Week 9 bye weeks for the Browns, Jets, Eagles, and Buccaneers create openings for fantasy football managers.
Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is a top waiver wire target due to an injury to rookie Cam Skattebo.
Several wide receivers, including Troy Franklin and Christian Watson, are worthwhile pickups after solid performances.
Byes are still an issue for fantasy football managers as the season makes a turn for home in Week 9.
While the free agent pool doesn’t necessarily have an abundance of quality performers, there are a number of decent options worth adding to your roster to fill those open spots.
WEEK 9 BYES: Cleveland, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay
Injuries play a significant role this week (then again, when don’t they?) with a major season-ending injury shaking up one team’s backfield. On the other hand, the bye week couldn’t come at a better time for a couple of high-profile running backs. But what if they’re not 100% healthy when they return?
Fantasy football players to add for Week 9
Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here include their availability rates in Yahoo leagues, which may or may not match rates on other platforms. If you have bye week issues, feel free to go the extra dollar. (Suggested bid values based on $100 free agent acquisition budget for the season.)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (49% rostered)
Just when it looked like the Giants had something going with rookie RB Cam Skattebo, an ugly injury wipes out the rest of his season. Tracy figures to get a second chance at running with the first team, even though he wasn’t very impressive originally. Still, volume is king and Tracy should see plenty of it. In deep leagues, veteran Devin Singletary (1% rostered) may be able to help if you’re in a bye-week bind. (Suggested FAAB bid: $10)
WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (38%)
With Bo Nix a top-7 quarterback this season and the Broncos an above-average overall offense, it seems like they should have more fantasy-relevant skill players. Franklin might be on the verge of breaking through following his 89-yard, two-TD effort against Dallas. Of course, that ‘against Dallas’ part is rather important. Still, he put up those numbers on eight targets, on the heels of getting 10 in Week 7. He has two tough matchups in the three weeks before Denver’s bye, but the schedule down the stretch looks tasty. (FAAB bid: $9)
WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers (16%)
We had Watson on our radar last week before he was officially activated from injured reserve. In his first action of the season, he caught four passes for 85 yards and didn’t seem to be favoring his surgically repaired knee. No Packers wideout has really stepped forward in his absence to become Jordan Love’s go-to receiver. So why not take a flyer? (FAAB bid: $8)
WR Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans (8%)
Another one of last week’s intriguing pickups, Dike followed up one big game with another on Sunday, notching season highs in receptions and yards (7 for 93). The schedule turns a bit tougher now, however, and with rookie QB Cam Ward still strugging, there’s still legitimate concern about Dike’s consistency. (FAAB bid: $6)
RB Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals (3%)
The Bengals haven’t been very successful running the ball all season, so it was a bit of a surprise to see Chase Brown going for 73 yards and a score in Week 8. (And catching a TD pass as well.) Perine even got into the action against the lowly Jets, rushing for a season-high 94 yards and a score on nine carries. There are worse backup running backs to roster. (FAAB bid: $6)
WR Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (15%)
QB Tua Tagovailoa had his best day of the season in an upset win at Atlanta. Washington was one of several beneficiaries with four receptions for 36 yards and a TD. The absence of TE Darren Waller likely played a role in Washington getting additional looks. He’s the clear No. 2 wideout behind Jaylen Waddle. (FAAB bid: $5)
RB Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints (4%)
Veteran running back Alvin Kamara probably isn’t getting traded, but in the unlikely event that happens, Neal could be thrust into a much larger role. Primary backup Kendre Miller is out for the season with a torn ACL, so Neal now has that role. The rookie sixth-rounder played a season-high 32 snaps on Sunday to Kamara’s 37, but didn’t carry the ball once and had three receptions. The Saints have perhaps the toughest possible matchup this week against the Rams, but after the Nov. 4 trade deadline passes, things open up considerably. (FAAB bid: $4)
RB Isaiah Davis, New York Jets (9%)
Similarly, Davis would be in for a huge fantasy upgrade if the Jets decide to move Breect Hall. Davis has more upside than Perine or Neal if that happens, since he’s already seeing regular work in the passing game. He caught five of six targets for 29 yards and added a 2-point conversion in Week 8, but will be on bye this week so you can’t use him right away. (FAAB bid: $3)
RB Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (14%)
Quinshon Judkins left Sunday’s game early with a shoulder injury and is considered ‘day-to-day.’ However, the next Browns game won’t be until Week 10. If the rookie is still ailing after the bye week, another rookie is set to take his place. Sampson seems to have moved ahead of veteran Jerome Ford in the pecking order, and he did show some flashes early in the season — especially in the receiving game. (FAAB bid: $3)
RB Tank Bigsby, Philadelpia Eagles (17%)
Like Perine, Bigsby took advantage of an unexpected boost in playing time to have his best game of the season. With Saquon Barkley exiting early with a groin injury, Bigsby ran for 104 yards on nine carries. That’s the explosiveness the Eagles had in mind when they acquired him from Jacksonville early in the season. Barkley is expected to be fine after the Week 9 bye, but Bigsby is an excellent insurance policy if anything flares up down the stretch. (FAAB bid: $3)
WRs Jayden Higgins (26%), Jaylin Noel (9%) and Xavier Hutchinson (1%), Houston Texans
It’s hard to know how things will shake out in Houston until Nico Collins and Christian Kirk return from injuries. Higgins had a team-high eight targets on Sunday, catching four for 34 yards and a touchdown. Noel was only on the field for 28 snaps, but he was the most efficient — with five receptions for 63 yards. And Hutchinson corralled five passes for 69 yards and a score against the 49ers. Problem is, they’re all facing Denver this week. (FAAB bids: $2 each)