RADIO
Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 9 of 2025. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
The good news is that there are not six teams on bye this week. The bad news is that there are four teams on bye, and injuries are still dictating lineup decisions for many fantasy managers.
Luckily, this is a solid week to find streaming options. There are several players you can elevate from your bench or even the waiver wire and get into your starting lineup this week. In fact, that is what I break down each week here!
This is a crucial week for those in the playoff hunt, and we are running out of time to make a run. You have to do what is in the best interest of your starting lineup!
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Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for QB
Sam Darnold is not the kind of fantasy QB you simply start each week. He is one you play in the right matchups, and that is what he has this week. Washington has allowed the fourth-most passing yards and touchdowns to QBs, while giving up the fifth-most fantasy PPG. Darnold, who has topped 20 in two of his last three, is in play this week.
Joe Flacco popped up on the injury report with a shoulder injury. His status will have to be monitored, and it clearly makes him more risky even if he goes, but he is a streaming option for those in need. He averaged 23 fantasy PPG since starting for the Bengals. This week, he faces the Bears, who are in the top 10 in fantasy PPG and bottom 10 in pressure. Given the Cincy defense, Flacco always has to air it out.
Trevor Lawrence is averaging 21 fantasy PPG in his last three games. Now, he gets the Raiders, who have struggled against the pass and generate pressure at the third-lowest rate. That should allow Lawrence time to find his weapons in Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. Given the recent fantasy success and matchup, he is in play as a streaming option.
Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for RB
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was a popular waiver wire pickup this week, and he should be started as well. Last season in this same system, Tracy started for 12 weeks. In nine of those, he finished as a top-25 RB, showing that he can be a reliable RB2. He has a solid matchup this week against the Niners, who have allowed the sixth-most receiving yards and most receiving TDs to RBs since the Nick Bosa injury. They are in the top four in yards allowed before contact per carry in that span as well.
"I think he is someone you can plug in as a flex or an RB2, but he's not going to be a top 10 running back"
-@MichaelFFlorio on Tyrone Tracy Jr. pic.twitter.com/Zu6CMVnLOO
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 29, 2025
Bam Knight has a fantastic matchup this week against Dallas. The Cowboys have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG, fifth-most rushing yards, and second-most receiving yards to backs. They give up explosive runs at the second-highest rate. They struggle to keep backs out of the end zone as well. It may only be a one-week thing with Trey Benson eligible to return next week, but Knight is very much so in play this week.
Bam Knight turns on the speed for a 67-yard TD!
Watch on NFL Network
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cbv52C6pCV— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2025
Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith are both sleepers this week, with Isiah Pacheco likely out against the Bills. I expect Hunt to be the early down back, and we know he has the goal-line work on lock. The Bills have struggled against the run. In fact, they have allowed 5.3 yards per carry, second-highest in the NFL, and allowed explosive runs at the fifth-highest rate. While Hunt is the preferred play, Smith is the more explosive runner and better pass game option. His floor is low, but he brings upside.
Jeremy McNichols is a sneaky option in this one. Last week, in a game the Commanders were trailing, he led the team with six targets, five catches, and 64 yards. This week, they get Seattle, so trailing is once again a possibility. Even if not, McNichols is sneaky because the Seahawks have been the toughest run defense in the NFL. Their weakness, though, has been pass-catching backs. They have allowed the fourth-most receiving yards to backs. McNichols is a sneaky flex play in deeper leagues.
Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for WR
Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton are both in play this week against the 49ers. I prefer Robinson, as the 49ers have allowed the most yards and third-most touchdowns to slot receivers. Robinson runs nearly 60 percent of his routes from the slot.
Slayton is a bit more boom-or-bust, but he brings high upside as the deep threat. The Niners have created pressure at the lowest rate since the Bosa injury, which should allow Jaxson Dart time to operate.
Chimere Dike saw eight targets last week and turned them into 93 yards. He has now topped 70 yards in two straight games. Dike has been the top slot option on a Titans team that is often trailing and in catch-up mode. That tends to lead to both volume and higher probable targets. If Calvin Ridley is once again out this week, Dike would remain in play.
.@chimdk11 turns on the jets for a 66 yard kick return!
📺: #TENvsAZ on @NFLonCBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/boswlOWdoH
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 5, 2025
Christian Watson returned last week and played 56 percent of the snaps, turning four targets into 85 yards. Watson will always be a bit boom-or-bust, but he brings upside as the downfield threat. Plus, he could surpass Matthew Golden and play more snaps as he gets reacclimated in his return from injury. When in need of a flex play, upside is what you should be chasing.
Speaking of upside, that is what Alec Pierce and Kayshon Boutte bring. I like Pierce this week as the Steelers have allowed the second-most yards to outside receivers, and Pierce runs over 80 percent of his routes out wide. Pittsburgh is also in the top eight in yards allowed on deep passes. Boutte does not see a ton of volume, but he has the best deep ball thrower in the NFL as his QB. The floor may be low, but the ceiling is very high.
Daniel Jones' 50-yard pass to Alec Pierce in Colts' win over Titans traveled 58.3 yards in the air, the QB's longest completion by air distance in his career, per @NextGenStatshttps://t.co/fz0PhzpY4C pic.twitter.com/mbVhHzhwdZ
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) October 27, 2025
Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for TE
Oronde Gadsden II is quickly becoming a must-play at TE. He has averaged 20 fantasy PPG in the last three weeks. I expect his success to continue this week as the Titans have played zone on nearly 80 percent of their plays. In the last three weeks, Gadsden is tied for the team lead in targets against zone and has nearly double the yards as anyone else on the team. He is a strong play this week.
Kyle Pitts Sr. is back in our fantasy lives! He has topped 13 fantasy points in each of the last two weeks. He is second in targets on the Falcons in the last three weeks. He has seen a lot more short targets, allowing him to rack up both catches and yards after the catch. He should be able to stay hot this week against the Patriots, who have allowed the fourth-most yards and fifth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends.
Theo Johnson has been more fantasy relevant as of late, but is still far from a must-start. He gets the Niners this week, who are middle of the pack against tight ends. They have allowed the most yards to players in the slot. Johnson runs 25 percent of his routes from the slot, the second most on the Giants.
Colston Loveland ran 30 routes, had five targets, and finished with 38 yards and 6.8 fantasy points last week with Cole Kmet sidelined. If he is once again out this week, Loveland becomes a very sneaky streamer. He faces Cincy, which has allowed the most yards, touchdowns, and fantasy PPG to tight ends.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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