to the puzzle once Carson Palmer begins to put it all together.  While there are other explosive options on the Raiders roster, Hey-Bey remains the best route-runner.  He’s fast, athletic, has great hands and is a perfect target for strong armed quarterback Carson Palmer.

The Denver Broncos are not stingy against the pass and Heyward-Bey snagged four receptions for 44 yards against them in Week 1.  That was with Jason Campbell throwing the rock.

A solid chemistry between Palmer and Heyward-Bey will lead to happy fantasy football owners who are willing to take the risk.