NFL Waiver Wire Week 9: Top Selections and Pickups to Target

There was a point on Sunday when it looked as though Week 9 waivers would be a fairly miserable exercise. Then Las Vegas changed its backfield, Arizona lost two running backs in the same game, and several receivers made a case for more work. There are players worth adding, although the gap between a useful pickup and an expensive mistake is particularly wide this week.

The first question is whether a player’s opportunity has actually changed. Mike Washington Jr. appears to have earned a different job; Tyler Allgeier may have inherited one, at least temporarily. Elsewhere, there are useful receivers to pick up, but very few I would trust to go straight into a starting lineup without checking the matchup and the alternatives.

The statistical analysis draws on the Fantasy Points Data Suite and the Week 8 usage reports. Rostership figures are Yahoo league snapshots, and my FAAB recommendations are percentages of an original $100 budget for a competitive 12-team half-PPR league. Pittsburgh and Tennessee are on bye in Week 9, while injury news and the 10 November NFL trade deadline could change these recommendations. Especially with a rumoured Jadarian Price, Jonathan Taylor trade in the apparent works.

Quarterbacks

Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins

Yahoo rostered: 20% | My FAAB: 2–3% | Week 9: Detroit

Willis was disappointing against New England, completing 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. More concerning was the disappearance of his rushing production: he carried once for two yards after entering Week 8 averaging more than 37 rushing yards per game. That’s a substantial part of his fantasy appeal, and he cannot afford to lose it in an offence that isn’t going to give him enormous passing volume.

The schedule is why I’m willing to give him another chance. Detroit and Indianapolis are the next two opponents, so Willis offers a plausible two-week solution for managers streaming the position. He is my preferred quarterback pickup this week, but he’s a matchup play rather than somebody I would regard as a settled starter.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Yahoo rostered: 36% | My FAAB: 0–2% | Week 9: Arizona

Darnold managed 257 passing yards and a touchdown against Kansas City, but hasn’t reached 16 fantasy points in any of his four games since his big Week 3 return. Seattle’s passing attack still runs through Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which gives Darnold a dependable route to yardage even when the wider offence isn’t particularly convincing. The problem has been turning that yardage into enough touchdowns to justify a regular fantasy start.

Arizona and Las Vegas make the next fortnight a sensible time to consider him, especially if you’re replacing a quarterback on bye or dealing with an injury. I prefer Willis for the rushing ceiling, but Darnold is perfectly serviceable if you would rather take the conventional passing route.

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Yahoo rostered: 0% | My FAAB: 0–2% | Week 9: Dallas

Daniel Jones was benched during Indianapolis’ heavy defeat to Jacksonville, reopening a quarterback situation that had appeared closed. Richardson is still a difficult player to trust as an NFL passer, but fantasy football has always rewarded his ability to run. A genuine starting opportunity would immediately make him relevant in Superflex leagues, even if the Colts’ offence remains a considerable problem.

This is a speculative addition until the team names its starter. He’s worth reserving a bench place for in two-quarterback formats, while managers in ordinary one-QB leagues can afford to wait for confirmation rather than bidding against the possibility of a job he may not get.

Running Backs

Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders

Yahoo rostered: 27% | My FAAB: 8-10% | Week 9: San Francisco

The most significant waiver development of Week 8 might have come in a game where Washington scored fewer than nine fantasy points. The rookie carried 25 times for 83 yards against the Jets and played 60% of the offensive snaps. Ashton Jeanty managed only two carries, with three receptions for 64 yards providing most of his production. That is an extraordinary reversal for a backfield that began the season with Jeanty expected to dominate the work.

Washington didn’t see a target, and that matters in half-PPR leagues. San Francisco, Seattle and Denver are also awkward matchups for an early-down runner who may need volume and a touchdown to pay off. Nevertheless, a possible lead back appearing on waivers in November demands attention, particularly when the role could extend beyond a single injury replacement. I would spend aggressively if I needed a running back, while keeping enough money back in case Jeanty’s role changes again.

Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals

Yahoo rostered: 52% | My FAAB: 5–8% | Week 9: Seattle

Allgeier’s 147 rushing yards, 44 receiving yards and two touchdowns against Dallas were excellent, but they don’t tell the full story. Jeremiyah Love started the game ahead of him before aggravating his ankle, and Bam Knight subsequently left with a concussion. Allgeier was the last healthy option available and took full advantage, rather than winning a backfield competition outright.

That distinction will matter when the injury reports arrive. If Love and Knight both miss Week 9, Allgeier is a volume-based flex with RB2 upside despite the difficult Seattle matchup. If either returns, his workload could become much less attractive, and the Rams and Chiefs offer little relief over the following two weeks. He is worth a strong claim where available, but I’d rather know the injury situation before paying for another 190-yard performance.

Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers

Yahoo rostered: 31% | My FAAB: 4–6% | Week 9: Las Vegas

Black is the sort of bench player I want on my roster before the rest of the league needs him. When Christian McCaffrey briefly left against Atlanta in Week 7, Black turned 12 carries into 63 yards and a touchdown. The Fantasy Points Data Suite credits him with a 57.9% rushing success rate this season, and the early indications suggest he can handle meaningful work in Kyle Shanahan’s running game.

The limitation is obvious: McCaffrey remains the starter, and Black hasn’t demonstrated much receiving value. But there are very few available backs with a clearer route to a major workload if the player ahead of them misses time. He’s a particularly important addition for McCaffrey managers, and a worthwhile stash for everybody else who can spare a bench spot.

Seth McGowan, Indianapolis Colts

Yahoo rostered: 31% | My FAAB: 3–5% | Week 9: Dallas

The appeal here is the approaching trade deadline, not anything McGowan has done to displace Jonathan Taylor. The rookie had a season-high 11 carries and played 33% of the snaps against Jacksonville, but Taylor remains the lead back. Indianapolis has already started moving established players, and a Taylor trade would leave McGowan in pole position for the carries ahead of D.J. Giddens.

There’s a reasonable chance he could become a usable fantasy back before the month is out, although that is far from guaranteed. The Colts are struggling and their offensive line has weakened, so even a substantial role would not automatically mean substantial production. I prefer taking the chance now with a modest bid to joining an expensive bidding war if the trade actually happens.

Devin Singletary, New York Giants

Yahoo rostered: 4% | My FAAB: 1–2% | Week 9: Philadelphia

Tyrone Tracy is on injured reserve, leaving Singletary as the most established alternative to Cam Skattebo. In Week 7 he produced 41 rushing yards and a touchdown on five carries, while adding three catches for 14 yards. Skattebo remains the better bet to lead the backfield, but his recent hamstring issue and earlier ball-security problems leave some room for a change in workload.

Singletary isn’t an exciting pickup, and there is a possibility New York adds another back before the deadline. He’s a practical depth option for managers trying to cover an injury or bye, especially in deeper leagues where even a dozen touches can be useful. I would not sacrifice a promising receiver or premium handcuff to acquire him.

Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs

Yahoo rostered: 19% | My FAAB: 2–4% | Week 9: New York Jets

Johnson’s five catches for 128 yards and a touchdown against Denver will understandably attract attention, particularly with one long reception accounting for much of the damage. The more important detail is that Kenneth Walker remains comfortably ahead of him. Johnson produced that entire fantasy score while playing roughly a dozen offensive snaps, which is not a weekly workload anybody can sensibly project forward.

That does not make him a bad pickup; it makes him a handcuff rather than a new starter. If Walker misses time, Johnson has a route to a valuable job in an offence that can create scoring chances. I’d rather pay a small amount for that possibility than chase the receiving yardage from a performance that is unlikely to repeat in its current form.

Wide Receivers

Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys

Yahoo rostered: 34% | My FAAB: 3–5% | Week 9: Indianapolis

Flournoy has reached double-digit PPR points in four straight games and caught another touchdown against Arizona, finishing with three catches for 38 yards on four targets. He played 68% of the offensive snaps and is maintaining a useful role alongside CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. With Pickens managing shoulder and hamstring issues, and Jake Ferguson leaving Week 8 injured, Flournoy has several possible routes to extra opportunities.

He isn’t suddenly a target hog, which is why I wouldn’t treat him as an automatic starter. His value comes from playing meaningful snaps in a productive offence, with additional upside if one of the two starting receivers misses time. Indianapolis is a favourable opponent for slot production, making Flournoy one of the better immediate receiver additions this week.

Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets

Yahoo rostered: 11% | My FAAB: 3–5% | Week 9: Kansas City

Mitchell’s return to a full workload was impossible to miss. He caught seven of nine targets for 142 yards and a touchdown against Las Vegas, demonstrating the downfield ability that makes him such an interesting receiver. He also accounted for 28% of the Jets’ targets, an encouraging figure for a player who had barely featured on his return from injury the previous week.

The problem is that Omar Cooper Jr., who had consecutive 100-yard games before Sunday, received no targets despite running a similar number of routes. Garrett Wilson remains the top option, and this passing game is unlikely to support three consistently productive fantasy receivers. Mitchell is worth rostering for his talent and potential ceiling, but anyone expecting another 142 yards against Kansas City is asking for trouble.

Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders

Yahoo rostered: 26% | My FAAB: 2–4% | Week 9: Los Angeles Rams

With Terry McLaurin sidelined, Williams stepped into a more substantial role against Philadelphia. The rookie played 83% of the snaps, drew seven targets and caught five passes for 54 yards. He led the team in targets and looks more likely than the other replacement receivers to earn regular underneath work, while Treylon Burks remains the more volatile downfield option.

Washington still has Stefon Diggs and Chig Okonkwo competing for opportunities, so Williams isn’t walking into a guaranteed high-volume job. Nevertheless, the playing time and target involvement are a better foundation than simply chasing a long touchdown. He’s the sort of receiver I would rather add before a breakout score makes his asking price unreasonable.

Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins

Yahoo rostered: 28% | My FAAB: 2–4% | Week 9: Detroit

Douglas returned from injury in Week 7 and has quickly become a regular part of Miami’s passing game. He followed his two-touchdown performance against the Jets with four catches for 43 yards on six targets against New England, playing 86% of the offensive snaps. His involvement is especially encouraging given that the Dolphins have not been throwing the ball at a particularly high rate.

This is a difficult attack in which to trust several wide receivers every week, but Douglas has an appealing combination of playing time and explosive-play potential. Detroit offers a good opportunity for more passing production, and I’d be happy to add him as a bench receiver with the possibility of becoming a regular flex option if the targets hold.

Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins

Yahoo rostered: 48% | My FAAB: 1–3% | Week 9: Detroit

Washington caught five of six targets for 40 yards and a touchdown against New England, continuing a season in which he has generally been the steadier receiving option for Malik Willis. The earlier Fantasy Points receiving-alignment export had him earning 39 targets on 156 routes, a 25% targets-per-route-run rate. That was a strong indication he could command work even when Miami’s passing volume was limited.

The trade-off is that Washington doesn’t offer the same big-play appeal as Douglas and may need receptions rather than long gains to produce a useful fantasy score. In half-PPR I lean towards Douglas when chasing upside, but Washington is the more sensible choice if you’re looking for a modest receiving floor. Both belong on rosters in competitive leagues where the alternatives are thin.

Tight Ends

Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams

Yahoo rostered: 16% | My FAAB: 3–5% | Week 9: Washington

Ferguson hasn’t played since his ankle injury, but his opportunity could look very different when he returns. Davante Adams is expected to miss significant time, and the Rams need another reliable receiving option behind Puka Nacua. Ferguson showed what he could offer earlier in the year, catching six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown against the Giants when Los Angeles needed him more heavily involved.

The immediate risk is his recovery. Ferguson was eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 8 but had not yet had his practice window opened, so a Week 9 start cannot be assumed. If you can afford to carry him through that uncertainty, he’s my favourite longer-term tight-end stash because there is a credible path to genuine receiving volume.

Eli Raridon, New England Patriots

Yahoo rostered: 1% | My FAAB: 1–3% | Week 9: Green Bay

Hunter Henry left the Miami game with a foot injury, and Raridon took on a much larger role in New England’s passing attack. He played 92% of the snaps but managed just one catch for five yards on four targets. The performance itself wasn’t compelling, although the playing time is exactly what we look for when evaluating an injury replacement at a difficult fantasy position.

If Henry misses Week 9, Raridon becomes a plausible streaming option in an offence already dealing with injuries to several receivers. The value disappears quickly if Henry is cleared, so there’s no need to spend heavily before the medical update. He is a situational pickup rather than a player to stash indiscriminately.

Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins

Yahoo rostered: 6% | My FAAB: 0–2% | Week 9: Detroit

Dulcich quietly has four games with at least four receptions and 37 yards in his last five appearances. He caught another four passes for 43 yards on six targets against New England and has become a useful outlet for Willis, even if the Dolphins’ run-first approach restricts his overall ceiling. Those aren’t league-winning numbers, but they can be enough when the alternative is a tight end running routes without being targeted.

Detroit has been a very favourable matchup for opposing tight ends, which moves Dulcich into the Week 9 streaming conversation. I still prefer Ferguson as a longer-term addition, although Dulcich is the better choice if you need somebody who is healthy and contributing right now.

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals

Yahoo rostered: 18% | My FAAB: 0–2% | Week 9: Atlanta

Gesicki caught four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee, continuing an impressive run of scoring in Joe Burrow’s offence. The problem is how much of his fantasy value depends on those touchdowns. He has scored six times on only 17 receptions this season, an unusually high conversion rate that shouldn’t be confused with a strong weekly target share.

Injuries elsewhere in Cincinnati’s tight-end room might help him maintain a little more playing time, and there is obvious appeal in catching passes from Burrow. I would use him if I needed a touchdown-dependent streamer, but I won’t spend a meaningful percentage of my FAAB on the assumption that this scoring rate can continue indefinitely.

Kickers

Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills

Yahoo rostered: 41% | My FAAB: 0–1% | Week 9: Minnesota

Bass is attached to one of the league’s highest-scoring offences and enters Week 9 with an excellent record of converting his opportunities. He has made all 13 of his field-goal attempts this season, and Buffalo has been producing enough points to give him a reliable supply of scoring chances. Minnesota also provides the benefit of an indoor game, removing a weather concern that can matter at this time of year.

Will Lutz, Denver Broncos

Yahoo rostered: 15% | My FAAB: 0–1% | Week 9: Carolina

Lutz has converted six consecutive field-goal attempts across his last three games and faces a Carolina defence that has struggled to keep opponents off the scoreboard. Denver’s passing attack hasn’t always been convincing, but stalled drives can still produce useful kicking opportunities. He’s a perfectly reasonable free pickup if Bass is already rostered.

Defences

Kansas City Chiefs

Yahoo rostered: 42% | My FAAB: 0–1% | Week 9: New York Jets

Kansas City has forced 10 turnovers despite a relatively modest sack total, and the matchup with Geno Smith gives this defence a route to more pressure plays. Smith has taken 23 sacks through eight games, so the opportunity is there even if the Jets’ passing game has recently shown signs of improvement. Kansas City also has useful fixtures against Atlanta and Arizona immediately afterwards.

New York Giants

Yahoo rostered: 2% | My FAAB: 0–1% | Week 9: Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s offence has struggled since Tanner McKee replaced Jalen Hurts, with sacks and turnovers becoming a problem. The Giants haven’t been a dependable fantasy defence themselves, but this is the sort of matchup worth targeting when the preferred options are taken. It’s a one-week streaming play rather than a defence I’d feel obliged to keep on the roster.

Other Players Worth Adding

Jonah Coleman (RB, Denver) should be ahead of almost everybody in this article if he has somehow survived waivers. With RJ Harvey on injured reserve, Coleman played 68% of the offensive snaps against Kansas City, finishing with 104 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. J.K. Dobbins has been pushed into a much smaller role, and there is enough talent here to justify an aggressive bid if Coleman is still available.

Jordyn Tyson (WR, New Orleans) is another player worth checking for in shallower leagues, particularly with his return from injury approaching. DeMario Douglas (WR, New England) has a useful slot role while the Patriots are short of healthy receivers, and Malachi Fields (WR, New York Giants) is an interesting deeper-league stash after showing some chemistry with J.J. McCarthy. They offer different levels of immediate help, so pick the player whose timetable actually suits your roster.

Nicholas Singleton (RB, Tennessee) is a trade-deadline lottery ticket if Tony Pollard is moved, but the Titans’ Week 9 bye means he is a stash rather than an immediate solution. Elijah Mitchell (RB, Philadelphia) also merits attention after playing more snaps than an injured Saquon Barkley against Washington, while Ray Davis (RB, Buffalo) remains an inexpensive handcuff to James Cook. None needs to be added at the cost of a regular starter, but they are better bench bets than carrying a receiver with no clear route to targets.

Players I’m Not Chasing

Kenny Gainwell (RB, Tampa Bay) has enjoyed two excellent rushing games, including 140 yards against Atlanta, but the Buccaneers have been operating in exceptionally run-heavy conditions. Bucky Irving is still the lead back, and Sean Tucker complicates the picture if injuries change the workload. Gainwell is worth rostering as depth; he isn’t worth paying as though the last two weeks represent his new normal.

Dylan Sampson (RB, Cleveland) caught six passes for 62 yards against Pittsburgh, but much of his involvement came while the Browns were chasing the game. He had one carry, which tells you how specialised his role remains. Gunnar Helm (TE, Tennessee) also enjoyed his best receiving game of the season, but the Titans are on bye and his previous production was limited. I’d rather use a roster spot on somebody with a clearer path to lasting volume.

Adonai Mitchell’s Week 8 score also needs restraint, despite his inclusion among my preferred receiver pickups. The Jets have rotated between productive performances from Mitchell and Omar Cooper, and the target distribution could change again next week. Pay for the possibility of a growing role, not for 142 yards that are already in the book.

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The priority changes according to what your team needs. If you are short of wins and need a starter immediately, Allgeier or Flournoy might matter more than a long-term stash; if your lineup is already strong, Black or Johnson could be more valuable come the fantasy playoffs. Don’t spend half your remaining FAAB simply because the waiver wire feels thin.

Week 9 is less about discovering an obvious new superstar than understanding which roles have really changed. Washington has the most interesting long-term opportunity, Allgeier has the clearest injury-driven opening, and the receiver market offers useful choices without guaranteeing weekly starts. Make the bids fit your roster rather than the size of somebody else’s Sunday box score.

Back tomorrow with more analysis as we are about to hit the halfway mark of the fantasy season.