By Katen Burgess
It’s week nine, football season is more than halfway over, and with it your fantasy season. Your trade deadline is likely coming up very quickly, and by now you know whether your team is competitive or not. The deeper into the season we get, the more the waiver wire is a high risk/high reward resource. The biggest thing to keep in mind is targets. If a player isn’t touching the ball, they aren’t scoring points. If a player isn’t making good use of the opportunities they’re getting, they’re not going to get more. We’re going to take a look at some players that should be getting more than their fair share of touches and touchdowns as the season continues.
Devontae Booker, RB, Denver Broncos
CJ Anderson was designated to IR last week and Booker showed up to play with 84 yards and a TD. He left the game and returned with a shoulder injury but practiced in spite of it. Booker is a must-add and a must-start if you can get your hands on him via trade or the waiver wire! Booker is the #6 RB in ESPN’s Week Nine Fantasy Rankings.
Davante Adams, WR Green Bay Packers
I was convinced Davante Adams’ hands were made of concrete after owning him in my Dynasty League for the first two years of his career, but the last two weeks he’s averaged 15 targets, 100 yards, and one TD, with a catch percentage of 83.3 percent. That’s an impressive line, and it’s even more impressive that he’s scored more touchdowns over the first eight weeks of the season than his first two years in the league combined. Davante Adams is ranked as the no. 16 WR in ESPN Fantasy Rankings.
Jack Doyle, TE, Indianapolis Colts
It seems like the Colts can’t catch a break. Last year, Andrew Luck was hurt, and their offense struggled. This year he’s playing out of his mind, averaging 286 yards and two TDs. Last week, the Colts got back Donte Moncrief (who was suggested as a must-add going into week seven) but now TY Hilton is questionable with a hamstring issue. Jack Doyle has caught a TD every other game the Colts have played this season, and is averaging 40 yards per game. ESPN has him ranked as the no. 9 Tight End for week nine.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Hill has a catch percentage of 82.6 percent; that’s the sixth best of any player this season. He has as many receiving TDs as Odell Beckham, AJ Green, and DeAndre Hopkins. He was owned in less than one percent of ESPN Fantasy Leagues last week. His four TDs have come in weeks one, four, seven, and eight which is nice because they’re spread out across the season so far rather than being clustered over the course of a couple weeks. From relative unknown to a WR4/5, if you are in bye-week hell, Tyreek is definitely worth a look.
Rob Kelley, RB, Washington Professional Football Team
Rob Kelley is on a bye this week, but the rookie RB, who I’ve taken to referring to as just R. Kelley, went from fighting for a roster spot during training camp to rushing for 87 yards and a TD last week against the Bucs. This RB situation is somewhat murky as Matt Jones could return to take touches away from Kelley, but given Jones’ inability to hold onto the football, Kelley is a high-upside pickup if he’s still available in your league. R. Kelley is not in the ESPN Week Nine Fantasy Rankings, and could be the sneakiest of all my picks this week.