Each week I'll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define "widely available" as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Follow me on Twitter @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.
Here are my best bets off the waiver wire for Week 9:
ADD
— WR Kadarius Toney, Chiefs (ESPN: 54%; Yahoo: 58%): Toney gets traded to Kansas City and his hamstring issues mysteriously disappear. There were clearly some issues in New York, and normally I'd be concerned about a former first-rounder getting traded in his second season, but I trust Andy Reid to set right whatever was wrong and the talent to shine through. Toney could be a difference maker come fantasy playoff time.
— QB Justin Fields, Bears (ESPN: 26%; Yahoo: 42%): Despite a horrific start to the season, Fields is fantasy's overall QB11 through eight games. He's actually the overall QB2 since Week 5 — only Joe Burrow has been better. This is the third straight week I've written about him. A matchup with the Dallas defense in Week 8 kept most from pulling the trigger. You'll have no such luck this week. Fields next three opponents: Miami, Detroit and Atlanta.
— TE Greg Dulcich, Broncos (ESPN: 34%; Yahoo: 42%):
Like Fields, Dulcich has been a regular on this list. Denver has made it a point to get the rookie involved since he was activated off of injured reserve. He has 17 targets the last three games — only Jerry Jeudy with 25 has more for the Broncos — and is the overall TE3 in standard and PPR formats over that span. I consider him a weekly starter going forward.
— RB Kyren Williams, Rams (ESPN: 14%; Yahoo: 45%): Both Ronnie Rivers and Malcolm Brown had more carries than Darrell Henderson against San Francisco, and none of them produced much of anything. The coaching staff loves Williams and was planning to utilize him ahead of Cam Akers before he suffered a high-ankle sprain on the opening kickoff in Week 1. Unless L.A. trades for a running back, the versatile rookie will have every chance to earn significant snaps and touches when he's ready to play.
— WR Romeo Doubs, Packers (ESPN: 47%; Yahoo: 47%): The rookie stepped up with 62 yards and a touchdown after being challenged publicly by Aaron Rodgers, and apparently he's the only Green Bay wide receiver who can stay healthy. There are multiple favorable matchups on the horizon.
— BONUS: QB Andy Dalton, Saints (ESPN: 22%; Yahoo: 14%): Dalton is the overall QB12 since taking over for an injured Jameis Winston in Week 4 — he's QB3 the last two games — and it appears he has a strong hold on New Orleans' starting job after a shutout victory against Las Vegas.
— BONUS: RB Latavius Murray, Broncos (ESPN: 33%; Yahoo: 40%): Murray has been the overall RB26 in standard formats since joining Denver in Week 6. He is splitting time with Melvin Gordon, but has been more trustworthy at the goal line. Murray has scored in three of the four games he's played this season — he also scored in the only game he played for New Orleans before the Broncos signed him off the practice squad.
— BONUS: TE Isaiah Likely, Ravens (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 5%): I wrote in the preseason I considered Likely a handcuff to Mark Andrews, something you usually only consider doing for a top-tier running back, but Andrews is that good and his role in Baltimore's offense is that valuable. After Andrews was sidelined last Thursday night, Likely had six receptions for 77 yards and a TD — he finished as the overall TE3 in standard formats (TE2 in PPR) for Week 8. If you roster Andrews — who is still dealing with shoulder and ankle injuries — you should roster Likely.
— BONUS: RB James Cook, Bills (ESPN: 26%; Yahoo: 22%): The rookie is clearly second on the depth chart behind Devin Singletary and was very explosive (as advertised) against Green Bay on Sunday night. The upside is sky-high if something happens to Singletary.
— BONUS: WR Joshua Palmer, Chargers (ESPN: 25%; Yahoo: 26%): Mike Williams is out for the foreseeable future and Keenan Allen still isn't 100%. Palmer has WR3/flex upside as long as this wide receiver group is so banged up.
— BONUS: TE Evan Engram, Jaguars (ESPN: 32%; Yahoo: 43%): Engram is the overall TE13 in standard formats (TE10 in PPR) through eight games, but he has been an obvious starter at the position since Week 5. He has 19 receptions (29 targets) for 231 yards and a TD the last four games.
— BONUS: RB Kenyan Drake, Ravens (ESPN: 18%; Yahoo: 31%): We're scraping the bottom of the barrel at the position on the waiver wire, but Drake has already shown he can produce for Baltimore and Gus Edwards tweaked his hamstring in Week 8.
— BONUS: WR Nico Collins, Texans (ESPN: 8%; Yahoo: 15%): Collins was out Week 8 with a groin injury and could miss the game against Philadelphia since it's Thursday night, but he could also become the WR1 for Houston if it trades Brandin Cooks.
— BONUS: D/ST Vikings (ESPN: 10%; Yahoo: 21%): Minnesota has forced 13 turnovers and recorded 21 sacks in seven games. It's an opportunistic defense and a solid streaming option against Washington and Taylor Heinicke this week. The Commanders have allowed 28 sacks in seven games.
— BONUS: D/ST Chiefs (ESPN: 6%; Yahoo: 31%): Kansas City is a viable streaming candidate at home against Tennessee whether Ryan Tannehill or Malik Willis is at quarterback (even more so with Willis under center). The Titans will likely have to throw the ball more than usual to try and keep up with Patrick Mahomes.
DROP
— QB Jameis Winston, Saints: Winston practiced fully last week and Dalton still started against the Raiders.
— WR Elijah Moore, Jets: Moore was a healthy scratch after asking for a trade in Week 7 because of his lack of involvement and returned Week 8 to receive one target while playing only 10 snaps.
— TE Irv Smith Jr., Vikings: Smith isn't going to see a better matchup than Arizona and he only produced 28 yards on four receptions. He hasn't produced more than 42 yards in any game this season and potentially suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Cardinals.
— WR Hunter Renfrow, Raiders: The addition of Davante Adams and emergence of Josh Jacobs has made Renfrow an afterthought in Vegas' offense.
— WR DeVante Parker, Patriots: Parker suffered a knee sprain against the Jets and he's received two-or-fewer targets in five of eight games this season.
