Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups - Fantasy Football Free Agent Adds and Stashes (2025)

October 29, 2025

Rob's Week 9 fantasy football waiver wire pickups, adds, stashes and sleepers to target for 2025. His top waiver wire adds for Week 9 at RB, WR, TE, QB, K, D/ST.

Congratulations to those of you who managed to escape Week 8 with a victory despite the many injury issues and the fact that six teams were on byes. Managing such weeks can be incredibly difficult. It's why, despite our constant obsession with upside, it's also essential to have 1-2 players on our bench who are dependable starters, even if they're boring and without league-winning potential.

Now, we don't need too many of those players because upside is really what we should be focused on, but it's crucial to have 1-2 reliable, maybe even slightly boring bench players we can trust for injuries and bye weeks. The waiver wire can offer these kinds of players, and if you're looking in the right spot, can also provide high-upside stashes with bigger ceilings.

Be sure to also check out our free Who Should I Pickup? tool and compare up to four free agent players at once - we'll tell you who to pick up. Please use the promo code "BOOM" to get 10% off our premium subscription tools. Now, let's get to the best waiver wire adds for Week 9.

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 9

Must Adds

Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals - 47.6% Rostered

Benson is currently on IR. He's eligible to return in Week 10 against the Seahawks. James Conner (foot) is on season-ending IR. Once Benson returns, fantasy managers should expect him to be Arizona's primary ball-carrier, and he should be viewed as a top-24 running back once he's healthy.

Benson is required to miss at least four games, but Arizona has a bye week during his four-game IR stretch, meaning Benson will have had extra time to get 100% healthy. Fantasy managers should add him now.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants - 41.9% Rostered

Cam Skattebo suffered a serious and likely season-ending injury. That'll mean that Tracy is once again the No. 1 running back for the Giants. Jaxson Dart has improved the New York offense, increasing the fantasy value of the Giants' skilled players.

#Giants RB Cam Skattebo suffered a dislocated ankle and will undergo surgery tonight in Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/76yNkdFvZL

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 26, 2025

Skattebo was performing as a top-24 running back, and while it's clear that Skattebo was the more talented player, Tracy should be viewed as an RB3 moving forward. In favorable matchups, Tracy could flirt with RB2 status. He's a must-add this week.

Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals - 18.6% Rostered

Knight has been Arizona's No. 1 running back the two weeks ahead of their Week 8 bye, leading the backfield in snaps and carries. He has now scored over 7.5 half-PPR points in three straight games. In Week 5, he only had five touches, but managed to find the end zone.

Following that Week 5 contest, the coaching staff made Knight the lead back. This has resulted in back-to-back weeks with 12 or more touches. Over those past two weeks, he's scored 11.9 and 7.9 half-PPR points. Until Benson returns, Knight should be viewed as an RB2/3 and is a must-add running back if you need a starter.

Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns - 9.5% Rostered

Quinshon Judkins injured his shoulder and did not return. The Browns were getting crushed, so it's unknown if Judkins' injury was serious. However, his injury opened the door for Cleveland's other rookie running back.

Following Judkins' exit, Sampson played 73% of the snaps and handled 75% of the team's rushing attempts. He also had a route share of 68% and a target share of 32%. He had three carries and six targets. Jerome Ford had zero carries and one target.

If Judkins were to miss time, the Browns seem to have shifted their priority to getting their young guys playing time. If that's the case, Sampson would be the biggest beneficiary of any time Judkins might miss. Sampson would be on the RB3 radar if Judkins is inactive.

Priority Adds

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars - 22.1% Rostered

In 2022, from Weeks 1-9, Travis Etienne Jr. averaged 13.2 half-PPR PPG, but that fell to 9.2 in Weeks 10-17. Then, in 2023, Etienne averaged 18.8 half-PPR PPG in Weeks 1-8. In Weeks 9-17, that fell to 11.5 half-PPR PPG.

From Weeks 1-4, Etienne averaged 6.1 yards per carry. In Weeks 5-7, it has dipped to 3.7 YPC. In the first four weeks, he averaged 15.9 half-PPR PPG, but has since averaged just 6.9 half-PPR. If Etienne continues to struggle, Tuten could see his opportunities increase.

With the offense struggling these past few weeks, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Liam Coen mix it up, potentially giving Tuten more touches. It was last year in Tampa Bay that, after multiple inefficient weeks, Coen made the switch from Rachaad White to Bucky Irving. We could see a significant post-bye-week bump for Tuten.

Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles - 19.4% Rostered

Saquon Barkley left in the third quarter with a groin injury. Philadelphia had a multiple-score lead, which could have influenced that decision. Based on Barkley's demeanor after the game, the injury didn't seem serious, but this is speculation. Philadelphia does have a bye next week, so Barkley will have an extra week to heal up. However, groin injuries can be tricky.

Bigsby played 16 snaps to Will Shipley's eight. Shipley played on third-downs and if Barkley were to miss time, would likely be the team's pass-catching back. However, this is less appealing in Philadelphia's offense. Bigsby had nine carries and finished with 104 yards, and he should be the player to target if Barkley misses time.

While Barkley's injury status is unknown at this time, Bigsby is worth a speculative add.

RB4/5's with High Contingency Value Whose Roles Could Grow WITHOUT an Injury

Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs - 12.4% Rostered

Don't go too crazy about his 14 rush attempts; it was due to the game script, with the Chiefs winning 31-0. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have yet to rush for 60 yards in a game. However, Pacheco is coming off back-to-back games of 50+ yards.

The hope for Smith is that he can become the Chiefs' primary pass-catching back. Neither Hunt nor Pacheco thrives as a pass-catcher. If Smith can earn that role as the team's two-minute, third-down, and pass-catching specialist, he could hold RB3/4 value in full-PPR leagues. This is especially true with how often Kansas City is passing.

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and Patrick Mahomes continue to discuss how to get Smith more involved. Andy Reid is a creative offensive mastermind, and if Pacheco and Hunt continue to struggle, Smith's role could grow.

Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys - 14.2% Rostered

Miles Sanders is on season-ending IR with a knee injury, which makes Blue the Cowboys' No. 2 running back and the "next man up" should anything happen to Javonte Williams. That alone gives him elite handcuff value. Williams has been excellent this season, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect Blue to overtake him. However, it's possible he could carve out a role similar to the one described above for Smith.

Williams will undoubtedly maintain his role as the primary runner, early-down, short-yardage, and goal-line back. Blue could have fantasy value if he's able to earn the pass-catching role in Dallas' offense. With how dreadful their defense is and how much they pass, he could hold standalone fantasy value, alongside his elite contingency value.

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints - 3.2% Rostered

With Kendre Miller (knee) on season-ending IR, Neal stepped up and right into Miller's previous role. Neal played 45% of the snaps, and while he didn't get a single carry, he did run 19 routes, which was actually one more than Alvin Kamara. Neal finished with three targets to Kamara's two. Neal's role will likely grow over the coming weeks, and we could see him end up where Miller was.

That would give Neal 7-10 carries a game with 1-2 targets. 9-12 touches are enough to put any running back in the RB4 conversation, but unfortunately, the Saints' offense is pretty putrid. However, Neal is now just one Kamara injury away from being on the RB2/3 radar as New Orleans' workhorse.

RB4/5's with High Contingency Value

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - 7.5% Rostered

Corum fumbled in Week 5, which resulted in him only getting one carry. However, since Week 3, aside from Week 5, Corum has averaged just over nine touches per game. Getting between seven-to-10 touches per game keeps Corum on the RB4/5 radar.

Unfortunately, he's seldom used in the passing game, and most of the scoring opportunities go to Kyren Williams. As a result, Corum's standalone value is indeed minimal. He's a better option in games where the Rams are heavily favored.

His real value lies in his contingent value if Williams were to miss anytime. If that were to happen, Corum would be a weekly top-15 running back.

Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears - 38.7% Rostered

We're inching closer and closer to a 50/50 split in the Chicago backfield. D'Andre Swift played 31 snaps to Monangai's 29. Monangai actually ran more routes than Swift (15 to 14). Swift had 11 carries and Monangai had seven. Monangai had 13 carries in Week 7 and followed that up with seven this past weekend. He now seems a good bet to have eight-to-12 touches a game moving forward.

The issue will be the effectiveness of Chicago's offense moving forward. Fantasy managers should view Monangai as an RB5 moving forward. If Swift were to get hurt and miss time, Monangai would likely be ranked as a top-25 running back.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons - 35.9% Rostered

Allgeier has four games with more than 8.0 half-PPR points, three of which were in double-digits. He also has four games with double-digit touches. Allgeier is very matchup-dependent. When Atlanta plays with the lead, Allgeier can flirt with RB3 numbers. When Atlanta is behind, he's a touchdown-dependent RB6.

In Week 2, Atlanta dominated the Vikings, and he had 16 carries, 76 yards, and a touchdown. This past weekend, Atlanta was destroyed by Miami, and he had just four carries for four yards, but was bailed out by a touchdown. Atlanta's inconsistency makes it difficult to know what to expect, which makes it challenging.

Allgeier has elite contingency value if Bijan Robinson were to miss time. He'd be a top-20 running back in that scenario.

Outside of Tuten, Corum, Monangai, and Allgeier, if you do not need a starting running back, fantasy managers should prioritize the handcuffs listed below over the remaining running backs in this section. While these running backs are more playable than the handcuffs, the handcuffs offer more upside. 

Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals - 5.9% Rostered

Perine's role has continued to grow in recent weeks. Over the past three weeks, Perine has had games of eight, seven, and 10 touches. He has begun mixing in on early-downs, passing situations, and even in the red zone. While Chase Brown's role is safe, Perine is continuing to eat into it little by little.

Perine has played himself into the RB4/5 category and appears to be the biggest beneficiary if Brown were to miss time. The Cincinnati offense seems to have found its groove with Joe Flacco at the helm, and the Bengals have an elite rest of the season schedule, which makes Perine even more appealing.

Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs - 28.2% Rostered

Hunt's involvement has decreased in recent weeks. Hunt left briefly this past weekend due to an injury but returned. After having 34 touches from Weeks 2-4, Hunt has had just 19 touches the past three weeks.

Hunt has been used as Kansas City's goal-line back, scoring three touchdowns from Weeks 3-5, but that has started to change in the past two weeks as Pacheco is coming off back-to-back weeks of 50+ rushing yards. Hunt had been flirting with RB3 due to his touchdown potential, but that has begun to evaporate.

Hunt should be viewed as an RB4/5 with contingency value if Pacheco misses any time. Pacheco seems to have since moved ahead of Hunt, which has hindered his standalone value.

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans - 36.4 % Rostered

Spears has led the team in rushing yards in each of their past two games. He also played more snaps than Tony Pollard. This is typical when the Titans are significantly behind on the scoreboard, which is often the case. Spears is the team's pass-catching back and plays primarily on third downs, in the two-minute drill, and in obvious passing situations.

The Titans have frequently found themselves behind on the scoreboard and will continue to do so.

Spears is nothing more than an RB4/5, however. Tennessee uses Pollard on short-yardage and near the goal-line, so Spears will struggle finding the end zone, which limits his upside. Pollard didn't have to deal with Spears in Weeks 1-4, and due to the awfulness of the Titans' offense, it just didn't matter. Pollard was still just a middling RB3.

That's why it's hard to get too excited about Spears. If Pollard could only muster RB3 when he had the entire backfield to himself, that seems to be the ceiling for Spears in the event of a Pollard injury. With both of them healthy, they're low-floor, low-ceiling RB4/5's.

Pure Running Back Handcuffs

• Brian Robinson Jr., San Francisco 49ers - 24.2% Rostered
• Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills - 6.5% Rostered
• Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders - 0.9% Rostered
• Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers - 4.0% Rostered
• Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins - 10.6% Rostered
• Isaiah Davis, New York Jets - 7.9% Rostered
• Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens - 0.4% Rostered
• Tahj Brooks, Cincinnati Bengals - 0.3% Rostered
• D.J. Giddens, Indianapolis Colts - 1.1% Rostered
• Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles - 4.1% Rostered
• Phil Mafah - Dallas Cowboys - 0.1% Rostered
• Hassan Haskins, Los Angeles Chargers - 10.8% Rostered
• Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 7.8% Rostered

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 9

Must Add

Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos - 43.5% Rostered

Franklin now has five games with more than 6.0 half-PPR points. This includes three games with double-digits, two of which included games of 20 or more half-PPR points. Franklin has four games with eight or more targets.

Franklin is Denver's No. 2 pass-catcher behind Courtland Sutton, and in terms of targets, Franklin isn't far behind. After eight weeks of football, Sutton has 56 and Franklin has 54. He's really Denver's 1B pass-catcher. Bo Nix is playing great. This is a great offense with an excellent play-caller. The environment is great, and Franklin is getting the most out of it. He's a must-add if he's available.

WR4/5's with some Upside

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders - 46.0% Rostered

Tucker may have been dropped following the Raiders' bye week, and if he was, fantasy managers should be semi-aggressive in adding him. Teammate Jakobi Meyers has been a constant name in the trade rumor mill and now seems likely to be moved. Should that happen, Tucker would become the team's No. 1 receiver. He's already been performing as such, even with Meyers on the team.

Tucker has four games with more than 9.0 half-PPR points and five games with five or more targets. Tucker has benefited from the knee injury to Brock Bowers, but if Meyers is moved, he'd continue to operate as the team's No. 2 pass-catcher.

Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 43.3% Rostered

Injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans have opened the door for Johnson to get onto the field. Since Week 5, Johnson has had four games with more than 6.5 half-PPR points. He's averaging 9.9 half-PPR PPG during this stretch. Evans is likely out for the remaining fantasy football season.

There has been little information about Godwin's injury. Even if he's able to get back onto the field following the team's Week 9 bye, Johnson could remain involved as the team's No. 3 receiver. The team could opt to use a Sterling Shepard and Johnson in a committee approach for that No. 3 role, to the detriment of both players.

Fantasy managers should prioritize the younger player with more upside.

Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots - 30.1% Rostered

Boutte now has three straight games with more than 12.0 half-PPR points. He has four games where he's scored more than 12.0 half-PPR points on the season. Boutte is the team's best and primary X-receiver. He's used downfield and on deep shots. This role can be volatile from week to week. From Weeks 2-5, he scored 8.1 (one catch that happened to be a 16-yard touchdown), 3.8, 2.3, and 5.8 half-PPR points.

From Weeks 6-8, he's scored 23.8, 12.5, and 15.0 half-PPR points. Right now, he's coming down with those deep passes and for touchdowns, which is excellent, but this hot streak won't continue. He has just one game with more than five targets, which isn't ideal, but Drake Maye is balling right now.

Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts - 10.3% Rostered

Pierce is very similar to Boutte, except he hasn't caught a touchdown yet; their roles are identical. He's the Colts' X-receiver and downfield threat. This offense is clicking on all cylinders right now, and Daniel Jones has played great. Their elite running game allows them to use play-action and threaten teams deep.

Alec Pierce down there somewhere!

TENvsIND on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/I0ch3Rb0Qu

— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2025

Pierce has missed two games, leaving him with six games played. Pierce has four games with 8.0 half-PPR points or more. Okay, one was 7.9, but the point still stands! He has four games with more than 65 yards. He's averaging 7.9 half-PPR points for the season, and that's despite not finding the end zone yet. Eventually, one of those deep catches will result in a score. He has a very defined role on one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Priority Adds

Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans - 12.7% Rostered

Nico Collins was out this past week with a concussion. Christian Kirk was out with a hamstring injury, which is the second time he's missed time due to a hamstring injury this year. Houston would benefit from giving Noel more playing time. His speed and explosiveness could really help a struggling offense. Hopefully, the team makes him their starting slot receiver moving forward.

He's coming off three consecutive weeks scoring 8.8 half-PPR points or more. In Week 7, he had seven targets, four receptions, and 77 yards. This week, he had six targets, five receptions, and 63 yards. He's primarily played out of the slot, and with Kirk's ineffectiveness and inability to get and stay on the field, hopefully the team makes Noel their starting slot receiver for the rest of the season.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers - 12.5% Rostered

In his first game back, Watson wasted no time making his presence felt. He finished with four receptions and 85 yards, good for 10.5 half-PPR points. This offense has a lot of mouths to feed, often spreading the ball around, but this was an incredibly encouraging showing in his first game back.

Jordan Love goes DEEP to Christian Watson on 3rd down

GBvsPIT on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/WjFjHQ3HEy

— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2025

Jordan Love is playing great. This is a high-scoring offense, and Watson can have a big game with one catch. He's a priority add this week. If he can put up four catches and 85 yards in his first game back, wait until he gets his feet back underneath him.

Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers - 0.3% Rostered

Wilson was a third-round rookie last year and was injured almost the entire campaign. This year, Wilson has been irrelevant for the majority of the season. Calvin Austin III has been inactive for the past two games, but returned this past weekend against the Packers.

Roman Wilson hangs on long enough for the @Steelers TD

GBvsPIT on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/HubWYi2Whv

— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2025

Still, it was Wilson with the big game. He finished with five targets, four receptions, 74 yards, and one touchdown en route to 15.4 half-PPR points. Will this continue? Maybe not, but he's a second-year player with third-round draft capital. Pittsburgh desperately needs a No. 2 pass-catcher opposite D.K. Metcalf. Perhaps this is the game Wilson needed to become that player.

High Upside Stashes

If you do not need an immediate starter, these four players should be targeted because they offer more upside than the WR5/6's listed below and the WR4s listed above. 

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers - 41.5% Rostered

Reed (collarbone) is currently on IR, and his exact return date is unknown. However, if he's been dropped in your league, stashing Reed could pay dividends later on this season. In Week 1, he had five targets, three receptions, 45 yards, and a touchdown en route to 12.0 half-PPR points. Once Reed returns, he'll likely settle into being ranked as a WR4, and he'll have weekly WR2 upside.

The Packers have an efficient offense, and Jordan Love is currently playing lights out. Fantasy managers should want a piece of this offense. Reed has shown he can be a WR2 as a rookie, and he's still a talented player on an elite offense.

Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears - 7.5% Rostered

Burden has a higher target rate and yards per route run average than D.J. Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus. Zaccheaus is a 28-year-old journeyman. Moore hasn't been mentioned as someone who could be traded, but he's a dark horse candidate, in my opinion.

Burden could eventually leapfrog Zaccheaus, which is why it's worth stashing Burden. He's been explosive and effective with his limited opportunities. With how Chicago's passing game has struggled in recent weeks, head coach Ben Johnson could look to get Burden on the field more in the near future.

However, Burden exited their contest with a concussion and could be in danger of missing Week 9.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers - 32.2% Rostered

He tore his MCL and ACL early last season and will need some time to shake off the rust. However, he’s an IR candidate and someone you can stash for free. From 2023-2024, he had 2,357 yards and 15 touchdowns. He finished as the WR22 in 2022 and the WR12 in 2023. He’s absolutely worth taking a shot on.

He’s the receiver with the most chemistry with Brock Purdy and could be a second-half weekly WR2 starter. Reports have recently indicated that Aiyuk isn't close to returning, but if you have an IR spot, he's worth stashing. Recent reports indicated his 21-day window could be opened soon.

Deep, Deep League Stashes

Jack Bech, Las Vegas Raiders - 3.4% Rostered

Jakobi Meyers was inactive in Week 8, which resulted in Dont'e Thornton Jr. playing a larger allotment of snaps than he had recently. In Weeks 5-6, Bech had out-snapped and run more routes than Thornton. With Meyers inactive, Thornton just barely edged Bech out in both categories. Neither player did anything of note, mainly because the quarterbacks were ineffective.

Bech's value could increase in the coming weeks if Meyers is traded, which, at this time, sounds very likely. Bech is someone to stash in the deepest of leagues, but for Bech to reach any level of fantasy relevance, the quarterback play will have to improve.

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans - 21.7% Rostered

Houston's passing offense has struggled outside of star receiver Collins. The coaching staff has been reluctant to make Noel (listed above) or Higgins their primary receivers with Collins. The team has used Xavier Hutchinson and Kirk when he's been healthy. It seems more likely that Noel will leapfrog Kirk than that Higgins will leapfrog Hutchinson at this point.

Higgins did find the end zone this past weekend with Collins out with a concussion, but so did Hutchinson. In either case, Higgins's rookie status, his excellent collegiate production, and early draft capital make him an intriguing stash in deeper leagues with the hopes that his role expands.

Kyle Williams, New England Patriots - 1.2% Rostered

Boutte has been productive as the team's primary deep threat. Stefon Diggs has been a reliable pass-catcher. Williams is a third-round rookie who had a strong collegiate career. Stashing Williams is only for the deepest of leagues. Maye is playing great, and if he gets a chance as the third receiver in New England's offense, he could offer some value late in the year.

Potential WR5/6's

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens - 14.4% Rostered

Bateman hasn't been very useful or effective this season. However, he's Baltimore's primary deep-ball receiver. He's a full-time starter, and he's a trusted pass-catcher for Lamar Jackson in the end zone. Last year, he had 756 yards and nine touchdowns.

Once Jackson returns, this offense will once again be an elite unit. Their defense has been suspect —putting it mildly. If that continues, Jackson will have to throw the football and chase points more than this offense has been accustomed to over the years. That'll increase passing volume and the overall number of plays, a good thing for Bateman.

He hasn't done much for fantasy managers to add him, but the return of Jackson offers optimism.

Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers - 6.8% Rostered

Coker flashed last year as a rookie. He suffered a quadricep injury that had him start the season on IR. He returned last week and was clearly on a snap count. He played 82% of the three-receiver sets this past weekend, compared to just 60% in Week 7. He also played two snaps in two-receiver sets after taking zero last week.

Based on what we've seen from Xavier Legette and Coker, it appears that Coker is the better player. This could result in Coker eventually becoming the team's No. 2 target-earner behind Tetairoa McMillan. Head coach Dave Canales called him the starting slot receiver before the season, and this could still pay dividends if his role continues to grow.

Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs - 45.0% Rostered

Brown does not have a single game with fewer than 5.0 half-PPR points. He's scored over 8.0 half-PPR points four times. Xavier Worthy missed time due to a shoulder injury, and Rashee Rice was suspended for six games, which has undoubtedly affected Brown's scoring. Still, Patrick Mahomes is playing absolutely out of his mind right now.

The Chiefs' offense has also been very pass-heavy this season, and given their running game, that seems unlikely to change. While Rice, Worthy, and Travis Kelce will be Mahomes' primary targets, Brown is good enough to have some spike weeks in an elite passing offense, with an MVP-caliber quarterback.

Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans - 5.3% Rostered/Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans - 25.3% Rostered

Calvin Ridley was out this past weekend with a hamstring injury. These two were the team's primary receivers. They both finished with eight targets. Dike caught seven of his passes for 93 yards. Ayomanor finished with four receptions for 53 yards. This offense has been dreadful all year, so expectations should be kept in check.

However, rookies tend to improve as the season progresses. If Ridley remains out, given how poor this team is, the game script and passing volume should allow both players to have 5+ targets per game.

Tyler Johnson, New York Jets - 0.1% Rostered

Garrett Wilson (knee) and Josh Reynolds (hip) were both inactive this past weekend. Johnson was the most effective of the remaining Jets' receivers. He had five targets, three receptions, 64 yards, and one touchdown en route to 13.9 half-PPR points. Last weekend, he caught all three of his targets for a total of 60 yards.

The team desperately needs a dependable No. 2 receiver opposite Wilson. That hasn't been Reynolds. It hasn't been Allen Lazard, but it could be Johnson. He's been far more effective than the other options on the roster.

Boom or Bust, Touchdown Dependent WR6's

• Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers - 33.4% Rostered
• Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers - 6.4% Rostered
• Tre' Harris, Los Angeles Chargers - 3.7% Rostered
• Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers - 33.0% Rostered
• Christian Kirk, Houston Texans - 16.2% Rostered
• Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins - 12.4% Rostered
• Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 15.0% Rostered
• Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks - 2.0% Rostered
• Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals - 3.0% Rostered
• Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars - 0.4% Rostered
• Darius Slayton, New York Giants - 11.4% Rostered
• DeAndre Hopkins, Baltimore Ravens - 5.3% Rostered
• Tyler Lockett, Las Vegas Raiders - 1.0% Rostered

These players have no consistent volume from week to week. All of these players are touchdown-or-bust players. If they don't score a touchdown, you're very likely to be disappointed with their outcome because they do not generate enough volume to make them consistent fantasy producers.

These players should be viewed as boom-or-bust options. The positive for them is that they only need one target to have a productive fantasy outing. All of these players are capable of turning their one target into a 40-yard touchdown (minus Shepard, but he has the benefit of catching passes from an elite quarterback and an injury-ravaged receiver room).

That's the pro-argument for them. The con-argument is that it might be the only target they get.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 9

TE2's with Some Upside

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns - 54.9%

Fannin has shown so much potential in his rookie season. David Njoku could be traded soon. He's in the final year of his contract with the Browns. If that were to happen, Fannin's role would increase, while his target competition decreases.

He's averaging 8.4 half-PPR PPG this year. He has four targets in every game this year and has scored 7.0 half-PPR points or more in five games this season. The quarterback play and offensive efficiency limit his upside, but Fannin's talent is evident.

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 49.9% Rostered

Over the last four games, Otton has averaged 8.4 half-PPR PPG. Evans (collarbone) is now out for the rest of the fantasy football season. Godwin is dealing with a lower leg injury after having a severe ankle injury last year. The chart below does not include this past weekend, but shows just how effective Otton has been with these two receivers out.

With how well Baker Mayfield is playing and with the injuries at receiver, Otton should be viewed as a high-end TE2 with top-12 weekly potential.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars - 12.7% Rostered

***On IR until Week 11***

Strange will be out of the next two games and potentially longer, but Strange was the leading receiver for the first four games of the season. He had scored 7.5 half-PPR points or more in three out of the first four games. That includes two games with seven targets and six receptions.

He's not someone that fantasy managers necessarily need to stash or even hold onto; he's here merely as a "hey, don't forget about me" player. He was a solid TE2 to start the season, and he hadn't even scored a touchdown yet. He's someone to look to add in the next 2-3 weeks when his return gets closer.

Strong Streamer Options in Positive Matchups

• Theo Johnson, New York Giants - 19.4% Rostered
• Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - 28.3% Rostered
• Evan Engram, Denver Broncos - 60.2% Rostered
• Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears - 24.1% Rostered

Deep, Deep League Options

• A.J. Barner - Seattle Seahawks - 6.6% Rostered
• Noah Fant, Cincinnati Bengals - 4.6% Rostered
• Mason Taylor, New York Jets - 20.2% Rostered
• Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens - 4.0% Rostered
• Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints - 33.0% Rostered
• Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans - 9.8% Rostered
• Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints - 2.5% Rostered
• Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - 17.3% Rostered
• Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers - 0.9% Rostered

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 9

Must Add

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers - 58.7% Rostered

If Purdy was dropped in your league, he's a must-add. Purdy can score points with his legs, and the San Francisco 49ers are passing the ball at a high rate. They have Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Aiyuk could be returning in the next few weeks. They have a soft schedule the rest of the way.

Purdy was QB9 last year, and you can argue the environment this year is more conducive to fantasy scoring.

QB2s

Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals - 36.7% Rostered

Flacco has been with Cincinnati for three weeks. He's scored 18.76, 25.98, and 24.32 points in those three games. For all the reasons we loved Joe Burrow (toe), we should be in love with Flacco, too. The Cincinnati defense is atrocious, but the weapons and pass-catchers are elite, which makes the volume through the roof.

In three games, Flacco is averaging 42 pass attempts per game. He's a high-end QB2 with QB1 upside.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks - 21.0% Rostered

Since Week 1, Darnold has rattled off five straight games with 15.5 or more points. During this stretch, he's averaging 19.2 PPG. That includes back-to-back weeks of 27.6 and 20.0 points. The Seattle offense doesn't generate much passing volume, but it has been incredibly efficient, spearheaded by Darnold. He has shown to have a solid floor with a surprising ceiling.

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings - 25.7% Rostered

Many are saying he was softly benched. I don't necessarily buy that. In either case, it sounds like McCarthy will be under center for Week 9. In his first start, McCarthy scored 22.22 points. We shouldn't overreact to his poor Week 2 game against Atlanta. They caused issues for Josh Allen, too, in Week 7.

From @NFLGameDay Morning: The #Vikings expect to start JJ McCarthy vs. the #Lions; The #Falcons will start Kirk Cousins today; A look at the #Ravens situation with Lamar Jackson that the NFL is reviewing. pic.twitter.com/5Dq2lgPsoD

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 26, 2025

McCarthy was an elite prospect. He's got elite pass-catchers around him. He can score points with his legs. His head coach, Kevin O'Connell, is one of the best in the business. All the reasons we loved him in the preseason still exist. McCarthy is well worth the stash.

QB2 Options for Deeper or Superflex Leagues

• Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars - 27.5% Rostered
• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans - 60.2% Rostered
• Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers - 41.9% Rostered
• Justin Fields, New York Jets - 50.0% Rostered
• Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons - 14.2% Rostered
• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins - 14.2% Rostered
• Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers - 18.4% Rostered

Team Defenses (D/ST) - Waiver Wire Streamers for Week 9

• Los Angeles Rams vs New Orleans Saints - 35.8% Rostered
• Green Bay Packers vs Carolina. Panthers - 67.1% Rostered
• Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans - 41.4% Rostered
• Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings - 58.5% Rostered
• Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders - 9.8% Rostered

Waiver Wire Parameters for This Article

A few rules and notes about this weekly waiver wire article. Every league is different, with varying roster formats and sizes. That makes this one of the more challenging articles because every league’s waiver wire can look dramatically different. Even the host site you use matters. ESPN has rankings that differ from those of Yahoo!, which in turn differ from those of CBS or Sleeper, and all of this impacts which players are drafted and which are not.

We only identify quarterbacks and tight ends with a roster percentage of 60% or less. For running backs and receivers, that number drops to 50%. We don’t delve too deeply into defenses, but I highlight a few streamers to target each week.

Positions are also categorized into different groups, such as RB3 or a potential league-winner to stash. You’ll need to know your roster and what to look for on the waiver. From there, each positional groups are arranged based on who you should prioritize first at that position. We use ESPN’s roster percentages for this article.

For example, if you are looking for immediate value, you might be more interested in someone like Knight than Corum right now because Knight is more likely to score points in the short term. Know your team and your team’s needs. If you’re healthy and you’re starting roster is strong, shoot for upside.

As a reminder, please use promo code "BOOM" at checkout for an additional 10% off any NFL Premium package.

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