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Scott Engel features fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 9 (2025). He focuses on key NFL players to start when faced with tight Week 9 fantasy football lineup decisions.
Welcome back to our Key Starters and Tough Calls article for Week 9 of the 2025 season. Scott Engel's Week 9 Lineup Spotlights column features key players to start or sit when faced with challenging lineup decisions. "The King" features players who may be causing fantasy anxiety for those who roster them.
The fantasy football players covered in this Week 9 article are based on Scott's Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available in the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. You can get access to his full player rankings and also unlock a full suite of tools and analysis for in-season usage. In Week 5, Scott finished as a top-15 ranker, and he was top-10 in Week 2. In Week 5, Scott was the No. 1 ranker of tight ends.
To make the best-informed Week 9 lineup decisions -- consult this analysis, the RotoBaller staff fantasy football rankings, and free Who Should I Start? tool for comparing up to four players. The skill position analysis in this article is based on Scott's Week 9 premium PPR rankings.
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Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Week 9
Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
It is certainly unfortunate that Travis Hunter will now be out until further notice when fantasy leaguers were looking forward to a possible breakout stretch beginning this week. Hunter was coming off his best game as a pro in Week 7, and there were reported indications that he was going to be more of a prime contributor in the Jacksonville offense going forward.
Instead, fantasy players now naturally want to know who will step forward in the passing game for Jacksonville to complement Brian Thomas Jr.
The two top candidates are Washington and Dynami Brown. When the news broke about Hunter on Friday, I moved to add Washington in all of my leagues as a priority.
Washington has always been in the background among the Jacksonville WRs since being drafted in the sixth round in 2023. Yet he has continued to develop trust from Trevor Lawrence in key situations. He caught two TD passes in his rookie season and three in 2024. While he has just one TD catch this season, more should be on the way.
What’s more important to note is that Washington was targeted 10 times in Week 7, and it was the second time that he was targeted 10-plus times in a game this season. A healthy amount of targets should continue to be expected going forward.
This week, Jacksonville faces Las Vegas, which ranks 30th in Fantasy Points Per Game, so consider starting Washington as a replacement WR3 or flex player. Brown, who flashed in the NFC playoffs with Washington last season, could be more of an upside play, but for now, I prefer Washington to be more steadily involved in the offensive flow.
Tory Horton, WR, Seattle Seahawks
It’s not looking good for Cooper Kupp to play in NFL Week 9. He is dealing with heel and hamstring issues that could keep him out of Sunday night’s game at Washington. Kupp was downgraded in practices throughout the week and did not practice on Friday.
Most impactful practice reports on Friday:
◻️ D’Andre Swift (groin) - DNP x 2
◻️ Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) - DNP x 2
◻️ Cooper Kupp (heel, hamstring) - Full ➡️ Limited (downgrade)Kyle Monangai, TreVeyon Henderson, Tory Horton the beneficiaries if the starters miss Week 9 games
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 31, 2025
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October, will naturally be expected to see a heavy number of targets again. But we now have to determine who is going to complement him this week with Kupp out. Also, will Seattle alter its offensive approach in any way?
Horton is the top candidate to provide increased fantasy production with Kupp out. He is certainly a different type of WR than Kupp, as he is more of a downfield threat with true TD potential. The rookie flashed in the preseason, and during the regular season, three of his nine receptions have been good for TDs.
The Seattle offensive line is providing much better pass protection this season, as Sam Darnold has been sacked an NFC-low nine times. He should have time to locate Horton for some mid-range to deeper strikes. Washington ranks 29th in receiving yardage allowed to opposing WRs.
Horton can be started as an upside option if you are looking for one, especially at a flex spot. Another rookie, TE Elijah Arroyo, may also start to see more targets on key passing downs and is a deep speculative play.
The Seahawks may also look to get the running game going more this week. Fullback Robbie Ouzts is returning this week, and he is a tenacious lead blocker for Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts roll into Pittsburgh with a surprising 7-1 record, and we could see a lot of points scored by both teams. Both have vulnerable pass defenses, and with their grip on the AFC North lead getting closer to slipping away, I expect a spirited battle from Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
Pierce has always shown glimpses of being able to deliver on downfield targets in past seasons. Now, with the rejuvenated Daniel Jones at QB, he is contributing often enough in real life and fantasy football to be worthy of streaming consideration.
Pierce is averaging 21.4 yards per reception, and he has drawn 15 targets in his past two games. He has a long reception of 25-plus yards in six of seven games played this season. Pittsburgh ranks 30th in FFPG allowed to WRs over the past four weeks.
Running Backs - Fantasy Football Week 9
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears
D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson are out this week, pushing Monangai into a lead RB role in a great matchup. I expect to see him take on a heavy workload as a ball carrier. Veteran Travis Homer is a good pass blocker and can make some plays in space, and may be the third-down and receiving back.
No team has allowed more FFPG to RBs this season than the Bengals. Monangai is a power runner with significant TD promise. He could be a true difference-maker for fantasy teams in his first NFL start. But who do you start him over when faced with a tough lineup decision?
If you have two good or reliable options at RB, and Monangai is one of them, he should be a top choice as a flex option. But if a very good WR occupies the flex spot, then a decision at the RB2 spot will have to be made. The approach should not be to start Monangai over an established higher-quality RB, even though the matchup is very juicy.
There is sometimes a tendency as a fantasy manager to get “too cute” when a matchup appears to indicate a smash spot. So I would not sit James Cook or Kyren Williams for Monangai. Yes, some fantasy players will consider such moves. But go ahead and start Monangai over any other RB that has not been a regular RB1 this season, such as Ashton Jeanty or Kenneth Walker III.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Isiah Pacheco is out, and Hunt is coming off a two-TD performance in Week 8. While the lure to take a chance on rookie Brashard Smith is inviting, Hunt is positioned as a high-end fantasy RB2 for NFL Week 9. We are certainly expecting a higher-scoring affair between the Chiefs and Bills.
Before Pacheco was injured, Hunt was clearly the preferred goal-line RB for Kansas City, and now he is apparently ticketed for lead RB work. When he has been getting the ball, Hunt has battled hard for yardage, and he can post adequate yardage totals with more attempts.
At this point in his career, any upside Hunt has comes from his TD role, and he should get more chances to finish off one or two drives with TD runs. Buffalo ranks 27th in FFPG allowed to RBs. Smith should function as a pass-catching complement but may not get enough touches to be considered for most fantasy lineups yet.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
Okay, so we are doing this again. For maybe the third time this season, we are looking at a “now or never” situation for Henderson. The Patriots are now ultra-thin at RB with both Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson out, so they are forced to give the rookie one more try.
TreVeyon Henderson To Finally Be Unleashed in Week 9? https://t.co/OPA7lobx6M
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 31, 2025
The situation could be as simple as this: If Henderson performs well, he could operate as the starter for more than this week if Stevenson continues to miss time. If he disappoints, we could see some of Terrell Jennings this week, and a Patriots trade for an RB before the deadline will become even more likely.
You should view Henderson as a ceiling play who might flame out even in a good matchup. Atlanta has allowed the second-most FFPG to RBs over the past four weeks. I recommend taking the shot on Henderson as a streamer or flex option, although we may actually wonder if Jennings cuts into his workload. Henderson is a mid-range fantasy RB2 play this week.
Bam Knight, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Fantasy players were comfortably anticipating starting Knight as a streamer when Michael Carter was cut early in the week. Some even picked up Emari Demercado on a flyer. But the outlook changed late in the week.
Published reports pointed to Carter working as a lead RB in some practice sessions on Friday. So we could be looking at a timeshare between Knight and Carter again. Knight, however, has rushed for two TDs in the last three games, and goal-line opportunities will surely be there against the Dallas defense. I will still lean toward Knight over Carter.
Cardinals are full out messing with us. Makes it tougher to trust Bam Knight or Michael Carter https://t.co/OxiIuNrhLK
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) October 31, 2025
Quarterback and Tight End - Fantasy Football Week 9
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
I rank Goff as a top-6 fantasy QB for NFL Week 9. The only QBs that were ranked ahead of him are Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Dak Prescott. You could make a case that Goff should be started over Herbert and Prescott, and I’d certainly give it proper consideration.
Over the past four weeks, Minnesota ranks 29th in FFPG allowed to QBs. I have always been more excited about starting Goff in home games. Dating back to the beginning of the 2023 season, Goff has totaled 48 passing TDs at Ford Field and 34 in road games.
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
Those who drafted Loveland over Tyler Warren have been living with deep regrets over the past eight weeks. The dark clouds appeared to part for Week 9, though, in anticipation of Loveland facing the Cincinnati Bengals.
No team has allowed close to the 10 TD receptions that Cincinnati surrendered to TEs over the first half of the season. Loveland appeared headed for a possible breakout performance in Week 9. That is, until reports surfaced late in the week that Cole Kmet was no longer on the injury report.
Well, I am still starting Loveland as a streamer. I would not be surprised to see both Chicago TEs catch TD passes this week. Loveland was drafted this year after it became apparent that Kmet would never quite reach his potential as a pass-catcher. Loveland gets an opportunity to surpass Kmet in terms of fantasy production in Week 9, and might stay ahead of him in the pecking order for good.
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