Week 9 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the players turning it on in time for the byes. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 9, so there are more than a few intriguing names on the waiver wire in leagues of all sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the names that may be worth some of your free agent budget.
Linebacker
Jack Sanborn (LB – CHI): 0%
Jack Sanborn got the start with Roquan Smith now a member of the Baltimore Ravens and responded with an excellent seven solo tackles against the Miami Dolphins. He played 88 percent of the snaps in Week 9 and should be locked into a similar role for the rest of the season. He is an LB3 for now but can enter the weekly LB2 conversation if he can show he can produce at a consistent level. Treat him as an LB3 option for a plus Week 10 matchup against a Detroit Lions team surrendering the 16th most fantasy points to the linebacker position.
Blake Martinez (LB – LV): 1%
Blake Martinez played 91 percent of the snaps in Week 9, seeing extra work due to Divine Deablo being ruled out early with a forearm injury. The former Pro Bowler responded with eight solos and three assists and likely forced his way into an expanded role, even when Deablo is healthy. However, with Deablo set to miss at least the next four weeks due to being placed on IR, Martinez becomes a must-add in leagues of all sizes. He is an LB3 for now but should push his way into the weekly LB2 and possibly even LB1 ranks in short order. Martinez has been an IDP stud when healthy and seeing regular snaps. Treat him as an LB2 option for Week 10, thanks to a tasty matchup against an Indianapolis Colts team gifting the second most fantasy points to the position.
Christian Harris (LB – HOU): 1%
Christian Harris played 88 percent of the snaps in Week 9, tallying five solos, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. Harris has been operating as the Texans top linebacker since Week 8 and should be viewed as an LB2 option going forward. He may be more inconsistent than most LB2’s due to having just three games under his belt, but he should start to flash his LB1 upside in short order. Treat him as an LB2 option despite a tough on-paper matchup against a New York Giants team surrendering the 24th most fantasy points per game to the position.
Kenneth Murray (LB – LAC): 1%
Kenneth Murray had a strong Week 9, posting five solos, one assist, and one tackle for loss. Murray has disappointed immensely since being drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft but has started to show some of the consistency that has eluded him for most of his career. He has recorded five or more solos in each of his last two games and is worth a look as an LB3 option for Week 10. Murray boasts LB2 upside for a plus matchup against a San Francisco 49ers team allowing the seventh most fantasy points per game to the position.
Zaven Collins (LB – ARI): 15%
Zaven Collins was excellent in Week 9, racking up four solos, three assists, one tackle for loss, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. Zaven has been inconsistent this season but remains an LB3 with LB2 upside by virtue of his every snap role. Treat him as a borderline LB2 for a tough on-paper matchup against a Los Angeles Rams team limiting the position to the third-fewest fantasy points per game.
Others to consider: Isaiah Simmons (LB – ARI): 15%, Ja’Whaun Bentley (LB – NE): 2%, Christian Kirksey (LB – HOU): 12%, Jamin Davis (LB – WAS): 3%, Ernest Jones (LB – LAR): 4%
Defensive Line
Javon Hargrave (DT – PHI): 3%
Javon Hargrave beasted on Thursday Night Football to the tune of six solos, one assist, three sacks, and three tackles for loss. He now has five sacks in his last two games and needs to be started universally as a DT1 option. Hargrave should be treated as a DT1/DL2 option for a plus Week 10 matchup against a Washington Commanders team relinquishing the third most fantasy points to the defensive tackle position. Add Hargrave wherever available.
Uchenna Nwosu (DE/LB – SEA): 3%
Nwosu was at it again in Week 9, tallying three solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. He is up to four sacks in his last two games and sits at seven sacks on the season, good for a tie for sixth in the league. He will get extra burn as long as Darrell Taylor is sidelined but was already leading the Seahawks edge defenders in snaps anyways. He does have the unfortunate LB-only designation at Yahoo but has DL eligibility on other providers. Treat him as a DL2 option for a tough on-paper Week 10 matchup against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team surrendering the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position.
Von Miller (DE/LB – BUF): 10%
Von Miller was at again in Week 9, recording two solos, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. He is tied for sixth in the league with seven sacks despite playing just over half of the snaps most weeks. Von has at least one sack in four of his last five games and needs to be rostered universally, even on Yahoo with their archaic LB-only designation for a player that has spent the whole season at defensive end. Treat him as a DL1/LB2 for a plus matchup against a Minnesota Vikings team allowing the 18th most fantasy points to the position.
Jerry Hughes (DE – HOU): 3%
Jerry Hughes is heating up for the Houston Texans. He posted four solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, narrowly missing a third. He has three sacks in his last two games and sits in a tie for sixth in the league with seven sacks. Hughes deserves some DL2 love for a plus Week 10 matchup against a New York Giants relinquishing the 12th most fantasy points per game to the position. Add and start him where possible.
Kwity Paye (DE – IND): 3%
Kwity Paye returned with a bang in Week 9, racking up seven solos, one assist, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Paye had been sidelined since Week 6 but jumped right back into his starter’s role, playing 73 percent of the snaps. Paye has already tied his rookie season sack mark of four and will be looking to push his way to double digits. Paye should be viewed as a low-end DL2 option for a tough on-paper Week 10 matchup against a Las Vegas Raiders team limiting the position to the fewest fantasy points per game. Add him wherever available.
Others to consider: Dawuane Smoot (DE – JAC): 0%, Zach Allen (DE/DT – ARI): 10%, Aidan Hutchinson (DE – DET): 8%, Jermaine Johnson (DE – NYJ): 0%, Josh Uche (DE/LB – NE): 0%
Defensive Back
Kerby Joseph (S – DET): 0%
Kerby Joseph went off in Week 9, racking up five solos, five assists, two interceptions, and three passes defended. He has finally started turning his every snap role into IDP production and is a strong DB2 option while he is cooking. Unfortunately, he left Week 9’s contest early with a concussion, so we may not know his Week 10 status until after the waiver claim period. With that said, the rookie has been playing at a high enough level to make a low-cost claim in the hopes he is ready to go for this weekend. Treat him as a DB3 option for a neutral Week 10 matchup against a Chicago Bears team allowing the 24th most fantasy points to the position.
Damar Hamlin (S – BUF): 12%
Damar had his best game of the season in Week 9, racking up eight solos, four assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. He has been doing his best Micah Hyde impression all season and has firmly entered the DB2 ranks with his latest performance. Damar has recorded six or more solos in four of his last five games and is proving to be one of the more consistent tacklers at the position. Treat him as a DB2 option for a neutral Week 10 matchup against a Minnesota Vikings team surrendering the 19th most fantasy points to the position. Make the add if you happen to be in one of the leagues where he is somehow still available.
Kamren Curl (S – WAS): 4%
Kamren racked up eight solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss against the Minnesota Vikings, continuing to prove to be one of the safest DB2 options out there. He has not quite performed like the DB1 option many hoped he would be but maintains top-12 upside every week, especially when he gets plus matchups like this week. Treat him as an elite DB2 option for a plus Week 10 matchup against a Philadelphia Eagles team relinquishing the fifth most fantasy points to the position.
Jalen Pitre (S – HOU): 13%
Jalen Pitre continues to ball but is still not getting the IDP love he deserves. Still available in far too many leagues, Pitre needs to be rostered in all competitive formats. Pitre is the DB8/S6 on the season and needs to start being viewed as the weekly DB1 option that he has proven to be. He is just that for a plus Week 10 matchup against a New York Giants team surrendering the 13th most fantasy points to the position. Pitre needs to be rostered and started in all competitive formats.
Eric Rowe (S – MIA): 0%
Eric Rowe returned from being a surprise Week 8 inactive to play 77 percent of the Week 9 snaps. He should get plenty of burn with Brandon Jones lost for the season, and looks like the favorite for the box role over Jevon Holland going forward. The role in itself gives Rowe DB2 value, and if he can start to show some consistency, he could enter the DB1 conversation. Rowe recorded six solos and one assist in Week 9 and should continue to post solid IDP numbers for the rest of the season. Treat him as a DB2 option for a tasty Week 10 matchup against a Cleveland Browns team gifting the fourth most fantasy points per game to the position.
Others to consider: Jordan Whitehead (DB – NYJ): 1%, Keanu Neal (S – TB): 3%, Duron Harmon (S – LV): 0%, Taylor Rapp (S – LAR): 2%, Johnathan Abram (S – LV): 3%
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.
