Week 9 Upgrades, Downgrades, and Waiver Wire Wonders

Photo: Geoff Burke, USA Today Sports

The number in red next to a waiver wire gem indicated the percentage of a "blind bid" budget used in some leagues to award free agent pickups. If your league does not use blind bid waivers, consider the number a way to rank the quality of waiver wire additions.

Quarterback Upgrade

1. QB Sam Howell, WAS (waiver wire: 10-20%)
2. QB Joe Burrow, CIN
3. QB Derek Carr, NO (waiver wire: 3-5%)
4. QB Daniel Jones, NYG (waiver wire: 3-5%)
5. QB Taylor Heinicke, ATL (waiver wire: 1%)
6. QB Will Levis, TEN (waiver wire: 1%)
7. QB Tua Tagovailoa, MIA
8. QB Jaren Hall, MIN (waiver wire: 1% in very deep/2QB/Superflex)
9. QB Brett Rypien, LAR (waiver wire: 1% in very deep/2QB/Superflex)
10. QB Mitch Trubisky, PIT (waiver wire: 1% in very deep/2QB/Superflex)

Quarterback Downgrade

1. QB Kirk Cousins, MIN (waiver wire: DROP)
2. QB Matthew Stafford, LAR (waiver wire: DROP FOR 5-10% OR HIGHER)
3. QB Tyrod Taylor, NYG (waiver wire: DROP)
4. QB Desmond Ridder, ATL (waiver wire: DROP FOR 3-5% OR HIGHER)
5. QB Kenny Pickett, PIT (waiver wire: DROP)
6. QB C.J. Stroud, HOU (waiver wire: HOLD)

Running Back Upgrade

1. RB Zach Charbonnet, SEA (waiver wire: 15-30%)
2. RB Javonte Williams, DEN
3. RB Emari Demercado, ARI (waiver wire: 5-10%)
4. RB Gus Edwards, BAL
5. RB Leonard Fournette, BUF (waiver wire: 5-10%)
6. RB Derrick Henry, TEN
7. RB Chuba Hubbard, CAR
8. RB Joe Mixon, CIN
9. RB Austin Ekeler, LAC
10. RB Rachaad White, TB

Running Back Downgrade

1. RB Miles Sanders, CAR (waiver wire: DROP FOR 5-10% OR HIGHER)
2. RB D'Onta Foreman, CHI (waiver wire: DROP FOR 5-10% OR HIGHER)
3. RB Jordan Mason, SF (waiver wire: DROP)
4. RB Dameon Pierce, HOU (waiver wire: DROP FOR 15-30% OR HIGHER)
5. RB Roschon Johnson, CHI (waiver wire: DROP FOR 5-10% OR HIGHER)
6. RB Aaron Jones, GB
7. RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (waiver wire: DROP FOR 15-30% OR HIGHER)
8. RB Tony Pollard, DAL
9. RB Devin Singletary, HOU (waiver wire: DROP FOR 20-40% OR HIGHER)
10. RB Rhamondre Stevenson, NE
11. RB Jeff Wilson Jr., MIA (waiver wire: DROP FOR 5-10% OR HIGHER)

Wide Receiver Upgrade

1. WR Jahan Dotson, WAS (waiver wire: 25-50%)
2. WR Demario Douglas, NE (waiver wire: 20-40%)
3. WR Rashid Shaheed, NO (waiver wire: 15-30%)
4. WR CeeDee Lamb, DAL
5. WR DeAndre Hopkins, TEN
6. WR Quentin Johnston, LAC (waiver wire: 5-10%)
7. WR Khalil Shakir, BUF (waiver wire: 5-10%)
8. WR DeVonta Smith, PHI
9. WR Jaylen Waddle, MIA
10. WR Amari Cooper, CLE
11. WR Gabe Davis, BUF
12. WR Calvin Ridley, JAX
13. WR Jamison Crowder, WAS (waiver wire: 1%)

Wide Receiver Downgrade

1. WR Kendrick Bourne, NE (waiver wire: DROP)
2. WR Jordan Addison, MIN
3. WR Justin Jefferson, MIN
4. WR K.J. Osborn, MIN (waiver wire: DROP FOR 5-10% OR HIGHER)
5. WR Nico Collins, HOU
6. WR Tank Dell, HOU (waiver wire: DROP FOR 15-30% OR HIGHER)
7. WR Cooper Kupp, LAR
8. WR Puka Nacua, LAR
9. WR Joshua Palmer, LAC (waiver wire: DROP FOR 25-50% OR HIGHER)
10. WR Drake London, ATL
11. WR Christian Watson, GB (waiver wire: HOLD)
12. WR George Pickens, PIT

Tight End Upgrade

1. TE Trey McBride, ARI (waiver wire: 25-50%)
2. TE Taysom Hill, NO (waiver wire: 10-20%)
3. TE Logan Thomas, WAS (waiver wire: 10-20%)
4. TE Jake Ferguson, DAL (waiver wire: 5-10%)
5. TE Dalton Kincaid, BUF
6. TE George Kittle, SF
7. TE Cole Kmet, CHI
8. TE Donald Parham Jr., LAC (waiver wire: 5-10%)
9. TE David Njoku, CLE
10. TE Evan Engram, JAX

Tight End Downgrade

1. TE Darren Waller, NYG
2. TE T.J. Hockenson, MIN
3. TE Kyle Pitts, ATL
4. TE Dalton Schultz, HOU (waiver wire: DROP FOR 5-10% OR HIGHER)

Quarterback Upgrade