Fantasy Football Week 9 waiver wire pick ups: Top 5 Quarterbacks
There are some solid quarterbacks on a bye this week forcing many fantasy owners to the waiver wire. If you need a one-week fill in due to a bye or just need an overall upgrade under center, these are my top 5 widely available options (over 50% of ESPN leagues). These options are all ready to play week 9 and can help you survive if you usually roll with Peyton Manning or Matthew Stafford.
1. Andy Dalton-Cincinnati Bengals (43.5%)
After making this list for several weeks, Dalton still sneaks in under the 50% threshold this week for probably the final time. He continues to put up crazy numbers and emerge as a serious QB1 candidate. The last three games, he has throw for 11 total touchdowns scoring at least three in each game while throwing for over 1,000 yards total and 325 or more in each game. This week, he has a quick turnaround as the Bengals travel to South Beach to face the Dolphins, but Miami’s secondary has been beatable and Dalton has been on such a role that he makes a great pickup and a solid starting option for this week even in the dreaded fantasy football wasteland known as Thursday Night Football.
2. Jake Locker-Tennessee Titans (5.6%)
Locker missed two and a half games earlier this season with an injury, but looked good before getting hurt and had a solid comeback performance against the 49ers before his bye week in week 8. He finished that game with 326 yards and a pair of scores in that game while rushing for 29 yards as well. This week, he’ll take the Titans on the road to the Edward Jones Dome to take on the Rams who will be coming off a short week. After St. Louis, Locker faces the the Raiders, Colts, and Jaguars over the next four weeks. The Rams D makes some big plays, but they’ve also allowed plenty of points and yards making Locker a solid sleeper play this week
3. Terrelle Pryor-Oakland Raiders (25.3%)
Pryor took the first snap against the Steelers and ran 93 yards for a touchdown. Even though Oakland won, the rest of the game didn’t go quite as well for Pryor who threw for just 88 yards and two interceptions while finishing with 106 yards rushing. His ground game makes him an intriguing, high-floor option at QB who should be able to continue to contribute this week as the Raiders host Philadelphia who have given up the second-most passing yards in the NFL.
4. Jason Campbell-Cleveland Browns (0.8%)
Jason Campbell looked impressive while throwing for 293 yards and a pair of scores last week in his first start of the season which came against the Chiefs. Campbell faces a tougher matchup this week against the Ravens, but is still a sleeper play since he does have some nice targets and will be asked to throw the ball quite a bit on Sunday.
5. Case Keenum-Houston Texans (0.8%)
Keenum gets the nod as the Texans starting QB after their bye week as they take on the Colts. Indy’s defense has been good, but Keenum faced the Chiefs on the road in his first NFL start and acquitted himself well throwing for a touchdown and 271 yards. Keenum has some weapons at WR and a solid running game, so he makes a decent pickup for the next few weeks as he faces the Cardinals, Raiders, and Jaguars after Indy.
This list of QB’s is part of my weekly waiver wire focus. If you need further help constructing your team, check out my top ten waiver wire picks of the week as well as my top waiver targets at each of the following positions: RB, WR, TE, D/ST.