Attention, fantasy aficionados! It’s time to gear up because Week 9 has rolled in, and we’ve got two teams taking a breather on their bye week. Think of it as a mini-vacation for them while you’re left scrambling to fill those roster spots! As the season barrels ahead like a quarterback on a mission, the waiver wire is about to become your best friend—your trusty sidekick in this fantasy adventure, or perhaps your secret weapon in the battle for bragging rights!

For all you fantasy managers navigating the stormy seas of injuries and bye weeks, this week is a golden opportunity to snag some emerging talent, capitalize on those unfortunate injuries, and maybe even rescue a few underperformers from the depths of fantasy despair. Picture the waiver wire as your personal treasure chest, where clever managers can dig up hidden gems that could turn your season around faster than you can say “Game-winning touchdown!”

In this article, we’ll embark on a thrilling quest to uncover the top waiver wire adds for Week 9, shining a spotlight on key players poised to elevate your fantasy lineup and help you tackle the challenges ahead. Whether you’re patching up injuries, beefing up your roster, or just trying to fill those bye week holes (and no, we’re not talking about the ones in your favorite pair of sweatpants), these strategic additions could mean the difference between celebrating a glorious victory or sulking in defeat like a kid who just lost their favorite toy.

So, grab your fantasy gear, put on your thinking cap, and let’s dive into the treasure hunt of waiver wire wonders! It’s time to turn those bye week blues into a victory parade that would make even the most seasoned NFL fan jealous! Onward to glory, my fantasy comrades—let’s make this week one for the ages!

*For a player to make this WAIVER list, they must be rostered in LESS than 50% of 1QB, Full PPR Sleeper Leagues.*

WEEK 9 BYES

  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • San Fransisco 49ers

QUARTERBACKS
ALL PLAYERS ARE IN ORDER BY SUGGESTED WAIVER PRIORITY
{All stats are from the prior week.}

Photo by: (Scott Galvin-Imagn Images)
  • JAMEIS WINSTON (Browns)
    Rostered: (10% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Chargers, BYE, Saints
    (27-41 Completions, 334 Yards, 3 TDs; 2 Carries, 2 Yards)
    {Finally we get to see the ultimate gunslinger in action! Jameis has brought hope to the Browns team and to the city of Cleveland. He gets the Chargers in week 9 and then he will be on bye. Hoping to see him continue to grow in this offense. He will elevate all the players around him if he continues to sling the rock like he did against the Ravens.}
  • MATT STAFFORD (Rams)
    Rostered: (33% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Seahawks, Dolphins, Patriots
    (25-34 Completions, 279 Yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 3 Carries, -4 Yards)
    {Matty Snapback is back! Now that he has his top two wide receivers back on the field, look the eff out! He turned the Vikings defense into it’s old self. Stafford gets an opportunity to face the Seahawks who’ve been absolute garbage against quarterbacks. Here’s an opportunity to get some big points in week 9.}

STASH OR DEEP LEAGUE GRABS

  • BO NIX (36% Rostered) Broncos Nix can be added in all deep leagues. He’s been having an excellent rookie season. Bo gets the Ravens in week 9, whom just got lit up by Jameis Winston. If you are in a bind, I don’t mind starting him.)
  • MASON RUDOLPH (3% Rostered) Titans Mason showed out against the stout Lions defense. Regardless of losing, he still put up two touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air. He threw the ball 38 times for 266 yards, yes he threw two interceptions but it shows he is willing to throw the ball. This add is for deep leagues and superflex leagues and he may only be a stash if Levis comes back.)

RUNNING BACKS
ALL PLAYERS ARE IN ORDER BY SUGGESTED WAIVER PRIORITY
{All stats are from the prior week.}

Photo by: (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Ron Chenoy USA TODAY NETWORK)
  • JALEEL MCLAUGHLIN (Broncos)
    Rostered: (19% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Ravens, Chiefs, Falcons
    (8 Carries, 47 Yards; 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards, 1 TD)
    {Okay so hear me out, Jaleel looked better with the opportunities given to him than Williams did. If anything happens to Williams, Jaleel fills right in.}

STASH OR DEEP LEAGUE GRABS

  • ISAAC GUERENDO (9% Rostered) 49ers Isaac needs to be rostered, but remember the 49ers go on their bye week in week 9. So you won’t have him next week.He gets the Buccaneers and Seahawks when they come back from the bye. If CMC is still on IR, look for Guerendo to keep carving out a role for himself in this high end rushing offense.)

WIDE RECEIVERS
ALL PLAYERS ARE IN ORDER BY SUGGESTED WAIVER PRIORITY
{All stats are from the prior week.}

Photo Credit: (Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
  • CEDRIC TILLMAN (Browns)
    Rostered: (24% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Chargers, BYE, Saints
    (9 Targets, 7 Catches, 99 Yards, 2 TDs)
    {If you didn’t pick up Cedric last week and he’s still available in your league, you are going to be fighting with the rest of your league to get him on your roster. He NEEDS to be rostered.}
  • ELIJAH MOORE (Browns)
    Rostered: (7% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Chargers, BYE, Saints
    (12 Targets, 8 Catches, 85 Yards)
    {The gunslinger is at the helm, which means a lot of targets to go around! Looks to me as if Elijah might be the favorite target on the team. So if you are in need of someone who’s going to get a ton of opportunity, then look no further.}
  • KALIF RAYMOND (Lions)
    Rostered: (2% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Packers, Texans, Jaguars
    (2 Targets, 2 Catches, 14 Yards, 1 TD; 5 Punt Returns, 190 yards, 1 TD)
    {The Lions are a high powered offense and even better, the defense is equally as high powered which gives more opportunities for punt returners. If your league rewards points for return yards, then Raymond needs to be on your team.}

TIGHT ENDS
ALL PLAYERS ARE IN ORDER BY SUGGESTED WAIVER PRIORITY
{All stats are from the prior week.}

Photo Credit: (Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)
  • ZACH ERTZ (Commanders)
    Rostered: (42% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Bears, Giants, Steelers
    (11 Targets, 7 Catches, 77 Yards)
    {Ertz once again turns out to be serviceable. We were telling everyone last week Ertz should be rostered and started against the Panthers. We hope ya’ll listened. He will continue to be on this list.}
  • TYLER CONKLIN (Jets)
    Rostered: (20% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Bears, Giants, Steelers
    (4 Targets, 3 Catches, 42Yards, 1TD)
    {Tyler with back to back weeks with a TD. Rodgers can’t win games, but at least he’s getting Conklin the ball in the endzone.}

STASH OR DEEP LEAGUE GRABS

  • WILL DISSLEY (3% Rostered) Chargers: Dissley has had 18 targets over the last two weeks. I love that kind of usage. Over the next three weeks he gets the Browns, Titans and Bengals.)

KICKERS
ALL PLAYERS ARE IN ORDER BY SUGGESTED WAIVER PRIORITY
{All stats are from the prior week.}

Photo Credit: (Peter Casey-Imagn Images)
  • AUSTIN SEIBERT (Commanders)
    Rostered: (49% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Giants, Steeler, Eagles
    (0 for 0 on XPs, 4 for 5 on FGs Made, two 0-29 yd FGs, one 30-39 yd FG, one 40-49 yd FG)
    {Seibert has to be one of the top kickers this year. He hasn’t gone under 8 points all season. If he’s out there on waivers, Austin is an absolute must roster kicker! If it wasn’t for a blocked field goal, he would have kicked 5 field goals in week 8.}
  • BLAKE GRUPE (Saints)
    Rostered: (4% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Panthers, Falcons, Browns
    (0 for 0 on XPs, 2 for 3 on FGs Made, two 40-49 yd FG)
    {Derek Carr seems to be on track to be back in week 9. This will give Blake more opportunities to get within field goal range. I think the real reason I’ve got Grupe here is because he faces two of the top three worst teams against kickers the next two weeks. And in week one he put up 22 points against the Panthers.}

D/ST
ALL PLAYERS ARE IN ORDER BY SUGGESTED WAIVER PRIORITY
{All stats are from the prior week.}

Photo Credit:  (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
  • BEARS (Chicago)
    Rostered: (39% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Colts, Jets, Lions
    (2 Sacks, 18 Points Allowed, 6 TKLs for Loss)
    {Not super in love with this play, but honestly not loving many matchups this week for teams under 50% rostered. Arizona can put up points, but the Bears did slow down Jayden Daniels until that final Hail Mary.}

Individual Defensive Players (IDP)
ALL PLAYERS ARE IN ORDER BY SUGGESTED WAIVER PRIORITY
{All stats are from the prior week.}

Photo Credit: (Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)
  • E.J. SPEED (Colts) LB
    Rostered: (21% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Vikings, Bills, Jets
    (10 Total Tackles, 1 Tackle for Loss, 1 Pass Defended)
    {Speed showed out in his return and put up 10 tackles. I could see him putting up similar numbers against the Vikings in week 9.}
  • BRIAN BURNS (Giants) DL
    Rostered: (41% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Commanders, Panthers, BYE
    (5 Total Tackles, 1 Sack, 3 Hits on QB, 1 Tackle for Loss)
    {Brian got the go ahead to play against the Steelers this week after trending towards sitting out and he did excellent. He has a sack in every game over the last four games, but Jayden could be a little bit more slippery than most quarterbacks. I still like his odds of getting to the QB. Next week is he faces the Panthers. If you don’t feel comfortable playing him this week, Burns could be a good stash for the Panthers in week 9.}
  • TRE’VON MOEHRIG (Raiders) DB
    Rostered: (5% in Sleeper Leagues)
    Next 3 Opponents: Bengals, BYE, Dolphins
    (9 Total Tackles, 1 Pass Defended, 1 INT)
    {Over the last 4 games, Tre’Von has only one game with less than 8 tackles. He should be very busy against the Bengals offense this week, especially if Higgins returns.}

One thing I always try to instill in Fantasy Football Managers, navigating the waiver wire is a crucial aspect of fantasy football that can significantly influence your team’s performance throughout the season. By staying informed about player trends, injuries, and matchups, you can make strategic additions that enhance your roster and increase your chances of success. Remember, the key to winning in fantasy football often lies in being proactive and making the right moves at the right time.

As you gear up for the next week, don’t just sit there like a deer in headlights, check out the players we’ve spotlighted and make those savvy adds that could send your team soaring. Remember, fortune favors the bold (and the well-informed)! So, good luck out there, and may your waiver wire decisions lead you straight to fantasy glory!

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR WAIVER CLAIMS!