10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Heading Into Week 9

Week 8 is (almost) in the books, and we're on to Week 9.

Here are some of the best additions you can make to your squads this week. (I'll stick to players rostered on no more than 60% of Yahoo teams and also list some other viable pickups who may be available in shallower leagues or relevant only in deeper leagues).

Quarterbacks
Justin Fields, Bears

Roster Percentage: 41%

The arrow is pointing up on Justin Fields, and he's a top streamer for Week 9.

In the past two games, Fields has posted 23.36 and 26.04 fantasy points despite tough road matchups with the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys. The passing volume is lacking, but Fields more than makes up for it as a runner, rushing for at least 47 yards in six straight contests, including 60-plus in three consecutive weeks.

Fields is at home versus the Miami Dolphins for Week 9. Miami has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to signal-callers (19.2).

With elite running ability and a nice matchup, Fields checks the boxes this week, and he might deserve low-end QB1 status for the foreseeable future.

Others to Consider:
Marcus Mariota (26%; vs. Chargers), Mac Jones (15%; vs. Colts), Taylor Heinicke (7%; vs. Vikings), Andy Dalton (14%; vs. Ravens)

Running Backs
Kyren Williams, Rams

Roster Percentage: 45%

This is the third straight week in which I've written up Kyren Williams. I'll readily admit I have no clue what kind of role Williams will have once he comes off IR, but there's definitely upside here.

Williams' 21-day window to be activated off IR was opened last week, and while there's every chance the Los Angeles Rams ease Williams into things once he's back, there's also an opportunity for Williams to see a big-time role in the near future as Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson and Ronnie Rivers don't appear to be the answer for LA.

In Week 8, Rivers -- an undrafted rookie who is also worth an add -- out-touched Henderson 12 to 6, including 10 to 2 in the first half. It's not a good situation for the Rams, and unless LA trades for a running back, Williams should have every chance to earn significant snaps and touches when he's ready to play.

Kenyan Drake, Ravens

Roster Percentage: 31%

If it feels like we're targeting a different Ravens running back each week, it's because we have been lately.

Gus Edwards returned in Week 7 and jumped to the front of the line in this backfield, but it was very much a three-headed beast with Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill seeing meaningful work, as well. It was that way again in Week 8 until Edwards exited with an injury. While early reports say the injury isn't serious, Edwards' Week 9 status can't be taken for granted.

If Edwards were to sit out, Drake likely takes over the lead-back role, and he's been pretty productive in recent weeks, totaling 28 carries for 186 yards in that span while adding 5 catches on 7 targets. If early-week news has Edwards playing, Drake loses some of his appeal, obviously, but is still worth a bench spot -- although this backfield will really become a mess once J.K. Dobbins returns.

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

Roster Percentage: 34%

The last time we saw the Kansas City Chiefs, Isiah Pacheco got the start at running back. It didn't change his role all that much, though, as he amassed eight carries and zero targets while playing just 30% of the snaps.

But it's noteworthy that Pacheco started, and it'll be interesting to see if his role grows at all in Week 9 with KC coming out of their bye. Plus, there's always a chance one of Jerick McKinnon or Clyde Edwards-Helaire goes down with an injury, opening up more playing time for Pacheco.

Pacheco remains a high-ceiling bench piece who should be universally rostered.

Caleb Huntley, Falcons

Roster Percentage: 4%

Caleb Huntley had himself a pretty nice day in Week 8 for an Atlanta Falcons offense that, for the most part, is much better than we assumed it would be.

Huntley finished with 16 carries for 91 yards last week, vastly out-producing Tyler Allgeier, who put up just 39 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Allgeier, though, generated 46 receiving yards and a score through the air while Huntley didn't catch a pass.

Allgeier's pass-game role makes him the preferred option in this backfield, but Huntley has some juice and is a decent pickup.

Others to Consider:
D'Onta Foreman (76%), Khalil Herbert (64%), Tyler Allgeier (54%), Latavius Murray (40%), James Cook (22%), Jaylen Warren (5%), Ronnie Rivers (1%)

Wide Receivers
Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers

Roster Percentage: 1%

For the second straight week, Terrace Marshall Jr. played a season-high in snaps as his role grows with Robbie Anderson out of town.

Marshall logged a 91% snap rate in Week 8, the highest of his career, and he turned 9 targets into 4 receptions for 87 yards.

While it's unlikely the Carolina Panthers get involved in a ton of shootouts the rest of the way like they did on Sunday, the offense has undoubtedly gotten a spark from P.J. Walker, and Marshall should get plenty of playing time for the rest of 2022, making him a viable add.

Kadarius Toney, Giants

Roster Percentage: 58%

Kadarius Toney was dealt to the Chiefs last week. His range of outcomes for the rest of this campaign is super wide, but any wideout with talent who is tied to Patrick Mahomes is worth a speculative add.

Toney flashed some as a rookie last year, and talent has never been the issue. But the New York Giants' new coaching staff wasn't big on Toney, and he hasn't played since Week 2 due to injury.

Who knows when we'll see Toney in a KC uniform, but when he's healthy, he may have a chance to get on the field quickly with KC's wideouts mostly underwhelming this year outside of JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Nico Collins, Texans

Roster Percentage: 15%

Brandin Cooks might not be on the Houston Texans much longer, and if Cooks is traded, Nico Collins figures to step into the number-one receiver role for Houston.

Collins has quietly been a decent producer this season. He's made multiple catches in every game in which he's played -- Collins missed Week 8 due to injury -- and has at least 41 receiving yards in four of his previous five contests.

If Cooks departs, Collins could be force-fed targets in an offense that will be desperate for playmakers out wide.

Others to Consider:
Allen Robinson (66%), Romeo Doubs (46%), Josh Palmer (25%), Van Jefferson (24%), Darius Slayton (7%), Tyquan Thornton (6%), N'Keal Harry (0%)

Tight Ends
Greg Dulcich, Broncos

Roster Percentage: 42%

Greg Dulcich generated some buzz this summer, and he's lived up to it since debuting in Week 6.

Over the past three weeks, Dulcich has scored 11.4, 8.1 and 10.7 half-PPR points and has seen 17 total targets, catching 12 of them for 182 yards and a touchdown.

Unless you have one of the elite tight ends on your roster, you should be interested in Dulcich. The lone negative with him right now is that the Denver Broncos are on a bye in Week 9.

Others to Consider:
Evan Engram (43%), Tyler Conklin (12%), Isaiah Likely (5%)

Defenses
Cincinnati Bengals D/ST

Roster Percentage: 20%

The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Panthers in Week 9, and that has me on the Cincinnati D/ST.

Carolina's offense has looked pretty good the last two weeks, and P.J. Walker deserves a lot of credit for how he's played. But this is still a unit I want to pick on, especially when the Panthers will likely be in a negative game script. Early lines have Cincy as an 8.5-point home favorite over Carolina.

On a week without many great streaming options, the Bengals' D/ST stands out. Plus, you can add them before their Monday game kicks off.

Others to Consider:
Kansas City D/ST (20%; vs. Titans), Minnesota D/ST (20%; at Commanders), Jacksonville D/ST (45%; vs. Raiders)