Week 9 QB/TE Waiver Wire Targets: Bo Nix, Cade Otton, Matthew Stafford, Mike Gesicki, Jameis Winston and More

Week 8 of the NFL season is nearly over, which means it’s time to get those week 9 waiver pickups identified.

Here, we’ll take a look at quarterbacks and tight ends maybe worth adding.

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Quarterback Options

Bo Nix, Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Jameis Winston and Justin Herbert are the five quarterbacks I want to discuss this week.

Nix was good again in week 8, completing 28 of his 37 passes for 284 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He added a rushing touchdown and four yards on five attempts.

That’s now a month straight of average or better fantasy performances for the rookie quarterback. He’s still prone to some down showings, but after delivering week after week, he’s one of the better fantasy streaming options among quarterbacks.

Cousins lit up the Buccaneers for a second time this season. He threw for 276 yards, four touchdowns and no picks on 23-of-29 passing.

Cousins has at least 225 passing yards in all but one game this season. He’s thrown multiple touchdowns in three games, and eight of his 14 touchdowns this season have come against the Bucs.

Stafford got Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp back in week 8, and immediately was a good fantasy performer again. He had 279 passing yards, four touchdowns and one interception on 25-of-34 passing.

It’s been a struggle without those two receivers this season for Stafford, but with both back in the lineup, Stafford is back to being a good streaming option for fantasy teams. He’s a much safer fantasy option now with the wideouts back.

Winston got his first start in week 8. All he did was throw for 334 yards and three touchdowns to help the Browns upset the Ravens. Winston was 27-of-41 passing, with no interceptions and one fumble.

Winston instantly made the Browns’ offense look good, but it’s worth mentioning that the Ravens’ defense has been torched all season. Still, the big-play nature of Winston mixed with a lot of likely trailing situations means the QB could be a good fantasy option moving forward.

Herbert was 20-of-32 passing for 279 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in week 8. He added 49 rushing yards on four attempts.

Herbert has quietly thrown for 230 or more yards (in each game), three touchdowns and no picks over the past three games. It could be a result of being past an early-season injury, or just getting accustomed to the new offense, but Herbert is starting to deliver good fantasy results.

Now it’s time to rank these five quarterbacks in terms of the best streaming options for week 9, and then for the rest of the season.

Nix takes on the Ravens in week 9. That’s a very favorable matchup for the rookie quarterback.

Herbert and Winston face off this coming week. It’s a slightly more favorable matchup for Herbert, as the Chargers are one of the more stout pass defenses in the league.

Stafford takes on the Seahawks. That sets up as a pretty average matchup for Stafford.

Cousins goes up against the Cowboys. Dallas is one of the worst defenses when it comes to slowing opposing QBs.

I like Cousins the most for a streaming option in week 9. He’s played pretty well of late and has a great matchup ahead. This game has high-scoring shootout written all over it.

I’d take Stafford after that. I really liked Stafford coming into the season, and I think he’s back to delivering good fantasy scores with Nacua and Kupp back. The average matchup makes him a safe play.

I’d roll with Nix next. His matchup is fantastic, but I’m not quite ready to take the rookie over veterans like Cousins and Stafford.

I’d take Herbert next, which leaves Winston for the last spot. I just haven’t seen enough from Herbert to take him any higher, and the matchup is just average. The matchup scares me off Winston - he still might pass enough to be a good fantasy performer, and I bet he’ll make the big quarterback start decision story I do later in the week, so check back for that.

For the rest of the season rankings, I also like Cousins the best. He’s got plenty of playmakers around him, and a pretty favorable schedule should lead to more big fantasy showings, even if they don’t happen every single week.

Give me Stafford after that. As long as he’s got Nacua and Kupp around, Stafford is another quarterback I’d keep and play throughout the remainder of the season.

I have Herbert ever so slightly ahead of Nix for the remainder of the season. They have similar schedules, but I just think the Chargers have a better chance to support a fantasy quarterback.

That leaves Winston for the last spot. I love what Winston brings to Cleveland, but I’m worried that defenses will adjust and life will get much tougher for Winston. His schedule is also pretty difficult.

Tight End Options

Cade Otton, Adam Trautman, Tyler Conklin, Mike Gesicki and Brenton Strange are the tight ends I’m going to discuss this week.

In the team’s first game without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, Otton went off for 81 yards and two scores on nine catches and 10 targets.

It’s the second straight monster performance for Otton, who really has delivered solid fantasy results for the past six weeks. I think he needs to be starting until Evans returns, and Otton might remain a good option even when he’s back.

Trautman had 85 yards and a touchdown on four receptions and targets in Denver’s win.

Trautman only had two catches on six targets across his first seven games of the season, so this performance definitely came out of nowhere. He got three targets last week, so fantasy owners are wondering if Trautman is going to be a bigger part of the offense going forward.

Conklin had 42 yards and a touchdown on three receptions and four targets this week. It was his second straight week with a touchdown.

It was just his third game over 40 yards this season. He’s had three or four targets in each of the past three games.

Gesicki went for 73 yards on seven catches and eight targets in week 8.

Gesicki had a couple solid games in weeks 2 and 3, but had just 24 yards on four catches and targets over the past four contests leading up to week 8.

Strange has been pretty anonymous with Evan Engram back in the lineup, but Strange went for 59 yards on five catches and targets this past week.

Another thing working in Strange’s favor is that Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. are both dealing with injuries, opening opportunities in the passing game. Kirk is out for the season with a broken collarbone, while Thomas could miss week 9.

In week 9, Trautman goes up against the Ravens. It’s a pretty favorable matchup for Trautman.

Gesicki takes on the Raiders this coming week. It’s a pretty average matchup for Gesicki.

Strange faces off against the Eagles in week 9. That’s as tough a matchup a tight end could face.

Otton and the Bucs play the Chiefs next Monday night. Kansas City sets up as a very favorable matchup for Otton.

Conklin plays Thursday against the Texans. It’s another tough matchup.

For week 9 streaming, I like Otton the best of the bunch. He’s been trending up and has a great matchup, so this is a no brainer to me.

I like Gesicki after that, followed by Conklin. It’d be flipped if the matchups were different, and both of these guys are more deep-league options than standard league ones.

I’d give Trautman the slight edge over Strange, although I’d want to start Strange if Thomas doesn’t play for the Jaguars.

For the best options for the rest of the season, Otton is also the obvious top choice. I think he’ll be a big part of the Bucs’ offense every game, and the return of Evans won’t alter things too much.

I’d take Conklin in the second spot, followed by Gesicki. Each offense has a couple big-time receivers, but I think the Jets will be playing from behind more going forward (and thus passing more), and that’s where Conklin gets the edge.

I like Trautman every so slightly over Strange. Trautman seems to be coming on in his offense, while Strange’s fantasy production is based more on which of his teammates will or won’t play. It’s close, but I think Trautman has a slightly better outlook.