This has been an NFL season like no other. We can safely say it is the worst year for injuries in the history of the league. However, the show must go on. In the wake of more top WRs going down last week, how should fantasy football managers handle the waiver wire, trades, and the decision to cut players from their rosters?
Wide Receivers To Target off the Week 9 Waiver Wire
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns (18%)
Last week, Cedric Tillman was in this column as a speculative add. This week, he’s the No. 1 guy.
It’s truly unbelievable that it took this long for Jameis Winston to take over, and it was a Deshaun Watson injury that forced it. The Browns may very well be a playoff team with Winston because their defense is good and the offense actually looks competent.
With Winston, everyone ate. David Njoku, Jerry Jeudy, and the new WR1 for the Browns, Tillman. The sophomore followed up his 18.1-point breakout with 28.9 points on seven receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Jameis finds Cedric Tillman to retake the lead!
📺: #BALvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/sjSIvER5b5— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
The Browns won’t face a league-worst Ravens pass defense every week. In fact, their second-half schedule is pretty brutal. But this volume and performance warrants attention. Add Tillman.
Aggressiveness Rating: 8.5
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts (47%)
I understand the concerns with Anthony Richardson. He completed 31% of his passes against the Texans. But Josh Downs needs to be rostered. And Joe Flacco is back behind center.
Downs is really talented. Rostering talented players alone is never a bad idea. We’ve also seen elite WR1 upside from him, so it’s not a blind leap. He’s scored 15.9 points or more in four of his last five games. Three of those were with Joe Flacco and Richardson is no lock to play the rest of the season. Downs’ upside is too great to leave on the waiver wire.
Aggressiveness Rating: 8.0
Elijah Moore, WR, Cleveland Browns (2%)
Can Winston really support three fantasy-relevant WRs? Probably not. Again, facing the Ravens’ league-worst pass defense definitely inflated his numbers. But I would be remiss not to at least mention Elijah Moore.
The former Jet saw 12 targets, catching eight for 85 yards. I don’t think it’s real and would not necessarily prioritize adding Moore. In deeper leagues, though, he could be worth a look.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns (45%)
The presumptive WR1 for the Browns actually had the lowest production of the three. Jerry Jeudy caught five of eight targets for 79 yards. That’s good enough for fantasy managers. But is it likely to continue?
Much like his teammates, he benefited from facing the Ravens’ league-worst pass defense. At this point, I have more confidence we know who Jeudy is than Tillman, which is why I prefer the younger player. If you want to take a chance on Jeudy and see if this holds next week, go for it.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills (41%)
It appears Keon Coleman’s Week 7 breakout was legit. He did it again in Week 8, catching five of seven targets for 70 yards and a touchdown.
It’s important to point out that Coleman was deliberately targeted on a fade from Josh Allen on his touchdown. That’s a great sign, especially in light of the team’s recent acquisition of Amari Cooper, who was completely invisible and did not play anywhere near a full complement of snaps.
A beautiful TD catch by @keoncoleman6 🔥
📺: #BUFvsSEA on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/t2VpmIdGGP— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
I’m not so sure I wouldn’t rather have Coleman than Cooper going forward. Either way, Coleman needs to be added.
Aggressiveness Rating: 7.5
Jalen Tolbert, WR, Dallas Cowboys (23%)
It was disappointing to see Jalen Tolbert only early three targets against the 49ers. However, there remain encouraging signs.
Tolbert is the clear WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb. He actually led the team in routes run.
Additionally, the Cowboys have a favorable rest-of-season schedule of pass defenses. Seven of their final nine games in the fantasy season are against teams that could force shootouts.
Tolbert will never be a reliable weekly starter, but he can be a serviceable WR4 in a pinch. He’s worth putting on the back of your bench if you have the spot.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers (37%)
With Brandon Aiyuk done for the season, the 49ers have an opening at WR2. Jauan Jennings has been out the past two weeks with an injury. Ricky Pearsall has been running behind Chris Conley, but the 49ers could use the bye week to fully integrate the rookie into the offense.
At this point in the fantasy season, there are almost no unknowns. Pearsall is an unknown. That’s a good thing. He presents untapped potential. We don’t know how good he can be.
Perhaps the answer is he’s nothing. Jennings should be back in Week 10. Combined with the return of Christian McCaffrey, and Pearsall may end up being the fifth option in the passing game. If that happens, you can drop him. But given the upside, Pearsall is worth a speculative add while we wait and see how things play out.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.5
Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (10%)
In Weeks 3 and 4, Tre Tucker scored 22.6 and 15.4 fantasy points. It looked as though there might be something there. Since then, he’s registered games of 4.6, 0.0, 7.7, and 5.3.
The Raiders are not exactly an offense you want to invest in. Brock Bowers is the best TE in fantasy, and Jakobi Meyers is a passable WR4, but that’s really it.
Three of their next four opponents are elite pass defenses, and they have a bye mixed in. Tucker is not going to be anything close to startable in fantasy. Do not add him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0.0
Calvin Austin III, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (1%)
Touchdowns have a funny way of skewing player value. Whenever a player scores, fantasy managers’ ears tend to perk up.
Calvin Austin III scored 20.4 fantasy points on Monday night against the Giants. Should you pick him up? No. Not even a little bit. Not even in deep leagues. There is absolutely nothing here.
Austin saw a total of four targets, he just happened to score. He also brought back a punt, raising his perceived production.
Austin will do this again. This is the second time he’s hit 19+ fantasy points. In every other game, he’s been under 6.0 fantasy points. Do not add Austin.
Aggressiveness Rating: N/A
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants (13%)
It’s going to be difficult for Darius Slayton to maintain any fantasy value while Malik Nabers is healthy. They occupy the same role and Nabers does it better. But Slayton is holding his own.
Slayton caught four passes for 108 yards on seven targets against the Steelers. It’s certainly encouraging to see him able to produce at this level with Nabers active.
The real value in Slayton comes in his handcuff status. He’s the rare handcuff WR. If Nabers misses time, Slayton is a startable WR3. We saw this when he posted games of 26.2 and 11.7 fantasy points in the two games Nabers missed with his concussion. Slayton earned 11 targets in each of those contests.
Slayton is not a must-roster, but you can add him if you have the room.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (0%)
The Jaguars are digging deep into their WR depth with all of their injuries. Christian Kirk is done for the season with a broken collarbone. Brian Thomas Jr. is dealing with a chest bruise that is not a long-term issue, but may cost him Week 9. Trevor Lawrence may be staring down the barrel of Gabe Davis as his WR1.
The answer for the Jaguars is almost certainly going to be more Evan Engram. But if Thomas can’t go this week, and even if he can, Parker Washington is slated for a pretty prominent role.
The 2023 sixth-rounder made a splash in Week 13 last season, catching six passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. He popped up on waiver wire columns and then was never heard from again. Perhaps this is a repeat. But circumstances are different.
Washington is set to assume the primary slot receiver role previously occupied by Kirk. With all of their injuries last week, Washington led the Jaguars in routes run. Given his projected role, he’s at least worth a speculative pickup in deeper leagues.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Wide Receivers To Target in Trades Ahead of Week 9
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
It is time. The Houston Texans’ offense is not the same without Nico Collins. Stefon Diggs injured his knee on Sunday, and Tank Dell does not look like himself. They need Collins and, by all accounts, he is tracking to return as planned when first eligible in Week 10.
Collins will immediately reprise his role as C.J. Stroud’s top target and vault back into the top-five WRs weekly. If Collins’ manager needs instant help, send him a healthy player for the currently injured Collins.
Wide Receivers To Potentially Trade Away Ahead of Week 9
Davante Adams, WR, New York Jets
I want out on the Jets. Davante Adams is not cooked. He can still be a very effective wide receiver, but it might be over for Aaron Rodgers.
Adams caught three passes for 30 yards in his Jets debut. He followed that up with four catches for 54 yards.
The Jets keep losing games. Once it becomes clear their season is over, any small injury might be it for Adams.
Since Adams is a brand name, he may still carry some value. If you have him and can trade him for something comparable — maybe package him with another piece for Puka Nacua — that will be a beneficial move going forward.
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
There are many fantasy managers excited about the prospect of Deebo Samuel without Brandon Aiyuk for the rest of the season. We got a preview of his usage on Sunday night against the Cowboys and it was pretty good. But, of course, Samuel got hurt. Because he always gets hurt.
The issue with Samuel is not just that he’s always banged up, it’s how frequently he costs fantasy managers matchups because of in-game injuries. It’s already happened three times this season.
The 49ers are heading into their bye. From Weeks 13-16, they have a difficult stretch of pass defenses.
Samuel is being valued by some as a WR1. Trade him away at full value and get a more reliable WR2 plus another piece.
Wide Receivers To Cut in Week 9
Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (74%)
This is the worst type of cut list player. Christian Kirk broke his collarbone in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. Kirk’s injury is season-ending; thus, fantasy managers can drop the talented slot receiver.
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks (68%)
At 32 years old, Tyler Lockett is finally showing signs of slowing down. He’s been overtaken by Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who has his own issues) as the Seattle Seahawks’ WR2. Yet, neither guy can hold a candle to DK Metcalf.
Lockett has hit double-digit fantasy points just four times all season. Last week, in a game where the Seahawks faced negative game script throughout — in a game where Metcalf did not play — Lockett managed just one catch for nine yards.
It’s hard to justify holding him, especially in shallower leagues.
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers (69%)
It seems like Romeo Doubs exists perpetually on the fantasy roster bubble. He’s not good enough to be an every-week starter, but his weekly upside is high enough that there’s usually someone who has use for him on any given week.
Doubs caught three passes for 72 yards last week. He’s now hit double-digit fantasy points in three straight games. In Weeks 6 and 7, he posted WR1 numbers.
If you drop Doubs, rest assured his name will pop up on the waiver wire column at a later date this season. But I do understand if you need to.
Jordan Love is dealing with a groin injury, and the Packers have a Week 10 bye. It makes all the sense in the world for the team to be cautious, hold him out this week, and get him 100% for the stretch run beginning in Week 1.
No Packers WR outside of maybe Jayden Reed is startable with Malik Willis. You obviously can’t start any Packer in Week 10, and two weeks is a long time to hold a fringe WR4. Doubs is not a must-cut, but he is someone you can drop without worrying too much.