One of the things that makes football so popular (in my humble opinion) is the brevity of its 16 game/week season (17 if you include bye weeks). Unlike the baseball, hockey and basketball seasons that go on forever and have roughly 1,000 games every year, football is over before you know it. In fact, we're already past the midpoint of the season and some teams are falling back while others pull ahead with hopes of sustaining their success into the playoffs. This also applies to fantasy football; most leagues are at or just past the midway point in most leagues – and it’s getting down to pecan-cutting time.

The Real Mister Fantasy (RMF) has you covered with some helpful and sometimes accurate advice for bye week or deep roster stashes. Below, I have a short list of "if they're on your league's waiver wire, go get them!" players. 

RUNNING BACKS

Tre Mason - he seemed poised to take over the starting RB job in St Louis ahead of Benny Cunningham and Zac Stacy, but in fact it appears that he's still part of a three-headed, running-back-by-committee (RBC) situation -- though I think Mason has the best chance to break out and take over the bulk of the duties.

 Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown - these guys have probably already been picked up in your league - but they're on bye this week and may still be available. Unfortunately, we don't know which of these Buffalo back-ups is starting though both will likely get work due to injuries to Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller. My money is on Brown as the one who'll get the most carries and is probably the better pick up long term.

Denard Robinson - the former Michigan QB has taken the starting job in the Jacksonville backfield. Could it be the Jaguars are ready to turn things around after their first win of the season? I kind of doubt it since they bested a beat-up Cleveland D before losing again to Miami last week. Regardless, someone's gotta run the ball for the Jags and right now Robinson's the man. He had a decent week against Miami's formidable defense last Sunday, so maybe he’s going to stick. The other RBs in Jacksonville are Toby Gerhart (who would only be a desperate, desperate, desperate bye week fill-in at best) and Storm Johnson (who should not be on anyone’s team … the storm has passed!)

Charles Sims - Tampa's third round pick this year should return from an ankle injury next week. If you have room on your bench, he's a sneaky stash for your team. He's good and the other Tampa Bay RBs have been very pedestrian at best - so his fresh legs may get a chance during the second half of the season.

Travaris Cadet runs the ball for New Orleans and may step into the void left by ailing backs Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson. Though Mark Ingram is likely to get the bulk of the carries, he's a deep-dive waiver stretch who has talent but is mired in the running-back-by-committee deployed by the Saints. If you're desperate and or have roster space, you might want to stash him.

Latavius Murray - besides having a cool gladiator name, he's by far the best running back on the Raiders. The bad news/good news is that, while he's a rookie, he's playing behind injury-prone Darren McFadden and "no gas in the tank" Maurice Jones-Drew. This is another "might be worth a stash" waiver wire flyer.

RECEIVERS

There are a couple of big injuries that have lingered over the last several weeks, particularly AJ Green from Cincinnati and Detroit's Calvin Johnson. The net effect for their teams has been a bit divergent. Green and his "hot outta the gate" Bengals have cooled off since AJ has been nursing a toe (that makes for a frightening mental image). Without AJ, the Bengals offense has become very beatable - to the point it negatively affects their star RB Giovani Bernard. Green better hurry back or his BFF ginger-haired QB and the rest of the team will miss the playoffs after a promising start to the season.

As for Johnson, his bum ankle has kept him out several weeks though he pledges to be back in Week 10. The Lions have been able to flourish without their superstar due to the emergence of their number two WR, Golden Tate, and a dominant D. BTW- Golden Tate named his daughter after himself; her name is also Golden Tate. She recently married a guy name James Bridge so her married name is Golden Tate Bridge.

Speaking of WRs on the waiver wire, take a look at Doug Baldwin from Seattle. Some experts thought, and were proven right last Sunday, that his value would increase after the surprising trade of his teammate Percy Harvin to the Jets. I believe that Percy is a great talent but, according to former Viking and Seahawk teammates, he's a bad seed. Since his departure, we’ve heard stories of locker room fights and his over-inflated self-worth. Enjoy New York, Percy - the fans are loud there, too, but it'll most likely be the boos that are loud if you don't perform. If Seattle's crowd is a 12th man, then New York's calloused fan base could be a 10th man.

Martavis Bryant - this former 4th round pick for the Steelers is coming on strong and if he’s on the waiver wire, I think he’s a great pick up. If Big Ben keeps up the pace he started last week, Martavis could pay dividends. Plus, he’s another guy with a cool gladiator name. (How is it these guys get cools names? Were they conceived while the folks were watching a rerun of the Russell Crowe flick?)

Davante Adams - over the last several weeks, he's cemented himself into the third wide receiver slot in Green Bay. That begs to question: When is it good to have a WR3 on your fantasy team? The answer: when you play in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers - a guy who will spread the ball around and provide opportunities even for a rookie WR like Davante.

QUARTERBACKS

Anyone else have QB heartburn? Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan are eating my esophagus alive. So where can one go for TUMS on the waiver wire? Try Ryan Tannehill - he's got an attractive wife and he's been playing well the last couple of weeks.

Take a hard look at the Redskins QBs as RGIII may be back by next week - and if he's not? Well, journeyman Colt McCoy who started in place of benched (and former FFL darling) Kirk Cousins beat my beloved Cowboys. Maybe Colt (a former Longhorn) can fill in for you this week. Remember: we’re bye week reaching here, but he is starting for a team with great receiving, running and tight end weapons.

 DEFENSE

Lastly, how’s about a defense from the waiver wire? Can you spell "Minnesota"? (Well, I couldn’t without spell check but ...) BUT, the Vikings' defense has been playing well as new head coah Mike Zimmer - formerly a defensive coordinator at many elite NFL teams - seems to have helped the them develop into a respectable unit. They face the Redskins in Minnesota this week with, as mentioned, Colt McCoy at QB … I have the Viking D in several leagues and I’m playing them with confidence.

OK! That's it with the Week 9 advice. Now: go win your game and good luck to all - unless you're playing me!