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Adam Koffler's fantasy football risers, fallers, sleepers, and busts heading into Week 9 of the 2025 season. He identifies players with rising and falling fantasy values.
We're almost halfway through the season. Read that again. We're almost halfway through the season. It feels like Week 1 was just yesterday.
Bye weeks are throwing a wrench into things, injuries are (unfortunately) plentiful, and guys are starting to show their true colors. That's where elite roster management skills come into play.
Soak it in, make informed decisions, and be ahead of your league mates. Here are some of the biggest risers and fallers heading into Week 9.
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Week 9 Fantasy Football Risers
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers
Dowdle has now played two games with Chuba Hubbard since Hubbard returned from his calf injury. The workload split has been pretty even (25 carries for Dowdle to 26 for Hubbard), but the former Cowboy has massively outplayed his backfield teammate.
Over the last two games, Dowdle is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 2.8 yards after contact per attempt, while Hubbard is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry and 1.7 yards after contact per attempt, per Fantasy Points Data.
Same side split zone from the Panthers and a very nice cut + vision from Rico Dowdle to pop this run
Jordan Hancock (37) shows some speed being able to make up ground and get Dowdle down as he breaks into the open field
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) October 27, 2025
Hubbard could still be dealing with the lingering effects of his calf injury, but regardless, it's as clear as day to anyone watching the games that Dowdle is by far and away the more effective back in Carolina.
And head coach Dave Canales knows it, hinting at more work for Dowdle starting in Week 9.
Rico Dowdle "has Been Exceptional," to Start Seeing More Work? https://t.co/q3KYuxmodW
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 27, 2025
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
It's hard to ignore Pittman's production this season. Quietly, he's the WR7 on the season through eight weeks.
After a couple of down weeks in early October, Pittman has nine targets in each of his last two games. Per Fantasy Points Data, he has a first-read target share of 32.5% in those games, and he's turned those 18 targets into 153 yards and two touchdowns.
Michael Pittman JR. WHAT?!
TENvsIND on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/6wHriOZr2G
— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2025
Pittman has already tied his career-high with six touchdowns. Even with Jonathan Taylor going crazy this season, he's been able to establish himself as Daniel Jones' favorite target.
Look for that to continue in Week 9 in a very favorable matchup against a Steelers defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts (23.7).
Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Hassan Haskins was out in Week 8, and Vidal took full advantage of the opportunity. He turned his 70% RB opportunity share into 127 total yards and a touchdown.
Per Underdog's Hayden Winks, Vidal had the second-highest RB usage (18.7) behind only De'Von Achane (21.1) in Week 8.
Week 8 RB Usage (No MNF)
1. De'Von Achane (21.1)
2. Kimani Vidal (18.7)
3. Derrick Henry (17.9)
4. Breece Hall (17.0)
5. Javonte Williams (16.1)
6. Saquon Barkley (14.7)
7. D'Andre Swift (14.0)
8. Chase Brown (13.7)— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) October 27, 2025
The opportunity share and yardage could have been even higher if not for the blowout win over the Vikings.
Either way, Vidal looked like a true bellcow operating behind a very solid offensive line that welcomed Joe Alt back to the lineup.
Up next is a matchup against a Titans defense allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season (24.6).
The Chargers are a 10-point road favorite in this one, so Vidal should be busy and has a great opportunity to find the end zone for the third time in his last four games since taking over for the injured Omarion Hampton.
Chimere Dike, WR, Tennessee Titans
After catching four balls for 70 yards and a touchdown on a 57% snap share in Week 7, Dike logged a season-high 89% snap share in Week 8.
The rookie fourth-rounder out of Florida didn't disappoint, catching 7-of-8 targets for 93 yards. He was second on the team in first-read target share (23.8%) behind Elic Ayomanor (33.3%), but finished first in first downs per route run (0.135) and yards per route run (2.51), per Fantasy Points Data.
Offensive Coordinator Nick Holz sounds excited about getting Dike more opportunities the rest of the year:
Nick Holz on Chimere Dike's emergence as a threat on offense. pic.twitter.com/XktMuOFSRt
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) October 28, 2025
Calvin Ridley has now missed two straight games with a hamstring injury, and there's no telling when he might return to the lineup. Until he does, Dike should be fired up as a WR3 or flex option as he's become a real threat in the Titans' offense.
Chimere Dike Becoming a Threat in Titans' Offense https://t.co/hELvyu6rEo
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 28, 2025
Other Fantasy Football Risers:
- Troy Franklin
- Tyjae Spears
- Tyrone Tracy Jr.
- Kayshon Boutte
- Oronde Gadsden (not listed as a top riser since he was in this article last week)
- Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith (as a result of Isiah Pacheco's MCL injury)
Week 9 Fantasy Football Fallers
Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers
Golden had a lot of hype coming into the season. Remember, he was the first Packer wide receiver taken in the first round since Javon Walker back in 2002.
But in Week 8, without Dontayvion Wicks in the lineup, Christian Watson, coming off a nearly year-long absence, out-targeted Golden four to three.
Golden has yet to earn more than six targets in any one game, hasn't scored a touchdown, and hasn't eclipsed 14 PPR fantasy points. His 15.8% first-read target share ranks 67th among wideouts this season, per Fantasy Points Data.
He's not meeting his targets, and he's not being utilized in the red zone (he's had just two targets inside the 20 and zero targets inside the 10).
You are now free to drop Golden for another higher upside bench stash heading into Week 9.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
It's Dowdle time in Carolina. Hubbard hasn't been good since his return, and Uncle Rico has gotten more than one vote of confidence from head coach Dave Canales.
Hubbard wasn't even all that good before his injury. In fact, he has been one of the worst, while Dowdle, on the other hand, has been one of the best.
Bottom 5 RBs in rush yards over expected per attempt through 8 weeks of the 2025 season:
1. Tyrone Tracy (-0.88)
2. Alvin Kamara (-0.85)
3. Christian McCaffrey (-0.67)
4. Chuba Hubbard (-0.65)
5. TreVeyon Henderson (-0.64) https://t.co/FYQXggI9aH— Dataroma (@ffdataroma) October 28, 2025
The opportunity share will shift in Dowdle's favor in Week 9, which spells trouble for Hubbard, the Panthers' prized lead back to begin the 2025 season.
He's a hold for now, but you can't start Chuba Chuba choo choo as long as Dowdle is operating as the lead back in Carolina.
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans
Pollard is reportedly on the trade block. To protect his trade value, the Titans featured Spears more in Week 8 than ever before.
Spears had a higher snap share than Pollard and had the same number of opportunities (12) for the first time this season. Spears also had three catches to just one for Pollard.
With the Titans playing from behind in most games, expect the target numbers to lean in the direction of Spears, the more capable receiving back of the two. That spells trouble for Pollard, who will need to rely on touchdowns to provide fantasy value.
That's a challenge on a team that doesn't score many points.
There's also a chance Pollard gets moved. While that might be good for him personally, it's unlikely to make a positive impact on his fantasy value. It's more likely that he becomes the 1B to another team's already existing 1A than anything else.
You're probably holding Pollard in hopes that he does get moved, because it doesn't appear his fantasy value will hold in Tennessee going forward.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
After a scorching hot start to the season, the targets just have not been there for QJ in his last three games. That culminated in a target-less Week 8 vs. the Vikings.
In his first four games, Johnston averaged 84.3 yards on 9.3 targets per game. People were calling him the WR1 in Los Angeles over Ladd McConkey, who had a very, very good rookie season.
But in his last three games, QJ has come back down to earth in a big way, averaging just 23.3 yards on 3.3 targets per game. McConkey's emergence, as well as the emergence of rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden, has taken the wind out of Johnston's sails.
In Week 8, Johnston also saw his lowest snap share of the season of just 52%. Right now, there are just too many good options for Justin Herbert to throw the ball to, and it appears Johnston has fallen to number four on the target totem poll behind McConkey, Gadsden, and Keenan Allen.
Other Fantasy Football Fallers:
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