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Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Post-waiver wire fantasy football pickups for Week 9

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 11/1/23

Didn’t get that Week 9 waiver pickup you wanted? Don’t get your (Will) Levis in a bunch. These undervalued players are still available in most leagues.

QB: Sam Howell (Washington Commanders)

Howell led all quarterbacks with 31.98 fantasy points in Week 8. In a loss to Philadelphia, Washington’s second-year QB completed 39 of 52 passes for 397 yards and four touchdowns. It was the best performance of his career. So why is he still available in so many leagues?

This year, Howell has more fantasy points than quarterbacks like Jared Goff, Trevor Lawrence and Dak Prescott. Are people still afraid of the Patriots defense? They shouldn’t be.

The Patriots are giving up the sixth-most points in the NFL, and with top receiver Kendrick Bourne done for the season, New England could have trouble sustaining drives against the Commanders.

Opportunity is everything in fantasy football. Now that Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins is on the shelf, Howell is the active leader with 308 pass attempts. You should attempt to get him on your roster.

Howell is available in 43% of Yahoo leagues.

RB: Pierre Strong (Cleveland Browns)

So much depends on the health of running back Jerome Ford, but Strong played a season-high 24 snaps last week. The second-year back had 10 carries for 41 yards against the Seahawks and one catch for another 41 yards.

STRONG catch and run from Pierre for 41!!#CLEvsSEA on FOX & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/kmaAX9beK1
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 29, 2023

The Browns seem more confident in Strong these days. They’ve even put him out at wide receiver at times. This week he’ll face the Arizona Cardinals who allow 27.65 fantasy points per game to running backs, third most in the league.

Strong is available in 46% of Yahoo leagues.

WR: Jahan Dotson (Washington Commanders)

Like his quarterback, Dotson had the best game of his professional career with eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. His 24.8 fantasy points were seventh most among wide receivers in Week 8.

The second-year speedster has seen 18 targets over his last two games, which makes him worth a look against a Patriots team that just gave up 100 yard games to Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Dotson is available in 40% of Yahoo leagues.

TE: Taysom Hill (New Orleans Saints)

Hill could be the most frustrating player in fantasy football. After averaging 3.6 fantasy points in his first five games, Hill had double-digit points in each of his last three games. He saw only one target last week, but he finished the day with 22.46 fantasy points by running for 63 yards and two scores. Next he’ll get a Bears team giving up 13.25 fantasy points to tight ends per week.

Hill is available in 41% of Yahoo leagues.

DST: New York Giants

The Raiders were bad on Monday night that they fired their head coach and GM the next day. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has played his last game in silver and black as the team plans to start fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell moving forward. If New York can’t handle the Raiders, members of the Giants should start working on their resumes.

The Giants defense is available in 90% of Yahoo leagues.

K: Matt Gay (Indianapolis Colts)

Gay’s 73 fantasy points are fifth most among active kickers. He averaged nine fantasy points per game last month and has yet to miss an extra point. The Colts should move the ball against the Panthers defense, with lots of kicks for Gay.

Gay is available in 69% of Yahoo leagues.

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