Plugging the Gaps: IDP Waiver Wire for Week 9

D.J. Hayden, Cornerback

I repeat this every time I recommend a cornerback in this column, but you want to avoid starting cornerbacks indiscriminately. Cornerbacks either play on one receiver, or one zone, and therefore their fantasy fortunes are at the whims of opposing quarterbacks. Fortunately for us, D.J. Hayden is getting targeted all over the place this year. The Oakland cornerback has the fifth-highest target count among cornerbacks this season, and this is reflected in his 19th-best scoring total among cornerbacks this year.

This week, Hayden and the Raiders get to tackle the Pittsburgh Steelers and the resurgent Ben Roethlisberger. This offense just lost the heart and soul of its rushing attack with Le’Veon Bell going down in Week 8 with an MCL tear, and it seems that they will emphasize the passing attack against Oakland’s lackluster secondary.

Hayden is available in 94.8% of ESPN IDP leagues. We project him for around 5.5 tackles, a chance for an interception, a great chance for a pass defensed, and a total score of 7.23 balanced fantasy points in Week 9.