It’s Week 9, and the fantasy football panic meter is officially red-lining. The trade deadline is creeping closer, injuries are stacking up, and suddenly that “depth” you felt good about three weeks ago looks like a pile of waiver wire fliers. Don’t worry—we’ve all been there. To help you steady the ship (or make that bold move you’ve been avoiding), our Featured Pros have weighed in on the best Buy Low and Sell High candidates for Week 9. Whether you’re clinging to playoff hope or plotting for the top seed, this is the week to make your move before it’s too late.
- Waiver Wire Picks
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Players to Buy Low & Sell High in Week 9
Buy Low
Who is your favorite buy-low trade candidate heading into Week 9 and why? Also, who are you willing to give up for him?
Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)
“Forget the poor Week 8, it’s just a mirage. My buy-low target of the week is Tee Higgins, and the window is closing fast. His true usage was evident the week before when he saw 10 targets from gunslinging QB Joe Flacco, who has turned the Bengals back into a pass-heavy machine. Higgins is an elite talent being valued like a bench warmer due to early-season woes. Pounce now, he will guaranTEE you a big return!”
– Luke Renton (The Franchise Tag UK)
Joe Flacco (QB – CIN)
“Unfortunately, the Bengals’ playoff chances took a massive hit with their loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. However, Joe Flacco has been outstanding since getting traded to Cincinnati, averaging 261.3 passing yards, 2.3 touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points per game, totaling 18.8 or more in every contest, including over 24.2 in back-to-back contests. More importantly, the veteran quarterback has a fantasy-friendly upcoming schedule, including matchups against the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers over the next three weeks. Furthermore, Flacco has three excellent matchups during the fantasy playoffs, facing the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and Arizona Cardinals. I would happily sell high on C.J. Stroud, Tua Tagovailoa, or Justin Fields to land Flacco.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Derrick Henry (RB – BAL)
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Get Derrick Henry on your fantasy team. After a rough start to the season, he has now racked up double-digit fantasy points in each of the last two weeks. This week, he faces one of the worst rushing defenses in the league in the Miami Dolphins, and quarterback Lamar Jackson will likely be back, opening up more running lanes for him. Truly, do whatever you can to get him on your team; he can be a league winner come playoff time.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)
Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
“What can Brown do for you? Fantasy managers are starting to find out. From Weeks 1-5, Chase Brown averaged just 2.4 yards per carry with eight missed tackles forced and no explosive runs. Since Joe Flacco‘s arrival, his YPC has skyrocketed to 6.9, with 74.3 yards per game, including 86 yards coming on explosive runs. If your league mate thinks it’s a fluke, float an offer for Travis Etienne, David Montgomery, or even a WR like Jaylen Waddle. Brown’s end-of-season schedule adds even more motivation to buy. He faces Baltimore twice, plus Buffalo and Miami, all friendly matchups for running backs.”
– Kyle Zeigler (Fantasy In Frames)
“Chase Brown’s market value is starting to perk up again after being in the tank for weeks. But the market probably won’t catch up to Brown’s actual value. Yes, Brown is losing some snaps and touches to Samaje Perine, but last season’s 90%-plus snap and carry shares were never sustainable anyway. The good news is that Joe Flacco has reinvigorated the Bengals’ offense, and Brown has an ultra-favorable schedule the rest of the way. FantasyPros’ Strength of Schedule tool gives Brown’s remaining schedule a five-star rating. If anyone is betting on a Brian Thomas Jr. rebound, I’d happily trade BTJ to get Chase Brown. I’d also be willing to give up DeVonta Smith, Marvin Harrison Jr., or Deebo Samuel for Brown.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Jordan Love (QB – GB)
“Perhaps the ship sailed on Sunday night vs. Pittsburgh, but it seems there was (and may still be in your league) a chance to pick up Jordan Love on the cheap. He returned Christian Watson to the mix and clearly has a bevy of weapons at his disposal. Balance with Josh Jacobs and a strong defense offers a potential monster second half. I’ll look to owners depleted at RB and sell hope with a player like Ashton Jeanty or to the WR position and past fantasy hero Nico Collins.”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)
Caleb Williams (QB – CHI)
“Call me crazy, but I’m buying low on Caleb Williams if I need QB depth. He might hit waivers in 1QB leagues, so I’m keeping an eye there, but in Superflex leagues, he’s definitely rostered. This means you’ll have to trade for him. Whatever position you’re strongest at is the best place to start. I would try to send a flex candidate for him to start with, pushing the idea that at least you’ll start a player like Chris Olave or Keenan Allen while Williams struggles on your bench. If they’re through the bye week hell, they might be interested in moving Williams for cheap, given his recent struggles.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Jake Ferguson (TE – DAL)
“Jake Ferguson was having a stellar fantasy season until week 8, when the Denver Broncos held him to 0 catches on one target. On the year, he is TE5 (scoring dependent), and that is with a 0 point week! He has been a TE1 every week since week 2, including five top 5 tight end finishes! Denver has a top NFL defense that kept Ferguson in check. He will continue his rise to the top in week 9 against a subpar Arizona Cardinals defense. Savy owners should strike while teams are reeling from the 0 pt week and trade for Ferguson by offering players who aren’t consistent or who have inconsistent quarterback play like Mason Taylor, David Njoku, or Kyle Pitts.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE)
“Kayshon Boutte (WR-NE) is my favorite buy-low trade candidate heading into week 9. After a slow start in his first 5 weeks of the season, Boutte has been big with 3 weeks in a row of finishing in the wide receiver top 20 rankings. He’s a WR2 with WR1 upside on a weekly basis going forward. Tell your league manager that Boutte still has his toughest matchup of the season in week 13 against the New York Giants and a week 14 bye. The rest of the season, including the playoffs, is neutral to favorable for Boutte to blow up on any given week. I’d be willing to give up any of my favorite sell-high candidates.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
Mark Andrews (TE – BAL)
“The Ravens HAVE to get going, and with Lamar Jackson back this week, that can only mean better things coming for Mark Andrews. His value is in the toilet right now, with even some managers going as far as to drop him outright. The connection Andrews has with Jackson will be vital if Baltimore has any hopes of turning things around, and let’s not forget about where we were a year ago. Andrews had 4 TDs going into Week 9 of last year, only for him to go on a run of TDs in 7 of 8 games from Weeks 10-18 to end the year. Andrews should cost almost nothing to acquire right now, and for teams looking for TE help, Andrews would be a great guy to bet on to bring stability to that position.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB)
” The Bucs’ leading target in Week 8 was Emeka Egbuka, who drew a team-high nine targets, catching three passes for 35 yards. Down game for the rookie, but the usage was solid again for a second straight game. 58% air yards share and a 38% target share (67 incomplete air yards) to go with two more end-zone targets. It’s ironic that finally Egbuka is getting alpha usage, but the production has been lackluster. When Egbuka started the year, he was overproducing based on a subpar role. Either way…you want to go aggressively after Egbuka in his bye week. 10-plus targets per game over the last two weeks. Four end zone targets. Over 180 incomplete air yards. Remember…Egbuka hurt his hamstring two weeks ago and almost didn’t play versus the Lions. After the bye week, he should be closer to full go. Managers with a strong record should be looking to buy Buccaneers on the injury discount. Weeks 16-17: Panthers/Dolphins. ROS? Top-10 schedule for WRs, RBs, and QBs. Flip Breece Hall for Egbuka.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Jaylin Noel (WR – HOU)
“Jaylin Noel is on the cusp of breaking out. Over the last two weeks, he has had 13 targets, nine receptions, and 140 yards. What’s arguably more important is that he has done this while playing only limited snaps. Having yet to play 50% of snaps. Being targeted on 15.4% of his snaps (per r/DynastyFF), he is clearly a priority when he is on the field. Unfortunately, the Texans insist on playing their veterans on the majority of steps. We have heard their coaches say how they want to get Noel more involved, and if they do, he could become a league-winning piece down the stretch. I would be willing to move veterans with limited upside for him, such as DJ. Moore or Alvin Kamara.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
Sell High
Who is your favorite sell-high candidate after Week 8 and why? Also, who would you try to get in return?
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)
“Don’t get fooled by the overall WR2 ranking; it’s entirely down to luck. The numbers for Courtland Sutton scream sell now. He’s averaging 14.3 FPPG, but he’s defying the metrics: his expected output is just 12.3. That +2.0 FPPG difference is just not feasible long-term, as well as an exceptionally high 9.1% TD rate combined with a target share of 20.8%, a metric that doesn’t even crack the top 30 WRs. The hot streak is about to hit a wall. Offload Sutton before it’s too late.”
– Luke Renton (The Franchise Tag UK)
Oronde Gadsden II (TE – LAC)
“While fantasy players shouldn’t panic sell high on Oronde Gadsden II, it’s time to explore trade options. The rookie tight end has played well lately, averaging 6.3 receptions on 7.3 targets for 103 receiving yards, 0.7 touchdowns, and 20 PPR fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, totaling at least 68 yards and 11.8 fantasy points in every contest. However, he had only had five targets against the Minnesota Vikings last week, his lowest total since Week 5. More importantly, Gadsden’s workload significantly declined after a hot start. The rookie had four targets in the first quarter but saw only one for the rest of the game. Fantasy players should explore trading Gadsden and a startable running back or wide receiver for Brock Bowers.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“I love Oronde Gadsden and his rise in the Chargers’ attack. He’s been dominant these past three weeks, and a healthy return by the offensive lineman portends more big days from Justin Herbert. But will Gadsden remain that elite option? There are many other mouths to feed with Vidal and eventually Hampton, not to mention the trio of wideouts. In leagues with a true TE position, he’d have immense value, and I’d be looking to grab a back-end RB1 in return – maybe Kyren Williams or Bucky Irving (selling the games missed due to injury).”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)
“This could 1000% make me FantasyReceipts’ next victim, but I’m selling Oronde Gadsden. Gadsden has been on an absolute heater over the last three games, totalling 309 yards, 19 receptions, and two scores. However, this offence boasts a lot of talent, and the schedule becomes very challenging for the TE position. Over their remaining nine games, they play seven top-12 defenses against the TE position (the Steelers and Jaguars are the exceptions). This includes playing 5 of the top 7 teams against TEs. Shoot for the moon and see if you can score a big-name TE, and fall back on a guy like Jake Ferguson coming off a down week.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)
“I’m selling Jordan Addison right now. My issue with Addison is not only his lack of competent quarterback play, especially with Carson Wentz‘s recent injury, but also his boom-or-bust potential. He averages just over five receptions per game and has had two disastrous performances buoyed by touchdowns. Once that regression hits, he’ll be a very volatile option. I think you can sell him for someone more consistent, like a Zay Flowers or Chris Olave.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)
RJ Harvey (RB – DEN)
“RJ Harvey’s three-touchdown game has everyone talking around the water cooler. Don’t let the noise fool you. Nothing has changed in Sean Payton’s offense. J.K. Dobbins still leads the backfield, handling 54.5% of rushing attempts to Harvey’s 20%. Harvey has a slight route edge, 77 to Dobbins’ 64, but Badie mixes in 55 routes. If you can stomach a short wait, consider moving Harvey for Trey Benson, expected back from IR in Week 10. You could also target Kenneth Walker or Jordan Mason, who offer more volume.”
– Kyle Zeigler (Fantasy In Frames)
Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)
“I’d love to sell high on Jonathan Taylor after his third RB1 weekly finish this season. No one is higher in value than Taylor right now, regardless of the format. If I can move him for a player like Jahmyr Gibbs or James Cook with an additional bench piece thrown in, I’m probably doing that. Keep in mind, Taylor has a Week 11 bye, but Gibbs and Cook have already had their bye, making them more likely to gain on Taylor’s season-long point total. Adding a depth piece without tiering down is a great idea for someone like Taylor as we head into the stretch.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Kimani Vidal (RB – LAC)
“Kimani Vidal absolutely destroyed the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8 with 117 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He came into the season as an afterthought when the Chargers drafted Omarion Hampton. When Hampton went down, many owners thought Hassan Haskins would take over the lead back role, but Vidal did, and, in that time, he has two weeks of 117+ yards rushing! Hampton will return soon, greatly decreasing Vidal’s value, although he has probably earned himself some sort of committee role. Trade him while his value is high. Try to get a running back who has the backfield to themselves, possibly Javonte Williams, who is still being disrespected/undervalued by many owners, or a running back who should step back into a lead role on his team like Aaron Jones, who just returned from IR and will resume the RB1 role in Minnesota.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB – NYG)
“My favorite sell-high candidate after week 8 is Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB-NYG). First and foremost, I am a huge Cam Skattebo fan. I loved watching him in college at Arizona State, and I loved watching him build into a top rookie of the year candidate. That being said, Tyrone Tracy Jr.‘s stock is at an all-time high, especially to any fantasy football league manager who had to drop Cam Skattebo this week. Even if Tyrone Tracy Jr. is on your waiver wire, pick him up and try to work out a trade with that league manager. Even with Tyrone Tracy Jr. stepping back into the starting role, I don’t see him as anything more than a weekly flex play. Trade him away now while you can get the most value in return from him.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
“DeVonta Smith can be considered a great sell right now after two straight very impressive outings for the Eagles’ WR2. Smith has compiled 15 catches on 20 targets for 267 yards in his last two contests alone. However, Smith only has two scores on the year, and only two 100-yard outings through eight games. What also needs to be considered is Philly coming from behind in Week 7, leading to more passing volume, and A.J. Brown‘s absence in Week 8, making Smith the WR1 for Philly. Brown will return sooner rather than later, sending Smith back down the depth chart. If Smith could fetch a high-end WR2 in return, such as Ladd McConkey, Michael Pittman, or Davante Adams, with Puka Nacua coming back for Week 9, that would be an easy yes.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – JAC)
“Travis Etienne was bottled up for the third straight game vs the Rams back in Week 7. 8 for 44 yards on just 54% of the snaps. Been talking about his fall off in efficiency, tough schedule, and potential for a healthy Bhayshul Tuten to seize a larger role. Tuten has been on the IR with a shoulder all year, something that might not hinder him coming out of the bye week. All of these things are starting to become very apparent for Etienne’s fantasy value. Remains a sell with the Jags coming off their bye week. Flip Etienne for DeVonta Smith, Stefon Diggs, Tetairoa McMillan, or Jaylen Warren.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Travis Hunter (WR – JAC)
“Maybe Travis Hunter’s 8-101-1 stat line in Week 7 was the start of a Great Awakening for the two-way rookie. He played a season-high 87% of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps in that game and had a season-high 14 targets. I’m willing to risk selling Hunter at the wrong time now that he has the attention of fantasy managers. Hunter was WR50 in PPR fantasy points per game before his pre-bye breakout game in Week 7. I’m skeptical about the spike in targets lasting, and I’m skeptical that Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence can make Hunter a must-start fantasy option. I’d be willing to deal Hunter for a running back such as Tyrone Tracy, David Montgomery, or (if people are giving up on him) Kenneth Walker III.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
