Fantasy Football Week 9: Add and Drop

U-T fantasy guru Eddie Brown has the latest on who to add and drop this week.

Oct. 31, 2017 11 AM PT

Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.

Here’s my best bets for Week 9:

ADD

QB Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 3%): This is a speculative add, obviously. Kyle Shanahan will certainly want to see what he has before they decide to commit a ridiculous sum of money. There are matchups on the schedule where Garoppolo could be a solid streaming option during your stretch run.

RB Kenyan Drake, Dolphins (ESPN: 0.4%; Yahoo: 3%): Drake is a very talented running back, and I expect very little drop off for Miami, if any — not that Jay Ajayi was lighting the world on fire.

RB Alfred Morris, Cowboys (ESPN: 30%; Yahoo: 40%): How are Morris and Darren McFadden (owned in 35 percent of ESPN leagues and 37 percent of Yahoo leagues) not already owned in many more leagues? I favor Morris over McFadden, but expect McFadden to be heavily involved in the passing game.

WR Paul Richardson, Seahawks (ESPN: 10%; Yahoo: 33%): I don’t expect Seattle to develop a running game at this point of the season, and Richardson has proven himself a solid No. 2 wideout for Russell Wilson, catching three touchdowns over the past two weeks. Also, with Doug Baldwin likely drawing the attention of Josh Norman and Patrick Peterson the next two weeks, Richardson may be in line for even a bigger role.

WR Dede Westbrook, Jaguars (ESPN: 2%, Yahoo: 11%): Westbrook is the best wide receiver on Jacksonville’s roster and he’s officially back on the practice field, eligible to return this week. He’ll start as a No. 3 wide receiver, but it won’t be long before he’s earned a bigger slice of the pie, even in this run oriented offense.

BONUS: TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 10%): Fiedorowicz is ready to return off injured reserve after dealing with concussion issues. His replacement Ryan Griffin wasn’t anything special and this offense has become a fantasy gold mine.

BONUS: WR Robby Anderson, Jets (ESPN: 27%; Yahoo: 29%): Anderson has scored or topped 75 yards in each of his last three games and four of his last six overall.

DROP

WR Martavis Bryant, Steelers: The fact JuJu Smith-Schuster is still owned in fewer leagues than Bryant baffles me. Sixty percent of owners are officially wasting their time with the talented, but embattled receiver. I can see plenty of healthy scratches in Bryant’s immediate future.

QB Andrew Luck, Colts: The earliest he’s back is Thanksgiving, apparently. Frankly, why would Indianapolis play Luck at this point?

RB Chris Ivory, Jaguars: It was fun while it lasted, but Leonard Fournette is back from his break and unless he’s on your roster, Ivory definitely shouldn’t be.

WR Willie Snead, Saints: Snead was inactive Week 7 and only played four snaps Week 8 against Chicago.

RB Wendell Smallwood, Eagles: I’m not ready to drop LeGarrette Blount after the Jay Ajayi trade, but I can’t imagine Smallwood having a significant role going forward.

ProFootballDoc