NFL News

Week 9 NFL Capsules

Field Level Media

Fri Nov 6 4:56pm ET

Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) vs. Atlanta Falcons (3-5) in Madrid

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

FanDuel odds: Bengals -3, Total 52.5

Series rewind: Cincinnati has won the last three meetings, including a 35-17 victory at home in the most recent clash on Oct. 23, 2022. The Falcons are 1-3 in international games and the Bengals are 0-1-1.

The NFL's second game in Spain could see some fireworks as Bengals star Joe Burrow seeks to become the fourth QB in league history to throw four or more touchdown passes in four consecutive games (Peyton Manning, Dan Marino and Tom Brady are the others). His favorite target, Ja'Marr Chase, needs one TD reception to join Randy Moss as the only players in NFL history with at least seven TD grabs in each of their first six seasons. Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson can also carve a place in the record book by becoming the fifth player with 35 games of 100-plus scrimmage yards at age 25 or younger (Clinton Portis, Ezekiel Elliott, Edgerrin James and Emmitt Smith are the others). Atlanta wide receiver Drake London has an international name and an international game, having tallied 104 yards and a TD against the Colts last year in Berlin. Cincinnati is on a three-game winning streak while Atlanta is coming off a turnover-filled 16-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Only the winless Los Angeles Chargers (17) have more giveaways than the Falcons (16).

Detroit Lions (5-2) at Miami Dolphins (1-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Lions -7, Total 50.5

Series rewind: The Lions have won three of the past four meetings, but Miami won the most recent tussle between these teams in October 2022. Tua Tagovailoa threw for 382 yards and completed 12 passes to Tyreek Hill in the 31-27 win, which bumped Miami to 5-3 and dropped the Lions to 1-6.

The Lions picked up more than 40 degrees on their trek from Detroit to South Beach, where head coach Dan Campbell isn't afraid to make the game a run-heavy, physical confrontation. Led by Jared Goff, who continues to be one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league (168 of 248 for 1,964 yards, 15 touchdowns and one interception), the Lions will try to exploit a Dolphins defense that ranks 24th in points allowed per game (25.9) and 25th in yards allowed per play (5.7). Jahmyr Gibbs remains one of the NFL's top backs, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 110.4 rushing yards per game. Miami has struggled in the passing game, on both sides of the ball. Opposing quarterbacks have combined for an NFL-high 119.5 passer rating against the Dolphins, while Miami quarterback Malik Willis owns a 79.7 rating through seven games. The Lions rank last in the league in passing yards allowed per game, which could create an opportunity for Willis to have success. Miami has found consistency on the ground behind Ollie Gordon II, who has rushed for 408 yards and four touchdowns and helped offset some of the Dolphins' offensive struggles.

Los Angeles Rams (4-4) at Washington Commanders (2-4-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Rams -4.5, Total 47.5

Series rewind: The Rams have won the past two meetings but trail the overall series 24-13-1. The last meeting was in 2023.

Washington seeks consecutive wins for the first time since a four-game run to close the 2024 season. The Commanders are two games behind the NFC East-leading New York Giants (4-2-1), who host the Commanders on Nov. 12. The Rams have won two in a row, including a 24-9 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last week. The Rams are tied with the Seattle Seahawks for second in the NFC West behind the San Francisco 49ers (6-1). Los Angeles All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett practiced this week and is pushing to return. Matthew Stafford passed for 157 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Chargers in Week 8. The Rams boast the NFL's fourth-ranked offense (384.4 yards per game). The Commanders are 20th (327.1). Washington's Jayden Daniels has yet to throw an interception this season in five games. Last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, he completed 16 of 29 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown to Stefon Diggs. Washington scored 27 unanswered points in a 27-10 home victory.

New York Giants (4-2-1) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Giants -3, Total 38.5

Series rewind: The Giants have lost 13 consecutive games in Philadelphia, with their last win at Lincoln Financial Field coming on Oct. 27, 2013. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is 8-3 against New York, including the postseason.

The script has officially flipped in the NFC East, where the first-place Giants visit the last-place Eagles. And no one could have predicted this quarterback matchup two months ago: J.J. McCarthy makes his second start for New York while Joe Milton III will make his first NFL start for Philadelphia. The Eagles rank 32nd in total offense (265.3 yards per game) and 30th in scoring (17.1 points per game). They have not gained more than 341 yards or scored more than 24 points in any game this season. They face a Giants defense that ranks third against the pass (184.9 yards per game). Both teams have struggled to generate a pass rush, as their combined 19 sacks (Philadelphia with 10, New York with nine) are fewer than 12 teams entering Week 9. There are hamstring injuries worth watching on both offenses: Giants running back Cam Skattebo, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith all missed practices to start the week. Smith hasn't been on the field since Week 6.

Denver Broncos (6-2) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Broncos -2.5, Total 43.5

Series rewind: The Broncos hold a 7-2 lead in the all-time series, including a 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Panthers posted a 23-10 victory the last time they met in Charlotte on Nov. 27, 2022.

In this clash of division leaders, Carolina doesn't want to get into a close game with Denver. The Broncos have won 15 straight regular-season games that have been decided by one score, matching the 2008-09 Colts for the longest streak in NFL history. Since 1970, no quarterback has led more game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in his first three seasons than Denver's Bo Nix, who did it for the 15th time last week to beat the Chiefs. Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton leads the league with 101 tackles and is one of only two players since 2000 to reach triple digits in his team's first eight games (Zaire Franklin of the Colts in 2023 was the other). Carolina quarterback Bryce Young has thrown at least one TD pass in nine straight games. Since catching 14 passes for 192 yards and two TDs in the Panthers' Week 4 win against Detroit, reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan has a combined 16 receptions for 184 yards and no scores in his last three games.

Dallas Cowboys (3-5) at Indianapolis Colts (2-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Cowboys -5.5, Total 51.5

Series rewind: Dallas leads the series 11-7 and has won four of the last five games against Indianapolis, including a 54-19 home trouncing the last time they played in 2022.

Not much has gone right in the first half of the season for the Colts, who will carry the burden of a four-game losing streak and the weight of roster roulette when they face Dallas. Before their 42-7 loss last week at Jacksonville, Indianapolis traded All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. After the loss, Indianapolis reportedly rejected at least one offer for running back Jonathan Taylor, who is fourth in the NFL in carries (148), tied for third in rushing touchdowns (eight) and eighth in rushing yards (610) and continues to be used in a feature role even with his future with the Colts uncertain. Indianapolis has been outscored by 61 points and ranks last in the NFL in turnover margin (minus-11). Last week, the Cowboys blew a 17-3 second-half lead at home and handed the Cardinals a 33-30 overtime win. While Dallas has lost three of its last four games, it is only one game back in the win column for the NFC East lead. The Cowboys have scored 30 points five times this season but are only 3-2 in those games. They're 1-11 under second-year coach Brian Schottenheimer when they don't score 30 points in a game.

Cleveland Browns (5-3) at New Orleans Saints (2-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Saints -3, Total 43.5

Series rewind: The Browns lead the all-time series 13-7 but New Orleans has won the last three matchups to narrow the gap.

Deshaun Watson has already led five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter and overtime, a major reason for Cleveland's surprise success in the first half of the season. But the Browns must go without their starting QB this week after he entered concussion protocol. Shedeur Sanders takes over for at least Week 9. Sanders, a fifth-round draft pick last year, started seven games as a rookie, going 3-4 while completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He will need to get the offense off to a stronger start; Cleveland has been outscored 65-13 in the first quarter this season. That has also been a problem for the Saints, who have been outscored 44-6 in the first quarter. New Orleans is coming off a bye during which head coach Kellen Moore fired run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti. The Saints rank 28th in the NFL in rushing offense (86.0 yards per game), and they had just 18 yards on 17 rushes in their last game, a 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 25 in Paris. That has made things hard on QB Tyler Shough, who has still managed to throw for 1,721 yards, 13 TDs and six interceptions in seven games. The INTs match his total as a rookie last season.

Houston Texans (2-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-7)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Texans -3.5, Total 39.5

Series rewind: Houston has won three of the past four meetings in the regular season, including 20-16 at Los Angeles last season.

The Chargers began this season with dreams of playing in a home-stadium Super Bowl in Inglewood, Calif.; then they went 0-for-September and October. The lone winless team in the NFL is off to the worst start in franchise history. Houston stumbled out of the starting blocks for the second consecutive season. It appeared to be finding its way last month while giving vibes of the team's nine-game winning streak to close last season, but its bid for a third consecutive victory was thwarted in a 27-21 overtime loss to the New York Giants on Oct. 25. After C.J. Stroud threw for a season-low 153 yards against New York, the team spent its bye week trying to figure out ways to get better balance. The season-low effort came one week after Stroud was named AFC Player of the Week for his 312-yard, three-touchdown performance in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Stroud has the offense seventh in the NFL in passing with 253.4 yards per game. Houston's ground game ranks 29th with an average of 84.7 rushing yards. There is no deeper hole than the one where the Chargers are buried. Their defense looked up to the task last Sunday by not allowing a first down over the Los Angeles Rams' first five drives of the game. Quarterback Justin Herbert had a season-high 257 yards passing in the defeat, but his two interceptions gave him 10 on the season, most in the NFL. Two years ago, Herbert threw just three picks while starting all 17 games.

New York Jets (2-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Chiefs -9.5, Total 47.5

Series rewind: The Jets last won in Kansas City in 1998 and have since dropped four visits in a row. The Chiefs have also controlled the overall series recently with four victories in the past five meetings. Harrison Butker kicked a 26-yard field goal with 10:51 remaining for a 23-20 Kansas City victory in the last meeting in 2023.

The Chiefs have slipped into second place in the AFC West with consecutive road losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. They are back at home this week and look to get back on track before they play four of their five on the road. Patrick Mahomes matched a season best with three touchdown passes and had his second-highest yardage output (321) in last week's 28-24 loss in Denver. Running back Emmett Johnson had five catches for 128 yards, including a 73-yard score, while Travis Kelce had five grabs for 67 yards. Rashee Rice returned from the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 4 and had seven catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Kenneth Walker has rushed for just 105 yards on 35 carries the last two weeks. He had 665 yards through the first five games. The Chiefs have just nine sacks through seven games. New York has lost three straight games and is entering a stretch of three road contests in four games. The Jets notched a season high in points last week but also allowed their most while falling 38-33 to the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. New York's Geno Smith passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns while Braelon Allen rushed for a career-best 147 yards in his second straight 100-yard outing and third of the season. Allen is 10th in the NFL with 565 rushing yards. Star wideout Garrett Wilson (concussion) is out.

Las Vegas Raiders (4-4) at San Francisco 49ers (6-1)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: 49ers -9.5, Total 51.5

Series rewind: San Francisco has won five of the past six meetings, with the first five taking place while the Raiders were still based in Oakland. The 49ers prevailed 37-34 in an overtime shootout in Las Vegas late in the 2022 season. Christian McCaffrey had 193 scrimmage yards (121 rushing, 72 receiving) and rushed for a touchdown in that contest.

The 49ers' unbeaten run was halted two weeks ago out in a 29-20 loss to the host Atlanta Falcons. San Francisco had its bye last week. McCaffrey (hamstring) was injured against the Falcons and was a limited participant in practice Thursday. McCaffrey's highest rushing output this season is just 75 yards, but he does have eight rushing touchdowns. Brock Purdy has passed for 1,748 yards and 15 touchdowns against four interceptions. He threw two picks against Atlanta. Tight end George Kittle leads the club with 425 receiving yards and five touchdowns and is tied with McCaffrey (34) for the receptions lead. Cornerback Renardo Green has all three of San Francisco's interceptions. Former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa (knee, calf) was limited Thursday and could return after a five-game absence. The Raiders broke a four-game skid with last week's 38-33 victory over the host New York Jets. Kirk Cousins threw for 247 yards and had three passing scores for the fourth time that season. Overall, he has 19 touchdowns against five interceptions and has played well enough to keep the organization from being tempted to replace him with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Mike Washington Jr., a fourth-round pick this season, rushed for 83 yards on 25 carries against the Jets. Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2025 draft, received just two carries for 9 yards despite being healthy. Maxx Crosby registered a sack against New York, his third of the season.

Arizona Cardinals (3-5) at Seattle Seahawks (4-4)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Seahawks -8.5, Total 39.5

Series rewind: The Seahawks are gunning for their 11th consecutive win in the series, which includes a 31-7 victory at Arizona in September.

Gardner Minshew took over as the Cardinals' starting quarterback after rallying Arizona from a 17-3 deficit in the third quarter at Dallas last week. A few days later, Jacoby Brissett, who started the first eight games of the season, was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. The Seahawks kept the QB carousel spinning for this game as they ruled out Sam Darnold with a quadriceps injury. Drew Lock will start for the second time this season against the Cardinals. He is coming back from a two-game hiatus to treat an elbow injury. Lock threw three TD passes at Arizona in Seattle's 24-point win in Week 2. The Seahawks expect other backfield reinforcements to be available. Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price could give Seattle a loaded RB corps with Emanuel Wilson, who rushed for 92 yards against Arizona in the first matchup. Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier had 191 yards from scrimmage at Dallas.

Green Bay Packers (5-3) at New England Patriots (5-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Patriots -3, Total 44.5

Series rewind: Green Bay leads the series 7-6, won the last game the teams played 27-24 in overtime in 2022 and beat the Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI in January 1997.

After each got off to slow starts, both teams have won four of their last five games. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love is averaging 280.8 passing yards per game, has thrown 16 touchdowns passes and been intercepted six times. Love leads the NFL with 2,246 passing yards and is also No. 1 among quarterbacks in pass attempts of at least 20 yards (52). Green Bay has been forced to throw because of its lackluster running game. The Packers are averaging 2.9 yards per carry, last in the league. Green Bay could become the first NFL team to finish a season with a rushing average of less than 3.0 yards per carry since the 1994 Patriots. New England quarterback Drake Maye got off to an exceptionally slow start in the follow-up campaign to finishing second in MVP voting last season. He has passed for 15 touchdowns and has been intercepted eight times, but has 14 TD passes and two interceptions in his last five games. He'll be facing a Green Bay defense that has forced 15 turnovers, second-most in the NFL. Ten of those turnovers have been interceptions. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson leads the Patriots with 119 touches; no other player has more than 57. Stevenson has a team-high 367 rushing yards, and his 23 catches rank third on the team.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) at Chicago Bears (6-2)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Bears -6.5, Total 47.5

Series rewind: Tampa Bay has won four of the last six matchups, with the victories coming by an average of 23.3 points. Baker Mayfield passed for 317 yards and one touchdown in the most recent meeting as the Buccaneers posted a 27-17 home victory in 2023. The Bears have dropped the past three home games in the series.

The Buccaneers have become a run-heavy team since Mayfield returned from a dislocated thumb on his passing hand. They accumulated a stunning 582 yards on the ground combined in consecutive victories. Last week, Tampa Bay became the first team since the 1974 Buffalo Bills to win a game without completing a pass. It racked up a franchise-record 324 rushing yards in a 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Bucky Irving rushed for 170 yards and Kenneth Gainwell added 140. Tampa Bay now leads the NFL with 168.6 rushing yards per game. Mayfield threw just three passes against Atlanta and has attempted just 14 over the past two games. The Bears have won three straight games since Caleb Williams returned from his hamstring injury. Chicago scored more than 30 points in all three contests, including Monday's 34-17 road win over the Seattle Seahawks. Williams passed for more than 300 yards in the first two games of the stretch before settling for 247 and one touchdown against Seattle. Chicago owns the league's second-best rushing attack at 150.8 yards per game, but the Bears were better on the ground over the first four games when Kyle Monangai rushed for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Monangai (toe, thumb) has missed the past four games and also didn't partake in practices on Wednesday or Thursday. The contest will be the second for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons since the Bears acquired him from the Tennessee Titans. He had two tackles for loss and a sack in his Chicago debut.

Player Notes
Colston Loveland Nov 6 10:40pm ET
Colston Loveland

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland is again a strong fantasy option for a home matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field. The former Michigan Wolverine has really rounded into form over his previous three outings, compiling a 20/199/2 line while leading the team in receptions and targets (28). Loveland's upside will always be somewhat capped by Chicago's propensity to score points in a hurry and the dearth of talent around him. Still, he's utilized superbly in the scheme, able to use his athleticism on quick flat routes around the line of scrimmage. He also does well on some deeper breaking patterns over the middle and outside the numbers. Tampa Bay's defense has been an undesirable matchup in most respects, but they're actually susceptible to fantasy tight ends as a bottom-half unit. Even if the offense struggles, Loveland should still command a considerable share of targets. He's again a top option for the Sunday night matchup and, officially, RotoBaller's PPR TE4 for Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Nov 6 10:30pm ET
Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will look to keep momentum in Week 9 when his team squares off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. Williams and the Bears made a statement win their last time out over the hosting Seahawks. The 24-year-old played exceptionally well - picking apart the league's most staunch pass defense with ease. While it was mediocre fantasy output, it marked his third straight game without an interception and with at least 247 passing yards, a stretch in which Chicago has scored at least 30 points in each outing. Williams faces another tough matchup this weekend against a Buccaneers defense that's exceeded expectations in 2026. Despite that, the former first-overall pick is on a hot streak, and owners should have no trouble slotting him into their lineups as an elite fantasy option. Chicago's tendency to lead with the ground game will sometimes hurt Williams' upside, but he's the ringleader of an ascending attack backed by offensive mastermind head coach Ben Johnson. Williams is RotoBaller's QB7 for his outing with the Bucs.

From RotoBaller

Justin Herbert Nov 6 10:00pm ET
Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is having a season to forget right now. It has gone from bad to worse for Herbert, who hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since Week 5 against the Denver Broncos. Over his last two games, Herbert has thrown zero touchdowns and three interceptions. The 28-year-old has been held to under 250 passing yards in every game besides one this season. He does draw a favorable matchup against the Houston Texans pass defense, which ranks 29th in the league right now. Despite that, fantasy managers have little reason to believe that Herbert is going to turn it around. He remains a risky streaming choice even with a plus matchup against the Texans defense.

From RotoBaller

Dameon Pierce Nov 6 9:50pm ET
Dameon Pierce

Philadelphia Eagles running back Dameon Pierce (undisclosed) was released by the organization with an injury settlement on Friday. Pierce was placed on the Injured Reserve on October 28 due to an undisclosed injury. Pierce would've been forced to miss four games because he was placed on the IR. Now, Pierce is eligible to play once he signs with another team. During his three games with Philly, Pierce carried the ball 37 times for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He might land elsewhere as a depth option, but it seems unlikely that Pierce will have consistent fantasy value going forward.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Nov 6 9:40pm ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) reportedly had his meeting with the organization on Friday. Aiyuk is feeling great and is 100 percent healthy after missing all of last season due to a torn ACL. The 28-year-old is attempting to get reinstated, but it's a bit of a complicated issue. Aiyuk owes roughly $13 million in bonus forfeitures, so we'll see how long it takes for him to get reinstated. He wasn't on the Friday's transaction log as being reinstated, so this could be something that takes time. It doesn't sound like the 49ers want anything to do with Aiyuk anymore, so he'll need to find another team once he does get reinstated. There's some stash value here, but fantasy managers might need to be patient.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Kincaid Nov 6 9:20pm ET
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (chest) was a full participant during Friday's practice session. This is good news after Kincaid was limited during Thursday's practice while nursing a chest injury. He was able to shed his red non-contact jersey on Friday, Sal Capaccio reports. It seems like Kincaid is trending in the right direction ahead of Monday's Week 9 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Kincaid has been playing some good ball over the last two games, so hopefully he'll be able to keep up that pace. If he does get downgraded, Dawson Knox would likely step into the starting tight end role on Monday.

From RotoBaller

Tory Horton Nov 6 8:10pm ET
Tory Horton

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Hortonis in line to receive more volume in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. Seattle will be without wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) for a second straight week. Horton earned six targets in his absence in Week 8, catching three for 26 yards. While his efficiency was not great, six targets were a solid mark to hit in an offense so dominated by wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Horton's matchup in Week 9 is solid. Arizona is 22nd against opposing wide receivers in fantasy. The Cardinals are also the 26th-ranked team in pass coverage. As a deep threat, Horton has a chance to get loose in this game. Additionally, Seattle is down several key defensive players, opening the door for a potential shootout, further increasing Horton's potential for more volume. Horton should only be considered in 14-team leagues and larger, but he could be deployed as a potential flex option in deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Jason Myers Nov 6 8:00pm ET
Jason Myers

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers is in prime position to bounce back in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals after a tough outing in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. Myers scored just one fantasy point in Week 8 due to a missed extra point and blocked field goal. Seattle went for two following its second touchdown, limiting Myers' opportunity to score more points. The Cardinals should prove to be a much more porous matchup than what the Bears provided. Arizona is last in the league allowing 29.8 points per game, and they are No. 21 in yards allowed per game. As such, the Seahawks should have no problem moving the ball against this unit and providing Myers with plenty of opportunities to kick extra points and field goals. The Seahawks already hung 31 points on the Cardinals in Week 2, resulting in a solid fantasy outing for Myers. Despite the Seahawks being down quarterback Sam Darnold (quadriceps) in this matchup, expect the offense to move effectively and efficiently. Besides, Seattle already did their damage against the Cardinals in Week 2 with Drew Lock (right elbow) under center.

From RotoBaller

Drew Lock Nov 6 8:00pm ET
Drew Lock

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (right elbow) is a potential deep league streamer in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. Lock will be stepping in for Sam Darnold (quadriceps), who is slated to miss at least one week. The timing for Lock could not be better, as he already lit up the Cardinals for 235 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2. The Cardinals are allowing 237.6 passing yards and 2.3 touchdowns per game, which is good for 31st against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy. Lock has played well in limited action in Seattle. With wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba playing so well, Lock should have no problems racking up yards. He is not necessarily a must-start, but if you are staring down options on the waiver wire, you can do worse than Lock. The Seahawks will be down offensive linemen Charles Cross (ankle) and Quenton Nelson (knee) in this matchup, which will certainly hurt. However, this matchup is too good to pass up should you find yourself in a desperate situation.

From RotoBaller

Zach Charbonnet Nov 6 7:50pm ET
Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet was limited to 37% of the snaps in Week 8 in his first game back from a torn ACL. However, that number figures to rise in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have been respectable against opposing running backs in fantasy. However, Seattle's offense should have no issues moving the ball against this defense as a whole. Charbonnet is a great bet to score a touchdown, given that was his greatest ability in 2025. Charbonnet also earned 10 opportunities in his first game back in Week 8. If that number climbs to something closer to 15, Charbonnet will be a player that we can begin to consider for fantasy lineups. Perhaps the most encouraging part of Charbonnet's Week 8 outing was his four targets. Charbonnet was virtually phased out of the passing game in 2025 after garnering 42 receptions on 52 targets in 2024. Passing game usage will substantially boost Charbonnet's 2026 fantasy value. While he will be difficult to trust until we see the utilization rise, Week 9 should provide a nice litmus test for fantasy managers that have been holding onto Charbonnet this season.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Nov 6 7:50pm ET
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba should have another huge week in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. Smith-Njigba lit up the Cardinals for 155 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2, and he has not slowed down since then. The Cardinals are No. 22 against opposing wideouts in fantasy, not that the matchup has mattered for JSN this season. Smith-Njigba has only finished outside the top eight wide receivers once this season. Additionally, he has logged a staggering seven 100-yard games in eight outings. Seattle will be without Sam Darnold (quad) in Week 9 as well. Backup quarterbacks tend to heavily target their No. 1 wide receiver, which could mean JSN is in for even more volume. We have already seen Drew Lock (elbow) key in on Smith-Njigba in Weeks 1 and 2 in Darnold's absence. You can rest assured that Seattle's struggling offense should have a much-improved outing against this defense, and JSN will reap the benefits.

From RotoBaller

Treylon Burks Nov 6 7:50pm ET
Treylon Burks

Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks (foot) did not practice all week and has been officially ruled out for Sunday's game at home against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9, according to John Keim of ESPN. Fellow wideout Dyami Brown (calf) is also out after injuring his calf in practice this week. The 26-year-old Burks will miss out on a big opportunity in a game that should feature plenty of positive game script with Terry McLaurin (knee) out for the season. With both Burks and Brown sidelined, veteran Stefon Diggs and rookie Antonio Williams should have high target shares as the team's top two wideouts in a banged-up WR corps. Despite Burks' injury, he is worth stashing in deeper fantasy football formats with McLaurin out for the rest of the season. The former first-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 from Arkansas has caught 12 of his 22 targets for 233 yards and two touchdowns in six games played in 2026 and will be competing with Williams for WR2 duties behind Diggs for the rest of the way. His next chance to return will come next Thursday night in a divisional tilt on the road against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

AJ Barner Nov 6 7:50pm ET
AJ Barner

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is not a starting option in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have been one of the worst defenses in the league all season, and they are No. 24 against opposing tight ends in fantasy. However, Barner is not receiving enough volume in this offense to be a viable fantasy option. Darnold did score a rushing touchdown against Arizona when they first met in Week 2, but he only received one reception. Even in Week 8 when quarterback Sam Darnold (quadriceps) aired it out 34 times, Barner only racked up two receptions. He is consistently scoring in the single-digits in fantasy due to the lack of volume. Barner was viewed as a potential breakout candidate entering the season, but it has become apparent that new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is not keen on using Barner the same way former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak did. Leave Barner on waivers until the Seahawks demonstrate more of a desire to use him.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Nov 6 7:40pm ET
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) arrived for his meeting with the 49ers on Friday and said he is "feeling great" and is 100% healthy after missing all of last year due to a torn ACL that he suffered back in 2024, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "Feeling great, feeling healthy. Long recovery process, long rehab process, but I'm back to a hundred percent. Looking to get reinstated into the National Football League," Aiyuk said. The 28-year-old might have recovered from his season-ending knee injury in 2024, but the former first-rounder from Arizona State remains on the 49ers' left-squad list, and his return to the NFL field is a complicated one since he owes roughly $13 million in bonus forfeitures as he attempts to be reinstated. By showing up and hiring new representation, Aiyuk is hoping to force his release from the Niners so that he can sign with another team. It is completely unclear how quickly he will be able to do that, and even if Aiyuk were to join a new organization, the matter of his health and conditioning would be a big question mark. Aiyuk is currently rostered in only 7% of Yahoo leagues and will need to find a new team before most fantasy managers will take him seriously as a waiver-wire pickup.

From RotoBaller

Jadarian Price Nov 6 7:40pm ET
Jadarian Price

Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price is on the flex radar in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. Reports suggest that Price will be much less restricted in Week 9, which is welcome news considering he already played 48% of the snaps fresh off IR in Week 8. Price earned 10 carries and four targets in that game. That is solid volume for a player with the explosive potential of Price. Seattle's running game has struggled to get going all season, but Week 9 provides a chance for the team to get right against Arizona's porous defense. Price ran well against the Cardinals in Week 2, rushing for 52 yards on 13 carries. A fumble in that game limited Price to just 34% of the snaps, but he was on his way to a potentially big game prior to the mistake. Seattle will play Arizona at home in a chance to fix a lot of their issues overall. If Price hovers around 50% of the snaps and earns 14-plus opportunities, he could be a possible flex play. It is risky, considering Price has not surpassed 7.8 fantasy points in a game this season, but volume is king when making deep flex decisions. The absence of guard Quenton Nelson (knee) will certainly impact Price's Week 9 fantasy value as well.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Nailor Nov 6 7:30pm ET
Jalen Nailor

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor scored a touchdown in Week 8, but his overall production this season instills little confidence for a tough matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. While Nailor caught all of his targets and got into the end zone against the New York Jets, he still only logged four receptions for 38 yards. For comparison, running back Ashton Jeanty was also targeted four times and recorded three catches for 64 yards on top of his rushing duties. That brings Nailor to 12 catches for 113 yards through seven games this season. Week 9 poses an even tougher challenge since San Francisco has the fourth-ranked defense overall coming out of their bye week and has the seventh-ranked scoring defense, allowing 19.9 average points per game. Kirk Cousins likes to air out the ball to different targets, but Nailor remains down the pecking order from Brock Bowers and fellow receiver Tre Tucker. Fantasy managers should continue sitting Nailor as Vegas heads into an uphill road battle.

From RotoBaller

Ashton Jeanty Nov 6 7:20pm ET
Ashton Jeanty

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty has stayed relevant in fantasy leagues because of his hybrid workload, but how will that play out against a stingy 49ers defense in Week 9? The 22-year-old had just two carries for nine yards against the New York Jets as Mike Washington Jr. took on a heavier workload, though Jeanty also caught three of four targets for 64 receiving yards in the Week 8 win. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak wouldn't specify whether Jeanty will have a heavier workload in Week 9, which makes his value uncertain against a formidable opponent. The 49ers defense ranks fifth overall against the run (89 YPG allowed), and pressure on Kirk Cousins to throw the ball will increase since Nick Bosa (calf) has been cleared to play. RotoBaller lists Jeanty as RB25 in the positional ranking, and he is a low-end RB2 in 12-plus-team leagues only given the difficult Week 9 matchup.

From RotoBaller

Mike Washington Jr. Nov 6 7:20pm ET
Mike Washington Jr.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. is expected to get plenty of work in Week 9, but it will be an uphill battle against a San Francisco 49ers defense that has excelled at squashing the run game. The rookie is coming off his biggest game of the season, leading the run game with 25 carries for 83 yards in a Week 8 win against the New York Jets. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak hasn't specified whether Washington will have a bigger workload than Ashton Jeanty again in Week 9. Regardless, both backs will likely be stymied against a 49ers defense that is allowing just 89 rushing yards per game, and held Falcons star back Bijan Robinson to 63 yards their last time out. The tough matchup and continued tandem workload with Jeanty signal to fantasy managers that Washington should only be used as a flex option in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Brock Bowers Nov 6 7:20pm ET
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers has one of his toughest tasks of the season going up against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9. The 23-year-old has been Kirk Cousins' favorite target since making his season debut in Week 3, logging 41 catches for 547 yards and five touchdowns. That includes a two-touchdown effort in a Week 7 win against the New York Jets when he caught seven of 10 targets for 92 yards, racking up 28.2 PPR points in the process. Now, the 49ers pose a bigger threat in Week 9 since they have been so tough on tight ends, limiting them to just 1.8 receptions for 12.7 yards per game. Nick Bosa's (calf) return from injury will up the pressure on Cousins, and a healthy Fred Warner will give Bowers plenty of trouble. Then again, the Niners also allowed nine catches on 11 targets for 75 yards to Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. Bowers is still RotoBaller's TE1 and should be started in this tough Week 9 matchup.

From RotoBaller

Michael Mayer Nov 6 7:20pm ET
Michael Mayer

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer continues to have some fantasy weight, but it will be limited against a stingy San Francisco 49ers defense in Week 9. Mayer has proven to be a flex option in the Brock Bowers-led offense, totaling 36 catches for 351 yards and one touchdown through eight games. He has also been very efficient, catching 84% of his targets this season. That includes five catches on six targets for 53 yards in a win against a solid New York Jets defense. That being said, the 49ers have been tough against tight ends in 2026, allowing just 1.8 receptions for 12.7 yards per game on average. San Francisco will be fresh off a bye week and have an even sturdier defensive front with the addition of DeForest Buckner and the return of Nick Bosa (calf). The pressure on Kirk Cousins will impact the passing game, so Mayer's target share could take a hit. Still, his efficiency makes him a solid streaming option despite the difficult matchup.

From RotoBaller