Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Top Pickups & Adds

Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Top Targets

1. Mike Washington
2. Antonio Williams
3. Chris Rodriguez
4. Tyler Allgeier
5. Seth McGowan

Welcome to Week 9 of the waiver wire.

Recommended adds are available in at least 60% of ESPN leagues, and the watch list consists of players worth monitoring.

The deep cuts section for running backs and receivers highlights players who are rostered in fewer than 5% of ESPN leagues, for all you “not in my league” degens.

I do not list recommended FAAB percentages for every player because a much better resource for researching what you need to bid is available, thanks to our friends at FAABLab.

Finally, I do not rank kickers and defenses because, frankly, I don't care about them and would like to see them disappear from the game.

With those caveats out of the way, let's get to it.

Week 9 Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Malik Willis
2. Michael Penix

Week 9 Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Mike Washington
2. Chris Rodriguez
3. Tyler Allgeier
4. Seth McGowan
5. Devin Singletary
6. Kaelon Black
7. MarShawn Lloyd

Week 9 Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Antonio Williams
2. Adonai Mitchell
3. Jordyn Tyson
4. Mack Hollins
5. Treylon Burks

Week 9 Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Greg Dulcich
2. Eli Raridon
3. Brevyn Spann-Ford

Week 9 Quarterback Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Malik Willis, Dolphins — Available in 89.4% of ESPN leagues

Miami's offense has quietly been pretty good since their game against the Bengals before the bye. Willis has multiple touchdowns in every game during that run. His rushing fell off last week, but he is still averaging nearly 40 rushing yards per game over his last three. The Lions have given up the most expected fantasy points and real fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. They have been better the last two weeks, but several important defenders, including Brian Branch, suffered injuries in Week 8. The Lions should also push the Dolphins to throw if the game script plays out as expected.

2. Michael Penix, Falcons — Available in 81.4% of ESPN leagues

Penix was awful in Week 8. There is no getting around that. It seemed like he had never even seen rain before. The two games before that disaster, though, he had back-to-back 3-touchdown outings. This week, he gets a Bengals defense that just gave up 304 yards and 2 scores to Cam Ward, the most productive game of his young career. The Cincinnati offense should also push the action. The Bengals are first in pass rate over expected, and they rank sixth in pass rate over expected against. This could look foolish with Penix coming off one of the worst games we have ever seen a quarterback play, but he has been mostly good this year, and the matchup is one to target.

Watch List

Sam Darnold has a good matchup against the Cardinals, but I am concerned about how much Arizona will push him to throw…It is impossible to recommend Baker Mayfield given he has thrown 14 passes total in the last two games. The Bears should force the Bucs to open up the passing game more, for the less risk-averse among us, but their defense looked excellent on Monday night…J.J. McCarthy was excellent against the Texans before the bye, and the Eagles defense has been vulnerable. The issue is game script given how much Philly's offense continues to struggle…Gardner Minshew made an immediate impact, but I do not want to chase that against the Seahawks, even if their defense looked more mortal against the Bears on Monday night. We also are still on Carson Beck watch.

Week 9 Running Back Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Mike Washington, Raiders — Available in 82.5% of ESPN leagues

This article has been pushing Washington as a priority add for a couple of weeks, and Sunday showed why. With Ashton Jeanty continuing to struggle as a runner, it seemed like only a matter of time before the new coaching staff turned to Washington as the bell-cow back. The problem is Washington will cost a lot more FAAB this week, and the situation is not clean-cut. This is not an injury situation where we know Washington will be the guy. Klint Kubiak said Jeanty will be a “huge part” of the running game moving forward. We are not far removed from the Giants sitting Cam Skattebo down for a game only to bring him back as the lead guy the next game. Also, Washington did not set the world on fire as the lead back, averaging 3.3 yards on 25 carries. Washington is the top add of the week. I don't think that is in question. The concern is he falls into the wrong side of a timeshare as the running-down back on a team with a bad defense. Even as the clear lead on Sunday, Washington ran 6 routes with 10 pass snaps to 14 routes and 17 pass snaps for Jeanty.

2. Chris Rodriguez, Jaguars — Available in 87.4% of ESPN leagues

This could quickly become wasted FAAB dollars, but it is concerning that Bhayshul Tuten was not on the field for practice Tuesday ahead of a Thursday night game. Tuten played through the injury in Week 8, but this would not be the first time a player played through an injury only for it to become a bigger issue once the adrenaline wore off. The Jaguars also have to feel good about their chances against the Ravens given the quarterback situation in Baltimore. Even if Tuten plays, Rodriguez could get more work than usual in what will likely be a leading game script. If Tuten is out, Rodriguez would be a locked-in fantasy starter against Baltimore.

3. Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals — Available in 54.1% of ESPN leagues

Allgeier is above the normal threshold for this article, but he was dropped in many leagues, so I wanted to include him. Jeremiyah Love is headed to injured reserve after suffering another ankle injury, and Bam Knight is in the concussion protocol. That opens a clean path for Allgeier for at least one week. The problem is that one game is against the Seahawks, and Mike LaFleur very recently said the team views Allgeier as a complementary back. In the two games Love has already missed this season, Allgeier and Knight split the work down the middle, with Knight doing far more with his opportunities. Perhaps Allgeier's performance against the Cowboys has changed LaFleur's mind about how to use him, but the most likely outcome to me is Allgeier getting one start in a really bad matchup and then falling back into a timeshare with Knight, who, by the way, is also available on the wire and will be a lot cheaper.

4. Seth McGowan, Colts — Available in 78.7% of ESPN leagues

McGowan was on this list last week, and not much has changed. It still appears likely the Colts move on from Jonathan Taylor, which would potentially open up a lead role for McGowan. Why is he not higher on this list, then? There are several concerns. First, we don't know if Taylor will be traded. Second, the Colts offense is already bad with Taylor, and with all due respect to McGowan, he is not at the same level. Third, we are not sure what his role would be even if Taylor is moved. McGowan has been the clear No. 2 back this season, but DJ Giddens did get some work late in their blowout loss last week, and the backfield could be more of a timeshare than it has been with Taylor at the top of the depth chart. To be clear, McGowan is a good stash in every league. There just are concerns to price in.

5. Devin Singletary, Giants — Available in 96.4% of ESPN leagues

Cam Skattebo could play this week. The Giants could make a blockbuster trade for a lead back, perhaps even Jonathan Taylor. If neither of those things happen, though, Singletary would be the last man standing in the Giants backfield in a game against the Eagles that will likely facilitate a run-heavy game script.

6. Kaelon Black, 49ers — Available in 76.6% of ESPN leagues

It is difficult to value Black this week. It seems like Christian McCaffrey is fine, and if that is the case, Black is just a handcuff stash. If McCaffrey's injury prevents him from playing against the Raiders, though, Black would be a must-start fantasy option. That is the risk-reward of devoting FAAB dollars or waiver priority to Black.

7. MarShawn Lloyd, Packers — Available in 61.9% of ESPN leagues

There are two issues with adding Lloyd in shallower leagues. First, he was not a reliable fantasy option as the running-down back in Green Bay's anemic attack even before Josh Jacobs showed up. Second, the Packers have said Jacobs will continue to play while the league looks into the additional allegations against him. That said, the optics around Jacobs following a potentially misinterpreted touchdown celebration and the new report are bad, and it would not be surprising if the league takes action.

Watch List

There are too many good running back adds this week to list Bam Knight, who I expect to miss this week, but he is a good and likely cheap stash for those with an open roster spot. He was in an even timeshare with Allgeier in Week 6 and Week 7, with Knight doing a lot more with his touches…With Saquon Barkley still on a pitch count, you could certainly make a case for Elijah Mitchell as an add. There are three reasons I did not include him on the list. First, Barkley does not seem likely to be traded. Second, the Eagles offense is bad. Third, Tank Bigsby is probably back in Week 11 after the bye…It was great to see Emmett Johnson make some plays, but that is more a glimpse into his upside as a handcuff than a reason to add him to fantasy rosters…James Cook appears to be good to go after a nasty fall against the Ravens. If that ends up not being the case, then Ray Davis is a must-add. Davis is already one of my top handcuff stashes…Chuba Hubbard has been playing well, so I am not sure what Jonathon Brooks‘ role will be even if he is activated from injured reserve. I think it is more likely that Brooks is a complementary player and a detriment to Hubbard's workload than a real fantasy option himself.

Deep Cuts

I mentioned this above with McGowan, but there is a non-zero chance DJ Giddens gets a lot more work than many expect if Jonathan Taylor is traded…Dylan Sampson played 11 more snaps than Quinshon Judkins with the Browns in a trailing game script against the Steelers. If Cleveland finds themselves in more of those situations over the back half of the season, Sampson could be a factor in deeper PPR leagues…I assume TreVeyon Henderson will be back this week, but the situation is murky. Corey Kiner would have some deep-league value if Henderson is out for an extended time or traded…Jacory Croskey-Merritt is already on injured reserve, and it seems like Jeremy McNichols is dealing with a serious injury. That should open more work for Austin Ekeler.

Week 9 Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Antonio Williams, Commanders — Available in 83.7% of ESPN leagues

It did not lead to a big game, but Williams got the usage we wanted to see. He led the team in routes, targets, and catches against the Eagles. Stefon Diggs‘ route rate did spike a little bit without Terry McLaurin, but the Commanders have said they want to keep him in a limited role similar to the one he played with the Patriots last year. That opens the door for the exciting rookie to be the most-used receiver the rest of the way.

2. Adonai Mitchell, Jets — Available in 88.6% of ESPN leagues

I am not sure what to do with Mitchell. We targeted him early in the season before his injury because he was earning a large target share, which was not really surprising. He has been a high target rate per route player throughout his career. After Omar Cooper emerged, though, we leaned into the rookie, as is my philosophy. Cooper ran more routes and earned more targets in Week 7, but Mitchell had a massive game in Week 8, going for 142 yards and a touchdown on 7 catches. Cooper ran the exact same number of routes as Mitchell against the Raiders despite not getting a target, so it is not as if he disappeared. We do not have enough data with both on the field to say for sure, but there does appear to be something of a man vs. zone split between the two. Mitchell has been targeted on 28% of his routes against zone this year compared to 17.6% against man. Cooper is the opposite, with a 13.5% target rate per route against zone but a 22.7% rate vs. man. That suggests we could have success identifying “Cooper” or “Mitchell” games the rest of the way, but the situation needs to play out a bit more to be sure.

3. Jordyn Tyson, Saints — Available in 64.6% of ESPN leagues

There is nothing new to say about Tyson. He appears to have a decent chance to return this week. He is also a first-round rookie rejoining an offense that has produced fantasy value for Devaughn Vele as the No. 2 option in the passing game. These are the kind of stashes to target.

4. Mack Hollins, Patriots — Available in 97% of ESPN leagues

This will not matter if A.J. Brown returns, but Hollins appears likely to return from injured reserve this week. If Brown continues to sit, that sets up Hollins as the top outside receiver. That was the case in Week 2 and Week 3 when Hollins ran a route on 73.4% of the dropbacks and led the team with a 21.6% target share. That also was with a healthy Romeo Doubs, who remains on injured reserve. Hollins is just a short-term addition at best, but he could carry value this week.

5. Treylon Burks, Commanders — Available in 93.5% of ESPN leagues

I am leaning in on Williams because he better fits my usual target, but I could certainly be wrong. Burks is more of a like-for-like replacement for Terry McLaurin than Williams. He ran a route on 78.8% of the dropbacks against the Eagles, saw 5 targets, and led the team in yards. It is certainly possible Burks is the Commanders receiver you want the rest of the way.

Watch List

I am not interested in Keon Coleman in standard-sized leagues, assuming D.J. Moore‘s health checks out, but Josh Palmer‘s injury should open more routes for him…I was ready to be excited about Ja'Kobi Lane. Unfortunately, the quarterback situation in Baltimore is pretty much a death knell for the offense…Malachi Fields is a rookie I am watching for a potential later-season role expansion. The issue is he has two target hogs ahead of him in the pecking order…Ryan Flournoy is consistently running routes for what should be a good passing attack more often than not. That is worth something in deeper leagues, but I still view him as more of a receiver handcuff in standard-sized leagues…Miami's receiver usage seems to be stabilizing with Malik Washington, Caleb Douglas, and Chris Bell as the top three. This week would be a good one to chase some production from that group, though picking the right one is difficult. If forced to choose, I would lean Douglas.

Deep Cuts

Michael Wilson says he is dealing with two broken ribs. Kendrick Bourne is likely out for the season. Reggie Virgil ran into the goalpost and seemed to suffer a serious injury. That could create opportunities for names like Simi Fehoko, Devin Duvernay, and Zay Jones, but I am not sure about chasing those guys even in deep leagues with the Seahawks next up on the schedule…If Mack Hollins and A.J. Brown do not return, Efton Chism and Kyle Williams should run a lot of routes against the Packers. Williams has big-play potential, as we saw last week, but he has been targeted on just 11.4% of his career routes…Tutu Atwell got the Rams going with a big play on Sunday, but Puka Nacua is the only Rams receiver consistently getting targets. Atwell also ran fewer routes than Konata Mumpfield…If we are chasing Michael Penix this week, then taking a look at Jahan Dotson in deeper leagues makes some sense.

Week 9 Tight End Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Greg Dulcich, Dolphins — Available in 98.6% of ESPN leagues

I am interested in Dulcich this week for the same reason I am interested in Malik Willis as a streaming quarterback. Detroit's defense has been better as of late, but they suffered some major injuries in Week 8. They also still gave up 4-58-1 to T.J. Hockenson. More importantly, the Detroit offense can push the issue and force the Dolphins into a trailing game state, which means more dropbacks overall and a better environment for Dulcich to be on the field. Miami's offense is playing better, and this game script will likely set up well for Dulcich to benefit from that improved play.

2. Eli Raridon, Patriots — Available in 98.1% of ESPN leagues

Dulcich is a better one-week add, but Raridon has the potential to develop into an every-week starter. Hunter Henry left Sunday's game early with a foot injury. Mike Vrabel did not have much information on Monday, saying he does not “have any expectations yet.” The injury could be minor. Henry could play this week. We just don't know. What we do know is Raridon was nearly an every-down player once Henry left the field (83.3% route rate in the second, third, and fourth quarters), and the rookie has taken advantage of his opportunities thus far this season. Among tight ends with at least 90 routes this season, he ranks 10th in yards per route run and 11th in yards per target. The Packers have been good against tight ends this season, but the Patriots are also lacking passing-game weapons at the moment. If Henry sits out this week, Raridon will be a streaming option, and this could be the chance to get in early on a talented young player.

3. Brevyn Spann-Ford, Cowboys — Available in 99.9% of ESPN leagues

Spann-Ford is also probably a better long-term add than Dulcich, though I am not sure the upside is as high as Raridon because of the receiving talent on the Cowboys. That said, Spann-Ford's usage numbers were good in a game where Jake Ferguson was limited to 2 snaps because of an ankle injury. Spann-Ford ran a route on 73% of the dropbacks against Arizona and was second on the team with 5 targets. Ferguson's injury sounds minor, but Spann-Ford was already pushing him for routes before the injury. I view Spann-Ford as more of a stash in deeper leagues to see what happens, but he will be a viable streaming option this week if Ferguson can't suit up.

Watch List

Washington gets the Rams this week, who have been excellent against tight ends. That makes me wary about Chig Okonkwo, but his usage last week was promising. He ran a route on 81.8% of the dropbacks against the Eagles, which was TE5 for the week. That kind of usage in better matchups will lead to good stat lines…I could be very wrong, but I still don't buy Mike Gesicki as a reliable fantasy starter. To be fair, he did run the routes this week, but it was in a trailing/neutral game script for the Bengals. His overall route rate was aided by running 14 in the fourth quarter, 87.5% of the dropbacks. Even with the game against the Titans, his route rate for the season is 58.5%, which is 28th among 39 qualified tight ends…Dalton Schultz has been mostly a floor play this season, and the Texans have a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game…Terrance Ferguson has a good chance to return this week, and we do not know if Colby Parkinson will suit up. Parkinson sitting would be a boost for Ferguson if he can return, but you are still playing roulette with Rams tight ends…Point-chasing Mason Taylor did not work out despite the good matchup…AJ Barner could not capitalize on his opportunity on Monday night, and I am not sure the Seahawks will be forced to pass enough this week to get him on the streaming radar…Oronde Gadsden had a good game out of the bye, but he still was limited to a 58.3% route rate. The Chargers could also get back David Njoku this week…This is only for deeper leagues and TE premium, but Noah Gray could be worth a stash given how much we have seen Travis Kelce limp around the field lately.