6 Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements (Week 9)

Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 9.

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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Sam Darnold (QB – SEA) vs. Washington Commanders (34.9% Rostered)

Fantasy players might feel like the clock hit midnight on Darnold in Seattle’s last game against the Houston Texans. The veteran completed only 54.8% of his pass attempts for 213 yards, one touchdown, two turnovers, and 8.6 fantasy points. However, he faced arguably a top-three pass defense in that game. Meanwhile, Darnold had been on fire, averaging 274 passing yards, 2.3 touchdowns, and 20.1 fantasy points per game over the previous four contests, totaling at least 295 yards, two touchdowns, and 20 fantasy points in the final two outings.

More importantly, the former USC star has an excellent matchup against a struggling Commanders defense on Sunday night. Washington had surrendered 19.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the first seven weeks, the sixth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they gave up 265.6 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 21.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over their previous five contests before last week’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes finished with 299 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points against the Commanders on Monday night.

Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (30.9% Rostered)

I had Monangai in this article last week. Unfortunately, he let fantasy players down, totaling only seven rushing attempts for 24 yards and 2.4 PPR fantasy points against the Baltimore Ravens. While the matchup was appealing on paper, the Ravens’ defense was significantly healthier following their Week 7 bye. However, the rookie had the second-most rushing attempts of his career against Baltimore. More importantly, he had played well before last week’s matchup, averaging 5.6 yards per rushing attempt and 1.1 fantasy points per touch over his previous two games.

Hopefully, Monangai can put up similar fantasy production to his Week 7 performance against the Bengals. Cincinnati has surrendered 33.6 fantasy points per game to running backs, the most in the NFL, nearly 12.5 more than the league average. They’ve given up at least 105 rushing yards to running backs in every game since Week 1, including a season-high 198 last week. Furthermore, the Bengals surrendered three touchdowns and 50.8 fantasy points last week to Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis, as both players scored at least 17.9 in the victory.

Jeremy McNichols (RB – WAS) vs. Seattle Seahawks (4.4% Rostered)

There is no way fantasy players can trust Jacory Croskey-Merritt in their lineups. The rookie has been awful the past three weeks despite three fantasy-friendly matchups, averaging 13 rushing attempts for 39.7 yards, and 4.2 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 5.8 or fewer in every outing. However, McNichols has picked up the workload and has played well with Croskey-Merritt struggling, averaging five touches for 49.3 scrimmage yards and 8.3 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, totaling 6.5 or more in every contest, including 11.8 last week.

Furthermore, McNichols has become a reliable part of Washington’s passing attack, totaling a season-high five receptions and 64 receiving yards last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have shut down running backs on the ground, allowing the fewest rushing yards per game (57.4) and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns (two). However, they’ve struggled to stop running backs in the air, allowing the most receptions (47) and the fourth-most receiving yards (359) to the position. Expect plenty of cheap PPR fantasy points from McNichols in this matchup.

Chimere Dike (WR – TEN) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (14.6% Rostered)

It seems like Calvin Ridley is on track to miss his third consecutive game with a hamstring injury. The veteran didn’t practice once before the Week 7 or Week 8 matchups. Furthermore, he missed Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice. Therefore, Dike should remain Cam Ward’s favorite target on Sunday. The rookie had no fantasy value with Ridley playing, averaging three targets and 2.2 PPR fantasy points per game. By comparison, he has averaged 5.5 receptions on six targets for 81.5 receiving yards and 16.7 fantasy points per game without the veteran.

Last week, Dike was outstanding against the Indianapolis Colts, leading Tennessee in receptions (seven), targets (eight), receiving yards (93), and fantasy points (16.4). More importantly, he could have similar fantasy production against the Chargers. Los Angeles’ pass defense has struggled after a strong start. Over the past month, they have surrendered 138.8 receiving yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 30.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, allowing 34.1 or more twice. According to DraftKings, the Titans are 9.5-point underdogs in this game. Therefore, expect plenty of garbage time production from Dike.

Alec Pierce (WR – IND) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10.8% Rostered)

Indianapolis got Josh Downs back last week after the former UNC star missed the Week 7 contest with a concussion. While many were afraid to start Piece with Downs back in the lineup, he had a solid performance, totaling two receptions on five targets for 69 receiving yards, and 8.9 PPR fantasy points against the Tennessee Titans. More importantly, Pierce had more targets (five vs. three) and receiving yards (89 vs. 39) than Downs, only scoring four fewer fantasy points because the former UNC star lucked into the end zone.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has surrendered 39 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fifth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they’ve allowed 204 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 44.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over their past four contests, surrendering at least 39.1 fantasy points in every outing except the matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Last week, the Steelers surrendered 85 receiving yards and 12.5 fantasy points to Christian Watson in his season debut, including two receptions of over 27 yards. Pierce should have a few downfield receptions against Pittsburgh.

AJ Barner (TE – SEA) vs. Washington Commanders (9.4% Rostered)

Barner had a dud fantasy performance in Seattle’s last game before the bye week, totaling only one reception on three targets for seven receiving yards and 1.9 PPR fantasy points. However, he faced a talented Houston Texans defense. More importantly, Barner played well before that matchup, averaging 4.3 receptions for 52 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 15.5 fantasy points per game over the previous three contests, totaling double-digit fantasy points in every outing. Thankfully, the veteran tight end has an excellent matchup on Sunday night against the Commanders.

Unfortunately, the Commanders’ defense has been obliterated by injuries, as they’ve placed multiple edge rushers on injured reserve over the past month. More importantly, Washington has surrendered 15.1 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the eighth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, tight ends have had their way with the Commanders’ defense lately. They have allowed 15 receptions for 151 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 48.1 fantasy points to tight ends over the past two weeks, surrendering at least seven receptions, one touchdown, and 21.9 fantasy points in both contests.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.