Players to Pick Up Now – Week 9

Another week and another Players to Pick Up Now article for you all. So far, we have hit on at least one player each week, so we will try to continue to roll out some good players you can pick up and stash once again.

Last week we had a few players that hit. One of the bigger ones was DeVante Parker, who was coming off a 3 game absence and was able to catch 8 balls for 85. He was one of the biggest waiver wire adds, then he had a set back in practice and is now on the IR. Really too bad since he was about to feast on the Texans this week.

The other players I was right on (that I wish I was not right on because I am a Kenneth Gainwell fan) were Boston Scott and Jordan Howard. If you picked up 1 of them and played them, you were very happy, and Scott especially could help you in the next few weeks until Miles Sanders is back. Below are how the players last week panned out:

DeVante Parker: Week 8 Results – 11 Targets, 8 Receptions, 85 Rec Yards (12.50 Fantasy Points)

Evan Engram: Week 8 Results – 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 15 Rec Yards, 1 TD (9.00 Fantasy Points)

David Johnson: Week 8 Results – 2 Rush, 4 Rush Yards, 1 Target, 1 Rec, -1 Rec Yards (0.80 Fantasy Points)

Phillip Lindsay: Week 8 Results – 3 Rush, 8 Rush Yards (0.80 Fantasy Points)

Boston Scott: Week 8 Results – 12 Rush, 60 Rush Yards, 2 TDs (18.00 Fantasy Points)

Jordan Howard: Week 8 Results – 12 Rush, 57 Rush Yards, 2 TDs (17.70 Fantasy Points)

Now let’s get to the other players out there that could have a big week and who you should grab before it is too late. Now I am not saying these guys will for sure break out this week, and if you pick them up you should keep them at the end of your bench, and if they don’t do anything, just drop them at the end of the day. But these guys could hit big and then next week you aren’t scrapping for them with FAAB bids against multiple other league managers.

Jeff Wilson Jr. – 27% Owned

Wilson has been on the PUP all season, but is finally able to practice and actually has a shot to play in Week 9. This all depends on Eli Mitchell’s status for Sunday. If Mitchell plays, I do not think Wilson will make his debut, but if Mitchell is forced to miss this week with the rib injury, I can see the Niners activating him and playing him right away. I do still believe this is Mitchell’s backfield and he has shown us why and proved he deserves the work, but if he keeps getting banged up and missing weeks, Wilson can fill that void because we know it is not Trey Sermon. At the very worst, Wilson is now considered a solid handcuff in fantasy leagues.

Scottie Phillips – 0% Owned

Now this man is owned in less than 1% of fantasy leagues, and maybe it is the right move, but he is someone to keep an eye on. With Ingram traded to the Saints, we all wondered if it was David Johnson or Phillip Lindsay, but we were all wrong about that and it was Burkhead who got the most work. Even though Burkhead lead the team, Phillips had the second most snaps and touches out of all RBs on the team. This is a team who is going nowhere and is fine with tanking. If that is the case, why not go out there and use your young players like Phillips to see what you have for next year? This is a massive dart throw stash, but do not be surprised to see him get more work in the coming weeks.

Mark Ingram II – 38% Owned

Ingram is back with the Saints and you love to see it. Not only was last week his first week back in the offense, but he was used right away against the Bucs. He was able to get you 6.20 fantasy points against the best run D in fantasy. With Winston out for the season, we know they will likely need to rely more on the run, and we have seen both Ingram and Kamara in the past succeed together. Sure, Ingram is not the same player he used to be, but expect him to get some work behind Kamara, because they cannot afford to lose Kamara by any means. Ingram can be a nice 2nd flex play.

Bryan Edwards – 30% Owned

I had Edwards on this article back in Week 4, but I want to put him back on here now. Ruggs is no longer with the team for obvious reasons, so now Edwards has another shot to make that leap. The offense is going to have to change since they no longer have that speedy WR they always seemed to have on the outside, so maybe they force the ball to Edwards. He is a big-bodied WR and if he can get a nice connection with Carr, he can finally become the player we all wished he would be. Maybe it does not pan out, but take the shot because if he booms, you will have to blow FAAB next week to get him.

THE WRAP UP

Those are the few players I wanted to talk about this week and again, if none of them pan out, just cut them for other waiver wire adds next week. The four teams on byes this week are the Lions, Seahawks, Bucs, & The Football Team. Some players may have been dropped, or may still be available to stash for when they come off the bye.

If Alex Collins has been dropped, I would grab him as it looks like Carson could miss the season. If that is the case, Collins should be a decent flex play after the bye. Another guy to look at is Logan Thomas. He will be back after the bye and has a nice schedule going forward. If you are thin at the TE position, grab him now and you have a top 10 TE going forward.