Waiver opportunities this week include a gunslinging QB and two WRs from a revamped Cleveland offense. Here's all the best options going into NFL Week 9.

After several bountiful waiver wire weeks, there’s a more sparse selection heading into Week 9. Thankfully, multiple pieces from the best passing attack of Week 8 are up for grabs in most leagues.

As always, you’ll find several top waiver options in this weekly feature, followed by a few players to monitor in deeper formats. Generally, players listed here will be available in at least 50% of Sleeper leagues.

Top Waiver Wire Additions After Week 8

WR Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns

Since the Amari Cooper trade, Tillman has at least seven receptions and 81 yards in each game, and he scored twice in Week 8. Jameis Winston threw for 334 yards in his first start as a Cleveland Brown, and he has a long history of propping up fantasy wide receivers with his reckless play style. Tillman had nine receiving yards through the first six games of the season, so there’s still a chance he provides little fantasy value going forward.

However, it’s hard to deny the past two weeks of production, along with a situation where Tillman has minimal competition for targets. He’s only rostered in 25% of Sleeper leagues, but he has fantasy WR2 potential for the rest of the season if he can remain Winston’s top target. Consider a 20-30% FAAB bid on Tillman if you need receiver help.

WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers

With Diontae Johnson reportedly a soon-to-be traded entity, this speedy rookie has the opportunity to take over as the Panthers’ WR1 in the second half of the season. The yardage totals have been underwhelming, as he’s failed to reach 35 yards in four straight. However, he has three TDs in his last five games, and rookie wide receivers generally improve as the season moves along. The Panthers’ dreadful defense should continue to force the team into pass-heavy game scripts, too.

Legette is 36% rostered, and while he carries significant risk, the upside is every-week fantasy WR3 status. He’s worth a 10-15% FAAB bid.

QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Nix started slowly, with three of his first four starts yielding under 14 fantasy points. However, he’s now topped 21 fantasy points in three of his past four. After more than 60 rushing yards in both Week 6 and Week 7, he threw for a career-high 284 yards against Carolina in Week 8. Nix (35% rostered on Sleeper) has another favorable matchup on tap against the Ravens, and he’s in the fantasy QB1 conversation for the rest of the season. 

Nix is a 5-15% FAAB guy for those who were previously banking on Jordan Love (groin) or C.J. Stroud (Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs injuries).

WR Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns

Moore led the Browns in targets (12), catching eight passes for 85 yards on Sunday. He’s a good consolation prize for those missing out on the Tillman sweepstakes this week. Moore (8% rostered) is a 5-10% FAAB type who could provide fantasy WR3 value in PPR formats.

QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots

After back-to-back starts over 20 fantasy points to begin his career, Maye had 11.5 fantasy points against the Jets before a concussion knocked him out of the game in the second quarter. He’s unlikely to suit up in Week 9, and then he gets the ferocious Bears secondary should he play in Week 10. 

Nevertheless, Maye (25% rostered) is a solid pickup for fantasy managers looking for upside down the stretch, and he can probably be obtained for 3-5% of your FAAB.

QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns

Winston, most famous in fantasy circles for his 33 TD, 30 INT season (2019), lit it up in his first start in a Browns uniform. He threw for 334 yards and three TDs, totaling 23.5 fantasy points in a great matchup against a pass-funnel Ravens defense. Like Maye, Winston is mostly a speculative add for teams needing QB help. He faces a tough Chargers defense in Week 9 before his Week 10 bye. 

Consider 3-5% of your FAAB on Winston, who is just 10% rostered on Sleeper.

Sneak Peek: Deeper and Potential Future Additions

RB Braelon Allen, New York Jets

Allen’s rostership has dipped under 50% again on Sleeper, and he has top-five fantasy upside if Breece Hall were to go down with an injury.

RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Allgeier shows up here every week, since he already has a role carved out and he’s a fantasy RB1 if Bijan Robinson gets hurt.

RB Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

James Cook is an undersized back who has reached 20 touches in two of his past three games. We’ve already seen Davis’ fantasy upside when Cook misses time.

RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Warren has a solid weekly role, but fantasy managers need a Najee Harris injury to feel confident starting Warren as a top-15 option at the position.

RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams offense is once again a top-tier unit now that the wide receivers are healthy. Corum is another high-upside backup running back.

TE Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

The veteran is averaging four receptions and 43 yards per game, and he’s a high-floor option at the position.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs

The hamstring injury, along with DeAndre Hopkins’ arrival, clouds his future production, but the last time we saw him he went for 130 yards.

RB Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

An injury to De’Von Achane or Raheem Mostert would put the rookie Wright back onto the fantasy radar.

WR Parker Washington, Jacksonville JaguarsWR Gabe Davis, Jacksonville Jaguars

Christian Kirk’s season ended with a broken collarbone, and Brian Thomas Jr. may miss time with a chest/rib injury. Washington is the Kirk replacement in the slot, while Davis would get a target bump running routes on the outside. Washington is the slightly preferred option, since Davis is dealing with a shoulder injury of his own.

WR Xavier Hutchinson, Houston Texans

Nico Collins is still a couple weeks away from returning, and Stefon Diggs suffered a concerning non-contact knee injury in Week 8. Hutchinson is a speedster who gets the privilege of playing with Stroud.

Line Up Your Targets

Make sure to act quickly to secure your waiver wire targets, with most leagues running waivers on Tuesday nights. For more in-depth stats and to view all the trending players in real time, check out the Sleeper app.

Working the waiver wire to your favor is a critical part of fantasy football success, and we’ll be with you every week to help you chase down those playoff berths and fantasy championships.

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