NFL Week 9 Waiver Wire: Mike Washington Jr., Tyler Allgeier and Adonai Mitchell Lead the Adds as Lamar Jackson Heads to IR

Week 8 delivered exactly what a waiver wire needs: injuries to starters, backfield shake-ups and a few career games from players most managers have never rostered. Lamar Jackson is headed to injured reserve after thumb surgery, Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love hurt his ankle again, and the Raiders handed a career-high workload to a running back available in most leagues. With only the Steelers and Titans on bye in Week 9, this is a week to add long-term pieces rather than one-week fill-ins.

Here is where to spend your priority and your FAAB, in order.

Running backs: the top of the list

Mike Washington Jr., Raiders. Washington carried 25 times for 83 yards in Sunday's 38-33 win over the Jets, his first double-digit carry game in the regular season. The efficiency was poor, roughly 3.3 yards per carry, but the volume is the story. Ashton Jeanty got only two carries in the same game, catching four passes for 64 yards instead, and head coach Klint Kubiak said the light rushing workload for Jeanty was by design. Until Las Vegas explains why, Washington is the early-down back on a team that just snapped a four-game losing streak. He was available in roughly three-quarters of leagues before Sunday. Make him your top claim.

Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals. Allgeier ran 11 times for 147 yards and a touchdown in Arizona's 33-30 overtime win in Dallas after Love left early with an ankle injury. Love had just returned from a two-game absence, and this is the second time this season the ankle has cost him playing time. If Love misses Week 9 at Seattle, Allgeier is a volume-based RB2. Even if Love plays, Allgeier is the handcuff with standalone value.

Seth McGowan, Colts. This is a stash, not a start. McGowan has 37 carries for 163 yards as Jonathan Taylor's primary backup, and Taylor is the most discussed running back on the trade market with the deadline on November 10. Denver, Green Bay, Minnesota, the Giants and Seattle have all been linked to Taylor. If he is traded, McGowan becomes Indianapolis' lead back overnight. If you wait for the announcement, you will lose the bidding war.

Wide receivers

Adonai Mitchell, Jets. Mitchell caught seven of nine targets for a career-high 142 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders, a week after he was held without a catch. That inconsistency is the warning label. He gets Kansas City in Week 9, and one big game on a 2-6 team does not make a weekly starter. Add him as a WR5 with upside in a passing game that keeps chasing points.

Makai Lemon, Eagles. The rookie was projected to lead Philadelphia's receivers on Sunday night with DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks out, and he is expected to hold that role again if Smith is limited. The Eagles have lost six straight and host the Giants in Week 9. Lemon is a priority add in deeper leagues and a speculative one in 10-team formats.

Antonio Williams, Commanders. Terry McLaurin is out for the season with a torn left patellar tendon suffered in Washington's Monday night loss to the 49ers. Stefon Diggs becomes the top option, but the snaps and targets McLaurin leaves behind have to go somewhere, and Williams is the name most waiver guides are pointing to. Washington hosts the Rams in Week 9.

Quarterback streamers

Malik Willis, Dolphins. Willis threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in a 24-19 loss to the Patriots, though some of that production came late with the game out of reach. The appeal is Week 9: Detroit has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, and the Lions lost linebacker Jack Campbell (neck) and safety Brian Branch (concussion) during Sunday's win over Minnesota. If either misses time, the matchup gets even softer.

Gardner Minshew, Cardinals. Minshew replaced a struggling Jacoby Brissett with Arizona down 17-3 and threw three touchdowns on 17 of 23 passing to lead the comeback. Head coach Mike LaFleur did not commit to a Week 9 starter after the game, but reports indicate Minshew is expected to keep the job. Seattle is a tough road matchup, so he is a superflex and two-quarterback play rather than a one-QB streamer.

Lamar Jackson replacements. If you lost Jackson, Willis is the best pure matchup play of the two. If Matthew Stafford is sitting on your league's wire or someone's bench, the Rams at Washington remains one of the better Week 9 spots for a quarterback drafted as a backup.

Defense and tight end streamers

Jaguars defense. The best streaming defense of the week, if Baltimore starts undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano on Thursday night. Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards with an interception in relief on Sunday, and Tyler Huntley is dealing with a toe injury believed to be turf toe.

Bills defense. Buffalo recorded four sacks and three takeaways against Baltimore and visits Minnesota on Monday night in Week 9. Bills managers who need a Steelers replacement can look here.

Tight ends. Waiver lists are pushing Mike Gesicki after a four-catch, 76-yard game that continued a strong scoring stretch, along with Brenton Strange and Chig Okonkwo. Tight end streaming remains a touchdown lottery; target whoever has the best red-zone role on the highest-total team you can find.

The Verdexed angle

The quickest way to separate a real add from a one-week mirage is to ask whether the opportunity came from role or from efficiency. Washington's 25 carries and Allgeier's role behind an injured starter are role changes, and roles persist. Mitchell's 142 yards came from efficiency on nine targets, and efficiency regresses. Spend your big bids on role.

For Week 9, Verdexed's game-level view, including the Thursday game in Baltimore and the Madrid game between the Bengals and Falcons, is on the Week 9 picks page and the NFL predictions page.

What to do before waivers run

1. Washington first, then Allgeier, then McGowan as a stash if you have a bench spot. 2. Bid for role, not one big game. Mitchell is a cheap add, not a FAAB splurge. 3. Grab the Jaguars defense now, before Thursday's lock, and confirm Baltimore's starting quarterback. 4. Remember the early locks. Thursday night (Jaguars at Ravens) and the Sunday morning Madrid game (Bengals vs. Falcons) lock before the usual 1 p.m. ET window, so any player you add from those four teams must be claimed in time.