NFL Waiver Wire Workout: Week 9

For fantasy football advice based on film review every single weekday from now until 2017, listen to the Harris Football Podcast at www.HarrisFootball.com, which won the Fantasy Sports Writers Association podcast of the year award for 2015.

Because league formats vary, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to your waiver wire. That's why I break possible free agent adds into three categories, all of whom are available in fewer than one-third of Yahoo! leagues. Follow me on Twitter for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.

Charcandrick West, RB, KC (owned in 8% of Yahoo! leagues). As of this writing, Spencer Ware seems questionable after suffering a concussion in Week 8, and Jamaal Charles is seeking a second opinion after having side effects from his ACL surgery more than a year later. Short term, West appears to be the main game in town for the Chiefs. Fantasy squads that need a win in Week 9 should probably take the risk of adding him, despite the possibility that Ware will be OK to play against the Jaguars.

Tim Hightower, RB, NO (5% owned). Mark Ingram was benched for fumbling in his second straight game, and Hightower played well as the Saints' main back thereafter against the Seahawks Sunday. You should've already had Hightower handcuffed to Ingram, but if you didn't, go get him now. He's not a great pass catcher, nor does he have great quickness or acceleration, but he's a banger and holds on to the ball. He might be a permanent part of a New Orleans rotation now.

J.J. Nelson, WR, ARI (3% owned). Nelson has bypassed the struggling Michael Floyd in three-receiver sets, alongside Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown. You won't want to start Nelson as though you expect too many more two-TD games, because the Cardinals were getting stomped by the Panthers through most of their late-contest production. But Nelson's speed makes him the kind of big-play threat who can be a feast-or-famine WR3 for fantasy.

Antone Smith and Peyton Barber, RB, TB (1% and 7% owned, respectively). The Buccaneers play Thursday against the Falcons and probably won't have Doug Martin (hamstring) or Jacquizz Rodgers (foot) available. That makes a backfield platoon likely. Smith played more than Barber did Sunday against the Raiders, but Barber is 5'11" and 225 pounds while Smith is 5'9" and 192. My guess is that Smith gets first crack against his old Atlanta mates, but Barber will probably get chances, too.

Austin Hooper, TE, ATL (1% owned). Jacob Tamme will miss Thursday's game with a shoulder injury and the rookie Hooper will start in his place. The kid is green but played well in a subsidiary role in Sunday's win against the Packers. He'll certainly be in my top 20 tight ends for Week 9.

Chargers Defense (8% owned). Bet you expected me to pick the Cowboys because they face Cleveland! I think the Chargers D is playing better, they're at home, and while the Titans running game is solid, Tennessee's overall offense has been a decent source of fantasy points for opposing defenses via turnovers and big plays through most of the year.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still adds: None.

Alfred Blue, RB, HOU (15% owned). Lamar Miller's shoulder will probably get healthy over the Texans' bye, but after watching Blue play about as well as he can in Houston's past two games, it's possible Bill O'Brien decides the way to keep Miller upright is using his big-back complement more. Blue is at least starting to look like a decent handcuff.

Tyreek Hill, WR, KC (3% owned). Hill is teeny (he's listed at 5'10" and 185 pounds, and that's probably a lie) but he might also be the NFL's fastest player right now. A demon on special teams, Hill has four receiving touchdowns including one each in his past two games. He also made a big catch on an underthrown Nick Foles bomb Sunday (is there any other kind?). He could be a DeSean Jackson type soon.

C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, HOU (15% owned). Once again, I'll mention that the Texans are off in Week 9, but Fiedorowicz has become Brock Osweiler's check-down of choice, with at least seven targets in four straight games. He's probably not quite a top-ten fantasy tight end, but at that usage rate he's top 15.

Vernon Davis, TE, WAS (16% owned). Washington is also off in Week 9 and Jordan Reed has returned, but Davis played in two-tight-end sets Sunday against the Bengals and grabbed five passes for 93 yards. Maybe both Reed and Davis stay useful.

C.J. Prosise, RB, SEA (2% owned). Prosise played 23 snaps compared to 27 for Christine Michael in Week 8's loss in New Orleans, and had a long catch on a throw-back gadget play to set up Michael for a short score. Until and unless Thomas Rawls returns, Prosise looks like the team's hurry-up and receiving back.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still speculative adds: Colin Kaepernick, QB, SF (7%); Alfred Morris, RB, DAL (13%); Damien Williams, RB, MIA (1%); Zach Zenner, RB, DET (8%); Andre Ellington, RB, ARI (3%); Kenneth Dixon, RB, BAL (12%); Dion Lewis, RB, NE (33%); James Starks, RB, GB (6%); Ka'Deem Carey, RB, CHI (6%); Breshad Perriman, WR, BAL (2%); Anquan Boldin, WR, DET (30%); Chris Hogan, WR, NE (22%); Kendall Wright, WR, TEN (6%); Ladarius Green, TE, PIT (8%).

Kapri Bibbs, RB, DEN (7% owned). Devontae Booker is locked into the top spot in the Denver backfield for as long as he stays healthy. Bibbs is No. 2. In deeper leagues, that makes him an OK handcuff.

Seth Roberts, WR, OAK (2% owned). I've been wavering on whether to add Roberts to the list, because he has maxed out at four catches every game this season. But in that Raiders offense, being the No. 3 receiver means you can verge on double-digit targets in any given week.

Marqise Lee, WR, JAC (7% owned). I don't recommend Lee for standard-leaguers because he's the fourth or fifth receiving option on a truly execrable NFL offense. But he does have 30 catches this season, mostly out of the slot, so deep PPR players desperate for bye-week help could give him a look.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in deep leagues: Mike Davis, RB, SF (11%); Shaun Draughn, RB, SF (2%); DuJuan Harris, RB, SF (0%); DeAndre Washington, RB, OAK (24%); Jalen Richard, RB, OAK (15%); Don Jackson, RB, GB (5%); Bobby Rainey, RB, NYG (4%); Travaris Cadet, RB, NO (1%); Paul Perkins, RB, NYG (2%); Fozzy Whittaker, RB, CAR (8%); Kenneth Farrow, RB, SD (0%); Robert Woods, WR, BUF (14%); Kenny Stills, WR, MIA (7%); Russell Shepard, WR, TB (3%); Adam Thielen, WR, MIN (7%); Adam Humphries, WR, TB (18%); Brandon LaFell, WR, CIN (28%); Dontrelle Inman, WR, SD (2%); Robby Anderson, WR, NYJ (1%); Brian Quick, WR LA (7%); Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN (4%).

Want to read more stories like this from VICE Sports? Subscribe to our daily newsletter.