Fantasy Focus Football: Week 9 Waiver Wire MUST ADDS + Facts vs Feelings (Oct 28, 2025)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode is all about smart fantasy football strategies and advice heading into Week 9. ESPN experts Field Yates, Liz Loza (guest co-host), and Daniel Dopp (Mike Clay, Stephania Bell off) discuss:

• Monday Night Football takeaways
• Week 9 waiver wire priorities and sleeper adds
• Injury impacts and backfield shakeups
• The “Facts vs Feelings” debate: determining which trending player performances are “real” or just a feeling
• Rapid-fire answers to listener questions from the YouTube chat

Throughout, the tone is lively, witty, and collaborative—expect expert insights, quick banter, and plenty of memorable quotes.

Monday Night Football Recap: Commanders vs Chiefs

Key Points

• Chiefs turn it on after a slow first half, win 28-7
• Bill Crosky Merritt (Commanders RB) heavily featured but had little fantasy impact: "Nine carries for 25 yards and zero catches. 2.5 fantasy points over his last three games." (Field Yates, 04:03)
• Jeremy McNichols surprisingly ties for team lead in targets (6)
• Chiefs’ offense: Patrick Mahomes, Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce continue as reliable fantasy studs; running backs stuck in a frustrating committee (Isaiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Rashard Smith)
• Chiefs D/ST delivers a late-game interception to seal fantasy wins for Field ("A late interception from the Chiefs defense...helps save—and it was just a funky one." Field Yates, 10:27)
• Wide receiver confidence index: Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin are startable but more WR2/3 types
• Jaden Daniels’ health is critical for unlocking Commanders’ fantasy upside

Notable Quotes

"He is not going to have value other than being a very touchdown-dependent flex." — Field (04:56)
"The backfield in Kansas City remains a complete RBBC. It's frustrating." — Liz (08:41)

Timestamps

• [03:32] Commanders competitive first half, Chiefs explode late
• [05:23] Bill Crosky Merritt is touchdown-dependent
• [07:15] Rashee Rice, Mahomes, and the WR pecking order
• [10:13] Field and Daniel’s fantasy matchups decided by Chiefs’ D and Xavier Worthy

Show League Standings & Punishments (Just for Fun)

• Quick overview of internal league standings—many close matchups, playful banter over punishments for last place
• Liz: "Can I...I'll vote if I'm in last place. Also, does Pulse have to do this with me?" (14:36)
• Discussion of possible loser punishments: hot sauce challenge, avoid anything too gross ("Do not make me eat, like, raw eggs and then run the combine. I don't want to vomit on screen." – Liz, 14:21)

Week 9 Waiver Wire: Must Adds & Sleepers

Priority RB Pickups

1. Tyrone Tracy (Giants RB)

• Cam Scatteboo done for season; Tracy steps in as lead
• Roastership at 42%; strong track record stepping in for injured RBs
• "Seven games with at least 14 fantasy points, four games with over 100 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns." — Daniel (16:01)

2. Bam Knight (Cardinals RB)

• Cardinals were on bye—out of sight, out of mind
• Double-digit carries, viable RB2/flex this week against Dallas:

"Every starting running back that has played against this team [Dallas] has absolutely smashed." — Daniel (20:13)

3. Trey Benson (future stash)

• Dropped under 50% rostered—eligible to return next week
• Get ahead before his likely takeover

Deeper RB Targets (for stash or insurance)

• Dylan Sampson (Browns, if Judkins stays banged up)
• Tank Bigsby (Eagles, monitor Saquon’s health)
• Kyle Monungai (Bears, rising snapshare)
• Tyjae Spears and Tyler Allgeier (“insurance” RBs)

Unpacking Backfields & Injury Notes

• Arizona: Michael Carter released, likely roster manipulation, expect him back soon (Field, 18:04)
• Kansas City: No clarity in the RB committee, Pacheco a slight edge, Hunt steals goal line looks (08:41)
• Bears: "Not surprised to see Swift being spelled... Ben Johnson using two backs." – Liz (26:04)

Wide Receiver Add Targets

• Christian Watson (Packers, 4/85/0 and 55% snaps in Week 8)
• Kayshawn Booty (Saints, touchdown-dependent WR dart throw)
• Houston WRs: Xavier Hutchinson, Jaden Higgins, Jalen Noel (deep leagues)
• Chima Ray DK (Titans, outperforming Alec Iomanor)
• Troy Franklin (Broncos, stash for Week 10 matchup vs Raiders during mass byes—”plant flag” – Daniel, 31:28)

Streaming QBs

• Sam Darnold vs Commanders: "Four straight games with at least 16 fantasy points." – Daniel (23:16)
• Joe Flacco vs Bears: “Three straight games with over 18 fantasy points.” (24:32)

“Facts vs Feelings” Segment

A homage to Liz’s standalone show, producers present debated player situations. Liz and Field respond: is it fact (real, sustainable), or just a fleeting feeling?

Saquon Barkley: Top 5 ROS RB?

• Both say Feeling: Barkley will likely see some “load management” with Tank Bigsby emerging, plus tough upcoming matchups and injury concern (Liz, 33:42; Field, 35:24)

Joe Flacco: Elite Fantasy QB ROS?

• Feeling: Productive, but not quite elite; more a “safe” plug-in than a must-start: "His three finishes—with the Bengals: 14th, 6th, 3rd." – Field (37:05); "He's more like QB15-20 than QB10." (38:09)

Jamar Chase: Clear Top Fantasy WR With Flacco?

• Fact: Flacco’s impact is huge, but, as Field says, "It’s splitting hairs" with other elites — Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, JSN, etc. (40:56)
• Instead, they emphasize viewing this group as league-winners and not stressing the ranks within the top-5

Tyrone Tracy = Cam Scatteboo Level Production?

• Closest to Fact: Both agree Tracy is the most valuable waiver add all year and will likely be a low-end RB2, but see a skillset/game difference vs Scatteboo. "There is a chance this is the most valuable waiver wire add we have all season." — Field (44:25)

WR Rookie Debate: Teteroa McMillan vs Emeka Egbuka

• Feeling: Numbers are close, but Egbuka plays with a better QB and has more big-play upside. "A MECCA Abuka has better upside because it's a better offense." – Field (48:15)

Fast-Answer Listener Q&A

Sample insights:

• Jordan Mason (Vikings RB): Top 30 play, but low receiving floor limits upside (57:52)
• Rico Dowdle, Kymani Vidal, or RJ Harvey as RB3? – Vidal, especially with upcoming Titans matchup (59:24)
• Trey Benson and Mike Evans: Stash both if you have space, especially Benson (62:15)
• Lineup By-Law Dilemma: If you win without a full lineup due to byes/injuries, you deserve the win (“Commissioner should use discretion” – Field, 63:20)

Notable Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "Do not make me eat, like, raw eggs and then run the combine. I don't want to vomit on screen." – Liz (14:21)
• “It’s a very socialist approach to the backfield.” – Liz (08:55, discussing Chiefs RBs, tongue firmly in cheek)
• "He has 17 rushing yards in three games with Cincinnati and hasn't thrown a pick. We know things about Joe, which include that Joe, every once in a while, tosses the old pig skin to the opposite team." — Field (38:01)
• "There is a chance that Tyrone Tracy presents about as much value as you'll see on the waiver wire all year." — Field (44:25)
• "If you play in a league with people that are about the collusion lifestyle, you're playing with the wrong people." — Field (64:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:32] Monday Night Football analysis (Chiefs, Commanders)
• [15:25] Week 9 teams on bye
• [16:01] Tyrone Tracy priority pickup breakdown
• [20:04] Bam Knight as a plug-and-play RB
• [23:16] Streaming QBs: Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco
• [26:04] Bears backfield timeshare, Menungai’s rising role
• [31:28] WR waiver wire stashes & lookahead (Troy Franklin in Week 10)
• [33:31] Facts vs Feelings: Saquon Barkley as a top 5 RB?
• [36:02] Facts vs Feelings: Joe Flacco’s fantasy reliability
• [40:56] Jamar Chase’s standing among elite WRs
• [44:25] Tyrone Tracy’s rest-of-season upside
• [48:15] McMillan vs Egbuka rookie debate
• [57:52] Listener Q&A (Jordan Mason value)

Final Notes

• Liz teases this week’s "Facts vs Feelings" (with guest Brandon Carney, aka Benchwarmer Bran) — tune in on YouTube
• Encouragement for listeners to be kind to themselves, play with good people, and have fun

Summary in One Sentence:
This episode arms fantasy managers with sharp, nuanced Week 9 waiver moves, breaks down the impact of major RB and QB developments, and delivers thoughtful buy/sell answers on emerging trends—always with the Fantasy Focus crew’s trademark humor and expertise.

Hosts:
Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Liz Loza

Guests:
None this episode (plus shoutouts to chat participants and behind-the-scenes producers)

Next Episode:
Wednesday, featuring weekly prep and updated injury/reporting.

Listen to the full episode for more detail on each segment and continuing banter between the hosts!