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Who Should I Drop for Week 9? Fantasy Football outlooks for Lamar Jackson, Omar Cooper Jr., RJ Harvey, Tyler Higbee, J.K. Dobbins, Tre Tucker, Xavier Worthy, Kyle Pitts Sr., Jacoby Brissett.
Who Should I Drop? Who Should I Keep? Some of the most common Week 9 fantasy football cut candidates include players like Lamar Jackson, Omar Cooper Jr., RJ Harvey, Tyler Higbee, J.K. Dobbins, Tre Tucker, Xavier Worthy, Kyle Pitts Sr., and Jacoby Brissett. However, don't worry, we are here to help you make the right waiver wire decisions and winning moves for Week 9. Once you decide who to drop, find your optimal fantasy football pickups for Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool helps make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to add... all free!
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Fantasy Football Drop Candidates
Read about fantasy football players to consider dropping for Week 9:
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (thumb) could miss the remainder of the 2026 season after head coach Jesse Minter confirmed he needs surgery, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Minter did not rule out a season-ending absence, saying "We'll see" when asked about Jackson's chances of returning. The Ravens plan to place the two-time MVP on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least four games. Jackson's return from a three-game ankle absence lasted just one play in Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
His only pass attempt was incomplete before he exited with an injury to his throwing hand. Backup Tyler Huntley (toe) also left the game, and his availability remains uncertain for Thursday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie Joe Fagnano finished Sunday's loss and is currently Baltimore's only healthy quarterback.
Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker was a major bust for fantasy managers in Week 8, earning just one target and failing to record a reception in his team's 38-33 win over the New York Jets. Tucker's quiet game is a significant letdown given his strong play coming into the week, as he had recorded 10 catches for 200 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 19 targets across his last two games.
However, Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins attempted just 26 passes against New York, with 16 of those going to Raiders tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. Tucker's explosive downfield ability makes him a threat to go off in any given week, but he's also proven to be prone to bust weeks throughout his career to this point. He will have a chance to bounce back in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers and remains a viable hold option in deeper 12-team leagues.
RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey (knee) was placed on short-term injured reserve with a knee injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. As a result, the second-year running back will not be eligible to return until December 6 to face the Miami Dolphins (Week 13). Harvey sustained the injury in practice this week but hopes to avoid an extended absence.
While he has not been involved much on the ground (averaging just 4.0 attempts per game), he has been a top option in QB Bo Nix's passing attack. Through six games, Harvey has drawn 4.7 targets per game and averaged 36.2 receiving yards per game. While he remains on the shelf, managers should expect J.K. Dobbins and Jonah Coleman to operate as the top options in the backfield.
Given his upside as a pass-catching back, Harvey is worth stashing in all 12-team PPR leagues while he's on IR.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets
New York Jets wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. was a major fantasy disappointment in Sunday's 38-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, finishing without a catch or target after consecutive 100-yard performances.
The rookie entered Week 8 having caught 11 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns over his previous two games, but he was completely absent from the passing attack despite Geno Smith throwing for 290 yards and two scores. Adonai Mitchell emerged as New York's leading receiver with seven catches for 142 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, while Garrett Wilson recorded six receptions for 83 yards on 12 targets.
Cooper's recent success had come on relatively limited volume, with several explosive receptions accounting for much of his production. Sunday's shutout exposed the risks associated with that reliance on big plays, particularly with Mitchell commanding a larger share of the passing opportunities.
Cooper still has demonstrated considerable playmaking ability, but this performance makes him a more difficult WR3/flex option to trust until his target involvement becomes more consistent. Despite the disappointing effort, Cooper remains a must-stash in all standard 12-team leagues ahead of the Week 9 slate.
Kyle Pitts Sr., TE, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. was unable to keep his touchdown streak alive during the Week 8 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coming into this game, Pitts had found the end zone in three straight games, but the Bucs defense held Pitts in check on Sunday.
Pitts hauled in two of his five targets for six yards during the Week 8 loss. This was a nightmare game for the entire Falcons offense as they were unable to score on Sunday.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed only eight passes and threw four interceptions. Fantasy managers can expect better results from Pitts next weekend, considering it's almost impossible to do worse than six receiving yards. He should rebound against the inconsistent Cincinnati Bengals defense in Week 9. He remains a firm hold in all standard leagues entering Week 9.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire instead? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here.
Week 9 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on finding replacements for specific players like Jordyn Tyson, Mike Washington Jr., Kaelon Black, Antonio Williams, Seth McGowan.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2026. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, stats, projections, strength of schedule, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Once you decide who to drop, find your optimal fantasy football waiver wire replacements. Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for Week 9 for Jordyn Tyson, Mike Washington Jr., Kaelon Black, Antonio Williams, Seth McGowan:
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