Fantasy football Week 9: Add and drop

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 X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.

Here’s my NFL Week 9 waiver wire cheat sheet for all league sizes and formats, with players you need to add, drop and stream in your fantasy football league:

ADD

— RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants (ESPN: 42%; Yahoo: 50%): Cam Skattebo is done for the season after suffering a gruesome ankle injury. Tracy will likely inherit most of his touches, and as long as Jaxson Dart is under center, the Giants will have juice on offense. The dynamic back finished as the overall RB16 across most fantasy formats after Week 5 last season. Devin Singletary (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 1%) will also likely see an increase in usage.

— QB Sam Darnold, Seahawks (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 36%): Before Seattle’s bye last week, Darnold had been the overall QB10 since Week 2 with 12 TD passes against only four interceptions and at least 295 passing yards in three of his last six games. He faces a Commanders’ defense this week allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

— WR Kayshon Boutte, Patriots (ESPN: 30%; Yahoo: 40%): Boutte is the overall WR13 in standard formats (WR23 in PPR) through eight weeks, and has been on a heater with four TD receptions in the last three games. I know we’ve been burned before with Boutte, but he’ll find more consistency as Drake Maye continues to ascend the quarterback rankings.

— RB Bam Knight, Cardinals (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 20%): Arizona abruptly released Michael Carter on Monday, but it sounds like the plan is to re-sign him later this week. Regardless, Knight is the overall RB20 in standard formats (RB24 in PPR) his last three games, and will face a Cowboys’ defense on Monday night allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Trey Benson (ESPN: 47%; Yahoo: 55%) could be back as early Week 10.

— TE Colston Loveland, Bears (ESPN: 24%; Yahoo: 22%): Loveland became an every-down player for Chicago with Cole Kmet sidelined with a back injury. I doubt Kmet is ready to go this week, which means the talented rookie will have a matchup against the Bengals all to himself. Cincy is allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.

— QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (ESPN: 27%; Yahoo: 42%): Before Jacksonville’s bye last week, Lawrence was the overall QB12 in fantasy. He’s a solid streaming option against a Raiders’ defense allowing an average of 31.4 points per game since Week 3.

— WR Darius Slayton, Giants (ESPN: 11%; Yahoo: 19%): Slayton had a 20% target share in his return from injury, but unfortunately, that only added up to five targets and two receptions for 26 yards. He did have a 70-yard TD reception against Quinyon Mitchell reversed on a ticky-tack offensive pass interference call, so the day could’ve been much bigger. Slayton has WR2/WR3 upside with Jaxson Dart at QB and Malik Nabers done for the season.

— QB Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (ESPN: 41%; Yahoo: 45%): Rodgers has been the overall QB9 in three games since Pittsburgh’s bye, and faces a red-hot Colts’ offense this week.

— WR Josh Downs, Colts (ESPN: 54%; Yahoo: 52%): This is more of a reminder that Indianapolis is currently the best offense in the NFL, which means all of their principal weapons need to be rostered. Downs has at least six receptions or a TD in four of his last six games. Also, Alec Pierce (ESPN: 10%; Yahoo: 29%) has at least 67 receiving yards in four of his last five games, and kills single-high coverage. The Colts next two opponents, the Steelers and Falcons, utilize single high the most in the NFL.

— TE Theo Johnson, Giants (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 24%): Johnson is the overall TE8 across most fantasy formats since Jaxson Dart took over at QB in Week 4. He has four TD receptions in five games with Dart under center.

— WR Tez Johnson, Buccaneers (ESPN: 43%; Yahoo: 51%): Johnson is the overall WR17 in standard formats (WR25 in PPR) since Week 5 with at least five receptions or 59 receiving yards or a TD in four straight games. The Bucs are on a bye this week, but Mike Evans won’t be back until mid-December at the earliest, and Chris Godwin might be diminished even after he returns.

— RB Tank Bigsby, Eagles (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 17%): Bigsby is averaging 11.5 yards per carry with Philadelphia, and just contributed 104 yards on nine carries in the blowout of the Giants. He’s premium insurance if you roster Saquon Barkley, or an end-of-the-bench stash if you’re praying for Barkley’s downfall.

— WR Christian Watson, Packers (ESPN: 13%; Yahoo: 17%): Green Bay’s wide receiver situation is about as convoluted as it gets, but Watson looked solid in his return from last year’s ACL injury with 85 yards on four receptions. I anticipate he’ll return as Jordan Love’s primary deep threat, which will make him a boom-or-bust candidate most weeks (like all the other Packers’ wideouts).

— RB Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins (ESPN: 11%; Yahoo: 11%): Gordon finally got some work in a surprising blowout at Atlanta, finishing with 66 total yards, including a 20-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter. He’d have more weekly flex appeal if Miami played with the lead more often, but I digress. He’s still De’Von Achane’s handcuff if you have space on your bench.

— TE Mason Taylor, Jets (ESPN: 20%; Yahoo: 28%): Taylor finished as Week 8’s overall TE8 in standard formats (TE7 in PPR) with five receptions on eight targets for 34 yards and the game-winning TD against the Bengals. He’s one of the Jets’ few weapons on offense, and is worth stashing through their bye week.

— RB Isaiah Davis, Jets (ESPN: 8%; Yahoo: 9%): Davis would be New York’s obvious lead running back if Breece Hall were either injured or traded, and trade rumors have been swirling with Hall in the final year of his contract. Davis’ 109 yards on 12 touches, including five receptions, against the Bengals are indicative of what he can do with the role.

— WR Devaughn Vele, Saints (ESPN:

— RB Dylan Sampson, Browns (ESPN: 10%; Yahoo: 14%): Quinshon Judkins left last week’s game with a shoulder injury and did not return. It sounds like Judkins sprained his AC joint, which means he’ll likely be fine after Cleveland’s bye this week. Stashing Sampson makes a lot of sense though, just in case the injury is more serious.

— D/ST Chargers (ESPN: 41%; Yahoo: 67%): First step, check who the Tennessee Titans are playing. Second step, add that team’s defense if it’s available in your league. Third step, start that defense and watch the points pile up. No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward has thrown an interception in six straight games, lost five fumbles, and been sacked a league-high 34 times in eight games.

— D/ST Lions (ESPN: 59%; Yahoo: 54%): The Lions’ defense has created multiple turnovers in three of the last four games, and faces a Vikings’ offense at home this week allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing defenses.

— D/ST Rams (ESPN: 36%; Yahoo: 41%): Before Los Angeles’ bye, the Rams were tied with the Texans for the fourth-highest scoring defense in fantasy. They face a Saints’ offense this week who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, and plan to start Tyler Shough.

— D/ST Jaguars (ESPN: 10%; Yahoo: 8%): Jacksonville’s defense got off to a really fast start, forcing 13 turnovers in its first four games, but the Jags’ have stalled out recently. This week, they face a Raiders’ offense allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, while only averaging 14.7 points per game. Only the Titans are scoring less.

DROP

— RB Cam Skattebo, Giants: The exciting rookie running back had surgery Sunday night on the dislocated ankle he suffered in Sunday’s loss at Philadelphia. Here’s hoping he fully recovers, and is ready to go next year.

— QB Carson Wentz, Vikings: Wentz will undergo season-ending surgery on his non-throwing (left) shoulder. He was clearly in pain and struggling during Minnesota’s loss at Los Angeles last Thursday night.

— WR Kendrick Bourne, 49ers: Bourne only has five receptions on six targets for 58 yards the last two games, and San Francisco is starting to get healthy, at least by its standards. George Kittle has already returned, with Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk on deck.

— RB Nick Chubb, Texans: Chubb is still seeing decent volume, but he’s essentially TD-dependent every week and hasn’t played at least 50% of Houston’s offensive snaps since Week 3.

— QB Mac Jones, 49ers: Jones has filled in admirably for Brock Purdy, but he’s been banged up himself, and it’s showed in his mobility or lack thereof. There’s a good chance Purdy returns this week against the Giants.