Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups: Best Fantasy Sleepers to Target on Yahoo

Through the first eight weeks of the 2022 NFL season, fantasy football managers have likely scoured over the waiver wire quite a few times. At this point, the undrafted breakout stars are now rostered, so managers' adds are likely players who could make an impact later on.

It's always important to be ahead of your leaguemates and on top of all NFL news. If you are, then a potential under-the-radar waiver-wire claim could end up being a championship-winning move.

So, let's take a look at several players who are available in the majority of fantasy leagues who managers may want to get on their rosters now to help them out down the line.

Najee Harris' second NFL season isn't going nearly as well as his impressive rookie campaign. The Steelers running back has only 361 rushing yards, is averaging 3.3 yards per carry and has scored three total touchdowns (two of which were receiving scores).

Could Pittsburgh eventually give more of the work to another back or two? That may already be happening. In the Steelers' Week 8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, rookie Jaylen Warren had a season-high 75 yards on six carries and three receptions.

Warren isn't worthy of starting consideration for fantasy lineups at this point. But that could change at any time. Because if Pittsburgh gives the 24-year-old more opportunities at the expense of Harris, then the Oklahoma State product could have a breakout in the second half of the season.

So for now, Warren (available in 94 percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros) is a great stash option in deeper leagues. And it may only be a matter of time before he puts himself on the fantasy radar.

A change of scenery can sometimes do wonders for a player. So it's going to be interesting to see how Kadarius Toney fares now that he's been traded from the New York Giants to the Kansas City Chiefs and will have a chance to catch passes from quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs' receiving corps is a bit crowded. They'll need to work Toney into a mix that already included JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman and rookie Skyy Moore. Plus, Toney hasn't played since Week 2 because of a hamstring injury, so he may need some time to get reacclimated to game action.

The 23-year-old flashed his potential at times during his 2021 rookie season with the Giants. After all, there was a reason New York took Toney, a former Florida standout, in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Toney (rostered in 56 percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros) can't be considered for fantasy lineups until it becomes clear how Kansas City plans to utilize him in its offense. But with his talent and skills, it may not take long for him to carve out a role with the Chiefs that makes him a start-worthy fantasy option.

Juwan Johnson has been a solid pass-catching option for the Saints early in the season. He's been targeted four-plus times in six of New Orleans' first eight games. And the 26-year-old showed he was capable of making big plays in Week 7, when he had a pair of touchdown catches in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

With wide receiver Michael Thomas expected to miss the rest of the season because of a toe injury, the Saints will likely continue to rely on players such as Johnson to help fill that void. And that could help the former Penn State and Oregon tight end stay in a rhythm and potentially increase his fantasy value.

Johnson is a great tight end to have rostered for fantasy managers who are waiting to see if the Baltimore Ravens' Mark Andrews plays on Monday night. If you need a last-minute pivot option (and you missed out on Isaiah Likely, the Ravens' No. 2 TE), then Johnson could be plugged into lineups and started.

There's a chance that Johnson (available in 92 percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros) starts putting up better fantasy numbers if he can find his way back into the end zone. And the opportunities will be there for him to do that as part of New Orleans' shorthanded receiving corps.