The fantasy season is nearly halfway over. Whether your team is undefeated or fighting its way up the standings, it isn’t too late to make moves on the waiver wire.
Four teams are on bye in Week 9, leaving fantasy managers looking to the waiver wire to find streaming options. Thankfully, there are still plenty of players out there who can provide fantasy production in Week 9 and beyond.
This article will focus on players available in at least 50% of Yahoo leagues, as well as some deep sleepers rostered in less than 20% of leagues. Without further ado, here are the best Week 9 streaming options at every position.
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Quarterback Streaming Options Week 9
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders (44% Rostered)
Sam Darnold went into the Seattle Seahawks’ Week 8 bye on a low note, scoring 9.6 fantasy points and finishing as the QB24 against the Houston Texans. However, before that, Darnold was solid as a fantasy quarterback. From Weeks 2 to 6, Darnold scored at least 16.0 fantasy points per game for five straight games. He had back-to-back top 10 finishes with at least 20.0 fantasy points per game.
At the very least, we know that Darnold has shown that he is a solid quarterback outside of the Vikings’ offense. This season, he’s completed 68.2% of his passes for 1,754 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions. This week, he faces the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Darnold should be considered a QB2 weekly but has real QB1 upside in a positive matchup in Week 9.
Deep Sleeper: Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders vs Jacksonville Jaguars (16% Rostered)
Geno Smith‘s tenure as the Raiders’ starting quarterback has been abysmal. In seven games, Smith has completed 65.8% of his passes for 1,417 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Smith has scored fewer than 10.0 fantasy points in four of seven games. He has only three finishes inside the top 24 quarterbacks.
In fairness to Smith, he has been missing two of his top receiving weapons (Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers) throughout the season. It is fair to hope that the bye week will have given Geno and the Raiders’ offense a chance to get healthy and reset, especially against a Jaguars defense that is allowing the sixth most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (19.3).
Running Back Streaming Options Week 9
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans vs Los Angeles Chargers (41% Rostered)
Tyjae Spears missed the first four weeks of the season on the injured reserve but has gradually seen his role expand since returning in Week 5. Spears has continued to split the backfield with Tony Pollard, but he has recorded at least a 50% snap share in two of his four games.
Tyjae Spears Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
In Week 8, Spears had his best showing of the season. He handled nine carries for 59 yards and a touchdown while adding three receptions for 23 yards. He scored 17.2 PPR points, which helped him finish as the RB12 that week.
His matchup against the Chargers isn’t great, but the Titans’ offense isn’t strong enough to keep pace with Justin Herbert. The stage is set for a negative game script and an expanded role for Spears in Week 9.
Deep Sleeper: Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (16% Rostered)
Brashard Smith had a strong Week 7 performance (14 carries for 39 yards and five receptions for 42 yards with a season-high 34.6% snap share) that seemed to suggest an increased role going forward. Because of that, Smith was one of the most popular waiver wire picks ahead of Week 8.
That did not come to fruition. Smith dropped down to a 13% snap share, logging just three carries for eight yards. However, Smith is once again on the fantasy radar after news dropped that Isiah Pacheco is set to miss Week 9 with a knee injury. Kansas City will face off against the Buffalo Bills in Week 9, which has a chance to be a classic shootout between two of the best quarterbacks in the game. Smith could be poised for a bigger role, especially in a backfield missing one of its running backs.
Honorable Mention: Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys (43% Rostered)
Bam Knight took over the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield heading into the team’s Week 8 bye. That was seemingly solidified when the Cardinals released Michael Carter this week, although they did re-sign him to the practice squad.
Zonovan Knight Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
In Week 7, Knight handled 14 carries for 57 yards while adding three receptions for seven yards on a 44.7% snap share. In the Cardinals’ two games heading into the bye, Knight handled 25 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown with a 47% snap share. He has an ideal matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. Dallas has allowed the third most fantasy points per game to running backs this season (23.2 PPG) while giving up a league-leading 12 rushing touchdowns. The potential return of Kyler Murray can also open up rushing lanes for Knight, further increasing his appeal as a streamer.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals (28% Rostered)
D’Andre Swift has logged two straight DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday, putting his status for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals in doubt. If he’s unable to play, 2025 seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai would be set to see an expanded role in the Bear’s offense.
Kyle Monangai Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Even with Swift healthy, Monangai has carved out a consistent role in Chicago’s offense, handling at least six carries in four of his last six games. However, he will automatically become an RB2 in fantasy if he’s the starting running back in a run-heavy Chicago offense facing off against a Bengals defense allowing the most fantasy points per game to running backs this season (28.2).
Wide Receiver Streaming Options Week 9
Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots vs Atlanta Falcons (49% Rostered)
Kayshon Boutte has evolved into one of the most efficient wide receivers in the NFL in his third season. Boutte is the WR1 in yards per target (14.4), WR4 in average depth of target (17.0), and WR7 in expected points added (40.4).
He is also the WR1 in PlayerProfiler’s Production Premium (34.5), WR2 in Target Premium (55.5%), and WR1 in fantasy points per target (3.2).
Kayshon Boutte Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The only potential downside for the veteran receiver is his lack of consistent target share. Boutte has just three games this season with five or more targets. Despite that, he’s logged at least 50 yards and a touchdown in three straight games. He also has three straight finishes as a top 24 receiver.
The Atlanta Falcons have been a tough matchup for wide receivers this season, allowing the seventh fewest fantasy points per game to the position this season (17.2). That said, Drake Maye has been a legitimate MVP candidate and is coming off a strong showing against arguably the best defense in the NFL (Cleveland). Boutte can fall flat in Week 9, but his role has the potential to boom every week.
Deep Sleeper: Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts (10% Rostered)
Calvin Austin III returned from an injury in Week 8 and immediately earned six targets, which was only one fewer than DK Metcalf. His production wasn’t anything special (four receptions for 28 yards), but it was encouraging to see Autin pick up his role where he left off before getting injured.
Calvin Austin III Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The third-year receiver has had flashes this season, catching eight of 15 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games of the season. And as good as the Indianapolis Colts have been this season, one area where they have struggled is in the secondary. Indianapolis is allowing the third most fantasy points per game to wide receivers (24.2). This game has the makings of a shootout thanks to Pittsburgh’s own defensive struggles. Given the lack of target competition and Austin’s explosiveness, he could be in line for a big day in fantasy.
Tight End Streaming Options Week 9
Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts (20% Rostered)
The Indianapolis Colts have also struggled against tight ends this season. They have given up the third-most receptions (50) and second-most yards (579) to tight ends this season. They have also allowed the third most fantasy points per game to the position in 2025 (10.2).
Picking the right Steelers’ tight end in fantasy is a daunting task, but Jonnu Smith has been the preferred pass-catching option this season. Smith is second among the Steelers in targets (29), but the veteran TE has struggled to stand out in fantasy while being stuck in a three-way positional split with Pat Freiermuth (21 targets) and Darnell Washington (14 targets). However, Freiermuth did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, which could clear up the logjam at tight end. Smith becomes a less appealing play if Freiermuth can play Week 9, but he will still have upside in an advantageous matchup.
Deep Sleeper: Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans vs Los Angeles Chargers (1% Rostered)
Gunnar Helm has seen his role in Tennessee’s offense increase in recent weeks, but his upside has been capped by the presence of Chigoziem Okonkwo. However, Okonkwo missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, giving Helm a chance to grow his role in the Titans’ offense.
Gunnar Helm Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Helm has at least three targets in five of his last six games and scored his first professional touchdown in Week 8. His Week 9 opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers, is far from a good fantasy matchup, but the Titans will need somebody to earn targets if Okonkwo and Calvin Ridley (hamstring) are out. Hopefully, the rookie tight end can step up.
Honorable Mention: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals (23% Rostered)
Rookie tight end Colston Loveland has failed to launch through eight weeks, but he is coming off his most productive game (five targets, three receptions, and 38 yards) in a game without Cole Kmet.
Kmet is on track to return in Week 9, but Loveland’s matchup against the Bengals is too good to ignore. The Bengals have given up 15.0 fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, nearly two points more than the second-worst team. Cincinnati is the only defense that has allowed more than 70 targets or 10 receiving yards to the tight end position this year. Even with Kmet back, this matchup makes Loveland an interesting option.
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