Activity wins leagues. Consistently improving your roster gives you an edge over the competition, and one easy way to do that is by using the waiver wire effectively.
Each week, I highlight Fantasy Football players worth picking up who are rostered in 50% or fewer of various Redraft formats. Since every league differs in size, scoring, and other settings, I provide plenty of options. Let’s get it!
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2026 Fantasy Football: Week 9 Waiver Wire Winners
Emmett Johnson (RB, Chiefs)
Emmett Johnson rushed once for 15 yards but caught all five targets for 128 yards and a touchdown for 25.3 Fantasy Points in Week 8. Massive upside through the air, which has flashed for the rookie through this season. Johnson finished Week 1 with 44 receiving yards and has finished four games with 10+ yards per catch. Johnson’s prospect profile was an explosive one, with dual-threat abilities. Johnson would be a Top-10 Fantasy running back if he ever fell into the RB1 role. Handcuff stash.
Mike Washington Jr. (RB, Raiders)
Mike Washington Jr. rushed 25 times for 83 yards in Week 8, playing 60% of the snaps. Some viewed this performance as disciplinary, with Ashton Jeanty playing just 40% of the snaps with five touches, but Jeanty has been extremely inefficient on the ground. There have been three other games Washington finished with 40+ rushing yards, and he has finished five games with 4.5+ yards per carry. The rookie can be creating a committee in Vegas.
Seth McGowan (RB, Colts)
Seth McGowan has consistently been involved in the Colts offense as the RB2, and has played over 20% of the snaps for five straight weeks. During this stretch, McGowan has finished three weeks above 5.1 yards per carry and rushed for 46 yards in Week 7. There have been rumblings of a potential Jonathan Taylor trade, which makes the rookie a smart stash in a world where JT is gone, and McGowan is either the RB1 or in a new committee.
Adonai Mitchell (WR, Jets)
Adonai Mitchell returned in Week 7 from injury to play just 44% of the snaps, but then upped that to 61% in Week 8. After two huge weeks out of Omar Cooper Jr., AD pushed the rookie to the side and exploded for 27.2 Fantasy Points in Week 8. Mitchell caught seven of his nine targets for 142 yards and a touchdown, which was major production. Mitchell can continue operating as the Jets’ WR2, with Geno Smith having a solid season, which can create FLEX value.
Keenan Allen (WR, Colts)
Keenan Allen caught all seven targets for 67 yards in Week 8 for 13.7 Fantasy Points. Back in Week 6, Allen caught eight of his 11 targets for 82 yards, which was 16.2 Fantasy Points. In Week 3, Allen caught six of his nine targets for 63 yards and a touchdown for 18.3 Fantasy Points. These are examples of the veteran still having juice and being a very important piece of the Colts’ passing attack. FLEX value has clearly been there.
Antonio Williams (WR, Commanders)
Antonio Williams caught five of his seven targets for 54 yards in Week 8 for 10.4 Fantasy Points. While Stefon Diggs and Treylon Burks were more fantasy-productive, Williams did lead the team in targets in Week 8 with Terry McLaurin now out for the season. Williams scored 16.4 Fantasy Points in Week 1 via 64 yards and a touchdown, but has not popped again until Week 8. I was a big fan of Williams as a dynamic playmaker, so I am excited for his FLEX potential moving forward.
Dylan Sampson (RB, Browns)
Dylan Sampson returned from injury in Week 7 to rush six times for 45 yards, and he caught three balls for another 32 yards, which was 10.7 Fantasy Points. Then in Week 8, Sampson rushed once for seven yards but caught six of his eight targets for 62 yards, which was 12.9 Fantasy Points. Back-to-back weeks with double-digit Fantasy Points, a jump in receiving usage, and an increase from 46% to 56% of the snaps played is appealing for Sampson. Pass-catching running backs are of value.
Kaelon Black (RB, 49ers)
Kaelon Black rushed 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 for 10.9 Fantasy Points, on 47% of the snaps. This was the second time Black has rushed 12+ times for 63+ rushing yards this season. Christian McCaffrey did exit the game in Week 7, but returned to play. We know the historic upside of running backs in San Francisco who earn volume. Black is a smart running back stash for veteran CMC, who has had a history of NFL injuries.
Malik Washington (WR, Dolphins)
Malik Washington caught five of his six targets for 40 yards and a touchdown in Week 8 for 15 Fantasy Points. Washington has now finished four weeks with double-digit Fantasy Points, making him a potential FLEX option in deeper leagues. Washington leads the Dolphins in targets, receptions, and receiving yards this season, which shows a consistent role. The Dolphins’ passing game is tough to trust, but some favorable matchups are coming up that can boost Washington.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB, Jaguars)
Bhayshul Tuten has clearly been the lead back for Jacksonville and thriving, but Chris Rodriguez Jr. has given us plenty of reasons to stash him as a handcuff. Rodriguez has rushed for 55 and 41 yards the last two weeks, and Week 8 marked the third touchdown of the season scored. When deciphering which running back handcuffs to stash, green flags include having potential stand-alone value and also being in a solid offense, which align with CRod.
Jahan Dotson (WR, Falcons)
Maybe a deeper league suggestion here, but Jahan Dotson has flashed this season as a Falcon with scores of 13.4 (Week 4), 17.7 (Week 6), and 11.5 Fantasy Points (Week 8). Dotson has finished with 87/95 receiving yards in two of his last three games played, in games in which he earned five targets. Dotson has also finished with 27+ yards per catch in four of his last five games played. The former first-round selection for Washington can have some FLEX appeal in the right game scripts.
Demario Douglas (WR, Patriots)
Demario Douglas caught all three targets for 76 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 8 for 16.5 Fantasy Points. Douglas has produced 65-86 receiving yards in three of his last four games and has scored four touchdowns during this span. Also during this stretch has been the production of 22.5, 19.6, and 16.6 Fantasy Points in three games, which shows some solid FLEX upside. Should AJ Brown continue to miss time or disappoint, there is appeal to the Drake Maye to Douglas connection.
Mike Gesicki (TE, Bengals)
Mike Gesicki has finished games with 18.8 (Week 1), 12.7 (Week 3), 13.0 (Week 4), and 17.6 (Week 8) Fantasy Points this season. Gesicki caught four of his six targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in Week 8. Gesicki has scored in six of his seven games played this season, which shows his upside in that department. Joe Burrow has been on fire, so having pieces of this offense is appealing for Fantasy Football.
Ryan Flournoy (WR, Cowboys)
Ryan Flournoy has consistently been a big part of the Dallas passing game. Flournoy has scored 11+ Fantasy Points for four straight weeks, with one of those games being at 17 points. During this stretch of games, Flournoy has finished games with 90/70 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns. We know there is plenty of upside potential attached to the weapons of Dak Prescott, and FLEX production for deeper leagues has been there for Flournoy, who kicked Jake Ferguson to the curb.
Chimere Dike (WR, Titans)
With Carnell Tate sidelined, Chimere Dike stepped up for Cam Ward in Week 8, catching five of his six targets for 71 yards and a touchdown for 18.1 Fantasy Points. Dike is an electric Special Teams player, but as a rookie last season he finished with three weeks of 16+ Fantasy Points. The Titans have a BYE in Week 9, which could mean the return of Tate in Week 10, but if he misses any more time, there can be some deeper league appeal to Dike.
Devin Singletary (RB, Giants)
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was placed on the IR, and Cam Skattebo tweaked his hamstring in Week 7 before the Week 8 BYE, making Devin Singletary a smart running back to stash. Singletary rushed five times for 41 yards and a touchdown with three catches for 14 yards in Week 7 for 14.5 Fantasy Points. Singletary scored a receiving touchdown and 13.8 Fantasy Points in Week 1. Monitor Skattebo’s injury, but even if he is healthy, there could be a path for Singletary to earn work with Tracy out.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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