The injuries continue to pile up. In 2023, we’ve now seen or will see, nearly half of every NFL deploy a backup quarterback for a significant amount of in-game action. On top of the injuries, bye weeks return in Week 9, as well. There are just six weeks left in the fantasy football season. Whether you’re pushing for the playoffs, a first-round bye, or just don’t want to come in last place, there are a few options on the waiver wire to fit every need.
You may be dealing with injuries, bye weeks, or just need to cycle out players from your bench. Whatever the case may be, the waiver wire is there to help. There’s not always a need to put in a claim for players each week, but if you do, make it count. Below, we’ll look at players at each position, who are on 50% or less of most fantasy football rosters, that could be considered on the Week 9 waiver wire.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire By Position
Running Back
Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams
Through two weeks of action since returning to the Rams, Darrell Henderson’s usage is a pleasant surprise for fantasy football. Ahead of Week 9, this is the last call to pick him up off of the waiver wire. He was the only Los Angeles Rams running back to draw a target in Week 7. In Week 8, Henderson, again, was the only targeted running back, this time seeing seven in a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Henderson didn’t lead the backfield in snaps but saw 19 total opportunities (carries + targets) on 29 snaps. Royce Freeman led the group in snaps and even found the end zone on a one-yard run. Both should be on rosters in deeper leagues, but for 10- to 12-team leagues, especially in Point Per Reception formats, Henderson is the guy you want.
It’s unclear whether or not quarterback Matthew Stafford will play in Week 9. He injured his thumb against the Cowboys. Whether he’s under center or not, I think the Rams will lean on the run in Week 9. They’re heading to Green Bay to take on the Packers who’ve allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs. Especially with four teams on a bye, Henderson can be started as a flex option, or in some cases, a volume-based RB2.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
The rookie running back is trending toward sharing the Seattle Seahawks backfield with Kenneth Walker after starting the season significantly behind him. Walker’s injuries this season have narrowed the gap. In fact, Charbonnet played 10 more snaps than Walker in Week 8. That’s the first time this has occurred this season. Walker had out-snapped Charbonnet 257 to 94 prior to Week 8.
Charbonnet rushed for 10.6 yards per carry and scored a season-high 8.4 PPR fantasy points this past weekend. He needs to be on rosters in all leagues as he could emerge as a late-season league winner if he takes over in Seattle for any reason. The Seahawks now sit atop the NFC West. With playoff aspirations, I imagine both backs will see touches, but it could be Charbonnet leading the way they feel he gives them a better chance to win games.
Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals
Another running back on the Week 9 waiver wire that’s a volume-based play is Emari Demercado. He has been added, dropped, added again, and perhaps dropped again in your league this season. We still don’t know when James Conner is set to return from Injured Reserve this season. It’s also now known that quarterback Kyler Murray will not make his season debut in Week 9, as well.
All that said, Demercado should continue with a heavy workload until further notice. He logged 20 carries in a one-score loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. Just two other Cardinals running backs combined for four total carries. This comes after 17 touches for Demercado in Week 8. He does have pass-catching upside, as we saw more in Week 8, but the wide receivers and tight end Trey McBride (below) handled their business in the passing game on Sunday. Demercado needs to be added on the Week 9 waiver wire purely for his volume, though he has a brutal matchup in Cleveland against the Browns in Week 9.
Other Running Backs to Consider
- Leonard Fournette is now a Buffalo Bill. I mentioned him on the waiver wire a few weeks ago with this rumor floating around. His presence brings a significant hit to James Cook’s value, but maybe takes a few rush attempts away from quarterback Josh Allen, as well. Fournette is not just a goal-line option for this team. He has a career average of 3.94 receptions per game and three seasons of 69 or more total catches on two different teams. Stash him until we see what his role is in Buffalo.
- Ezekiel Elliott remains a stash-worthy running back given how disappointing Rhamondre Stevenson has been for New England this season. Zeke has 101 total rushing yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns over the last three weeks. If he sees a significant bump in playing time or touches, he can be trusted as an RB2 in the back half of this season.
Wide Receiver
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
The Week 9 waiver wire doesn’t hold a ton of value at the wide receiver position. Johnston has the best chance to yield fantasy production as Joshua Palmer struggles with injuries. Palmer is Johnston’s biggest competition for touches since Mike Williams succumbed to a torn ACL earlier this season.
With Palmer playing less than 100% in Week 8, Johnston logged a season-high in snaps on Sunday. Against the struggling Chicago Bears defense, Johnston had a great opportunity to succeed. That he did with season-high targets (6), receptions (5) and yards (50), as well.
Johnston presents the best opportunity of any wide receiver on the Week 9 waiver wire to succeed moving forward. You probably have better options on your roster already. However, in a larger role with Justin Herbert throwing the ball his way, Johnston could emerge as a late-season stud.
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
Shaheed remains Derek Carr’s preferred deep threat this season. That’s evident by his 3/153/1 stat line in Week 8. Shaheed now has now caught a pass of 40 yards or more in four of eight games played this season. That also includes a pass of 50 yards or more in two of his last three.
Shaheed still remains a high-ceiling, low-floor option for any fantasy team. He has four or less targets in half of his games with six or more in the other half of them. You might get a quick double-digit fantasy score from Shaheed, even on just one play, or less than seven points from him. It all depends if Carr connects with him on a deep shot or two. I’m only adding Shaheed to deeper league rosters that need the upside.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
- Brandin Cooks’ 85 receiving yards over his last two games account for 53% of his 158 total yards this season. Cooks has also found the end zone in back-to-back games. He now gets the Eagles in Week 9 who have allowed the most receptions and second-most yards and touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season.
- Marvin Mims is worth adding from the Week 9 waiver wire if either Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy are traded away. Both Broncos have been rumored to be available, but it’s uncertain if Denver will deal them prior to the NFL trade deadline. Mims has the best chance to step into a larger role if so and yield boom-or-bust flex value in most fantasy leagues.
- Jonathan Mingo is coming off of his best fantasy game of the season. His 10.2 points are a season-high out of the Panthers’ bye week. Most importantly, Mingo led all Panthers wide receivers in snaps for the third time this season. If this trend continues, and his rapport with Bryce Young develops, he could start seeing a significant increase in targets.
Tight End
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
The breakout is finally here! After the Cardinals placed Zach Ertz on Injured Reserve, McBride played a season-high 63 (82%) of the Week 8 offensive snaps for the Cardinals. With the uptick in playing time, McBride set career highs across the board. That includes targets (14), receptions (10), yards (95), and scored his first touchdown of the 2023 season. He is the only tight end besides Travis Kelce to log 10 catches and a touchdown in the same game this season. It only helps McBride if Kyler Murray comes back this season, but he is a must-add on the Week 9 waiver wire.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Like it or not, Hill is worth adding on the Week 9 waiver wire. He remains a jack of all trades for the Saints but can be played at the tight end position in fantasy football. We’ve seen this before, but are now getting a consistent role from Hill in 2023. Over the last three weeks, he has logged eight, nine, and then 10 touches respectively by week. Over that same span, he’s scored 12.26, 16.8, and 22.46 points each week. Hill and the Saints get the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings in Weeks 9 and 10. Both are defenses he can take advantage of as the Saints desperately look to add wins to their 4-4 record prior to a Week 11 bye.
Quarterback
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
On the tails of telling you to pick up Taysom Hill on the Week 9 waiver wire, Derek Carr is still the starting quarterback for the Saints who have a fantastic chance to move to 6-4 against the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings over the next two weeks. The fact of the matter is that with the plethora of injuries to the quarterback position, finding a high-quality option on the waiver wire is hard to do. Carr, however, provides an adequate floor, especially in Week 9 and 10. He’s averaging 18.02 points per game over his last three. You can feel confident he reaches that number, at least, in his next two.
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders
Sam Howell remains second in total pass attempts this season, just three behind Kirk Cousins, who unfortunately just tore his Achilles. Howell is averaging 38.5 pass attempts per game. If you’re desperate for a quarterback on the waiver wire, and Howell is available, you can at least bank on the volume here. His floor is a bit unpredictable week-to-week but he did just score a season-high 31.98 points against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
If you’re looking for a top quarterback option for the fantasy football playoffs, the Week 9 waiver wire is the last opportunity to add Kyler Murray. He has a chance to start as soon as Week 9 with head coach Jonathan Gannon announcing Joshua Dobbs will no longer hold the job. However, that gives us a little hope we could see him back in Week 10 for the Cardinals. Murray has a few good matchups to roll him out prior to the fantasy playoffs, but Murray gets the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles defenses in the semifinals and finals in Weeks 16 and 17. They both currently rank inside the top-five in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks through the first eight weeks.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty