Welcome back to another edition of Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups. We’re heading into Week 9 of the 2023 NFL season. We have four teams on bye this week. Although it doesn’t sound rough, we lost Trevor Lawrence, Christian McCaffrey, and Amon-Ra St. Brown among others. For your fantasy football teams, adding the right players off the waiver wire is absolutely crucial to your fantasy football success. Follow along with us all season long and we’ll help you make your way into the fantasy football playoffs.

What a week of football it was. Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys were on fire. CeeDee Lamb led the way erupting for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 12 receptions. Saquon Barkley was the Giants’ offense as they managed to pass for only seven yards in a 13-10 overtime loss to the New York Jets.

This now marks six games in a row for A.J. Brown with 125-plus receiving yards, surpassing Lions Great Calvin Johnson. Is it safe to say he’s the WR1 going forward? Not if Tyreek Hill has anything to say as he pushes for 2,000 receiving yards.

Travis Etienne extended his touchdown streak. Although this one was through the air that now makes it seven touchdowns in his last four games. Kirk Cousins looks to have torn his Achilles, so what will the 4-4 Vikings do now with Justin Jefferson preparing to come back?

Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers stunned CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans for their first win of the season. Speaking of getting stunned, what about Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers as that now makes in three losses in a row? However, Christian McCaffrey is a touchdown machine giving him 17 straight games with at least one touchdown.

If Joe Burrow and the Bengals continue to play like this, they could be the team to beat in the AFC. The Kansas City Chiefs had a down week while Patrick Mahomes was under the weather, and Travis Kelce underperformed without Taylor Swift in attendance.

With the above in mind, no matter our record, there are always areas to improve. Regardless of your situation, here are players you should look to add for Week 9 based on CBS Fantasy Sports roster percentages. These players are listed in order of priority. Let’s get right into it with the top waiver wire pickups for your fantasy football teams as we head into Week 9!

For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 60% of leagues according to CBS Fantasy as of 10/31/23. 

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups

Gardner Minshew, QB, Indianapolis Colts (38% Rostered)

Now Minshew has back-to-back games of multiple touchdowns. While also making it three games in a row with over 300 passing yards. You have to take the ups and downs with Minshew week in and week out. While he can have upside-winning weeks, there are other weeks where he isn’t as highlighted as his blow-up weeks. Week 8 was one of those week. However, Minshew and the Colts get the Panthers in Week 9 who have given up the third most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Look for Minshew to bounce back in Week 9. He’s worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Las Vegas Raiders (31% Rostered)

It’s hard to say how well Garoppolo will perform on Monday night against the Detroit Lions. But, it’s Week 9 we care about. While Garoppolo hasn’t been as good as expected with at least one turnover in every game, he has at least completed 50% of his passes. Looking at this you may laugh, but going against the New York Giants may prove to be better than expected. The Giants are the middle of the pack against quarterbacks, but give up the sixth most points to wide receivers. Look for Garoppolo to have a good game, along with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers to make an impact. Garoppolo is worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Joshua Dobbs, QB, Arizona Cardinals (28% Rostered)

After going two games without a passing touchdown, Dobbs bounced back completing 25-of-37 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Looking ahead, this will more than likely be Dobbs last week with Kyler Murray projected to be back for Week 10. It was a tough matchup in Week 8 against the Ravens and should be viewed to have a similar challenge against the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. Dobbs is worth 1% of your remaining FAAB.

Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans (8% Rostered)

Desperate times call for desperate measures and adding and playing Levis is just that. However, Levis looked better as connected with DeAndre Hopkins for three of his four touchdowns on the day. Levis played better than I expected. He didn’t look scared as he completed 19/29 passes for 238 yards and zero interceptions. Furthermore, Malik Willis hasn’t looked this good early in his career as Levis was hitting on big plays Sunday. Levis is worth 1% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Sam Howell (67%)If Howell is available in your league, he is my top waiver add if you need a QB. Howell as of now is the QB1 with 38 points throwing for almost 400 yards, and four touchdowns. The Patriots are next in Week 9 for the Commanders.

Derek Carr (65%) For the third week in a row, Carr has thrown for over 300 yards. Although he struggled once again to throw for multiple touchdowns, hopefully, he can do so against the Chicago Bears who have allowed at least a passing touchdown a game. Look for multiple touchdowns like Justin Herbert had.

Kyler Murray (75%) Looking at it now, Murray can be viewed as a player to stash for Week 10. Even though he is rostered in the majority of leagues, he needs to be rostered in at least 90% of them. Overall, he has league league-winning upside.

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups

Cam Akers, RB, Minnesota Vikings (57% Rostered)

Akers continued to make an impact once again in the Vikings backfield. Although, his rushing average (2.1) against the Green Bay Packers is something to cringe at, what the Vikings lose may be the real effect. Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles and will be out for the remainder of the season. However, Akers got the prime touches near the goal line as he scored his first touchdown of the season. He’s worth up to 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Leonard Fournette, RB, Buffalo Bills (6% Rostered)

Monday afternoon Tom Pelissero reported that Fournette has signed with the Buffalo Bills. News prior dried up over the last few weeks as he stated he was in “great shape”. Fournette has been unsigned since being released by the Buccaneers back in February. If he’s any like the old “Lombardi Lenny” he will give the Bills offense the kick it needs. It may be a downtick for James Cook as Fournette could be stealing important touches. He’s worth at least 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Devin Singletary, RB, Houston Texans (41% Rostered)

Both Singletary and Dameon Pierce split touches right down the middle. Yet, both were just as ineffective with their opportunities. The struggles of the Texans’ run game make Singletary a bye week replacement player. He’s worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Royce Freeman, RB, Los Angeles Rams (24% Rostered)

Once again Darrell Henderson out-touched Freeman 15-9, and it was Freeman who got the touchdown. Let alone, a goal-line touchdown. He has the trust of the Rams’ offense, but will still be behind Henderson. Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers will be back soon, but Freeman is a nice bench piece as the next man up. He’s worth 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Emari Demercado (72%)From a fantasy point of view, Demercado scored less than 10 PPR points. However, he carried the ball 20 times for 78 yards. He’s the lead back till James Conner returns and needs to be rostered in all leagues.

Chuba Hubbard (77%) Now this addition is for those in really shallow leagues. Hubbard should be rostered in all leagues. Even though he was inefficient (15-for-28 yards), he was the lead running back over Miles Sanders. This should continue going forward.

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups

Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers (29% Rostered)

Reed paced the Packers with 83 receiving yards. Although, he was third in targets behind Romeo Doubs (9) and Christian Watson (8). Furthermore, he had an almost touchdown which would have put him on the map. Next, the Packers take on the Rams who just got lit up by the Cowboys offense. He’s worth adding for up to 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Jahan Dotson, WR, Washington Commanders (47% Rostered)

Of course, once fantasy football managers moved on from Dotson, he broke out. Congratulations to the 3% of you that started him on CBS. For back-to-back weeks Dotson played at least 84% of the snaps. Although the Eagles’ secondary is a little banged up it’s hard to trust Dotson. Especially in Week 9 against the New England Patriots. That being said he’s worth at least fostering. He’s worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints (47% Rostered)

Shaheed is the true definition of boom or bust. Based on his Consistency Score he gets top-12 finishes thanks to long receptions for touchdowns. Week 8 was no different as he caught all three of his targets for 153 yards and a touchdown. All his catches were of 40-plus yards. The Saints need to commit to getting him more involved. But, how do we as fantasy managers trust him in our lineups? He’s a poor man’s, Gabriel Davis. Shaheed is worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB as a bye-week replacement.

Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (29% Rostered)

Welcome to the NFL… FINALLY. For what it’s worth, Johnston saw a season-high six targets turning that into five receptions for 50 yards. While most have moved on from him, I liked him as a stash once Mike Williams went on injured reserve. Johnston could be making a name for himself here for the second half of the season. All in all, he’s worth a bench spot for now to see if it continues. Ultimately, Johnston is worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals (27% Rostered)

Compared to what he did in Week 4 (7/76/2) Wilson hasn’t mustered up many games to wow you. On the flip side of things, he was No.2 in targets behind Trey McBride, ahead of Marquise Brown. I’m curious if this continues when Kyler Murray comes back. If so, I’m stashing now. He’s worth 1% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Josh Downs (77%) He’s a true PPR machine seeing at least six targets over his last four games. Downs involvement should continue against the Patriots in Week 9.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups

Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals (33% Rostered)

McBride paced the Cardinals in targets (14) leading all pass catchers with 10 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. It was a coming-out party as I have emphasized stashing him in case of a breakout. Well, he broke out and that was with Joshua Dobbs. Just imagine what he could be with Kyler Murray at the helm. He’s a must-start tight end going forward. He’s worth up to 15% of your remaining FAAB.

Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints (59% Rostered)

With Juwan Johnson returning to the lineup, I didn’t see Hill as someone who could still perform. However, he proved me wrong with his passing (44), rushing (63), and receiving (14) yards. Not to mention the two rushing touchdowns he added to his stat line. All in all, he’s absolutely one of the top waiver wire pickups this week.

Trending Now

Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em

Weekly Fantasy Football Rankings

2024 NFL Draft

Fantasy Football Team Names