Week 9 Waiver Wire Fantasy Football Lineup Options After NFL Injury Reports

It may feel like the 2025 NFL season just started, but we're already approaching the halfway point—and the fantasy playoffs are on the not-too-distant horizon. Now's the time to buckle up for that postseason push.

This week, only four teams will be on bye, but injuries are still leaving managers with limited lineup options. As has been the case throughout the 2025 season, the waiver wire will again play a pivotal role in Week 9.

Here, you'll find a look at the top remaining plays of Week 9, the latest from the Week 9 injury report, and the top waiver-wire targets at each position.

All rankings and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Panthers QB Bryce Young

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Quarterbacks Brock Purdy, Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco are all listed as questionable this week. While Dalton started for the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, Bryce Young is set to return to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 9.

Mac Jones is expected to play in place of Purdy again, and it appears that Jacoby Brissett will get another start in place of Kyler Murray.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold should be a quality fill-in this week, and he's still available in over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and 60 percent of ESPN leagues.

Darnold had an underwhelming game against the Houston Texans in Week 7—Seattle was on bye last week—but had a 295-yard, two-touchdown game before that. He should have another solid outing this week against a Washington Commanders team that has surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs.

The list of other quarterbacks to consider on the wire this week includes Trevor Lawrence, Aaron Rodgers and Michael Penix Jr.

Running Back

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Bears RB Kyle Monangai

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs have already ruled out Rhamondre Stevenson and Isiah Pacheco, respectively. The Chicago Bears have ruled out both Roschon Johnson and D'Andre Swift.

Alvin Kamara is listed as questionable.

Zonovan Knight is a top waiver target at running back who is likely to still be available. The Arizona Cardinals are missing their top two running backs, and Knight led the backfield the last time they played.

Knight had a modest 64 scrimmage yards in his last outing, but he may have more upside against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Knight is still available in over half of Yahoo leagues and in 45 percent of ESPN leagues.

Similarly, Monangai may have a real chance to shine against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing backs. Given the Bears' backfield injuries, Monangai could see a fairly substantial workload.

Monangai is rostered in 28 percent of Yahoo leagues and 31 percent of ESPN leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The big news at receiver this week is that Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua is set to return from his ankle injury. Nacua also has a terrific matchup against a Washington Commanders defense that has surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

Luther Burden III, Terry McLaurin, Ricky Pearsall, Tim Patrick, Dontayvion Wicks, Calvin Ridley and Marvin Mims Jr. have been ruled out this week, while the Jacksonville Jaguars placed Travis Hunter on injured reserve.

Rashid Shaheed and Bryce Oliver are questionable.

The waiver pool has been quite a bit deeper at receiver than at running back this season, and things remain the same in Week 9. Kayshon Boutte and Troy Franklin are two high-level adds to target.

Boutte is quickly becoming one of New England's biggest offensive playmakers and has reached the end zone in three straight games. He's available in over half of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

Franklin has reached the end zone in back-to-back weeks and is coming off a six-catch, 89-yard outing. He's facing a tough matchup against the Houston Texans but is available in roughly 50 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Darnell Mooney, Jayden Higgins, Elic Ayomanor and Alec Pierce are other wideouts worth considering this week.

Tight End

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

Raiders TE Brock Bowers

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Oronde Gradsden II, Los Angeles Chargers

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Nacua isn't the only fantasy superstar set to return this week. Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is set to be back as well. He should return to being a focal point in Las Vegas' passing attack.

Dalton Schultz and Will Dissly are questionable, while Daniel Bellinger is doubtful.

Juwan Johnson is probably the "safest" tight end to target on the wire this week. The Los Angeles Rams will make for a tough matchup, but Johnson has averaged 6.5 targets per game. Unless new starting quarterback Tyler Shough simply can't get Johnson the ball, he should have a solid PPR floor.

Johnson is rostered in only 34 percent of Yahoo leagues and 33 percent of ESPN leagues.

Theo Johnson, AJ Barner and Jonnu Smith are other tight ends to consider in deeper leagues this week. It's also worth checking in on Harold Fannin Jr. and Mason Taylor, who are both on bye but are worth stashing for future weeks.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.