Week 9 Waiver Wire – NFL Fantasy Football – 2025

DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the waiver wire targets for this week. These waiver wire targets are normally available in 50-percent of ESPN leagues.

Follow Gthom on the cesspool they call X: @GarettThomas.

 

QUARTERBACKS

 

Sam Darnold (SEA) – 21% Rostered

Darnold returns to action and gets a much easier road test in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders. Washington has struggled to slow down opposing quarterbacks in 2025, allowing 19.6 fantasy points per game — fifth most in the NFL (prior to Monday Night Football).

In his last outing in Week 7, Darnold completed 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown and one interception against a tough Texans defense. His 8.62 fantasy points were his second-lowest total of the 2025 season. Prior to that, from Weeks 2 through 6, Darnold ranked as QB8 in fantasy points per game with 19.8. In that stretch, he posted big weeks of 28.6 and 20.0 fantasy points.

Brock Purdy (SF) – 58% Rostered

Purdy has battled injuries this season and has suited up for only two contests. He performed well in those appearances, posting 18.7 fantasy points in Week 1 and 19.6 in Week 4.

The fourth-year quarterback was inactive in Week 8 but logged three limited practices, a positive sign for his potential return in Week 9. If he’s cleared to play, Purdy will face the Giants at MetLife Stadium. New York has struggled to contain opposing quarterbacks, allowing 21.1 fantasy points per game which is the third most in the NFL.

Joe Flacco (CIN) – 37% Rostered

Since arriving in Cincinnati, Flacco has been much better for fantasy purposes. He has three games under his belt and has finished with fantasy scores of 18.7, 26.9, and 24.3, respectively. It has been reported that he is battling a shoulder injury, and his status should be monitored heading into Week 9.

As it stands, Flacco is expected to play against the Bears this Sunday. In seven games this season, Chicago has allowed opposing quarterbacks to score an average of 18.1 fantasy points. The Bears have also allowed the third-most touchdowns to the quarterback position, and the only two teams above them have played eight games to Chicago’s seven.

Low-End Streaming Options at Quarterback

• Trevor Lawrence (JAC) @ Las Vegas Raiders
• Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) vs Baltimore Ravens
• J.J. McCarthy (MIN) @ Detroit Lions
• Aaron Rodgers (PIT) vs Indianapolis Colts

 

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

Tyrone Tracy Jr (NYG) – 42% Rostered | Devin Singletary (NYG) – 1% Rostered

It was a brutal injury to starting running back Cam Skettebo. His season is over due to a dislocated ankle. With this unfortunate news, Tracy and Singletary will burst onto the fantasy scene as players to add heading into Week 9.

Of the two backup running backs, Tracy is the clear one to prioritize. In his rookie season last year, Tracy averaged 13.2 PPR points from Week 5 through 18, ranking 22nd at his position across the league. Additionally, he posted a few big weeks with 22.7 and 24.0 points. He is also matchup-proof because of his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. In 2025, Tracy started the season as the starter, but Skettebo quickly ascended as a player who demanded touches, relegating Tracy to a largely disappointing role for fantasy managers.

Singletary should not be overlooked in deeper formats or by managers who missed out on Tracy. Singletary lost his starting job in 2024 when Tracy claimed it. In 2025, he has been the clear RB3 on this depth chart. Singletary will see more opportunities now, but he will presumably be second fiddle to Tracy.

Zonovan “Bam” Knight (ARI) – 19% Rostered

Knight led his team’s backfield in total touches for a second week in a row during Week 6 and 7 games. In Week 7 he took 14 carries for 57 yards and added three catches for seven yards as a receiver. His 9.4 PPR points were not particularly helpful, but his workload was very encouraging.

The third-year back has a juicy matchup in Week 9 when he and the Cardinals travel to play the Dallas Cowboys, who have not been good at stopping running backs. This season, they are allowing 29.6 PPR points to the position, which ranks as second-worst in the NFL.

Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 36% Rostered

In his fourth week back with the Titans, Spears turned in his best fantasy score of 2025 with a 17.2 PPR finish. This came on the back of nine carries for 59 yards and one touchdown on the ground and three catches for 23 yards as a pass catcher.

It is also worth noting that this was the second time over the last three games he has logged a higher snap participation than presumable starter Tony Pollard. It was announced on October 27 that Pollard is being shopped by the team, which may explain why he saw fewer snaps this past week against the Colts.

Spears is clearly ascending within the interim coaching staff’s pecking order. If Pollard were traded, Spears would profile as a weekly low-end RB2 who can catch passes and make splash plays.

Running Backs with Low-End FLEX Usage

1. Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 36% Rostered
2. Kyle Monangai (CHI) – 39% Rostered
3. Tyler Allgeier (ATL) – 36% Rostered
4. Devin Singletary (NYG) – 1% Rostered
5. Kareem Hunt (KC) – 28% Rostered
6. Isaiah Davis (NYJ) – 8% Rostered

Deep League Running Backs or Stash Only Candidates

1. Trey Benson (ARI) – 48% Rostered
2. Ollie Gordon (MIA) – 11% Rostered
3. Brashard Smith (KC) – 13% Rostered
4. Emmanuel Wilson (GB) – 4% Rostered
5. Bhayshul Tuten (JAC) – 22% Rostered
6. Blake Corum (LAR) – 8% Rostered
7. Jeremy McNichols (WAS) – 4% Rostered
8. Jaydon Blue (DAL) – 14% Rostered
9. Samaj Perine (CIN) – 6% Rostered
10. Dylan Sampson (CLE) – 10% Rostered
11. Jerome Ford (CLE) – 20% Rostered
12. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) – 1% Rostered

 

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Kayshon Boutte (NE) – 30% Rostered

Boutte enters Week 9 against the Falcons as the top wide receiver available and has solidified himself as a must-own fantasy piece. He has scored a receiving touchdown in three straight games and recorded at least 13.5 PPR points in each. Since Week 6, he has averaged 18.8 PPR points per game, which would rank as WR7 overall during that span.

While Boutte is a strong addition at this point in the season, his offense tends to spread the ball around and involve several pass catchers. That can create volatility, as managers saw from Weeks 2 through 5, when Boutte averaged 5.9 PPR points.

Despite those down weeks, Boutte’s usage, efficiency, and offensive environment make him a player who needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats.

Tre Tucker (LV) – 45% Rostered

Tucker is a fantasy piece that needs to be on rosters. Not only can he randomly pop off for big games, but he is the leading receiver on his team this season. That favoritism could increase too, because the other main competing receiver, Jakobi Meyers, is being shopped for a trade. If Meyers were traded away, it would make Tucker the clear top wide receiver in this offense.

Tucker has been a solid flex option for managers this season. In PPR formats, he is averaging 13.5 fantasy points per game, which ranks him as WR26 on the season. He put up a 40-burger against the Commanders in Week 3, which highlights his ceiling potential.

His next game will be against the Jaguars, who, like the Raiders, are coming off their bye week. The Jaguars allow 37.8 PPR points to the wide receiver position, which is the seventh most in the NFL (prior to Monday Night Football).

Troy Franklin (DEN) – 44% Rostered

Start fantasy receivers against the Cowboys. Franklin was a chalky waiver addition for fantasy managers leading into Week 8, and he certainly paid off with six catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. While he has had big games in 2025, Franklin has had really bad weeks too. He averages 12.0 PPR points per contest, which ranks as WR38 overall.

Franklin does carry downside, which is primarily his usage on the field. He has not seen more than 65 percent of snaps since Weeks 2 and 3. Additionally, his last two relevant weeks were largely touchdown dependent, which is a very difficult stat to predict—especially when he is on the field less than 65 percent of snaps.

Make no mistake, Franklin should be on rosters at this point and carries flex-level production with upside in the right situations. Week 9 is likely not one of those good fantasy situations for Franklin. He and the Broncos will travel to the Texans, who are the sixth toughest defense for fantasy wide receivers. His Week 10 game is far more desirable, as that will be against the Raiders at home.

Josh Downs (IND) – 54% Rostered

Downs is starting to heat up over his last three games. During that stretch, he has averaged 13.5 PPR points, putting him in the low-end WR2 range compared to his receiving peers. Part of his recent success comes from scoring a touchdown in two of his last three contests.

The downside for the third-year player from North Carolina is that he remains the clear third option in the passing game. To make matters worse, his team can run the ball effectively against nearly anyone, which limits the overall ceiling of the passing offense.

Add Downs as a bona fide flex option who can be started with a decent level of confidence. His next matchup comes against the Steelers, whose secondary just allowed 360 passing yards and three touchdowns in Week 8’s edition of Sunday Night Football.

Christian Watson (GB) – 13% Rostered

In his first game of 2025, Watson finished with four catches for 85 yards, catching all four of his targets and playing 56 percent of the snap. Based on how Watson profiles, managers should be happy with this result. Watson is a boom-or-bust player, and anytime he can fall in the middle, it should keep managers satisfied.

Watson carries immense weekly upside—and a low floor—based on his career so far. The problem is that there are too many pass catchers to feed, and the Packers are always happy to lean on their run game. This makes all Green Bay receivers extremely volatile on a weekly basis.

The fourth-year receiver will take on the Panthers in Week 9. They are allowing 27.2 PPR points per game to opposing receivers, the fifth-lowest mark in the NFL. While it seems like a tough game, this offense can light it up against anyone, leaving Watson in play as a low-floor, high-ceiling flex option.

Tez Johnson (TB) – 43% Rostered

In Week 8 against the Saints, he turned in a flex-worthy performance for his fantasy managers, finishing with five catches for 43 yards on six targets. While the injury bug has hit Tampa Bay hard, Johnson has seen extended run. He should also continue as the WR3 even when Chris Godwin Jr. returns to the lineup.

Johnson is on bye this week, making it difficult to roster him unless you are desperate for production at receiver. Still, he should be picked up and stashed, as he has averaged 11.7 PPR points over his last four games.

Darius Slayton (NYG) – 11% Rostered

Slayton got back into the mix during Week 8 after missing his last two games with an injury. It was a disappointing box score for the 28-year-old veteran: two catches for 26 yards on five targets.

While he has not shown much this season, there is reason to add Slayton to rosters. This offense has lost key playmakers who catch the football, and they need players like Slayton to fill the gap. That has yet to happen, but the Giants’ rookie quarterback has gun-slinging ability to light up a scoreboard any given week.

Xavier Hutchinson (HOU) – 2% Rostered

It took the Texans’ top receiver being inactive, but Hutchinson was able to post career highs in targets, receptions and receiving yards against the 49ers. He finished with five catches for 69 yards and one touchdown on six targets. In Week 5, he also put up 16.8 PPR points, meaning he has finished with 16 or more PPR points in two of his last three games.

The risks with Hutchinson are present and should be noted. While the Houston front office would likely prefer a young and emerging receiver to take the reins of the WR2 position, they traded for Christian Kirk in the offseason. Kirk has had a long injury history this season, which continues a trend from his entire career. Hutchinson is likely to remain the WR2, but he may not maintain the 70 percent snap participation he has seen during his recent stretch of success.

Add Hutchinson as a speculative pickup who should not be started against a brutal Denver Broncos defense in Week 9. Managers can look to utilize him in Week 10 if his usage metrics continue to trend in the right direction.

Malik Washington (MIA) – 12% Rostered

Washington had been seeing flex-worthy usage, but his results hadn’t reflected it. That changed in Week 8 when he caught four passes for 36 yards and one touchdown against the Falcons on five targets. It marked Washington’s best fantasy day in just his sophomore season. He remains in play because top pass catchers such as Tyreek Hill (MIA) and Darren Waller (MIA) continue to miss time.

The Dolphins’ offense feels volatile from week to week. Their next game is at home against the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. Miami is currently a seven-point underdog, which suggests the Dolphins will need to throw the ball often to stay competitive. That aligns well with the matchup, as the Ravens are allowing 40.3 PPR points per game to wide receivers this season, the third most in the NFL.

Dyami Brown (JAC) – 2% Rostered | Parker Washington (JAC) – 0% Rostered

There have been very odd rumblings out of Jacksonville concerning top sophomore receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (BTJ). While BTJ has struggled mightily this season, during the bye week he was subject to trade rumors. In the unlikely event he is traded, it would benefit Parker Washington and Dyami Brown, both of whom have had decent usage with BTJ in the mix. Even if BTJ plays, one of these receivers could be a deep-league flier.

It is very difficult to know who the better option is for managers. Washington and Brown average 7.2 and 7.3 PPR points, respectively. Their snap percentages fluctuate throughout the season due to injuries and game plans. Brown seems to have the better ceiling of the two, but likely a lower floor.

Brown gets the edge due to his snap counts when healthy. Both are closer to desperation options rather than reasonable ones. They face the Raiders, who allow 39.6 PPR points per contest, the fifth most in the NFL.

Chimere Dike (TEN) – 5% Rostered

Dike heard his critics (me being one of them) and quieted the noise with an encore performance of seven catches for 93 yards on eight targets. Just one week ago, Dike finished with four catches for 70 yards and one touchdown. With back-to-back 16-point PPR results, Dike is a player to add in deeper leagues.

While Dike has a great two-game run, it has been during the absence of the team’s clear WR1, Calvin Ridley. While Ridley is paid to be the WR1, he has not lived up to this expectation. This leaves the door open for Dike to continue his run inside a tumultuous offense that seems to be trending in the right direction since firing their head coach.

 

 

TIGHT ENDS

 

Harold Fannin Jr (CLE) – 55% Rostered

Going into his bye week, Fannin needs to be stashed on rosters. He is very clearly going to be fantasy relevant for the rest of the season, and tight end is a position where there are not many clear options.

Since Week 5, he has been TE9 overall in PPR points per game, 13.1. During this time, he supplanted Njoku’s usage as well, which is a critical litmus test. Additionally, rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel (CLE) has been peppering his tight ends with targets. Njoku is averaging 12.7 PPR points in the same span, which highlights Gabriel’s tight end gaze.

Fannin is a must-roster tight end, despite it being his bye week. When he returns in Week 10, he will be facing the New York Jets defense which is allowing 14.0 PPR points per game to opposing tight ends, a middling amount.

Theo Johnson (NYG) – 19% Rostered

After a four-game stretch where he was the TE5 overall, Johnson disappointed with a quiet three catches for 20 yards.

Since Jaxson Dart (NYG) was named the starter, Johnson has been an incredible pickup. He is averaging 11.5 PPR points, which ranks as TE11 overall during Weeks 4 through 8. He has added four touchdowns in that span as well.

He remains available in 71 percent of ESPN leagues, which is a mistake worth capitalizing on.

A.J. Barner (SEA) – 7% Rostered

Barner has quietly performed well for fantasy stakeholders, mostly in games where he is able to find the end zone. Within the tight end ranks, he has the fifth-most red zone targets, sixth-most red zone touchdowns, and he is tied for the sixth-most red zone receptions. This is on top of his four touchdowns and the 9.1 PPR points per game he averages in 2025.

While his target and reception numbers could be better, Barner is producing with his efficiency metrics, which keeps him in play each week for fantasy until further notice. He faces the Commanders defense in Week 9, and they have allowed 14.0 FPPG to the tight end position (prior to Monday Night Football).

Juwan Johnson (NO) – 33% Rostered

After hitting rock bottom for fantasy managers, which likely led you to cut him, Johnson is back on the fantasy radar after two consecutive performances with solid usage. In Week 7 he had five catches for 79 yards on seven targets, and in Week 8 he had five catches for 53 yards on eight targets. He played 71 and 76 percent of snaps, respectively.

During Weeks 4 through 6, he never scored more than 5.8 PPR points and never saw more than four targets in a game. These last two games show Johnson is being prioritized again, similar to Weeks 1 through 3, when he had eight or more targets and at least five catches in each game.

Johnson is back in play in PPR formats. While he is not going to be a matchup winner, he can move the needle enough to put your team in position to win.

 

 

DEFENSES TO STREAM

1. Chargers D/ST @ Tennessee Titans
2. Lions D/ST vs Minnesota Vikings
3. Jaguars D/ST @ Las Vegas Raiders
4. Cowboys D/ST vs Arizona Cardinals