The NFL is entering the ninth week of the 2018 season, but there’s still a long way to go for most fantasy football owners to secure a spot in the playoffs. Help is always available via waiver wire pickups, though. With that said, here are 10 players owned in under just 50 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues who could deliver the goods for your team in the coming weeks.
10. Josh Adams – Philadelphia Eagles RB (0.4% owned in ESPN)
For owners who have some droppable assets on their rosters, Eagles running back Josh Adams conveys as a suitable replacement, especially with most managers not looking at Philly players this week due to the team’s upcoming bye. Adams came out of nowhere last Sunday to lead the Eagles in rushing yards (61) and carries (9). The Eagles still have Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement, but Adams could inch closer to an RB2 role if he puts up a similar performance.
9. David Moore – Seattle Seahawks WR (2.7% owned in ESPN)
Moore is slowly turning into one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in Seattle. In Week 8’s 28-14 road win over the Detroit Lions, Moore led the team with 97 receiving yards to go with a touchdown on four receptions and four targets. Moore has now scored four touchdowns in Seattle’s last three games, so there should be no reason for him to stay owned in only 2.7 percent of leagues in ESPN.
8. Ryan Fitzpatrick – Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB (6.0% owned in ESPN)
It’s time to fall in love with Fitzpatrick again. Jameis Winston turning into a walking and throwing disaster in last week’s 37-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He threw four picks and got sacked five times in his start, paving the way for Fitzpatrick to take over the quarterback duties in that game and nearly lead a dramatic comeback. Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter has already declared Fitzmagic as the team’s Week 9 starter against the Carolina Panthers and that could stay that way for the foreseeable future depending on how well Fitzpatrick performs this weekend.
7. D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers WR (10.4% owned in ESPN)
And we got another Moore on the list. I guess, the Moore the merrier. Okay, I’ll show my way out.
But seriously, Moore deserves some looks on the waiver wire after pacing the Panthers in last week’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens with 90 receiving yards on five catches and six target while seeing a season-high 46 snaps. He could be in line for another productive outing against in Week 9 against the Buccaneers’ pass defense that’s ranked second worst in the league.
6. Antonio Callaway – Cleveland Browns WR (11.3% owned in ESPN)
Callaway is behind Jarvis Landry and David Njoku in the Browns’ passing attack pecking order, but that hasn’t stopped him from producing against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week in which he had 36 receiving yards and a score on five catches and six targets. Callaway is also in a tasty matchup this weekend against the Chiefs’ leaky pass defense.
With the Browns ridding themselves of Hue Jackson and Todd Haley, the Browns’ offense could be in line to take off, which is obviously going to affect Callaway positively.
5. Derek Carr – Oakland Raiders QB (15.4% owned in ESPN)
2016 called. It wants Derek Carr back. That’s after Carr churned out a nostalgic performance, albeit in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, passing for 244 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions on 21-of-28 completions. And he did all that right in the very first game after the Raiders traded Amari Cooper away.
In addition, Carr also rushed for a touchdown to complete the day of the relatively few owners who decided to start him. That could be the signal for good things to come at least for Carr’s fantasy outlook.
4. Josh Doctson – Washington Redskins WR (18.5% owned in ESPN)
Doctson has seen no fewer than 82 percent of snaps in each of the Redskins’ last three games and last Sunday, he posted 49 receiving yards on five catches and five targets against the New York Giants. While he has yet to find the end zone this season, he could be due for a touchdown soon with Alex Smith increasing the attention he’s giving the former TCU Horned Frogs stud. Doctson has gotten 16 targets over the last three weeks.
3. DeVante Parker – Miami Dolphins WR (21.6% owned in ESPN)
Has Parker finally arrived? The former first-round pick has developed a habit of letting people who always hope for a breakout season from him down. It was a different story last week, though, when Parker took full advantage of the absences of Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson by leading the team with 134 receiving yards on six receptions and nine targets against the Houston Texans.
Given his talents, it’s foolish to think that that performance was a mere fluke. And in a thin receiving corps in Miami, Parker could have plenty of chances to show his combustible skills downfield on a weekly basis going forward.
2. Frank Gore – Miami Dolphins RB (24.3% owned in ESPN)
Gore isn’t an RB1, but he continues to get ample touches even with the presence of the much younger Kenyan Drake. Gore is even leading his team in carries and rushing yards with 84 and 385 respectively this season. Against the Texans, Gore equaled Drake’s carries with 12 and converted them into 53 rushing yards. He’s a solid pickup for Drake owners.
1. Jack Doyle – Indianapolis Colts TE (31.9% owned in ESPN)
The Colts threw a tight end touchdown party against the Raiders with Andrew Luck throwing a touchdown each to three tight ends. Of those three, it was Doyle who came away as the biggest winner, as he finished with 70 receiving yards on six catches and seven targets, four more than Eric Ebron. It’s a loud comeback for Doyle, who missed five weeks due to a hip injury.
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