Week 9: Waiver Wire Pickups
Some guys who have been mentioned in this space in the past and are still worth a waiver pickup include: QB Kyle Orton, RB Denard Robinson, WR Mohamed Sanu, WR Stevie Johnson WR Odell Beckham Jr., TE Jace Amaro and TE Dwayne Allen. Check to see if any of these players are available in your league before consulting this list.
QB Michael Vick, ---
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Vick was called upon to replace Geno Smith again in Week 8 after Smith completed more passes to the Bills (three) than to his teammates (two) in the opening quarter. Vick performed somewhat better, although his game was marred with turnovers as well. The Jets say they have yet to determine which QB will be their starter in Week 9, but after Smith's miserable showing and the fact that his shoulder was X-rayed following the game, it looks like Vick has the upper hand. He's a far cry from the stud he used to be, but with six teams on bye in Week 9, desperate owners searching for upside on the waiver wire could consider giving Vick a shot. He showed that he can certainly still be an effective runner as the 34-year-old QB rushed eight times for 69 yards. It's unlikely but not impossible that he could have a big game next week.
RB Travaris Cadet, ---
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The 'Darren Sproles role' in the Saints' offense is now being filled by Cadet. With Khiry Robinsonand Pierre Thomasbanged up recently, Cadet appears to have solidified the role of third-down, long-yardage RB. His upside is limited by the presence of Mark Ingram and completely hinges on the health of Robinson and Thomas, but desperate PPR owners could consider using him in the flex spot in Week 9 against the Panthers.
RB Jonas Gray, ---
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The Patriots' backfield has long been a conundrum for fantasy owners. That continued on Sunday. The relatively unknown Gray was promoted off of the practice squad a little less than two weeks ago. He saw three carries in Week 7, then surprisingly took 17 carries for 86 yards against the Bears, by far the most of any Patriots RB. New England's backfield has been nearly impossible to predict for years, and Gray could easily end up seeing the bench for most of next week's game. There's also talk that the Patriots could trade for another RB. But for the time being, Gray looks like the successor to Stevan Ridley in this offense.
RB Charles Sims, ---
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There were rumors on Twitter Sunday morning that Bucs RB Doug Martincould be traded prior to Tuesday's deadline. That coincides with Sims' upcoming return from injured reserve. The rookie has been out since undergoing ankle surgery in August, but he returned to practice last Wednesday and could see the field as soon as Week 9. He was drafted by the Bucs with a third-round pick, and his burst and pass-catching ability fits well with their offensive scheme. He's not guaranteed to see a significant share of the work, but he does have upside. And at this point in the season, that makes Sims a rare find on wires.
WR John Brown, ---
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Brown was targeted 10 times on Sunday and caught five balls. Meanwhile, Michael Floyd saw four targets and caught none of them. Brown hasn't surpassed Floyd in the Cardinals' passing game, but those numbers are still interesting. It's possible that this was a fluke performance from Brown, who last scored a touchdown (two, actually) in Week 3. But the rookie speedster has had a steady albeit small role in the Cardinals' offense for most of the year. He's worth a speculative pickup in deep leagues.
