Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Is This the Week to Add Cam Newton?
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Cam Newton
Veteran quarterbacks shined in Week 8. Carson Wentz, Philip Rivers, and Aaron Rodgers all led their respective teams to big road victories.
Week 9 features four teams on a bye, with the Falcons, Bengals, Rams and Saints all taking a well-earned rest. Last week's waiver wire column featured Tennessee wide receiver A.J. Brown (eight-yard touchdown catch) and Chicago wideout Anthony Miller (three receptions, 67 yards).
Let's take a look at the best long- and short-term options available on the Week 9 waiver wire.
Note: We've limited their recommendations to players owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues. All data as of Monday.
Quarterback Streaming Targets
Cam Newton, Panthers
Ownership: 41%
If there was any question whether Cam Newton would return as Carolina's starting quarterback when healthy, Kyle Allen's three interceptions against San Francisco provided the answer.
Whenever Newton returns, he'll have a treasure chest of weapons including running back Christian McCaffrey, wideouts Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore, as well as tight end Greg Olsen.
Make sure to keep an eye out for news regarding his status, but if Newton is slated to return this week, he should be a top waiver claim for any team in need of a short- or long-term quarterback answer. The Panthers have a Week 9 home battle with Tennessee on deck, plus two meetings with 1-7 Atlanta still remaining.
Derek Carr, Raiders
Ownership: 26%
Carr has emerged unscathed from Oakland's five consecutive road games. The Oakland signal-caller has thrown nine touchdowns and two interceptions over his past five games.
Oakland now enjoys three favorable home games against the Lions, Chargers, and Bengals. Carr is a very solid streaming option for owners of Drew Brees, Jared Goff, or Matt Ryan owners.
Daniel Jones, Giants
Ownership: 23%
The Giants' rookie quarterback posted an impressive 322 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 31-26 loss at Detroit.
There are better Week 9 options than the mercurial Jones vs. Dallas, but one thing to note: He'll get the Dolphins and Redskins during the fantasy playoffs.
Running Back Targets
Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
Ownership: 31%
A very think running back waiver wire finds only one possible candidate.
Penny remains an extremely valuable handcuff, tallying eight carries for 55 yards against the porous Atlanta defense. But I'd only consider adding him at this stage if you own lead Seattle running back Chris Carson.
Wide Receiver Targets
DeVante Parker, Dolphins
Ownership: 27%
In Week 8, Parker delivered a solid WR2 performance against an elite Buffalo pass defense with Ryan Fitzpatrick as quarterback (five catches, 55 receiving yards, and one touchdown on a team-high 10 targets).
As the lead wide receiver on a Dolphins team that will constantly have a negative game script, Parker is worth a WR3/Flex look as long as Fitzpatrick remains as the starter.
Miami will see the Jets twice, Giants once and host the Bengals the week of the fantasy championships.
A.J. Brown, Titans
Ownership: 25%
Brown had started to show consistency in the Titans offense, totaling four or more targets in five of Tennessee's seven games before Week 8.
However, while he did score on an eight-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, he finished with only two receptions for 11 yards.
It's hard to trust Brown until he sees consistent volume from new starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Cole Beasley, Bills
Ownership: 24%
Death, taxes, and a WR3 performance from Cole Beasley.
The diminutive Bills receiver tallied three receptions on seven targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in awful weather conditions at home.
With touchdowns in consecutive weeks, he remains a nice WR3 play for teams in need of a bye-week replacement.
Preston Williams, Dolphins
Ownership: 13%
Williams has out-targeted teammate DeVante Parker 33 to 24 in the past four weeks.
With Fitzpatrick as quarterback, Williams should see even more volume moving forward.
Depending on the results of Monday night's game at Pittsburgh, Wiliams could be the top Miami wideout waiver priority as a viable WR3.
Deebo Samuel, 49ers
Ownership: 12%
The rookie wide receiver returned to the field after missing Week 8 with a groin injury. Samuel caught all three of his targets for a minimal 19 yards but showed his versatility with two rushes for 29 yards and a touchdown.
The addition of veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders clouds the San Francisco target share, but Samuel is intriguing as a WR4 or Flex play for teams decimated in major need of bye-week help.
Anthony Miller, Bears
Ownership: 11%
Over the past three weeks, Miller has totaled 19 targets as the Bears' second-most targeted wide receiver.
QB Mitch Trubisky loves his slot receivers and should continue to look in Miller's direction for the remainder of the season.
Miller led the Bears with 67 receiving yards and is a matchup-dependent Flex asset despite the presence of wideout Allen Robinson.
Danny Amendola, Lions
Ownership: 9%
Over the past two weeks, the Detroit slot receiver has impressive totals of 19 targets, 16 receptions, and 200 receiving yards. That production cannot be ignored, despite the presence of lead wideout Kenny Golladay and veteran Marvin Jones.
Amendola is definitely in play as a WR3 with Detroit traveling to secondary-challenged Oakland.
Darius Slayton, Giants
Ownership: 4%
The Auburn rookie continues to impress with two touchdowns on two receptions for 50 total yards.
While his volume is tethered to Sterling Shepard's absence, Slayton is a player to watch if the opportunities continue for a Giants team facing continual negative game scripts.
Chris Conley, Jaguars
Ownership: 3%
With Dede Westbrook leaving the game with an injury, Conley made the most of opportunities with four receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.
The veteran wideout has consecutive seven-target weeks, and will have another quality matchup in Week 9 against a decimated Houston secondary.
If Westbrook remains sidelined, Conley may be the most desirable waiver pickup this week.
Jaron Brown, Seahawks
Ownership: 1%
Brown continues to be a factor with three receptions for 60 receiving yards.
With the season-ending injury to tight end Will Dissly, Brown is entrenched as the third receiving option behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.
He is worth WR4 consideration in a plum home matchup against Tampa Bay.
Tight End Streaming Targets
Dallas Goedert, Eagles
Ownership: 20%
Goedert has become a legitimate red zone threat with three touchdowns in his past five games. He is limiting the volume on teammate Zach Ertz, who's posted two fewer targets and four more receptions over the past three contests.
Goedert should continue his efficiency at home against Chicago, the Eagles' first home game since Oct. 6.
Philadelphia is on bye in Week 10, so note this would be a one-week pickup.
Jonnu Smith, Vikings
Ownership: 19%
The uber-athletic Florida International product made the most of his opportunity with Delanie Walker sidelined due to injury. Smith led the Titans in targets (seven), receptions (six), and receiving yards (78).
If Walker remains out, Smith is startable at Carolina and then has a favorable matchup at home against Kansas City.
Darren Fells, Texans
Ownership: 18%
The low volume, high-efficiency Fells produced two touchdowns on just six targets in a 27-24 comeback win over Oakland. This was Fells' second game with two touchdown catches this season.
He is certainly streamable this week at Jacksonville, who allows the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
Potential TE Stashes
Tyler Eifert, Bengals
Ownership: 9%
At a very thin tight end position, Eifert is intriguing as a stash with an upcoming Week 9 bye. He totaled season-highs in targets (nine), receptions (six), and receiving yards (74) in the Bengals 24-10 loss against the Rams.
Eifert will see home games against the Ravens, Steelers, and Jets over the next four weeks.
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