Tyrone Tracy Jr. and the Best Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Pickups

It's important to think ahead in fantasy football. Being well-prepared for bye weeks and injuries can make all the difference when it comes to having a successful campaign.

Many managers learned the value of depth in Week 8. With a 2025 NFL season-high six teams out on bye this past week, there was a mad dash to the waiver wire to find spot-starters.

Those who weren't fortunate enough to land one of the handful of viable free-agent targets were forced to turn to their bench for answers. This event showed the importance of using the waiver wire to turn over the bottom of a roster regularly and to keep quality depth on hand.

Even if you made it through byemageddon unscathed and are trending towards clinching a playoff spot in your league, it's not time to stop looking forward.

Many of the top waiver pickups won't play in Week 9 due to byes, but they can offer strong rest-of-season value for managers with the foresight to line up replacements for remaining byes and pad out their injury insurance options.

With that in mind, let's highlight the best free-agent targets on the board in Week 9.

Suggestions are available in approximately half or more of all Yahoo! Sports leagues. Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros' PPR data. Suggested free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids are based on a $100 dollar starting budget.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (36 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $3-5

Darnold has been on the QB1 fringes for much of the 2025 season. After finding his footing with the Seattle Seahawks, he ripped off three top-10 finishes during a four-game stretch between Weeks 3 and 6.

While the 28-year-old came back to earth with a QB24 performance in Week 7 and was subsequently dropped in many leagues due to Seattle's Week 8 bye, he won't remain on waivers much longer.

Any manager needing a serviceable starter or top-end backup should put in a claim on Darnold. He's got a dream matchup with the Commanders defense—a unit giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season—on tap and is a strong bet to turn in another QB1 finish.

Justin Fields, New York Jets (52 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $2-4

After being benched at halftime last week, Fields bounced back on Sunday with a performance that likely saved his starting role.

The first-round pick-turned-journeyman had one his best outings of the 2025 campaign, picking up 20.9 fantasy points and his first win as a Jet by completing 21-of-32 passing attempts for 244 yards and a touchdown while adding 31 rushing yards on 11 totes.

Although New York has had a mostly miserable campaign with him at the helm, Fields has been and will remain one of the highest upside fantasy quarterbacks due to his dual-threat skills. He's now finished in the top 10 in four of his seven starts, although extreme volatility (he finished No. 30 or worse in his three other appearances) still makes him a risky play.

Despite Gang Green's previous struggles with Fields at the helm, managers should feel confident claiming the signal-caller in wake of his Week 8 showing.

Although he won't be in action this coming week due to New York's bye, he is worth adding now as a premium backup if your usual starter will be out on bye between Weeks 10-14. He's even a potential weekly starter for managers still lacking an upper echelon QB.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh (47 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

Rodgers isn't going to turn back the clock and become an MVP candidate at the age of 41, but managers can still wring a bit of fantasy value out of the future Hall of Famer.

Since coming off a Week 5 bye, he has averaged a respectable 19.6 points per game. He's yet to finish below QB16 during that three-game stretch and has a pair of QB7 finishes under his belt in 2025.

While you aren't going to get consistent top-five outings from the aging signal-caller, Rodgers is a fine deep-league starter and a quality backup in just about any format.

Running Back

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (48 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $30-40

New York's backfield took a massive blow in the form of a season-ending ankle injury to Cam Skattebo. With the breakout rookie set to be sidelined for the rest of 2025, Tracy will reclaim the top spot in Big Blue's platoon.

While Tracy's Week 8 stat line wasn't anything too impressive—he mustered 53 yards on 12 touches against the Eagles—he's going to log a hefty amount of volume going forward.

New York must reallocate the 22 touches per game Skattebo had been averaging since securing the starting job back in Week 4, and Tracy figures to earn the lion's share of that workload.

Devin Singletary will also be in the mix, but the veteran backup is only worth an add in deeper formats at this point. Tracy should be the priority target in any league he's available in, as his unique blend of home-run rushing abilities and top-notch receiving skills give him immense value down the stretch.

Trey Benson / Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals (55 / 18 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $10-15 (Benson), $3-5 (Knight)

The Cardinals haven't been a reliable source for running back production this season, but managers could do far worse than adding one or both of their widely available options.

Benson was projected to become a borderline RB1 in wake of James Conner's season-ending injury, but a meniscus injury delayed a potential breakout campaign for the 2024 third-rounder.

While Benson won't be able to contribute for at least one more week as he finishes out his IR stint, he's still up for grabs in nearly half of all leagues. He could be a sneaky smart addition before news of his impending return officially breaks and he retakes control of this platoon.

For those who need an immediate fill-in for Week 9, Knight should have you covered. He'll draw the start against a vulnerable Cowboys defense on Sunday, an extremely favorable matchup for a player who has been averaging a respectable 10.4 fantasy points since joining Arizona's active roster in Week 5.

Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (13 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Quinshon Judkins has been one of the few bright spots for the downtrodden Browns in 2025, but his breakout campaign hit a wall in Week 8.

The rookie exited Sunday's bout against the Patriots with a shoulder injury, and it remains to be seen if he'll be able to play through the issue when Cleveland returns to action after a Week 9 bye.

If Judkins can't go, Sampson will be a fantastic fantasy play. He's already proved he can carry the backfield by going off for 93 yards on 20 touches in the opener, although he was relegated to backup duties after Judkins joined the squad.

Sampson mainly contributed as a receiver following Judkins' exit, hauling in five of six targets for 29 yards to go along with three totes for zero yards.

Jerome Ford figures to be in the mix more should Judkins be sidelined, but the veteran saw just two targets and failed to log a single carry in Week 8. He'd only become a viable waiver target in deep formats if Judkins were to officially be declared out.

Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles (17 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Saquon Barkley finally broke out in Week 8 with his first 100-plus rushing outing of 2025, but the explosive performance was marred by a groin injury.

With Barkley exiting Sunday's win over the rival Giants in the third quarter, fantasy managers will want to ensure the reigning Offensive Player of the Year's primary handcuff is on their roster.

Although it wasn't clear going into the contest, Philly revealed Bigsby is the No. 2 RB in its platoon. The former Jaguar was trusted to grind out the win, garnering nine totes to Will Shipley's three and A.J. Dillon's zero on the day.

Bigsby dazzled during his extended look, too, tallying 104 yards to cement his status as the next man up in this backfield.

While he won't offer any value in Week 9 due to Philadelphia's bye and it's unlikely he'll see enough touches to move the needle in any game Barkley is active, Bigsby still stands out as a strong addition to fantasy benches for his tremendous handcuff value.

Isaiah Davis, New York Jets (9 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Davis has been steadily picking up steam during October, emerging on the deep league radar after posting a pair of top-40 finishes between Weeks 5-7. He's going to garner far more attention this week after exploding for 109 yards on a mere 12 touches.

He not only picked up the first top-10 finish of his career, but also drastically improved his odds of seeing more work going forward by helping Gang Green clinch their first victory of the season.

While an unfortunately timed bye will keep Davis out of lineups this coming week, there is still a possibility the 23-year-old becomes a red-hot waiver candidate.

If Breece Hall—a trendy trade target due to his expiring contract—ends up being dealt in wake of his backup's breakout showing, Davis would immediately become a must-add in every format.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Stew Milne

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte

Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (40 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $6-9

Boutte has firmly established himself as one of the league's biggest scoring threats. Despite generating just five targets in Sunday's big win over the Browns, the rising Patriots star made the most of them by picking up 75 yards and his fourth touchdown of the last three weeks.

His limited number of looks—he hasn't seen more than five since the opener and is averaging just 3.75 per game—does put a ceiling on his upside, but he's now finished in the top 25 in three consecutive weeks and put up top-10 numbers in two of the last three.

Boutte's scoring outbursts cannot be overlooked any longer. Drake Maye's primary big-play target in a surging New England passing attack is well worth a weekly flex start.

Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (37 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $2-4

Franklin is finally starting to enjoy the success many envisioned he would when the Broncos paired him with Oregon teammate Bo Nix in the 2024 draft.

While it took a little while for the battery's rapport to translate to the NFL level, Franklin is quickly becoming one of the driving forces in Denver's passing game.

The 22-year-old has now led the Broncos in targets for two consecutive games. He largely failed to capitalize on his volume in Week 7—catching just three of 10 targets for 19 yards, although he salvaged his fantasy line with a score—but feasted on Sunday against the Cowboys. He finished the day with six receptions on eight looks for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

While Nix has a lot of mouths to feed and most matchups won't be as soft as Dallas, Franklin still needs to be rostered for his increasingly important role in a red-hot Denver aerial attack.

Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (15 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-3

Washington was prominently involved in Miami's best showing of 2025, reeling in four of his five targets for 36 yards and a score.

While these weren't world-beating marks, they made him a solid flex play during byemageddon and keep him on the fantasy radar for Week 9's juicy matchup against a vulnerable Ravens secondary.

Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (29 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

The Colts have been relying on Pierce to generate big plays in their Daniel Jones-led offense.

It's a boom-or-bust fantasy role that occasionally works out great—see his WR22 finish after reeling in five of his 10 targets against the Chargers in Week 7—and other times doesn't move the needle, evidenced by four finishes of WR40 or worse in six contests.

Week 9 is a great time to expect another huge scoring outburst from Pierce. The wideout draws a great matchup against a collapsing Pittsburgh passing defense, one that Jordan Love just eviscerated for 360 yards and three touchdowns and allowed Joe Flacco to ring up 342 yards and a trio of scores the previous week.

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans (22 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

Higgins may not be living up to his pre-draft sleeper status, but the second-round rookie is finally starting to show some signs of life.

With Nico Collins on the sidelines, Higgins led Houston in targets during Sunday's victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

It was the type of performance that could be indicative of a larger workload going forward. While Higgins only caught four of those looks for 34 yards, a touchdown reception helped him secure the first top-25 finish of his career.

He is a risky play against a formidable Broncos secondary in Week 9, but he's worth adding in deep leagues and works as a desperation WR3/flex starter with four teams out on bye and injuries continuing to mount.

Tight End

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (22 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

The Bears are finally starting to get Loveland more involved in their offense. After a slow start to his rookie campaign, he emerged as the primary tight end in Chicago during Cole Kmet's absence.

While worthwhile fantasy metrics didn't come with the increased playing time last week, they don't appear to be far off either. Chicago will be going up against a Bengals defense that has been lit up by tight ends this season, a matchup that should result in Loveland earning the first TE1 finish of his career.

A.J. Barner, Seattle Seahawks (7 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

It's a lean week for tight end streamers, but Barner could be a viable option for those lacking an every-week starter. He's notched a trio of top-10 finishes in 2025 and has scored a double-digit number of fantasy points on four occasions.

Although Barner was discarded in most leagues following a TE42 finish in Week 7 and subsequent bye, he's coming out of the break well-rested and ready for showdown with the Commanders.

Washington hasn't been good at stopping tight ends in 2025, making him a perfectly fine plug-and-play choice for Week 9.

Mason Taylor, New York Jets (29 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

After a pair of quiet weeks, Taylor reemerged on the fantasy radar with another top-10 finish. His 14.4-point outing against the Bengals represented the second-best tally of his blossoming career and the third time in five weeks that he scored at least 11.5 points.

While the Jets are out on break in Week 9, Taylor is still worth scooping off the free-agent scrapheap for managers who have the bench space to stash him. It's not often you'll find a tight end with this much potential widely available.

Taylor's rostership projects to skyrocket if he comes out of the break to post another TE1-tier finish.

D/ST

AP Photo/Ian Walton

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Josaiah Stewart (10), linebacker Jared Verse (8) and defensive end Tyler Davis (90)

Los Angeles Rams (36 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

The Rams are a strong D/ST choice for not only Week 9 but also potentially well beyond. The unit had averaged 14 points in the two games leading up to its Week 8 break and 8.7 points on the year—the fourth-highest average in the league.

Take advantage of L.A.'s post-bye availability and snap this group up ahead of a dream showdown with the offensively-challenged Saints on Sunday and another quality matchup against the 49ers in Week 10.

Seattle Seahawks (45 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

The Seahawks D/ST has been a fantasy powerhouse in 2025. The unit is tied with the Texans for averaging second-most points per game this season (9.43), but is available in most leagues following a Week 8 bye.

That rostership percentage will skyrocket this week, as the Seahawks become one of the top defensive pickups ahead of their clash with the Commanders.

While Washington hasn't been a great D/ST matchup, Seattle is startable against the squad. The real value in this pickup lies in the November schedule, though.

With the Seahawks set to take on three teams (Cardinals, Titans and Dolphins) in a four-week stretch that all fall within the top 10 in points allowed to opposing D/STs, you can feel comfortable plugging-and-playing this group on a weekly basis.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

After opening the campaign with a stunning 46 fantasy points across the first four games, the Jaguars D/ST came down to earth in recent weeks.

Things hit a new low when Jacksonville had negative-four points in a blowout loss to the Rams, but a fortunately-timed Week 8 bye should have allowed this team time to regroup.

The Jags get a chance to show vast improvement and return to their early-season form with a dysfunctional Raiders on the docket in Week 9. Vegas has given up the second-most points to opposing defenses in 2025 and should be targeted by D/ST streamers hunting value.