With the fantasy football season entering its second half, the waiver wire remains arguably the most important tool to make that push for the playoffs.
After having a full slate of games last week, only two teams are on a bye in Week 9: the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) 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.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
1. WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
The rookie wideout finally had a true breakout game this week with a 6-111-2 receiving line. Despite the Chargers’ run-heavy offense, McConkey has recorded at least six targets in all but one game, and he has a 24% target share on the season. He shouldn’t be available after this week.
Availability: 38%
FAAB: 15%
2. RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
With Travis Etienne (hamstring) inactive for the second consecutive week, Bigsby again assumed the starting role. He had a modest 78 rushing yards on 18 carries, but he saw more receiving work than ever, recording a season-high three targets while running 16 routes — the same amount as D’Ernest Johnson. Etienne will have a role when he returns, but Bigsby could be making his case as the 1a in the backfield.
Availability: 28%
FAAB: 15%
3. RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite being a game-time decision with a toe injury, Irving was electric as the backfield mate to Rachaad White. Even though White led in snaps and routes run, Irving led the backfield in targets and carries. The rookie back recorded 44 rushing yards on just nine carries and logged a season-high seven receptions for 40 yards. He now has double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five games.
Availability: 31%
FAAB: 15%
4. WR Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
The rookie put together another impressive game this week, leading the Bills wideouts in snaps while logging a 22% target share for the second consecutive game. With seven targets in each of the last two games, Coleman is starting to establish himself as the X-receiver in this offense. There will be natural volatility, but Coleman is a solid bet to make for the second half.
Availability: 59%
FAAB: 10%
5. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 25-year-old appears to be in the middle of a breakout campaign. Otton logged his second consecutive game with 10 targets, turning them into a 9-81-2 receiving line. Without Mike Evans (hamstring) for roughly the next month and Chris Godwin (ankle) for the rest of the season, Otton should be a weekly starter for managers. He has an 18.3% target share on the season and hasn’t dipped below 17% in a game since Week 3.
Availability: 37%
FAAB: 10%
6. WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
In his first game without DeAndre Hopkins, Ridley went bananas. The 29-year-old posted 10 receptions for 143 yards on 15 targets — all of which were by far season-high totals. It was the first time Ridley had at least 10 receptions and 140 yards in a game since Week 15 of the 2020 season. With a 31% target share over the last three weeks, Ridley will be extremely involved moving forward, and his schedule opens up very nicely to provide some upside as a WR3/flex option. While likely owned, check in case his poor play resulted in a cut.
Availability: 31%
FAAB: 10%
7. RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
Tracy plays Monday night so we’ll see if this needs updating at all. The rookie has seemingly taken over the 1a role in the backfield of a poor offense, but his receiving work gives him a chance to have a decent floor every week.
Availability: 48%
FAAB: 10%
8. Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
The second-year wideout exploded for another big day, posting a 7-99-2 receiving line on nine targets. It may have been a bit of fool’s gold considering the matchup, and we shouldn’t expect Jameis Winston to throw for 334 yards and three touchdowns every game. But we also can’t ignore what Tillman is doing. He has a tough matchup, then a bye week, so managers should avoid going all in on him. Still, there’s flex value here.
Availability: 81%
FAAB: 10%
9. RB Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers
We’ve talked about Brooks plenty. The rookie should come off the Reserve/Injured list within the next two weeks or else miss the rest of the season. He has RB2 upside, even though it’s difficult to imagine him usurping Chuba Hubbard for the starting role.
Availability: 37%
FAAB: 10%
10. WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
Jennings (hip) was inactive this week, and the 49ers are heading into a bye. So, there’s no need to go all in right now. However, he could be a strong asset coming out of the bye week if he’s healthy, so it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to stash him for the second half of the season.
Availability: 41%
FAAB: 5%
Grab-n-Stash
Suggested FAAB usage for potential stash players shouldn’t exceed more than 5%. It’s best to try to get these players without spending any FAAB at all, if possible.
WR Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears: Odunze has had one great performance, but he’s a candidate to breakout in the second half.
Availability: 65%
RB Braelon Allen, New York Jets: The backup to Breece Hall is a strong stash as he becomes an instant RB2 if Hall goes down.
Availability: 93%
RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers: We’ll see what happens when he plays Monday night, but Warren could be a nice add for the second half.
Availability: 63%
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson looks great, but Allgeier is still a high-end handcuff.
Availability: 63%
RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers: The rookie has had a modest role behind J.K. Dobbins but is a top handcuff in case of injury.
Availability: 89%
RB Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills: James Cook is having a strong season, but Davis has shown flashes. There’s major upside if Cook gets hurt.
Availability: 74%
RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens: The second-year back could be back soon from last year’s knee injury. If anything monitor his status and potential to take over the receiving role from Justice Hill.
Availability: 92%
WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers: The rookie showed some flashes this week and could be in line for a bigger role moving forward.
Availability: 87%
Streamers of the Week
QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens: It may seem like a daunting matchup, but Baltimore has allowed the most passing yards and aerial touchdowns as well as the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Nix has at least 200 yards and two touchdowns in three of his last four.
Availability: 75%
QB Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets vs. Houston Texans: Things haven’t gone well for Rodgers and the Jets, but he’s a viable streamer in a good matchup. He has at least two touchdown passes in five of his last seven games, and Houston has allowed the fourth-most touchdown passes to opposing quarterbacks.
Availability: 53%
TE Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders at New York Giants: It’s not appealing, but Ertz is getting it done due to the fact that he has the sixth-most targets among tight ends this season.
Availability: 72%
TE Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills: A rematch of the Week 2 game, Smith has at least six targets in each of his last three games, while Buffalo has allowed the sixth-most receptions to the position this season.
Availability: 94%
Washington Commanders D/ST at New York Giants: Washington has been low-key solid over the last month while the Giants offense is banged up and without much life outside of Malik Nabers.
Availability: 88%
New Orleans Saints D/ST at Carolina Panthers: The Saints have not been a good defense over the last month, but they get the Panthers this week, so they should be in a rewarding spot.
Availability: 67%
PK Blake Grupe, New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers: The Saints offense should bounce back enough in this matchup for Grupe to get some solid attempts.
Availability: 95%
PK Austin Seibert, Washington Commanders at New York Giants: Seibert has been arguably the best kicker in fantasy this season, and the Commanders should have ample chances to enter Giants territory.
Availability: 57%
