Gardner Minshew, Mark Walton among top fantasy football free-agent finds for Week 9

You remember that moment in your draft when you happen to catch a glimpse of the “bye” column of your roster, only to see that several of your starters share a bye week? We’ve all been there. I almost always remind myself at that time: The team you draft is only a starting point, not a finished product. Don’t get too caught up in bye weeks at the time. We all go through them.

So, if you’re staring at the upcoming three weeks and realizing that 14 teams will have a bye while wondering how your roster will make it through, just remember that your opponent is most likely in a similar spot. We’re all juggling roster spots and lineup decisions over the next few weeks. Which is why the waiver wire could be as important now as at any point during the season.

My goal? Provide you with the names you need to know!

Without further ado, here is the Week 9 ESPN Fantasy waiver wire column.

Note: Players mentioned in this column are available in at least 50% of leagues on ESPN.com.

Teams on a bye: Bengals, Falcons, Rams, Saints

Gardner Minshew II, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (49.5%)

This guy has been a regular participant in this column, though he should have long crossed the threshold of waiver wire column eligibility. He’s now scored at least 16 fantasy points in all but one game this season, including the season opener in which he came off the bench. Minshew is wildly impressive, the Jaguars have a good young receiver group and he just keeps on producing.

Mark Walton, RB, Miami Dolphins (11.6%)

The first run of this column is up prior to Monday Night Football, when Walton and the Dolphins face off against the Steelers. With Kenyan Drake now traded to Arizona, it stands to reason as the next man up in the Dolphins backfield. While it’s not a great offense by any stretch, Walton has impressed of late and has a chance to hold onto the starting role going forward. We’ll update this pending his Monday night performance.

Josh Reynolds, WR, Los Angeles Rams (0.2%)

Brandin Cooks suffered his second concussion of the 2019 season in Week 8, which led to Reynolds playing a key role in the Rams’ offense in Week 8. He found the end zone on a 33-yard touchdown catch and would be the presumptive starter in place of Cooks if he is unable to return when the team is off its bye and playing again in Week 10. It’s uncommon to call a wide receiver a handcuff, but given LA’s reliance on three receivers (no team has had three or more receivers on the field on a higher percentage of dropbacks than the Rams this season), Reynolds is excellent insurance.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, New York Jets (5.1%)

Over his last four games, Thomas has now seen 27 targets and has averaged four catches per outing. The Jets continue to find themselves in needing-to-pass situations, which should bode well for Thomas going forward. He’s a deeper league consideration and if — if — the Jets can take advantage of a favorable upcoming schedule, this passing offense should look far better.

Auden Tate, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (34.4%)

The targets just keep on piling up for Tate, who had 13 in Week 8 and is now up to 52 over the past six weeks. While I do wonder how A.J. Green’s eventual return could impact Tate’s role, it would behoove Cincy to keep developing him. He’s good for what feels like one highlight-reel catch — at minimum — per week. He’s a fun player to watch.

Alex Erickson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (1.9%)

As the Bengals head into their bye, Erickson is a name to have on the forward-thinking radar. He has three straight games with at least six targets and is coming off back-to-back games with at least 15 fantasy points. Like the aforementioned Tate, it’s hard to tell how much A.J. Green’s return would impact Erickson’s role, but given how much the Bengals have to throw the football, targets should remain plentiful.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans

Due to quarterbacks on a bye and injuries, the need to fill-in this week is amplified. Along those lines, Tannehill is a name to consider. He has posted consecutive games with 19+ fantasy points since taking over as the Titans starter, injecting life into the passing game along the way. He’s a deeper league consideration as a streamer or bye week fill-in.

Tight-end roulette

We’ve done this before in the column, highlighting a series of tight ends in one section. Tight ends are a difficult position to rely upon in fantasy football, as there is not a plethora of high-upside options. Some names to consider:

Chris Herndon, New York Jets (25.4%)

While he has yet to play this season, we remain bullish on Herndon’s ability. The second-year pro should be a full-time player for the Jets upon his return from a hamstring injury.

Darren Fells, Houston Texas (12.5%)

With double-digit scoring in four of his past six games, Fells has put himself on the fantasy radar. He’s a massive target in an offense catalyzed by a top-tier quarterback.

Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans (0.5%)

With Delanie Walker out on Sunday, Smith stepped into a near full-time role within the Titans’ offense. His day went well, as he managed six catches, 73 yards and a touchdown. Should Walker miss another game in Week 9, Smith profiles as a possible top 12 option at the position.

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (24.5%)

He’s essentially a co-starter with Zach Ertz now, as Goedert has scored in two of his last three games and has 17 targets over that stretch. He’s a terrific red zone option too, given his size.