We are coming up on the ninth week of the NFL season, and that means we’re entering the home stretch in fantasy football. Depending on your league settings, there are about five more weeks in the regular season before the playoffs, and with the trade deadline coming up, the waiver wire is becoming more important than ever.

The waiver wire is as thin as it’s ever been, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some guys that can help you out. Here are our best waiver wire additions for Week 9.

Note: Only players who are rostered in under 60 percent of leagues are on this list. Make sure to check your waivers in case a big name has been dropped/are still available.

Long-Term Help

Tyrone Tracy, RB, New York Giants

Tyrone Tracy started the year as the New York Giants’ starting running back, but a dislocated shoulder in Week 3 caused him to lose his job to Cam Skattebo. The rookie was amazing for the last four games, but dislocated his ankle on Sunday and is expected to miss the rest of the season. That means Tracy is ready to take over as the lead back once again.

In Skattebo’s absence, Tracy ran it 10 times for 39 yards while catching two passes. He played against a tough Philadelphia Eagles defense, but the workload was there. If you need some help at running back, don’t be afraid to spend on Tracy, because there aren’t going to be too many starting running backs on waivers the rest of the year.

FAAB: 20-25 percent

Rostered: 35 percent

Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots

I don’t know how Kayshon Boutte is still available in so many leagues, but if he’s on waivers in yours, go get him this week. He has become one of Drake Maye’s favorite weapons and has scored 13+ fantasy points in each of the last three weeks. He’s been a bit touchdown dependent, but he’s become Maye’s favorite red zone threat, so he should get one more often than not.

If he’s out there and you need help at receiver, I would pay a king’s ransom for him, because odds are your league-mates are as well.

FAAB: 25-30 percent

Rostered: 53 percent

Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos

Troy Franklin was teammates with Bo Nix at Oregon, and now he’s finally becoming a real threat in the NFL. He has played over 50 percent of the team’s snaps every single week, and Nix is starting to look his way more and more. In his last two games, Franklin has been targeted 18 times, catching nine of those for 108 yards and two scores.

As the weeks go on, Franklin is becoming more and more of a threat for the Broncos’ offense. If he’s available, I wouldn’t spend a fortune, but don’t be afraid to shell out a decent portion of your remaining FAAB.

FAAB: 10-15 percent

Rostered: 33 percent

Short-Term Help

Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Darnell Mooney is one of the Atlanta Falcons’ top weapons on the outside, but he’s still available in 40 percent of leagues. Since returning from injury, the production hasn’t necessarily been there, but he’s played 83 and 90 percent of the Falcons’ offensive snaps over the last two weeks.

If Drake London is out this week and you need a receiver to fill in, Mooney could be a great option. He will be viable after this week as well, but his main value will come if London misses a game.

FAAB: 5-10 percent

Rostered: 60 percent

Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

For those of you who have Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, or Justin Fields as your starting quarterback, the top quarterback available on waivers this week is Kyler Murray. He’s facing the Dallas Cowboys defense, which gives up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks in the league. I wouldn’t trust him long-term, but if you need someone to fill in this week, grab Murray.

FAAB: 5 percent

Rostered: 43 percent

Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks

If Murray isn’t available, Sam Darnold could be another good option. The Seattle Seahawks’ QB1 doesn’t have the most explosive fantasy games, but he’s consistently scoring 16+ points and has a very good matchup against the Washington Commanders. These are easily the two best quarterbacks on waivers, so if you need some help, look no further than Murray and Darnold.

FAAB: 5 percent

Rostered: 43 percent

Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears

Colston Loveland hasn’t gotten off to the start many thought he would, but I think he’s about to turn things around. Before Cole Kmet got hurt, Loveland’s snap count was increasing. He played 42 percent in Week 6 and 67 percent in Week 7, and with Kmet out this week, he played 81 percent of snaps.

I think Loveland could end up being a viable option for the rest of the season, but that just depends on how they divvy up the snaps once Kmet is back. Either way, he’s a good pickup for this week (assuming Kmet is out) for Harold Fannin, Dallas Goedert, and Mason Taylor owners.

FAAB: 5-10 percent

Rostered: 24 percent

Best Defenses to Stream

If you’re not already streaming defenses, what are you doing? Long gone are the days of drafting a great defense and keeping them all year. Playing the matchups week-by-week is the way to go, and I love throwing a couple FAAB on a defense I want before waivers go through and securing one of the best matchups of the week. Here are some defenses I’m eyeing on waivers.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams face a struggling New Orleans Saints team on Sunday. The Saints don’t even know who their quarterback is going to be, and neither of them played particularly well last week. I think their pass rush will get home consistently, and I just don’t see the Saints scoring more than 10-14 points.

Matchup: New Orleans Saints

Rostered: 34 percent

Los Angeles Chargers

Another LA team I’m looking to add is the Chargers, who have arguably the best fantasy matchup for a defense this week. They play the Tennessee Titans, who have scored over 20 points just one time this year. This game is going to be a blowout, and the Titans might only score 10 points.

Matchup: Tennessee Titans

Rostered: 29 percent

Detroit Lions

The third and final defense I’m targeting this week is the Detroit Lions, who face a struggling Minnesota Vikings team this week. The Vikings are coming off a 10-point performance against the Chargers, and their offense just looks lifeless with Carson Wentz under center. The Lions have some injuries, but they should still be pretty solid this week.

Matchup: Minnesota Vikings

Rostered: 48 percent

High-Value Trade Targets

With the trade deadline rapidly approaching in many leagues, there are just a few more weeks to wheel and deal. Today, I’m going to give you some of my favorite high-value players to trade for in fantasy.

Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Brown has not been the running back many thought he’d be this year, but ever since Joe Flacco arrived, he’s had his two best games of the year. He’s coming off a 25-point performance, so his price is going to be somewhat high, but nowhere near the second-round value he was drafted at. If you need some running back help, go try and get him.

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

I’m close to pulling the trigger on a trade for Justin Jefferson in one of my leagues. He hasn’t been as impactful as many hoped, but it’s hard to see that continuing. He’s been targeted 10+ times in each of his last four games, and while the touchdown numbers haven’t been there, they’re going to have to come eventually. He gets too many targets for him to end the year with just a few touchdowns.

George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

George Kittle put up a stinker in his first game back, but bounced back with a 14-point performance on National Tight End Day. It’s going to be hard to get someone to move off a guy they’ve been stashing for weeks while he was injured, but it could be worth it. He’s going to be one of the top three tight ends in the league, so if you’re loaded at wide receiver or running back, consider dealing one of them for an elite tight end.

High-Upside Trade Targets

While getting a guy like Justin Jefferson is always nice, sometimes the best additions are the ones you make weeks before they pay off. Here are a couple of guys I’m targeting in my leagues that might not break out for a couple more weeks.

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots

TreVeyon Henderson’s breakout game is coming, I can feel it in my bones. People spent relatively high draft capital on him, and he has not produced thus far, so they’re going to be willing to sell him for cheap. If you have a deep roster and can afford to risk it, Henderson could end up paying off big time in the playoffs. Just be willing to accept defeat if the breakout doesn’t come this year.

Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Travis Hunter was drafted as a high-end WR2 in many leagues, but has not lived up to that hype. However, he’s slowly transitioning to a full-time receiver, and with Brian Thomas Jr. injured (and some trade rumors), he could very well take over as the Jags WR1 sooner than later. I’m buying him in a lot of my leagues right now, so if you can get your hands on him, I think he could turn into a great WR2/FLEX player late in the year.