At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2026 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer some late-week pickup options at each of the primary fantasy positions to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in under 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.
Let's start the Week 9 list at the quarterback position with two players who have positive matchups (based on the numbers). After that, we will pivot to the wide receiver spot, and I've gone a little deeper than usual, with five pass catchers who bring stable floors to the lineup. I also have three running backs who can be played as flex in deeper leagues, plus a tight end who has quietly put together three straight weeks of quality production. As always, we'll end with D/ST, but it's pretty lean out there right now.
Quarterbacks
J.J. McCarthy, New York Giants (26.6% rostered; at Philadelphia Eagles)
McCarthy scored 10.18 points in Week 7, completing 20-of-28 for 252 yards. McCarthy failed to throw a touchdown, and the rushing totals were down (one carry, one yard), but he is seeing the field with speed and driving the ball from the pocket. With a matchup Sunday versus an Eagles defense that ranks in the bottom 10 versus quarterbacks, McCarthy has value in superflex formats.
Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins (18.4% rostered; vs. Detroit Lions)
Willis is averaging 19.8 points over his past three games, with multiple touchdown throws in two of them. Plus, he brings a dual-threat element to the lineup as Willis is averaging 32.1 yards rushing this season with a touchdown in two of his past three games. Given Willis' rising numbers, he's a smart play this week versus a Lions defense that has allowed a league-worst 24.8 points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Wide receivers
Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (39.4% rostered; vs. Detroit Lions)
Washington scored a season-high 15 points in Week 8 as he caught his first touchdown of the season. He's now posted double-digit points in four of his past five games. With his route/alignment versatility, Washington will also see rushing attempts, and he gets a quality matchup versus a Lions defense that ranks in the bottom five versus wide receivers.
Keenan Allen, Indianapolis Colts (44.3% rostered; vs. Dallas Cowboys)
I would take the matchup with Allen versus the Dallas defense Sunday. This Cowboys unit ranks in the bottom 10 versus wide receivers and Allen has scored 13 or more points in two of his past three games. The touchdown upside is limited with Allen, but he can still uncover and find space as an outlet. After catching all seven of his targets for 67 yards versus the Jaguars last week, Allen can be played as high-floor WR3.
Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys (24.3% rostered; at Indianapolis Colts)
I don't know why Flournoy's roster percentage is still down given his role as the No. 3 target for Dak Prescott -- behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens -- in the Dallas pass game. Flournoy has scored 10 or more points in four straight games with a touchdown reception in two. During this stretch, Flournoy has caught 17 of 21 targets for 238 yards. Get him in the lineup this week versus the Colts.
Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders (18.4% rostered; vs. Los Angeles Rams)
Williams gets a tougher matchup versus the Rams defense on Sunday, but I still see value here in deeper formats as a WR3. Williams scored 10 points in Week 7, catching a season-high five passes (on seven targets) for 54 yards. With Terry McLaurin (knee) out for the season, Williams' role will continue to increase, and he has the route savvy to win inside the numbers.
Demarcus Robinson, San Francisco 49ers (0.9% rostered; vs Las Vegas Raiders)
Robinson, who was activated off IR this week, could be in line to see volume Sunday versus the Raiders as Mike Evans (Achillies) is not expected to play. Robinson has played in only two games this season (Weeks 1 and 2), when he caught five of six targets for 84 yards and a touchdown. However, Robinson will have WR3 value with a steady role in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Running backs
Devin Singletary, New York Giants (11.9% rostered; at Philadelphia Eagles)
With Tyrone Tracy Jr. (hamstring) being sent to IR, Singletary will share the backfield with Cam Skattebo on Sunday in Philadelphia. In Week 7, Singletary scored a season-high 14.5 points, rushing for 41 yards and a touchdown on five carries, plus he added 14 receiving yards on three receptions. He can be played as a flex this week, bringing receiving value to the lineup.
Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers (27.8% rostered; vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
Managers should keep an eye on the status of Christian McCaffrey (hamstring), as Black could find himself in an elevated role Sunday versus the Raiders. If McCaffrey can go, Black still has value as a deeper league flex. Black has seen at least nine touches in each of his past two games, plus he rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown in the Week 7 game versus the Falcons.
Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders (30.1% rostered; at San Francisco 49ers)
Washington led the Raiders backfield with 25 carries in the Week 8 win over the Jets, and while he didn't rush with much efficiency (3.3 YPC), he was the clear lead back over Ashton Jeanty (five total touches). We expect Jeanty to be back in the mix Sunday against the 49ers, but Washington will still get his looks in a shared backfield approach. He's a deeper-league flex here.
Tight end
Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins (3.7% rostered; vs. Lions)
Dulcich has quietly scored 10.5 points per game over his past three, with at least four receptions in each, and he gets a Lions defense that ranks dead last in the league versus tight ends. Given the available tight ends and the matchups, Dulcich has the best path to production in Week 9.
D/ST
New York Giants (33.4% rostered; at Eagles)
It's a struggle to find a quality defense rostered in under 50% of ESPN leagues this week, but the Giants could be in a positive spot here versus the Eagles, who are pivoting to Joe Milton at quarterback for Sunday's matchup. The Giants have taken the ball away only once in the past three games, but they have recorded at least one sack in three of the past four. View this move as a late-week flier (if you need one).