Matt Bowen of ESPN offers weekly late-week fantasy football pickups for the 2026 NFL season, focusing on players rostered under 50% to help fill lineup holes. With Week 9 approaching, Bowen highlights top options at quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and tight end, emphasizing deeper leagues and favorable matchups. At quarterback, J.
J. McCarthy of the New York Giants is noted for a positive matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, while Malik Willis of the Miami Dolphins leverages a dual-threat element against a Lions defense allowing high points to QBs. At wide receiver, Malik Washington of the Miami Dolphins is a key pick after scoring a season-high 15 points in Week 8, and Keenan Allen of the Indianapolis Colts is favored against a Dallas Cowboys defense ranking in the bottom 10 versus the position.
Ryan Flournoy of the Dallas Cowboys is also highlighted as a steady option despite low roster percentage. For running backs, Bowen identifies three flexible options for deeper formats, and a tight end has quietly posted three straight weeks of quality production. The column concludes with a lean selection at defense and special teams, noting the position is particularly thin this week.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing