By Nan Jiang
Big pieces are due for bye weeks in Week 9. Players like CMC, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Travis Etienne will be out next week. Here are some players to pick up to fill that hole.
Quarterback
Sam Howell (WAS, 30.3%)
I think Sam Howell is shaping up to be a genuine threat at the QB position, and with the right pieces around him, he can be great. When he’s not getting sacked a million times a week, he is putting up 400 yards and 4 touchdowns against a strong Philly defense, in a game that the Commanders were leading for most of the game. Against the Patriots next week, the Commanders have a genuine chance to win and put up big numbers.
Taysom Hill (NO, 14.7%)
How many times does Taysom Hill have to prove himself? Following two double digit performances after being limited at practice, Hill had himself the best game of his season last week. He only hauled in one catch, but was obviously still the Saints’ goal line choice over even Alvin Kamara. On Sleeper, at least, Taysom is eligible as a QB, and seeing that he had six times the amount of passing yards the Giants as a team had last week, he should stay eligible.
Gardner Minshew (IND, 7.5%)
Minshew Mania is so back (kinda). Like it or not, Minshew is a starting QB for the rest of the season. Though he didn’t have two random touchdowns on the ground last week, he had a decent game against the Saints, with two touchdown passes. The Colts play the Panthers next week in a game nobody is looking forward to, but is filled with boom potential for the Colts offense and Minshew.
Baker Mayfield (TB, 28.5%)
The Mayfield name doesn’t inspire faith in many NFL fans these days, but Baker has been a sneakily good play for many weeks this year. Despite being QB 18, Baker has had an unacceptable game only twice this year, and no games where he completely imploded. It’s not the most attractive play, but Mayfield against the Texans next week can be a good flex if your QB is out.
Running back
Chuba Hubbard (CAR, 42.9%)
If you’re down on RBs going into the week, good luck, because Chuba might be your only good option that’s (maybe) on waivers still. Hubbard is in a timeshare with Miles Sanders, and was doing better than Sanders on a YPC basis before last week. The Panthers offense is still just a lot of Adam Thielen at this point, but Hubbard got a nice 17 touches, and is at least streamable going into next week
Wide receiver
Courtland Sutton (DEN, 85%)
I understand. Putting somebody with 85% rostered on a waiver wire list is a little bit insane. This week, however, is the very last chance to get Sutton on waivers- or maybe a discounted price, because come next week, Jerry Jeudy might be in a different city. If that happens, Sutton will get much more of the target share in Denver. The Broncos are still going to Bronco, but after beating the Chiefs last week, the AFC West is wide open for the Broncos to make a little run.
Rashid Shaheed (NO, 18.4%)
Rashid Shaheed has been the Saints deep ball connoisseur this season, and he showed out last week against the Colts. Shaheed, unlike other deep ball WRs, has not been boom-or-bust. Instead, he has either boomed or played exactly the way you expected him to. At this point, he is a receiver with a decent floor and a huge ceiling that is worth picking up.
Tight end
Dalton Kincaid (BUF, 62.5%)
Dawson Knox is missing a lot of time, and if there was a good time to miss time, it would be now. First round rookie Dalton Kincaid dominated last week, the first game he started as TE, and got lots of looks from Josh Allen. He even hauled in his first career TD. In the Buffalo passing game, he is set up to succeed, especially against the Bengals defense next week.
