Week 8 gave fantasy managers something they’ve been searching for all season: available running backs with a realistic path to meaningful volume. Mike Washington Jr. took over the Raiders’ rushing work, Tyler Allgeier capitalized on injuries in Arizona, and several receivers delivered performances worth paying attention to. With Pittsburgh and Tennessee on bye in Week 9, finding a usable replacement matters just as much as adding someone who could help down the stretch. Here are my top 11 additions entering Week 9.
1. Mike Washington Jr., RB (LV)
Rostered: 22.3%
Washington is my top waiver priority after Las Vegas handed him 25 carries against the Jets. He finished with 83 rushing yards, but the workload tells us more than the efficiency. Ashton Jeanty received just two carries for nine yards despite not appearing on the injury report, and Washington handled the primary early-down and goal-line responsibilities. This wasn’t a late-game audition after the outcome had been decided. Washington remained the lead runner while the Raiders protected their advantage in the fourth quarter. Jeanty’s involvement in passing situations gives him a role, but Las Vegas made a significant change to how it distributed its rushing opportunities.
I’m adding Washington aggressively without assuming the starting job is his for the rest of the season. His 3.3 yards per carry left room for improvement, and Jeanty remains a threat to reclaim work if the coaching staff changes course. The limited receiving upside also makes Washington more dependent on carries and touchdowns than a typical three-down back. Still, a player coming off 25 rushing attempts shouldn’t be sitting on waivers in nearly four out of five leagues. He’s the first player I’d target if I needed running back help, with a chance to enter the RB2 conversation if this rotation holds. The opportunity warrants the claim even though the long-term pecking order remains unsettled.
2. Tyler Allgeier, RB (ARI)
Rostered: 49.0%
Allgeier turned a backfield full of injury concerns into one of Week 8’s biggest fantasy performances. He rushed 11 times for 147 yards and a touchdown against Dallas, then added five catches for 44 yards and another score. That’s 191 scrimmage yards and 36.1 full-PPR points. Jeremiyah Love opened as Arizona’s featured runner before aggravating his ankle injury, while Bam Knight suffered a concussion after taking on additional rushing work. Allgeier, who entered the game dealing with a toe issue himself, played all 40 offensive snaps in the second half and overtime. His production was explosive, but the complete takeover after those injuries is what makes him such an important pickup.
Arizona visits Seattle in Week 9, and Allgeier’s place in fantasy lineups depends heavily on Love and Knight’s availability. If both remain out, the combination of rushing volume and receiving work would put him firmly in the RB2 or flex discussion. I’m not projecting another 13.4 yards per carry, and a healthy backfield would make his workload much harder to trust. Love’s ankle and Knight’s progress through the concussion protocol need to be monitored throughout the week. Allgeier is still worth adding before those questions are answered. He’s one of the few available backs with a clear route to immediate starting volume, and his five receptions against Dallas show he can contribute even when the rushing efficiency comes back down.
3. Keenan Allen, WR (IND)
Rostered: 46.3%
Allen gave fantasy managers useful PPR production even as the Colts fell apart in a 42-7 loss to Jacksonville. He caught seven passes for 67 yards, finishing with 13.7 full-PPR points. Those seven receptions tied his second-highest total of the season, and he also caught eight passes in Week 6. That recent reception volume gives this recommendation a much stronger foundation than simply hoping Indianapolis changes its receiving rotation. The blowout still matters when evaluating his usage, because the Colts removed several starters and Allen received additional work during garbage time. His final line was useful, but it doesn’t establish that he’s suddenly become the offense’s first option.
I’m targeting Allen when I need receiving depth I could actually use during the bye weeks. Tyler Warren and Josh Downs remain part of the target competition, and Indianapolis’ offensive inconsistency limits how confidently we can project his weekly production. Allen’s appeal is his ability to turn underneath opportunities into catches, making him more valuable in full-PPR leagues than in formats that lean heavily on yardage and touchdowns. At No. 3, this is a recommendation built around current usefulness rather than a massive rest-of-season ceiling. He’s a WR3 or flex consideration when the target volume is there, and his recent reception totals make him worth rostering while managers sort through injuries and byes.
4. Antonio Williams, WR (WAS)
Rostered: 21.2%
Williams backed up the opportunity created by Terry McLaurin’s season-ending knee injury with a productive Week 8 performance. He caught five of seven targets for 54 yards against Philadelphia, producing 10.4 full-PPR points in Washington’s 27-10 win. He led the Commanders in targets and receptions, giving us something more concrete than a projection based on the available snaps. Williams had already shown flashes before Washington’s bye, including three catches for 50 yards against San Francisco. His first game following McLaurin’s injury provided encouraging evidence that he can take on a larger share of the passing game, even with Stefon Diggs, Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo competing for opportunities.
I’m more interested in Williams as a PPR addition after seeing those seven targets. McLaurin’s absence creates an opening that could last for the rest of the season, and Williams doesn’t need to lead Washington in receiving yards every week to become useful. Consistent involvement underneath would give him a path to flex value without requiring a touchdown. One game still isn’t enough to project seven targets every Sunday, but leading the team in opportunities is an encouraging first step. He’s worth adding ahead of Week 9 against the Rams, particularly in deeper leagues. Managers with a dependable starting lineup can stash him while that role develops, while those needing receiving help should keep him in consideration as a deeper PPR option.
5. Seth McGowan, RB (IND)
Rostered: 26.2%
McGowan is a bench stash whose value could change quickly if Indianapolis moves Jonathan Taylor. The trade possibility is the main reason he’s this high on my list, although he had already earned some work before Week 8. In Week 7, McGowan handled 11 carries for 46 yards and caught a pass while playing a career-high 20 offensive snaps. Sixteen of those snaps came in the first three quarters, so his involvement wasn’t entirely a product of the final score. The Jacksonville blowout was less useful for evaluating the rotation, as Indianapolis eventually pulled starters and gave its reserves additional opportunities. There’s enough here to justify a stash, but not enough to suggest he’s taking over while Taylor remains in place.
I’m not adding McGowan with the expectation that he’ll help my lineup while Taylor remains healthy and in Indianapolis. A trade would create an opening, but it wouldn’t automatically hand McGowan every backfield touch with DJ Giddens also available. That uncertainty makes him a better fit for a manager with established starters and an expendable bench spot than someone trying to replace a Week 9 starter. If Taylor stays, McGowan remains a backup whose clearest path to fantasy relevance would come through an injury or a substantial change in the rotation. His ranking reflects the potential payoff of getting ahead of a transaction, and managers should approach the claim with that specific purpose in mind.
6. Emmett Johnson, RB (KC)
Rostered: 15.4%
Johnson caught five passes for 128 yards and a touchdown against Denver, but his playing time keeps this from being a straightforward breakout recommendation. He played just 12 offensive snaps, his lowest total of the season, while Kenneth Walker III remained Kansas City’s lead back. Johnson’s early-down involvement has also been declining. The receiving production shows what he can do with the ball, yet it doesn’t demonstrate that the Chiefs have given him a dependable weekly role. A huge fantasy performance and a shrinking workload can happen at the same time, and managers need to account for both before deciding how aggressively to pursue him.
I’m interested in Johnson as an upside stash, especially in PPR leagues. His receiving ability could become valuable if his snap count increases or Walker misses time, but five receptions on 12 snaps isn’t a workload I’d trust to produce another big week. He needs more consistent opportunities before he belongs in a starting lineup. Managers searching for immediate help should prioritize the available backs with clearer paths to carries, while those with room to wait can take a chance on Johnson’s playmaking ability. Week 8 gives Kansas City a reason to keep finding ways to involve him. It doesn’t guarantee that involvement will grow enough to make him a reliable fantasy option.
7. Kaelon Black, RB (SF)
Rostered: 27.3%
Black returns from San Francisco’s Week 8 bye as a worthwhile handcuff after showing what he can do behind Christian McCaffrey. Against Atlanta in Week 7, he rushed 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown after McCaffrey briefly left with a thigh injury. Black supplied an explosive scoring run, but he also lost a fumble, and McCaffrey returned to play 26 of the 49ers’ 38 second-half offensive snaps. That second-half split matters. Black had a productive opportunity without taking over the backfield, and his fantasy outlook remains tied to how much work is available behind McCaffrey.
The bye gives McCaffrey additional recovery time, so I’m not assuming Black will return to double-digit carries in Week 9. His recent production makes him a useful insurance option, particularly for managers already rostering McCaffrey, but he still needs an opening before becoming a dependable starter. Monitor McCaffrey’s practice participation as San Francisco returns to action. If he’s healthy, Black is primarily a bench stash. If the thigh issue limits him, Black’s value could rise quickly. I’d add him in leagues with enough bench space to carry a backup, while giving immediate lineup replacements priority if I needed points this week.
8. DeMario Douglas, WR (NE)
Rostered: 44.4%
Douglas caught all three of his targets for 76 yards and a touchdown against Miami, continuing a stretch with at least 16 PPR points in three of his last four games. New England was without A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs, leaving Douglas, Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams to handle more of the receiving responsibilities. Another encouraging development was Douglas’ participation in two-tight-end formations. His share of New England’s snaps in 12 personnel rose to 30% in Week 8 after sitting at 13% entering the game. That suggests the Patriots were willing to use him beyond his usual three-receiver packages, giving him another way to stay on the field.
I’m comfortable adding Douglas for receiving depth, although three targets leave little margin for error if the touchdown doesn’t come. His recent scoring has been useful, but managers shouldn’t treat those fantasy totals as evidence of a high-volume role. Hunter Henry’s foot injury could affect how New England distributes its short-area opportunities, while the eventual return of injured receivers could reduce Douglas’ involvement. He belongs in the flex conversation when the Patriots remain shorthanded, especially in PPR formats. His longer-term value depends on whether the broader personnel usage continues once the offense gets healthier. Another week of production would help, but stronger target volume would make him much easier to trust.
9. Mike Gesicki, TE (CIN)
Rostered: 16.6%
Gesicki caught four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee, extending his receiving touchdown streak to five games. The more encouraging development for his waiver outlook was a season-high 67.6% offensive snap share and participation on 90% of Cincinnati’s third-down snaps. Injuries to Erick All Jr. and Tanner Hudson helped expand his work in both one-tight-end and two-tight-end formations. Cincinnati also had just four active wide receivers. Those circumstances give the recent production more substance than an isolated touchdown on limited playing time, because Gesicki is getting more chances to stay involved in the passing game.
He’s one of my preferred tight end pickups for managers who need a streaming option. A five-game touchdown streak won’t last forever, but the increased snaps and third-down role provide reasons to remain interested when the scoring slows. The key is whether Cincinnati maintains this usage as its other tight ends get healthier. If Gesicki returns to a smaller rotation, the weekly floor becomes much harder to trust. For now, his role gives him a reasonable path to TE1 production in Joe Burrow’s offense. I’d add him ahead of more speculative options at the position, while treating the expanding opportunity as the reason to buy rather than simply chasing another touchdown.
10. Eli Raridon, TE (NE)
Rostered: 1.5%
Raridon played 92% of New England’s offensive snaps against Miami, taking over as the primary tight end after Hunter Henry left in the second quarter with a foot injury. That was his full-game snap share, showing just how extensively the Patriots used him. Raridon had already exceeded a 50% snap share in each of the previous two games, so he had been involved regularly even before Henry went down. The receiving results were limited to one catch for five yards, although his season-long 1.9 yards per route run offers some encouragement about his ability to contribute when targeted. The playing time creates an opportunity, but it still needs to translate into receiving volume.
Henry’s availability will determine how seriously to consider Raridon for Week 9. If Henry is out, Raridon could handle a substantial role in an offense already missing several receivers. That would make him worth a speculative add in deeper leagues and a possible streaming consideration for managers short on alternatives. I’m keeping expectations measured because his extensive playing time didn’t produce meaningful targets against Miami. If Henry returns, the immediate appeal drops considerably, even with Raridon’s recent involvement alongside him. Gesicki is the stronger addition for current production, while Raridon is a conditional pickup whose value should become clearer as New England releases its practice and injury reports.
11. Adonai Mitchell, WR (NYJ)
Rostered: 11.2%
Mitchell delivered seven catches for 142 yards and a touchdown against Las Vegas, giving the Jets a breakout receiving performance while Omar Cooper Jr. went without a catch. His involvement in three-receiver formations was substantial, as Mitchell played 95% of New York’s snaps from those packages. Cooper remained ahead of him in heavier formations, however, so Mitchell hasn’t established an every-down role. He made the most of his chances, but the Jets are still distributing opportunities among multiple receiving options. Cooper’s production over the previous two weeks also makes it difficult to declare a permanent change in the receiving hierarchy after one game.
I’m adding Mitchell for the ceiling he showed against the Raiders, particularly in leagues with deeper benches. A receiver capable of producing that kind of yardage is worth pursuing when he’s available in nearly 90% of leagues. The risk is assuming those results will repeat before the target volume and personnel usage become more dependable. Mitchell is an upside stash who could develop into a flex option over the second half, with more appeal to managers looking for potential than those needing a safe Week 9 floor. Add him where possible, then watch whether the Jets expand his role beyond three-receiver sets. Another strong performance backed by broader usage would make him much easier to move into a starting lineup.
Honorable Waiver Wire Mentions
- Sam Darnold QB (SEA) – 36% rostered
- JJ McCarthy QB (NYG) – 17% rostered
- Dylan Sampson RB (CLE) – 14% rostered
- Kenny Gainwell RB (TB) – 47% rostered
- Devin Singletary RB (NYG) – 4% rostered
- Caleb Douglas WR (MIA) – 29% rostered
- Ryan Flournoy WR (DAL) – 28% rostered
- Greg Dulcich TE (MIA) – 4% rostered
- Terrance Ferguson TE (LAR) – 14% rostered
- New York Giants DEF 18% rostered
- Chicago Bears DEF 25% rostered
- Matt Gay K (LV) – 47% rostered
