Photo via:HoustonTexans/Twitter
Here we go, it's already Week 9 so let's see which free agents are still available. Keep in mind the owner % mentioned is for 10-team standard ESPN PPR leagues. Some of these players below are good for the short-term, while others have more long-term value. You have to make the call on what your team needs. Immediate help to start this week, or a player to stash on your bench and hope he breaks out. Let's get started.
QB
Gardner Minshew: This dude had another big game throwing for 3TDs against the Jets, and he quietly gets his owners some rushing yards every week too. He plays a heavily banged up Texans defense this week, so he should go off again. This is probably your last chance to add him. He's owned in 52% of ESPN standard 10-team leagues.
Jimmy Garoppolo: He more available than you would think. He's only rostered in 32% of leagues, and he has a tasty matchup against the Cardinals this week.
Derek Carr: His defense is awful, so he'll have to throw the ball a ton. Carr had a good game against Houston and having Tyrell Williams certainly helps. Also, he faces the Lions, Chargers, Bengals, and Jets over the next 4 weeks. You can add him in almost 80% of leagues.
RB
Jaylen Samuels: It looks like Samuels is in line for a few starts after James Conner was injured against the Dolphins. Benny Snell was also hurt this week against Miami, so you should be able to start Samuels against Indy this week. Samuels is a good productive player when he gets touches, so his success will be tied to Conner's health or lack there of.
Mark Walton: Kalen Ballage just isn't' very good, and Kenyon Drake is out of the picture. You still have to deal with a bad Miami offense, but there's not a ton of good options at RB on the waiver wire. Walton is owned in less than 20% of leagues.
Derrius Guice: Guice could really help you down the stretch if he's able to return from injury in week 11. Trent Williams is coming back to the Redskins, so that will definitely help the running game. Stash him. He's owned in less than 30% of standard leagues.
Darrell Henderson: He has a bye this week, but he had 13 touches against the Bengals. If you're desperate, he might be able to help you when the fantasy playoffs arrive. He's widely available and Gurley may fall apart down the stretch.
WR
Kenny Stills: He didn't have the big game I was hoping for against Oakland, but he was on the field a ton and should continue to get a lot of opportunities. The Jags are allowing the 8th most yards per game to WR's, so you could do worse this week. He's available in 45% of leagues and that might increase after his underwhelming performance on Sunday.
DeSean Jackson: Jackson will return to practice this week according to reports, but it looks like he's going to just have to manage the pain. The Eagles need some juice in their passing game badly, so if he's on the field, I expect him to get targeted downfield. I can't believe he's still owned in 62% of leagues, but that shows you owners aren't ready to give up on him.
Danny Amendola: We've seen this movie before, Stafford loves throwing to slot WRs. Golden Tate anyone? If the Lions continue to throw this much, Amendola with have low-end flex value in PPR leagues. He's out there in 90% of leagues.
TE
Darren Fells: He's been a huge addition for the Texans, and Watson clearly loves throwing to him. Hell, Watson will even throw him the ball blindly as we saw against the Raiders. Add Fells now if you need a TE. He's the best guy to get this week. He's rostered in less than 12% of leagues.
Jonnu Smith: He recorded 78 yards and a TD against the Bucs, so don't be afraid to use him if Delanie Walker remains sidelined. He's a great guy to pair with Walker if you're getting killed at TE and you have the roster space.
Defense
The Cowboys and Eagles have good matchups this week facing the Giants and Bears respectively. The Cowboys are coming off a bye, so they might have been dropped.
If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter. Be sure to check out my show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo on ESPN 97.5FM. We're on every Sunday morning from 10-noon, and we'll talk a lot of fantasy football and NFL gambling getting you ready for kickoff every Sunday.
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The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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