Fantasy football last-minute pickups for Week 9 - ESPN

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.

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