This weekend feels like a trap.

We’ve gone through the news ahead of the weekend eight times. Experts have suggested how to deal with injuries eight times. Analysts have highlighted which metrics or trends to follow eight times. It all feels monotonous. But this Sunday might carry the most importance of any this season.

The trade deadline is next week, and the rumors of players switching teams are flying. Following practice reports and availability for Sunday will be key, and, with the content from the team here, we’ll have you ready for Sunday and beyond.

Week 9 News Update: The Latest and Greatest

I’m glad I waited until Friday afternoon to start going through the news. It all started in the morning and only got worse as beat reports came in from Friday’s practices.

Travis Hunter’s limited practice on Thursday due to a knee injury already felt ominous. Jacksonville’s decision to put him on IR only adds to the idea we’ve seen the last of the rookie WR in 2025. However, as fantasy managers look for solutions, Dwain’s already adjusted the projections, highlighting a couple of fill-in options.

Between Dyami Brown and Parker Washington, I’m looking to Washington to take on a larger role. He’s had two games with double-digit targets, played over 30% of his snaps from the slot, and worked in place of Brian Thomas Jr. when he left with a shoulder injury in Week 7. However, neither has had the same rapport with Trevor Lawrence as Hunter, making both tough to trust. Anyway, the hits didn’t stop in Florida.

On the one hand, I’m relieved my Bengals won’t see D’Andre Swift. But then again, I have a few rosters with Swift on them. In either case, rookie Kyle Monangai now takes center stage against a defense that even you could likely gain a yard on the ground against.

• Rushing Yards per Game Allowed: 132.1, Most
• Rushing TDs per Game Allowed: 1.0, 6th-most
• PPR PPG to RBs Allowed: 33.3, Most

Our rankers should have him in the Top 50 by the time we sort through all of the updates. But the volume and game environment couldn’t be better. I’d say the same for Kyler Murray, but I don’t know if we’ll see him on Monday.

The early-week notes out of Arizona indicated Kyler Murray was back at practice and trending toward a return. But the details weren’t all that encouraging. Murray has spent most of the week throwing to the backup receivers. Meanwhile, Jacoby Brissett has worked with the starters. Admittedly, Brissett’s 299.5 passing yards per game have more fantasy appeal than Murray’s 192.4. But folks with Marvin Harrison Jr. on their squad might disagree.

Regardless, let’s take the rest of the day to catch up on the latest from Saturday. Ian and I will be live tomorrow morning to answer your last-minute questions. Jorge and Adam will keep our injury tracker up to date as we learn more, with quite a few other situations to monitor for Week 9.

• QBs

  • Joe Flacco (shoulder)

  • Brock Purdy (toe)
• WRs

  • Drake London (hip)

  • Josh Downs (hip)
• TEs

  • Cole Kmet (back)

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The Week 9 Weather Report

A weekend with a mix of rain, sleet and wind is coming for us. I mean, we’re in November and (Ned Stark voice) winter is coming. But we get at least one more slate without the elements being a factor.

• Game: Panthers @ Packers

  • Conditions: Wind, 15 mph (max), slightly across the stadium

• Game: Chargers @ Titans

  • Conditions, Rain, 15% chance (max), 0.0 inches per hour

• Game: Colts @ Steelers

  • Conditions, Rain, 15% chance (max), 0.0 inches per hour

BLUF: No change to the core plays in the CAR/GB game. There’d have to be a significant uptick in the wind speed to have an impact.

I mentioned the rain games to be thorough, but a 15% shot at rain shouldn’t concern us. And, honestly, 15 mph winds aren’t a problem either. But since they’re at the general threshold for when play volume or play-calling tendencies can start to shift, let’s dig into it a bit.

As I’ve often said, we should look at the direction the air is flowing, not just its speed. On Sunday, the winds will be coming from the southwest, which won’t directly align with Lambeau Field’s orientation (it points due north). That’s the reason for the “slightly across the stadium” descriptor for the wind. If anything, things like long field goal attempts and punts may draw to the side by the breeze coming across the stadium. But normal passes should be fine based on the stadium’s design.

The (almost) fully enclosed field acts as a natural barrier, forcing the wind around or over it. Theoretically, any gust would affect the ball when it’s higher in the air (e.g., a deep pass or kick). Accordingly, without the forecast indicating higher speeds, we shouldn’t have to make any changes to our rosters for any players in this game. 

Exploiting the Ranks, aka I Hope I’m Wrong

I try to guess who will give fantasy managers the most grief going into Sunday morning. Either we have to start them, or their utilization has them on the edge of our starting roster. Two RBs fit into the first category.

For Kyren Williams, my concern isn’t his Week 7 result. It was his first outing under 15 PPR points. But the more concerning part was his share of the touches.

HC Sean McVay noted earlier in the season that he wanted to see more of Blake Corum on the field. Accordingly, Williams’ snaps and touches have been on the decline. Of course, Week 7 featured a lopsided win for the Rams over the Jaguars. Ten of Corum’s 12 carries came in the second half. But Sunday won’t be any different when the Rams host the Saints. A guy like D'Andre Swift doesn’t have the same systemic risks, with the same positive environment. I understand wanting a piece of what should be a fantasy-friendly matchup, but Williams’ three-week trend should help us keep our expectations in check. However, if you can offset the potential letdown, a couple of receivers can help.

Xavier Worthy may be the beneficiary of the Bills’ defense chasing Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce throughout the game. Buffalo runs a mix of zone and man coverage concepts. Rice and Kelce will stretch the defense horizontally. Worthy will test them deep. Despite getting Kansas City’s slot man back into the offense, Worthy was still at a 23% target rate in Week 8. Plus, Patrick Mahomes has used him on end-arounds and out of the backfield. With Isiah Pacheco ruled out for this game, relying on his speedster for explosives gives Worthy the upside he’s had since he joined the team.

Wan’Dale Robinson gets a depleted 49ers’ defense that couldn’t register a hit on C.J. Stroud. Plus, San Francisco’s secondary had no answer for Houston’s interior options. Rookie Jaylin Noel hit a season-high 16% target rate with a double-digit PPR performance. With Cam Skattebo out for the year, Jaxson Dart should turn to Robinson to keep the offense moving.

Planning Ahead

So we’ve got two jobs every Saturday. The first is to prep our rosters for the next day. That’s largely why this piece exists. But our other task, which, in some cases is equally critical, is to get in front of the next week. Sure, injuries or a poor performance might put our best laid plans by the wayside, but taking calculated risks to avoid spending FAAB or a waiver spot has its merits. Especially with so many high-end options on bye. 

• Notable Quarterbacks on Bye in Week 10: Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Joe Flacco
• Notable Running Backs on Bye in Week 10: Javonte Williams, Chase Brown

Luckily, Danny already has some thoughts to help you get the jump on Week 10. A couple stuck out as free priority adds if you can make room on your bench. I tacked on some usage context to complement his advice.

• Quarterback: Sam Darnold
• “Sam Darnold (43%) has been a popular name in this space, having piloted the NFL's sixth-best scoring offense to date. The resurgent 28-year-old has been the sixth-best QB in EPA/play on the year, but a combination of positive game scripts and rushing success has led to a -6% dropback rate over expected.”
• (Chris’ Notes) Danny has a fair point about the (semi) tight-rope we’re walking with Darnold. He’s 29th in pass attempts per game (27.4), while his WR1 is averaging 13.0 air yards per target. It all seems impossible, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba is averaging an absurd 4.33 yards per route run (leads all WRs). Week 10 will feature a division rematch against the Cardinals, which can lead to unpredictable game scripts. However, JSN was the team lead in targets in that game, and Darnold was at least serviceable as a QB streamer (QB14).
• Running Back: Dylan Sampson
• “If you missed out on Tracy, Dylan Sampson (16%) is a must-watch heading into Cleveland's bye week. Starter Quinshon Judkins left Week 8 with a shoulder injury, and Sampson was the next man up, receiving all 3 RB carries and 6 targets after his departure. The rookie is much more explosive than fellow backup Jerome Ford, having posted an RB9 finish and 17.3 points in Week 1 with Judkins out. Rookie QB Dillon Gabriel refuses to throw the ball deep, targeting RBs and TEs on 63% of his passing attempts.”

(Chris’ Notes) Honestly, I’d rather pick up Tank Bigsby due to his upside, should Saquon Barkley miss any time. However, multiple reports noted he should be ready after the bye. At least with Sampson, we’ve seen the opportunity work in his favor. In Week 1, the rookie RB earned a 20% target share with over 50% of the carries. Plus, the Browns will face the Jets, who just let the combination of Chase Brown and Samaje Perine total 167 yards on the ground. Dillon Gabriel will continue to cap any TD upside for the rookie RB, but Sampson’s opportunity potential is tough to find on the wire.

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