The waiver wire is starting to dwindle for options to feel even remotely excited about. We have had some stellar standouts in our previous waiver wire adds, from Rico Dowdle to Sam Darnold and Harold Fannin Jr.
For the following waiver wire adds, the player has to be owned by 60% of teams or less, and this week we go with one player at quarterback and one at each flex-position spot to add if you’re in a pinch ahead of your Week 9 matchup.
Quarterback
Mac Jones, 49ers: Here’s to hoping you don’t need a QB to start from the waiver wire. But, if so, Jones is probably the best of the bunch with the highest upside.
He has similar stats to Caleb Williams, playing in one less game. Jones has thrown for 1,597 yards and eight touchdowns. He was pretty average last week in a loss at Houston, throwing for less than 200 yards, but he did have two touchdown passes.
Jones has been overall pretty good for San Francisco in relief of Brock Purdy. He has scored 13 or more fantasy points in all but one week and hit 20 points twice. This week, Jones has a juicy matchup against the Giants and should bounce back from a pair of lackluster weeks.
Running Back
Brashard Smith, Chiefs: Smith could be in line for an uptick in workload with Isiah Pacheco week-to-week with an injury. While Kareem Hunt is the likely lead back, Smith should receive double-digit touches.
Smith only has 25 carries on the year, but does have 14 catches for 122 yards. The rookie from SMU has yet to find the end zone this year, but against the Bills, and with Pacheco out, it feels like this could be the week Smith finds paydirt with Andy Reid finding a nifty play for him. Two weeks ago, Smith had 19 touches, including 14 carries and five catches for 42 yards, scoring 13 fantasy points in PPR leagues.
Chiefs-Bills is usually a high-scoring game and Smith is likely to see plenty of touches.
Wide Receiver
Elic Ayomanor, Titans: Ayomanor is a big-bodied rookie wideout who seems to be starting to find his footing with fellow rookie QB Cam Ward.
Last week Ayomanor received the most targets of his career with eight. Ayomanor snared four catches for 52 yards and now has 23 catches for 277 yards and two touchdowns on 35 targets. The rookie WR is looking more comfortable in Tennessee, but is more likely a target for a 12-team league at this juncture.
Tight End
Juwan Johnson, Saints: It is a bit surprising to see a tight end with over 50 targets owned in just 40% of leagues. Johnson isn’t a guy who is going to score 30 points most likely but he has a pretty nice floor.
He has been targeted seven or more times in five weeks already. Tyler Shough is making his first career start, and a tight end can be a new QBs best friend. Johnson was supposed to see a dip with Taysom Hill and Moreau being back, but he’s posted some solid performances lately with double digits the past two weeks.
https://twitter.com/OnwardState/status/1967293888009523630
On the year, Johnson has 36 catches for 368 yards and a touchdown on 52 targets. With Shough facing the Rams, the Saints should be playing catchup, allowing for Johnson to post another strong week.
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