Week 9 Waiver Wire: Hines Ward and 6 Receivers to Avoid

Week 9’s waiver wire features Hines Ward and five other wide receivers desperate fantasy owners should not start this weekend.  Week 9 is in the heart of the season, so owners are attempting to replace injured players or bye-week players.

This week the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers all have byes.  That means owners are going to look to replace Calvin Johnson and Steve Smith especially, in addition to an injured Andre Johnson from the Houston Texans.

Fantasy owners should avoid picking up certain free agents or starting their third or fourth options this week, however.

Hines Ward

This Pittsburgh Steeler is questionable due to an ankle injury he’s been nursing.  Even if he’s healthy enough to play, don’t expect much production from Hines Ward.  He and the Steelers confront a Baltimore Ravens team that will get to Ben Roethlisberger early and often. 

Hines Ward won’t have many opportunities to catch passes, and therefore, won’t give owners many points on Sunday.

Malcolm Floyd

Malcolm Floyd missed an entire week of practice for the San Diego Chargers leading into Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.  Don’t expect much out of Floyd as he’ll be blanketed by the league’s best team.  Look for Charles Woodson and Company to stymie any possible production from Floyd.

The combination of injury and playing the Packers will not help fantasy owners who start Malcolm Floyd.

Kevin Walter

Owners thinking they may have a steal with the Houston Texans' Kevin Walter are dead wrong.  The thinking is appropriate that passes normally head Andre Johnson’s way will default to Walter with Johnson’s injury.  Unfortunately, however, that has not been the case.  Walter hasn’t been targeted much, even in Johnson’s absence.

Lack of targets means lack of opportunities, which translates into few fantasy points for owners starting Kevin Walter.

Anthony Armstrong

This Washington Redskins wide receiver won’t see much production on Sunday against arguably the league’s best defense.  The San Francisco “Little Harbaughs” are playing at such a high level that it will be difficult for John Beck to get the ball out to his receivers. 

With the quarterback troubles Mike Shanahan’s team is having, combined with playing the 49ers, don’t expect much out of Anthony Armstrong this weekend.

Demaryius Thomas

This Denver Broncos wide receiver may want to embark on “Tebowing” to Tim Tebow, himself.  The Broncos are 30th in the league in pass production and the future doesn’t look much better.

Whether Demaryius Thomas is the primary wide receiver for the Broncos or a receiver on the bench, his production will be relatively the same with a sputtering Denver passing attack.  Do not be tempted to use Thomas in any way this weekend!

Eddie Royal

Reiterating our statements about Demaryius Thomas, do not start Denver Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal, either.  It can’t be emphasized enough that fantasy owners should avoid starting any Denver Broncos wide receiver.

To emphatically restate our position about Eddie Royal and the other Denver Broncos wide receivers: “Do not be tempted to use [Royal] in any way this weekend!"