10 Best Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds Heading Into NFL Week 9

Best Waiver Wire Adds This Week at a Glance

• Mike Washington Jr., RB, Raiders
• Seth McGowan, RB, Colts
• Antonio Williams, WR, Commanders

The fantasy football waiver wire is loaded with players whose value changed dramatically during Week 8.

Injuries have opened up opportunities in several backfields while a handful of wide receivers and quarterbacks delivered performances that could translate into sustained fantasy production.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans on bye in Week 9, fantasy managers also need to account for potential lineup holes.

Here are 12 waiver-wire additions worth prioritizing heading into Week 9.

All NFL projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research. NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for This Week

Mike Washington Jr., RB, Las Vegas Raiders

The top two pickups were both on our stash list last week.

Mike Washington Jr. should be the top waiver priority after the Las Vegas Raiders handed him a massive workload in Week 8. Washington started ahead of Ashton Jeanty and rushed 25 times for 83 yards against the Jets after entering the game with only 40 carries through seven weeks. The 25 attempts were 16 more than his previous season high, and his 223-pound frame and 4.33 speed give him plenty of upside if this role sticks.

The upcoming schedule isn't ideal, with San Francisco, Seattle and Denver coming up, but volume at running back is difficult to find on waivers.

Seth McGowan, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Seth McGowan is more of a speculative add, but his potential payoff is enormous if Jonathan Taylor is traded before the deadline.

McGowan has 37 carries for 163 yards and four receptions for 12 yards this season while serving as Taylor's primary backup. McGowan and JT are the only running backs to handle a carry this year for the Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts are coming off a 42-7 loss to Jacksonville, but McGowan would still be a strong volume play if he suddenly inherited the starting job.

He's worth adding now in deeper leagues because the potential workload makes him much more valuable than his current production suggests.

Devin Singletary, RB, New York Giants

Devin Singletary is an easy player to overlook, but the New York Giants’ running back depth has changed with Tyrone Tracy Jr. on injured reserve and Najee Harris released.

Singletary has 80 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries this season while adding eight catches for 55 yards and another score. He has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over his NFL career and has consistently provided value as a pass-catcher.

Cam Skattebo remains the favorite for the lead role, but Singletary should see enough work to become a viable Flex option when the Giants return from their bye.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets

In Week 8, Adonai Mitchell showed the upside that made him an intriguing NFL prospect, catching seven of nine targets for 142 yards and a touchdown for the New York Jets in Week 8. The 142 receiving yards were a career high, and Mitchell also produced a 47-yard reception.

Omar Cooper Jr. and Garrett Wilson create legitimate target competition, but Mitchell has enough talent and big-play ability to warrant a waiver claim in all but the shallowest leagues.

Ryan Flournoy, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Ryan Flournoy has quietly become a useful piece of the Dallas Cowboys’ passing game. Through eight weeks, he has 30 catches for 342 yards and two touchdowns, with at least four targets in every game.

Flournoy has also recorded either a touchdown or 70-plus receiving yards in four straight games, giving him a surprisingly strong weekly floor for a player who is still widely available.

His role becomes even more appealing with George Pickens dealing with injuries as Flournoy could see additional work if the Cowboys have to adjust their receiving rotation.

Antonio Williams, WR, Washington Commanders

Antonio Williams is positioned for a larger role with Terry McLaurin out for the season for the Washington Commanders, and we saw that on Sunday night.

Williams caught five of seven targets for 54 yards in Week 8 while leading Washington's wide receivers with 50 snaps and 29 routes. His 25.9% target share was particularly encouraging, and he ran a route on 88.6% of Washington's dropbacks.

The Week 9 matchup with the Rams isn't easy, but the combination of opportunity and expected volume makes Williams one of the better WR adds this week.

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Tyler Allgeier exploded for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries while adding five receptions for 44 yards and another score. That 191-yard, two-touchdown performance came after Jeremiyah Love and Bam Knight both left the game with injuries.

Allgeier had managed only 57 rushing yards on 26 carries over the two games Love previously missed, so the workload change was dramatic.

His rest-of-season value depends heavily on the injury situation to Love, but Allgeier is worth a significant waiver claim if Love and Knight are expected to miss time.

Caleb Douglas, WR, Miami Dolphins

Caleb Douglas has quickly emerged as an intriguing young wideout on the Miami Dolphins. The rookie has 13 catches for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 19 targets through four games, averaging 11.9 yards per target. He has also averaged 10.3 half-PPR fantasy points per game despite his limited sample.

With a lovely matchup against Detroit coming up, Douglas deserves a roster spot in leagues where he's still available.

DeMario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots

DeMario Douglas has become increasingly involved in the New England Patriots’ passing game and now has a path to an even larger role.

He has 23 catches for 256 yards and three touchdowns through eight games while his target share has climbed to 19% over his last three contests. Douglas has averaged 13.8 half-PPR points per game over that span, compared with 8.5 for the season.

He has also scored four touchdowns over his last four games, making him a particularly appealing add in PPR formats while A.J. Brown is back on the shelf.

Malik Willis, QB, Miami Dolphins

Malik Willis remains one of the best streaming quarterbacks heading into Week 9. He has thrown for more than 200 yards in each of his last two games and has thrown two touchdown passes in each of those contests.

More importantly for fantasy purposes, Willis has rushed for 225 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries this season.

He gets Detroit in Week 9, and the Lions have allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, making Willis one of Week 9’s best streaming options.

Fantasy Football Waivers FAQ

What is the waiver wire in fantasy football?

The waiver wire is where fantasy managers can add players who are not currently on a roster in their league. It is one of the best ways to improve your team during the season, especially when injuries, role changes, and breakout performances create new opportunities.

When should I make waiver wire claims?

Most leagues process waivers once or twice per week, so it is important to check your league's settings. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning are common waiver periods, but managers should also monitor news throughout the week for late-breaking opportunities.

Which positions should I prioritize on the waiver wire?

Running backs and wide receivers with expanding roles are usually the most valuable waiver targets. Quarterbacks — especially in two-QB formats — tight ends, and defenses can also be strong additions when they have favorable upcoming matchups.

How much FAAB should I spend on a waiver wire player?

FAAB spending should depend on a player's projected role, upside, your FAAB budget and how badly your roster needs help. It is usually worth being more aggressive for a player who could become a weekly starter than for a short-term streaming option.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.