With just one more game left to be played in Week 8, we are on the verge of turning the page to Week 9, when there will be a total of six teams on a bye.
Those six teams include the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers.
Here’s a look at the fantasy-relevant players from each team who will be sitting it out on their bye in Week 9:
Browns: RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, WR Amari Cooper, TE David Njoku
Cowboys: QB Dak Prescott, RBs Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard, WRs CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, TE Dalton Schultz, Cowboys D/ST
Broncos: QB Russell Wilson, RBs Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray, WRs Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, TE Greg Dulcich, Broncos D/ST
Giants: QB Daniel Jones, RB Saquon Barkley, WR Wan’Dale Robinson
Steelers: RB Najee Harris, WRs Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, TE Pat Freiermuth
49ers: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Christian McCaffrey, WRs Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, TE George Kittle
Now, the best waiver wire options for Week 9.
QB Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Fields has scored 20 or more fantasy points in three straight games, including a season-high 26 in Week 8 against a very good Cowboys defense. In that same span, the Bears signal-caller ranks as QB2 in the league.
The second-year pro still isn’t throwing for many yards per game, but he has been running more, and that rushing ability gives him elite upside the rest of the way.
For now, consider Fields a high-end QB2 and every-week starter in 10-team or deeper leagues.
Priority level: High
QB Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons
Mariota has topped 24 points or more in two of his last three games and carries a safe floor thanks to his ability to run the football. He’ll also draw a Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, a game that might see Atlanta throwing more to keep up with a talented Chargers offense.
Priority level: Medium
QB P.J. Walker, Carolina Panthers
With at least four fantasy-relevant quarterbacks on bye this week, owners might have to dig a bit deeper to find a starting solution.
Walker is by no means a lock to produce, but he has totaled 15 points or more in each of the last two games, including 20 in Week 9, and he can run the football, although he doesn’t do it nearly enough.
He also has a matchup against a potent Bengals offense that might force the Panthers to throw a ton to keep up.
Priority level: Low
QB Taylor Heinicke, Washington Commanders
Heinicke has taken over for an injured Carson Wentz, and not only has he won two games in a row, he’s also had a good showing fantasy-wise, finishing with 22 points in Week 9.
Heinicke draws a Minnesota Vikings defense that ranks bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed per game to signal-callers, and his rushing ability and the Commanders’ poor defense will have the offense chasing points more often than not, giving him upside.
He isn’t an every-week starter or anything like that, but Heinicke is a decent streaming option.
Priority level: Medium
RBs Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
With Gus Edwards possibly set to miss at least one game, the Ravens will turn their running back duties over the Drake and Hill, both of whom handled work in Week 8 after Edwards exited.
Drake led Hill in snaps (44-16), touches (11-4) and yards (67-28), making him the back to own in this tandem, although it’s very possible this situation is an even split.
Priority level for Drake: Medium
Priority level for Hill: Low
RB Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
This one is really for those who have stock in a Rams running back.
Williams was impressive during the offseason and looked primed to at least have some kind of role with this team before he went down with an injury earlier this season.
He is now designated to return from IR and could be back any day now. And, he’s returning to a running backs room that has had almost no success with Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers, so Williams has a shot to emerge.
However, this is setting up to be a messy situation. There’s a chance the Rams don’t trade Akers, which would setup for an even more gross situation for fantasy owners to deal with. Williams becomes a more attractive option should the Rams trade Akers by Nov. 1, so keep an eye on that.
Priority level: Low
RB Latavius Murray, Denver Broncos
Going from one mess of a situation to another, we have the Broncos’ rushing attack, which saw Murray lead the way in Week 9, as he out-touched Melvin Gordon, 15-12, and he had more yards (59-52) and found the end zone.
Gordon remains the better back to own thanks to being more involved in the passing game, but Murray warrants flex consideration moving forward. Still, this situation is less than ideal, as Murray and Gordon have gone back and forth for most touches and carries the last few weeks.
Priority level: Medium
RB JaMycal Hasty, Jacksonville Jaguars
With James Robinson out in Jacksonville and Travis Etienne officially the lead back and fully unleashed, there’s also a new handcuff in Duval: JaMycal Hasty.
Hasty flashed what he can do in Week 6 with a 61-yard touchdown run and is now the next in line if Etienne gets hurt. Obviously, adding Hasty makes the most sense for Etienne owners.
Priority level if you have Etienne: High
Priority level if you don’t have Etienne: Low
RB Caleb Huntley, Atlanta Falcons
Round and round we go, where the running back carousel in Atlanta stops, no one knows!
Well, we do know when it’s going to stop: when Cordarrelle Patterson returns from injured reserve, something he’s eligible to do this week. Once he does, Huntley and Allgeier will have no value outside of being handcuffs.
And that value could be further diminished with the return of Damien Williams, who is also eligible to come back from IR.
Huntley remains a player to keep an eye on on waivers this week after he led the team in carries and rushing yards, but if there’s any inkling that Patterson will return, don’t bother.
Priority level: Low
WRs Devin Duvernay and Demarcus Robinson, Baltimore Ravens
After missing two games with a foot injury, Ravens No. 1 wideout Rashod Bateman aggravated the injury in Week 8, leading to his early exit. His status remains up in the air, but there’s a chance he doesn’t play in Week 9.
If Bateman sits, Duvernay becomes the team’s No. 1 wideout to own, as he’s been the most consistent wide receiver outside of Bateman this season and is second on the team in receptions, targets, yards and receiving touchdowns.
However, Demarcus Robinson showed a sign of life in Week 8, reeling in six catches for 64 yards, making him a potential low-end flex option if Bateman misses time.
Priority level for Duvernay: Medium
Priority level for Robinson: Low
WR Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams
Jefferson saw his first action of 2022 in Week 8 after returning from injury, and while he played 31 snaps, he wasn’t targeted. However, Jefferson has a decent outlook moving forward.
Rams superstar wideout Cooper Kupp suffered an apparently ankle injury on Sunday and there’s a chance he’s sidelined for a game because of it. If that happens, Allen Robinson gets a bump, as does Jefferson.
But looking at things a bit deeper, even if Kupp plays, Jefferson, who already has a good rapport with Matthew Stafford, could still have value, as Robinson has done nothing to secure the No. 2 role behind Kupp.
Priority level: Medium
WR Darius Slayton, New York Giants (on bye)
I’ve been pounding the drum on Wan’Dale Robinson for weeks now, so of course he got out-produced by Slayton in Week 8.
Since falling out of favor after two solid seasons to start his career, Slayton has re-emerged and been the most reliable Giants pass-catcher in 2022.
Over his last two games, Slayton has found the end zone once and has eight catches for 124 yards. Over his last five games, the fourth-year pro has double-digit fantasy points in three of them.
Sure, nothing to write home about and Slayton is far from what we’d consider a reliable option, but he has done enough to warrant flex consideration as a bye-week fill-in, but only in PPR.
Just be aware, if you want Slayton he’ll be no good to you this week, as he’s on a bye.
Priority level: Low
WR Terrace Marshall Jr., Carolina Panthers
After a quiet rookie season and start to 2022, Marshall is finding more opportunities after the team traded away Robbie Anderson.
Marshall had his best game as a pro in Week 8, setting career-highs in targets (nine) and receiving yards (87). Adding to that, he seems to have good chemistry with P.J. Walker.
The second-year pro isn’t a must-add by any stretch, but rather a player to keep an eye on moving forward.
Priority level: Low
WR Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals
Moore finally had the kind of game in Week 8 we hoped would be at least a semi-regular performance going into the season. The second-year pro caught seven balls for 92 yards and a touchdown in what was his best game of 2022.
Moore is obviously behind DeAndre Hopkins in the pecking order, but there’s enough to go around to make him a flex option moving forward.
Priority level: Medium
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Doubs has been the most consistent receiver for the Packers this season when you include overall production and availability. Now, he steps into the No. 1 receiver role as long as Allen Lazard is out.
With Lazard sidelined by a shoulder injury that could keep him out another week, Doubs stepped up to lead the team with four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, his third double-digit performance of 2022.
Doubs was already a back-door flex option, but he becomes slightly more attractive as long as Lazard is out.
Priority level: Medium
TE Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos (on bye)
Since coming back from injured reserve in Week 6, Dulcich has wasted no time becoming a key contributor for the Broncos’ offense and has seen 40-plus snaps in each game.
Dulcich had 44 yards and a score in Week 6, six catches for 51 yards in Week 7, and then four catches for 87 yards in Week 8. Add those numbers up and Dulcich is TE3 overall the last three weeks.
While Dulcich is on a bye this week, we’re thinking about the long term here. The rookie tight end has the potential to be an every-week starter moving forward.
Priority level: High
TE Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
Engram has posted nine fantasy points or more in each of his last four games, including three double-digit showings. His best game came in Week 8, when Engram tallied four receptions for 55 yards and his first touchdown.
Since Week 5, Engram is TE5 overall. The only thing he was missing was red zone appeal, but he checked that box on Sunday.
Priority level: High
TE Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Mark Andrews was already dealing with a knee injury going into Week 8, but he now is dealing with a shoulder injury that forced him out of the game early.
Thankfully, the injury doesn’t appear to be serious, but that doesn’t mean the superstar tight end is certain to play in Week 9. If he doesn’t, not only are you picking up Likely, you’re starting him.
The rookie tight end has been fairly productive even with Andrews in the lineup, but he was unleashed in Week 8 after Andrews went down and had his best career game with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Likely is an athletic freak and playmaker who will have a huge role if Andrews sits for any length of time. Keep an eye on the Ravens’ injury report, though.
Priority level if you have Andrews: High
Priority level if you don’t have Andrews: Medium
TE Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
Conklin has had an up-and-down season in 2022, but had his best game of the year in Week 8 with six catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. It’s hard to trust the veteran tight end with how inconsistent he has been, but there’s certainly worse out there as far as bye-week fill-ins are concerned.
Priority level: Medium
