by Optimus Staff
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The fantasy football playoffs are mere weeks away, and squaring away your rosters is becoming more critical. Here are the top Week 9 Waiver Wire WRs and how to approach them before locking in your claims ahead of Wednesday morning.
Week 9 Waiver Wire WRs
*Rostership percentages courtesy of FantasyPros waiver wire rankings
Elijah Moore (CLE) | 3.8%
There’s a lot to be excited about in Cleveland right now. With Deshaun Watson done for the season, the Browns became significantly better almost overnight. Now that the team can effectively work in the passing game with Jameis Winston behind center, the receiving corps has been unlocked.
Quietly, veteran WR Elijah Moore has been one of the main benefactors of the change. While TE David Njoku and fellow WR Cedric Tillman snagged the TDs in Week 8, Moore led the team in targets (12) and receptions (8). In the last two weeks, Moore has 14 catches on 18 targets for 122 yards.
Moore doesn’t have the upside that Njoku likely does, but if you’re in a PPR format league, his potential volume with Winston at the helm should be enticing. His 18 targets the past two weeks are third on the team, and his 12 last week were tops in a big win.
Who ends up being the top dog in the WR corps in Cleveland is still up in the air. It could easily be Jeudy or Tillman. However, after Winston’s first week as the starter, Moore is the cheaper bet on the Week 9 waiver wire.
~ Week 9 Waiver Wire Look-Ahead targets ~
Ricky Pearsall (SF) | 37.7%
The San Francisco 49ers are heading into a Week 9 bye banged up. The team is down WR Brandon Aiyuk, likely for the season, and has been without RB Christian McCaffrey since the opening bell. Rookie WR Ricky Pearsall (gunshot wound) was among those on IR but made his NFL debut in Week 7 against Kansas City.
Pearsall was an instant contributor, seeing a 76 percent snap share and snagging three of his five targets for 21 yards. Then, last week, he was targeted four times, catching all four for 38 yards. For a team that is 4-4 and hurting, Pearsall is a welcome, reliable target for QB Brock Purdy.
Despite underperforming expectations so far this season, San Francisco is in a three-way tie for the division lead in the NFC West. Pearsall, a first-round draft pick in 2024, has already shown reliability and has moved ahead of veteran Jauan Jennings on the 49ers depth chart. If you were excited about adding Jennings earlier in the season, you should be even more excited about Pearsall.
Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups at WR | The Rest
All players below a 50% consensus rostership courtesy of FantasyPros waiver wire rankings
Josh Downs (IND) | 42.1%
Rashod Bateman (BAL) | 37.3%
Demario Douglas (NE) | 26.4%
Dontayvion Wicks (GB) | 24.3%
Jalen Tolbert (DAL) | 21.4%
Cedric Tillman (CLE) | 20.1%
Sterling Shepard (TB) | 11.6%
John Metchie (HOU) | 0.1%
Parker Washington (JAC) | 0.1%
Nate Polvogt is a Co-Founder and the Lead Senior Analyst for Optimus Fantasy Football. Find more from Nate on X (formerly Twitter) @NatePolvogt and on Optimus Fantasy
by Optimus Staff
Share
The fantasy football playoffs are mere weeks away, and squaring away your rosters is becoming more critical. Here are the top Week 9 Waiver Wire WRs and how to approach them before locking in your claims ahead of Wednesday morning.
Week 9 Waiver Wire WRs
*Rostership percentages courtesy of FantasyPros waiver wire rankings
Elijah Moore (CLE) | 3.8%
There’s a lot to be excited about in Cleveland right now. With Deshaun Watson done for the season, the Browns became significantly better almost overnight. Now that the team can effectively work in the passing game with Jameis Winston behind center, the receiving corps has been unlocked.
Quietly, veteran WR Elijah Moore has been one of the main benefactors of the change. While TE David Njoku and fellow WR Cedric Tillman snagged the TDs in Week 8, Moore led the team in targets (12) and receptions (8). In the last two weeks, Moore has 14 catches on 18 targets for 122 yards.
Moore doesn’t have the upside that Njoku likely does, but if you’re in a PPR format league, his potential volume with Winston at the helm should be enticing. His 18 targets the past two weeks are third on the team, and his 12 last week were tops in a big win.
Who ends up being the top dog in the WR corps in Cleveland is still up in the air. It could easily be Jeudy or Tillman. However, after Winston’s first week as the starter, Moore is the cheaper bet on the Week 9 waiver wire.
~ Week 9 Waiver Wire Look-Ahead targets ~
Ricky Pearsall (SF) | 37.7%
The San Francisco 49ers are heading into a Week 9 bye banged up. The team is down WR Brandon Aiyuk, likely for the season, and has been without RB Christian McCaffrey since the opening bell. Rookie WR Ricky Pearsall (gunshot wound) was among those on IR but made his NFL debut in Week 7 against Kansas City.
Pearsall was an instant contributor, seeing a 76 percent snap share and snagging three of his five targets for 21 yards. Then, last week, he was targeted four times, catching all four for 38 yards. For a team that is 4-4 and hurting, Pearsall is a welcome, reliable target for QB Brock Purdy.
Despite underperforming expectations so far this season, San Francisco is in a three-way tie for the division lead in the NFC West. Pearsall, a first-round draft pick in 2024, has already shown reliability and has moved ahead of veteran Jauan Jennings on the 49ers depth chart. If you were excited about adding Jennings earlier in the season, you should be even more excited about Pearsall.
Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups at WR | The Rest
All players below a 50% consensus rostership courtesy of FantasyPros waiver wire rankings
Josh Downs (IND) | 42.1%
Rashod Bateman (BAL) | 37.3%
Demario Douglas (NE) | 26.4%
Dontayvion Wicks (GB) | 24.3%
Jalen Tolbert (DAL) | 21.4%
Cedric Tillman (CLE) | 20.1%
Sterling Shepard (TB) | 11.6%
John Metchie (HOU) | 0.1%
Parker Washington (JAC) | 0.1%
Nate Polvogt is a Co-Founder and the Lead Senior Analyst for Optimus Fantasy Football. Find more from Nate on X (formerly Twitter) @NatePolvogt and on Optimus Fantasy
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