Week 8 of the fantasy football season offered plenty of fireworks with a full slate of games, and now we’re back to sifting through the waiver wire amid bye weeks.
Entering Week 9, there will be four teams on a bye, and all four teams have some serious star power who will be sitting on the bench.
Teams on a bye in Week 9 include the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Priority Free Agents
1. RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Coming out of the bye week, Hubbard led the Panthers backfield with 17 opportunities, including a 75% running back rush share. Meanwhile, a healthy Miles Sanders had just two carries and played just 12 snaps. Hubbard didn’t do much with his increased workload, but the backfield was all his, making him one of the top adds this week.
Availability: 41%
FAAB: 20%
2. WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
The rookie wideout has at least five receptions in each of his last four games and in five of the past six. He’s clearly the No. 2 option in the passing game and has led the Colts in receiving yards over the last two weeks. He’s a solid WR3 option moving forward.
Availability: 38%
FAAB: 20%
3. RBs Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman, Los Angeles Rams
It’s still a pretty even split between these two, and Freeman was the one to find the end zone this week. They will continue to limit each other’s ceilings, but they are worthy of RB3 status through the bye weeks until Kyren Williams comes back from the injured reserve list.
Availability: Henderson (55%), Freeman (78%)
FAAB: 15%
4. RB Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals
The backfield belonged to Demercado yet again as he worked primarily as the early-down back. His value is likely to be short-lived with James Conner eligible to return in Week 10, but he can be worthy of a spot start with teams needing depth at running back through the bye weeks.
Availability: 64%
FAAB: 15%
5. TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Teams with a need at tight end can bump Kincaid higher on the list. The rookie showed plenty of potential in prime time, posting a 5-65-1 receiving line while finding the end zone for the first time in his career. With Dawson Knox rehabbing from wrist surgery, Kincaid’s role is only likely to grow.
Availability: 29%
FAAB: 15%
6. RB Leonard Fournette, Buffalo Bills
Fournette reportedly is signing with the Bills, so there’s a chance he will have an impact in this backfield. Until we get more information, we should still view James Cook as the lead back, but with the understanding that it could become more of a split if Fournette proves worthy of a significant role. It’s unlikely Fournette will have the majority of the backfield’s reps to himself, but he still could work his way into a relevant role.
Availability: 96%
FAAB: 10%
7. TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Similarly to Kincaid, McBride saw an expanded role due to Zach Ertz hitting the injured reserve list. He turned that opportunity into a 10-95-1 receiving line on 14 targets, which led all tight ends. We shouldn’t expect this every week from McBride, but it’s something to take notice of. That kind of upside isn’t often found on the waiver wire.
Availability: 80%
FAAB: 10%
8. WR Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
The rookie led all Chiefs wide receivers in snaps and targets and was second in routes run. His role is expanding and even though Patrick Mahomes is going to spread the ball around, he has the most upside in the room.
Availability: 31%
FAAB: 10%
9. QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Murray has yet to be activated from the PUP list, but the Cardinals traded Joshua Dobbs, so rookie Clayton Tune will start in Week 9. For now, Murray is more of a stash. However, quarterback-needy teams may want to get a jump on adding him before he’s activated, especially if they can spare an injured reserve slot.
Availability: 45%
FAAB: 10%
10. WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
For managers who need some variance in their starting lineups, Shaheed once again proved he can win a week with just three catches. He torched the Indianapolis Colts secondary for a 3-153-1 receiving line. His game is volatile by nature, but he’s an interesting WR3/flex option during the bye weeks for those who need some potential upside.
Availability: 36%
FAAB: 5%
Grab-n-Stash
RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Johnson was a bit limited in his return from a two-week concussion, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him see a bigger workload in the second half even when Khalil Herbert is eligible to return from the injured reserve list.
Availability: 50%
FAAB: 5%
RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
The backfield still belongs to Kenneth Walker III, but Charbonnet has looked efficient with his touches. He could see an increased receiving role in the second half, and he has immense upside if Walker goes down.
Availability: 58%
FAAB: 5%
WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
The rookie slot receiver led the Packers in routes run during the loss to the Minnesota Vikings en route to a season-high 83 yards. His ceiling will be limited with the presence of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, but he has some value as a WR4 type.
Availability: 83%
FAAB: 3%
QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
No, we should not be going all in on Levis. However, we have to take notice when a rookie completes 19-of-29 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception. Monitor this situation from your bench, especially with some favorable matchups coming up.
Availability: 96%
FAAB: 3%
WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
The rookie finally showed some life posting season-highs in targets, receptions and yards during prime time. He still has a long way to go, but this is something to monitor considering the upside this offense might provide if Johnston gets things going.
Availability: 81%
FAAB: 3%
Streamers of the Week
QB Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears: Carr has now topped 300 passing yards in each of his last three games and will get to take on a Bears defense allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Availability: 63%
QB Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers: He has at least 300 passing yards or multiple touchdowns in each of his last three games. Carolina has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game over the last three weeks.
Availability: 84%
TE Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams: It wasn’t a pretty performance in Week 8, but Musgrave is a solid option against a Rams defense allowing the second-most PPR points per game to tight ends over the last five weeks.
Availability: 78%
QB/TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears: We’re going back to Hill as a tight end streamer. The Bears have allowed the eighth-most PPR points per game to the position over the last five weeks.
Availability: 65%
Las Vegas Raiders D/ST vs. New York Giants: This should be a low-scoring matchup even if Daniel Jones returns. The Giants offense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses over the last five weeks and could be down to the third-string quarterback.
Availability: 87%
Los Angeles Chargers D/ST at New York Jets: We’ll run it back with the Chargers defense taking on the Zach Wilson-led Jets offense, which has allowed 13 sacks in their last three games.
Availability: 74%
PK Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans: Boswell gets to kick at home on a short week against the Titans, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to kickers over the last five weeks.
Availability: 87%
PK Matt Gay, Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers: The Colts offense has been moving the ball well enough, and the Panthers have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to the position over the last five weeks.
Availability: 80%
