Fantasy Football 2014: Early Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups, Add/Drop

Some of the best players at their respective positions will sit out Week 9, the first of two consecutive weeks with six teams taking their byes this season. To name just a few, owners need to make up for the loss of Chicago’s Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, Buffalo and Detroit’s DSTs, and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Julio Jones.

That’s a ton of production up and down every fantasy lineup, with Week 10 just as daunting. However, some interesting news serviced on Sunday and there were some key performers in Week 9’s first batch of games that owners can target to make up some of those lost points and complement the backups they drafted before the season began.

Let’s look at which players should be targeted for Week 9’s waiver wire. Remember, always drop and add at your own discretion.

Robert Turbin, RB, Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are crumbling, and according to reports before their narrow win over Carolina, No. 1 RB Marshawn Lynch likely won’t return next season. But in the short term, and for fantasy purposes, something more worrisome surfaced. The same reports indicated that Lynch has stopped talking to coach Pete Carroll, all over the locker room rift created when Percy Harvin was shipped to the Jets.

Lynch put up 62 yards yards against a porous Carolina rush defense that’s been lacking all season, and if he can’t get along with Carroll, Turbin is the next logical option. Turbin’s only taken 21 attempts for 81 yards this season, but could have more reps over the next few weeks. He also has nine receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown, which could make him a solid threat in PPR leagues.

Jonas Gray, RB, New England Patriots

He was called up before the win over the Jets, but saw little time. But in Week 8, Gray exploded for 86 yards off 17 attempts, and gives the Pats another option outside of Shane Vereen. QB Tom Brady will need as many weapons as possible in Week 9’s huge matchup with high-scoring Denver, so Gray should be a key target for owners.

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

A.J. Green’s continued absence has really hurt the Bengals, specifically limiting the value of QB Andy Dalton and RB Gio Bernard. Owners of Mohamed Sanu have benefited, but Cincy needs another pass catcher to step up. Gresham’s slowly seen an uptick in targets the last couple weeks, with 19 in Weeks 6 and 7, and four this week. He’s a cheap option in auction waivers, or owners can likely wait to pick him up in free agency.

Kamar Aiken, WR, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens and QB Joe Flacco are very short on receiving options. Torrey Smith went down with a concussion and rookie Michael Campanaro also left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. They’ll need some receiver to draw attention away from Steve Smith, and Aiken was targeted six times in Week 8, second-highest on the team. With Marlon Brown either hurt or underperforming, Aiken’s the next logical choice for Flacco. He’s another cheap option, but should only be used as a WR3 option if the backup receivers currently on your squad are hurt next week.

Others to watch: Theo Riddick, RB, Detroit Lions; Austin Seferian-Kenkins, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Kyle Orton, QB, Buffalo Bills; Kenny Britt, WR, St. Louis Rams; Knile Davis, RB, Kansas City Chiefs