Fantasy Football Buy Low Wide Receivers: WR Breakout Candidates for Week 9

Buy-Low WRs in Summary

• A.J. Brown, New England Patriots
• Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
• DJ Moore, Buffalo Bills

Wide receiver is one of the best positions to target in buy-low trades because a player's recent fantasy production doesn't always reflect his underlying opportunity.

Injuries, quarterback play and touchdown variance can create significant gaps between a receiver's current numbers and what he could produce over the rest of the season.

These three wide receivers all have given fantasy managers reasons to be frustrated, but their workloads and situations make them appealing trade targets.

Which wide receivers should we buy low on ahead of Week 9?

All fantasy football projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds references are to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Wide Receivers to Buy Low in Fantasy Football

A.J. Brown, New England Patriots

A.J. Brown is a buy-low candidate after a disappointing start to his first season with the New England Patriots.

Brown has only nine catches for 101 yards through three games, but he has already shown that New England intends to feature him, drawing 10 targets in his second game back from his high ankle sprain. He caught only three passes for 27 yards in that game and followed it with three catches for 48 yards, but the target volume is far more encouraging than the fantasy production.

Brown's current value is being depressed by his slow return from injury, creating an opportunity to trade for a former elite receiver before he really gets going this season.

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

Ladd McConkey is another strong buy-low target despite coming off his best game of the season.

McConkey caught four of six targets for 86 yards against the Rams, giving him 17 catches for 286 yards and a touchdown through six games. More importantly, he played 90% of the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive snaps in Week 8 after dealing with injuries for much of the season, which gives us reason to expect his opportunity to remain strong.

The Chargers' offense has been a mess, but a healthy McConkey should be locked in as the Bolts’ WR1. Given where Ladd was drafted and how poorly things have gone, he’s probably not too hard to trade for right now.

DJ Moore, Buffalo Bills

DJ Moore is a particularly appealing buy-low target because his season numbers don't reflect what he can do in the Buffalo Bills’ offense when healthy.

Moore has 16 catches for 260 yards and two touchdowns through five games, but he missed two games with a shoulder injury before returning in Week 8 and catching four of seven targets for 82 yards and a score. He played 66% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in that game and ran a route on 37 of the team's 42 pass plays, showing that the Bills were comfortable using him immediately in a significant passing role.

With Josh Allen at quarterback and Moore having a great shot to be Allen’s top wideout, Moore’s rest-of-season ceiling is considerably higher than his 2026 fantasy production suggests up to this point.

Fantasy Football Buy-Low Wide Receivers FAQ

What does buy low mean in fantasy football?

Buying low means trading for a player whose current perceived value is lower than what you expect his value to be going forward. A slow start, tough matchup, injury, or lack of touchdowns can sometimes create a buying opportunity.

What should you look for in a buy-low wide receiver?

Target volume, route participation, air yards, red-zone usage, and snap rate are all important. A receiver can be underperforming in fantasy while still seeing the type of usage that suggests better production is coming.

When is the best time to trade for a buy-low wide receiver?

The best opportunities often come after one or two disappointing games, especially if the player's role has remained strong. Fantasy managers can sometimes overreact to short-term results even when the underlying usage is encouraging.

Should you buy low on an injured wide receiver?

It can make sense if the injury is considered short-term and the player's price has dropped significantly. Before making a trade, consider the expected return timeline and whether you have enough depth to wait for him to get healthy.

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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.