Week 9 Waiver Wire Box Score Stat Projections for Top Fantasy Pickups and Sleepers

The injury hits just keep on coming in the 2025 NFL season. Fantasy football managers have already seen stars like Malik Nabers, Tyreek Hill and Joe Burrow suffer significant injuries. New York Giants rookie sensation Cam Skattebo was the latest to go down, suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8.

With so many stars being sidelined, the waiver wire has been a popular place.

With the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on bye this week, even managers with mostly healthy rosters may need to rely on the wire this weekend.

Here, you'll find suggestions and projections for this week's top point-per-reception (PPR) pickups.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Freed

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a bit of a slump, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers is playing some of the best football of his recent career. He's thrown eight touchdowns over his last three games while topping 200 passing yards in each of those contests.

This week, the Steelers have a pivotal matchup against the surging Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis—along with a bad Steelers defense—is likely to make it more of an offensive track meet than a defensive struggle. That's good for Rodgers' fantasy outlook.

The Colts don't present an outright favorable matchup, but they haven't exactly been shutting down opposing quarterbacks either. Indy has surrendered the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season.

Rodgers is available in over half of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

Week 9 Projection: 246 passing yards, 2 TDs

Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

With Skattebo out for the year, second-year running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is likely to regain the starting gig in New York. His weekly upside is limited since the Giants aren't afraid to run their offense through rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. However, he should see a reasonable volume-based floor.

With Skattebo going down this past week, Tracy ended up with two catches, 10 carries and a season-high 53 scrimmage yards.

Tracy and the Giants will have a middle-of-the-road matchup this week against the visiting San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco's defense has been hampered by injuries, but the unit has still only surrendered the 17th-most fantasy points to RBs.

Managers can expect a good-not-great outing from Tracy, who is available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Week 9 Projection: 3 receptions, 88 scrimmage yards, 1 TD

Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos

AP Photo/Bart Young

The Denver Broncos have found their offensive groove over the past two weeks, and second-year wideout Troy Franklin has been a big part of the fun.

The Oregon product, who played his college ball with Broncos QB Bo Nix, has logged 18 targets, nine receptions, 108 yards and three touchdowns over his past two games. He's seen five or more targets in six of his eight outings this season.

Assuming the Broncos don't go into a run-heavy shell this week against the Houston Texans, Franklin should have another solid day. Houston is a tough matchup—it has surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs—but Franklin's growing volume is impossible to ignore.

Franklin is rostered in 38 percent of Yahoo leagues and 44 percent of ESPN leagues.

Week 9 Projection: 5 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD

Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland hasn't been the immediate difference-maker most expected he would be. Even with Cole Kmet sidelined in Week 8, the Michigan product caught just three of his five targets for 38 yards.

However, managers in deeper leagues can consider Loveland this week, as the Bears are set to visit the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are potent enough offensively with Joe Flacco behind center to keep Chicago passing fairly consistently. They're also terrible on defense and vulnerable to opposing tight ends.

No team has surrendered more fantasy points to opposing tight ends than Cincinnati.

Loveland is still a bit of a boom-or-bust play this week, but he's widely available. He's rostered in just 22 percent of Yahoo leagues and 24 percent of ESPN leagues.

Week 9 Projection: 5 receptions, 52 yards

*Fantasy scoring and roster information from FantasyPros.