Staying active on the waiver wire is an important way for season-long fantasy owners to improve their teams and get an edge on the competition. Shifts in opportunities for players due to injuries or performance cause value spikes that owners can take advantage of to fill in roster holes to build a championship lineup.
Each week, we will discuss waiver wire targets at each position to consider for both the week ahead and the rest of the fantasy season.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds
* Current roster % in home leagues is noted in parentheses (from FantasyPros)
J.J. McCarthy, QB (Minnesota Vikings) (24%)
This week’s waiver wire certainly includes more consistent quarterbacks for a one-week stream. Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, and even Tua Tagovailoa are probably safer picks than the Vikings’ young signal caller coming off of a high ankle sprain. But fantasy football is often about upside, and J.J. McCarthy may hold more boom (and bust) potential than anyone else in that tier.
McCarthy started his NFL career with a bang in an incredible fourth-quarter comeback in Week 1 against the Bears. He floundered in Week 2 against the Falcons and wound up on the injured list again at the end of the game with his ankle sprain. The Vikings have failed to live up to expectations and need to string some wins together to stay in the playoff hunt.
McCarthy is expected to return this week and will need to generate explosive plays to keep up with the Detroit Lions in a key division clash. It’s unlikely Minnesota will be able to dictate a ball control game script and will need to lean on their incredible passing weapons in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson.
Expect a lot of passing attempts from McCarthy. Whether those attempts will turn into fantasy success is yet to be proven, but if he can figure things out, the Vikings have a favorable upcoming schedule for fantasy quarterbacks with Baltimore and Chicago next up. This is the week to take a chance on McCarthy as a bench stash.
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Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB (New York Giants) (41%)
After another crucial injury for the Giants offense to Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. is now in line for the lead back role again for New York. Fantasy managers are likely not licking their lips in excitement for Tracy Jr.’s fantasy prospects, but any starting running back is worth picking up in most formats.
Tracy Jr. started Week 1 as the primary ball carrier for the Giants with a 74% snap share. After missing a couple weeks due to injury, he was quickly supplanted by Skattebo, with his snap rate diminishing to the mid-30% range. In 45 rushing attempts this season, Tracy Jr. has averaged 3.5 yards/carry for 159 yards and a lone score.
Last season, Tracy Jr. did show some burst as a rookie. He notched four top-10 fantasy weeks overall and finished in the top 13 of fantasy running backs each week that he saw 20 touches. The Giants face a beat-up 49ers defense missing its run stuffer, Fred Warner. Tracy Jr. is an obvious pickupand could be started as an RB2 this week.
Troy Franklin, WR (Denver Broncos) (37%)
The Broncos won their fifth straight game against Dallas on Sunday and posted their second 30+ point game in a row, their only two of the season. Troy Franklin led all wide receivers in fantasy scoring last week with six catches on eight targets for 89 yards and two scores.
Franklin continues to build a strong rapport with Bo Nix as he finished with a 30% target share, tied for his highest game of the season. He is also becoming a trusted red zone option with 11 targets inside the 20-yard line this season after totaling just eight in his entire rookie season.
The Broncos’ schedule is difficult, with a trip to Houston this week and a matchup with the Chiefs coming in Week 11 before their bye. Franklin is worth a speculative add with the upside he’s shown, but he may be worth stashing on the bench in preparation for the Raiders game next week.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE (Cleveland Browns) (55%)
With the state of the tight end fantasy market, it’s surprising that Harold Fannin Jr. is still available in nearly 50% of leagues. The rookie scored his second touchdown of the season on Sunday despite an overall dismal performance by Dillon Gabriel and the Cleveland offense.
Fannin Jr. led the team with six targets in Week 8 and saw higher snap and target shares than David Njoku. With rumors swirling around Njoku potentially being dealt before the trade deadline, it’s possible Fannin Jr. is the lone tight end option soon for a team that routinely throws the ball to tight ends nearly 40% of the time.
The Browns have a bye week in Week 9, but now may be the last time to grab Fannin Jr. before its too late. He should be in TE1 consideration for the remainder of the season regardless of Njoku’s status.
Los Angeles Rams, D/ST (29%)
The Rams have one of the best young defensive line cores in the league with Byron Young, Braden Fiske, and Jared Verse up front. The last time we saw the Rams, before their Week 8 bye, they put Trevor Lawrence in a pressure chamber and totaled seven sacks. The week prior, they amassed three turnovers and four sacks against the Ravens.
This week, Los Angeles takes on a Saints team with potentially a new rookie quarterback taking the reins in Tyler Shough. With Spencer Rattler getting benched in Week 8 against the Buccaneers, Shough threw an incredible 30 times in the second half for a meager 128 yards and a pick. The Rams are a top-5 defensive start this week.
Pictured: Tyrone Tracy
Photo Credit: Imagn
