Fantasy: Top waiver-wire pickups for Week 9

Finding studs on waivers is often the key to winning a fantasy championship. Check back every week to learn who is trending up.

Roster percentages are based on Sleeper leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Sam Darnold, Seahawks

Darnold posted a rough outing against a strong Texans defense in Week 7 before having a bye last week. However, the 28-year-old has been productive in most of his other games against defenses with fewer playmakers. Darnold had QB10, QB2, and QB9 finishes in Weeks 3, 5, and 8, respectively.

The Commanders showed they're more than capable of surrendering big quarterback performances against the Chiefs on Monday night, as evidenced by Patrick Mahomes' 299 yards and three touchdowns (though Mahomes also threw a pair of interceptions). That was still good for one of the five best quarterback fantasy performances despite the turnovers. Darnold isn't Mahomes, but there are opportunities to be had.

Other QBs to pick up:

• Justin Fields, Jets (43%): Fields had a big game against the Bengals, but there was plenty of uncertainty regarding whether he or Tyrod Taylor would be QB1 before Taylor was made inactive with a knee injury. The Jets haven't committed to Fields being the starter following the team's Week 9 bye, so place this waiver claim with caution.

• Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (22%): I'm mentioning Tagovailoa very cautiously. The 27-year-old balled out against a Falcons team that's been excellent against quarterbacks Sunday, and he has a juicy matchup against the Ravens on deck. Like with Fields, I'd make this waiver claim cautiously.

Running backs

Tyrone Tracy, Giants

Tracy lost the lead running back role to Cam Skattebo after Week 1, but he's New York's top tailback once again with Skattebo set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining a dislocated ankle against the Eagles. Tracy finished the game against Philadelphia with 13 touches for 53 total yards. Devin Singletary had two carries for zero yards and one catch for 28 yards.

Tracy had a solid rookie season in 2024. He had 1,123 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns, averaging 13.5 touches and 66.1 scrimmage yards per game. Matchups with the 49ers and Bears should give Tracy the chance to find a groove, as they've allowed seven and eight scrimmage touchdowns, respectively, to running backs this season.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears played over 50% of the Titans' offensive snaps for the second time this season against the Colts, and he had his best game of the season with 82 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 12 touches. In comparison, Tony Pollard had 53 yards and didn't score with an equal number of touches.

The ceiling for Tennessee's offense remains limited, but the 24-year-old has more upside than almost every other Titans skill player. Spears will only get more expensive as he continues to eat into Pollard's weekly workload, but he's unlikely to be more than a flex option most weeks. One of his better matchups comes this week against the Chargers, who are around the league median in fantasy points allowed to running backs.

Other RBs to pick up:

• Emanuel Wilson, Packers (9%): It would take a truly bizarre turn of events for Wilson to become Green Bay's starter, but the 26-year-old outgained Josh Jacobs with just two fewer touches against the Steelers. Wilson is definitely worth stashing in deeper leagues, but managers with shallower benches don't need to rush to add the third-year running back.

• Tank Bigsby, Eagles (9%): Bigsby played well when Barkley exited Philadelphia's win over the Giants with a groin injury. The Eagles have a Week 9 bye, and Bigsby's value is directly related to Saquon Barkley's health, so only make this claim if you have an open bench spot or a player you won't miss by dropping them.

Wide receivers

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers

Aiyuk is rostered in just over 50% of leagues, but I had to mention him now that he could be returning to practice this week. The one-time All-Pro receiver is now week-to-week as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL and MCL. The 27-year-old is just two years removed from a 75/1,342/7 campaign and could wind up a clutch addition as we enter the second half of the season, especially if you can pick him up for less FAB than he'll command once activated.

I would place a claim for Aiyuk if you have an easily replaceable bench spot, and especially if you have an open injured reserve slot. Make sure your league allows players on PUP to be placed on IR, though.

Xavier Hutchinson, Texans

Both Hutchinson and Jayden Higgins (22%) are worth considering in deeper leagues, but both lose a lot of appeal once Nico Collins and Christian Kirk return from injury. Hutchinson is the wideout I'd prioritize, as Collins and tight end Dalton Schultz are the only Texans ahead of Hutchinson in most receiving categories. Hutchinson is also tied with Collins for the most receiving touchdowns on the team.

Hutchinson will be in for a tough Week 9 test even if Collins and Kirk remain out. The Broncos are the best team in the league at limiting wide receivers, and they should remain strong despite losing reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II to injury. Hutchinson should have more opportunities in the team's following matchups with the Jaguars and Titans, as both are among the 12 worst defenses at preventing wideouts from scoring fantasy points.

Other WRs to pick up:

• Christian Watson, Packers (15%): Watson made his season debut Sunday night against the Steelers, hauling in all four of his targets for 85 yards. The 6-foot-4, 208-pounder will likely be inconsistent thanks to him being more reliant on deep shots and giving up short-area targets to the Packers' other weapons, but you could do much worse than Watson on the waiver wire.

• Roman Wilson, Steelers (3%): This is more of a stash recommendation until we see Wilson consistently involved in Pittsburgh's offense. The 24-year-old recorded a 4/74/1 receiving line against the Packers, but he played just 46% of the offensive snaps.

Tight ends

Mason Taylor, Jets

You'll need to be able to deal with Taylor having a bye this week if you place a waiver claim for him, but the 21-year-old rookie has emerged as one of the Jets' top pass-catchers. Taylor is second in every major receiving category among all Jets pass-catchers with only Garrett Wilson ahead of him.

The LSU product should benefit from several positive matchups as the season continues, including a pair against the Browns and Patriots after the bye. Both teams are among the 12 worst at preventing fantasy points to tight ends this season.

Other TEs to pick up:

• Colston Loveland, Bears (25%): Loveland played 81% of Chicago's offensive snaps against the Ravens, easily clearing his previous high of 67%. He only had 38 yards on three receptions, but the snap share increase is a good sign for the first-rounder's prospects for the rest of the season. Don't plan to start Loveland just yet if you do pick him up.

• AJ Barner, Seahawks (17%): Barner is one of the most notable boom or bust tight ends every week. He doesn't have any finishes between TE15 and TE37, and has needed touchdowns to finish as a top-12 tight end. That kind of inconsistency is frustrating to play around, but Barner is a better option than most at fantasy football's shallowest position.

Avoid these trap players

QB C.J. Stroud, Texans: Stroud had a strong performance against the 49ers, but the majority of his upcoming matchups aren't very friendly to quarterbacks. He'll be a solid streaming option on occasion, but that's not the case this week against the Broncos.

RB Isaiah Davis, Jets: Like Stroud, Davis had a big game in Week 8 with subpar matchups upcoming. There are future opponents that could make Davis worth picking up if he remains involved in the offense, but it's more likely that Week 8 was an outlier than a sign of things to come.

RB RJ Harvey, Broncos: Harvey had a breakout performance against the Cowboys, but that was against Dallas' notoriously soft defense, was largely thanks to a trio of touchdowns, and Harvey still only played 27% of the Broncos' snaps. Plus, Denver's remaining schedule isn't kind to running backs. Don't break the bank to add him if he's available in your league.

Andrew Dixon is a contributing fantasy analyst for theScore.