Well Rush Nation, we are well and truly into the second half of the fantasy season. In addition to being well and truly into the second half, there are just a handful Waiver Wire weeks left to either get into the playoffs, or cement your playoff roster. 

Therefore, due to all the byes this week, it is important to work the Waiver Wire to get a win this week. Once this week is out of the way, we will start our strategy for the playoffs by using the Waiver Wire.

The Waiver Wire is thin this week. However, here is the best of the pile, to try and get you a win this week.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Fitzpatrick – 3.9% Owned

Week 9- 24/36 288 Yds, 3 TDs, 2 Yds Rushing

The time has come to buy Ryan Fitzpatrick, for a week at least. This tells you two things. One, just how bad the Waiver Wire is for Quarterbacks this week. It’s thin as anything, with six teams on byes. Plus, with injuries, it is a struggle. But also, Fitzpatrick is actually playing well. Everyone knows he has a game or two a year where he plays lights out. And whilst he does have the Colts next week, he still has that ability to find targets and put up numbers. His floor in the last 4 games is 11 points, and his ceiling is 27 points. If he delivers you 16 plus points this week, call it a win and move on.

Bryan Hoyer- 0.0% Owned

Week 9- 17/26 168 Yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 1 Fumble, 6 Yds Rushing

Bryan Hoyer is a name I didn’t expect to add to a Waiver Wire list. Because, no matter how you wish to phrase it, he isn’t a good Quarterback. However, he is perfectly adequate for 1-2 games if that its what you require. It looks like Brissett is going to be out for this week, and Hoyer will have Miami this week. The Dolphins don’t bring a ton of pressure. In addition to this, Hoyer looks competent when given time to throw the ball. He scored three Touchdowns on Sunday and could very well do the same this Sunday.

Running Backs

J.D Mckissic – 5.9 Owned

Week 9- 32 Yds Rushing, 3 Rec, 40 Yards Receiving, 1 TD

This isn’t a sexy option. However, the Lions have tried to give every opportunity to Ty Johnson. And, for what ever reason, it has not worked for him. Mckissic is not going to be an every down back. However, he is getting looks in this offense. In addition to this, he does get more work in negative game script also. Especially when they are losing and chasing the game. This Sunday, they play a Bears team that is wounded. However, they will be keen to get back to winning ways. Therefore, in this bye week, McKissic isn’t a disastrous add.

Trey Edmunds – 0.6% Owned

Week 9- 73 Yds Rushing

This is a strange Waiver Wire add I do admit. Because it is gambling on the health of James Conner and Benny Snell Jr. If both players are out of the Week Ten clash against the Rams, then Edmunds becomes a must own for one week only. Jaylen Samuels had a wonderful PPR day on Sunday against the Colts, but he rarely trouble the rushing totals in this game. Samuels rushed 8 times for 10 yards. Whereas, Edmunds rushed 12 times for 73 Yards. It seems that Edmunds has played himself into the run option in this offense, at least whilst Conner and Snell are out. If the Steelers get to the goal-line against the Rams, I could see Edmunds getting himself a score. However, if Samuels is free in your league (as he is unowned in 50.4% of ESPN leagues, then pick him up instead.

Wide Receivers

Zach Pascal – 2.1% Owned

Week 9- 5 Receptions, 76 Yds, 1 TD

Pascal is the new primary target in the Colts offense, for the foreseeable future. T.Y. Hilton is going to be out for the next month and Parris Campbell is returning from injury. Pascal has been productive even with Hilton on the team. However, for a Week Ten matchup against the Dolphins, Pascal is a must start, even with Brian Hoyer. He could also be a start-able option up until the playoffs. He should be a top Waiver Wire priority this week.

Preston Williams – 12.3% Owned

Week 9- 5 Receptions, 72 Yds, 2 TDs

As long as Ryan Fitzpatrick is the Quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, the receivers have some fantasy value. Fitz is a gunslinger and he likes to put the ball in the air. As a result, it’s becoming clear that Devante Parker and Preston Williams are becoming his primary options. This week Williams got 9 targets and got 2 important Touchdowns. Whilst you cannot bank on him to get a Touchdown every week, if he can get 5-7 catches for 70 yards, the Rookie will have standalone Flex option value in PPR leagues.

Tight End

Jacob Hollister – 0.2% Owned

Week 9- 4 Receptions, 37 Yds, 2 Touchdowns

Hollister is fast becoming the red zone replacement for Seattle. He caught two Touchdowns in this game, including the game winner in overtime. It also helped his cause that Luke Wilson had to leave the game due to an injury. Although there is nothing to suggest Hollister is going to keep this form up, as he has no history to speak of in the NFL, due to all the issues at Tight End, it seems a certain bet that Hollister will continue to get work. And, since he is catching balls from NFL MVP candidate Russell Wilson, it makes sense to grab any red zone piece of this offense that you can.

Kicker

Michael Badgley – 26.5% Owned

Week 9- 6/7 Kicks Made- 15 Fantasy Points

Badgley finally made his first start of the season Sunday. He was extremely impressive, making 6 of 7 kicks (he did miss a 44 Yard Attempt however). This week he will be facing the Oakland Raiders. One of the most accurate kickers in the 2018 NFL Season will have another opportunity to get you fantasy owners another double digit week.

D/ST

Kansas City Chiefs – 13.9% Owned

Playing @ Tennessee Titans Next

This Chiefs Defense is coming on leaps and bounds in recent weeks and has really turned a corner. And whilst on Sunday they didn’t get the fantasy points they deserved for their performance, they face the Titans this week, and their struggling offense. With Ryan Tannehill at the wheel of the offense, expect the Chiefs D to get a pick and a few sacks. I expect a couple of takeaways and a few sacks to boost the number up from 1 last week to a reasonable 6-8 points this week. At the end of the day, this pick won’t win you your week, but it won’t kill your week either.

That’s it for this week. We hope you get a lot out of this article and are seeing some success. You can listen to the audio show on your favourite podcast app. We also answer questions on Twitter @5yardrush so do get in touch there. However, until next week, Keep Rushing.