October 31, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
Zach Ertz has seen six or more targets in three straight games since his no-catch performance in Week 5 against the Chargers. The veteran tight end continues to be a reliable threat in the red zone, leading the team with four receiving touchdowns. The 34-year-old will be happy to have second-year quarterback
Jayden Daniels back as the starter, who he has been more productive with compared to backup
Marcus Mariota. Ertz has uncharacteristically had multiple costly drops this season. The veteran has already totaled five drops in only eight games this season, more than he had all of last year and one off of his career high of six back in 2021. Ertz will likely see a solid target share with top wideout
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) out, and it's a decent matchup against a Seattle defense that has allowed 47 receptions to opposing tight ends, tied for seventh most. Ertz is ranked as RotoBaller's TE13 in PPR formats for Sunday Night Football.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Through his first seven games of 2025, Detroit Lions tight end
Sam LaPorta has recorded 29 catches for 339 yards and two touchdowns on 36 targets. Although LaPorta ranks second on the Lions in targets, he's been less consistent than fantasy managers would ideally like. The 24-year-old has failed to crack 40 receiving yards in four out of seven contests. LaPorta is facing a Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 9 that has allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards (1,428) in the NFL so far this season. Across two games against Minnesota in 2025, LaPorta recorded eight catches for 88 yards and zero touchdowns on nine targets. This could be a matchup where fantasy managers would be wise to temper their expectations for LaPorta. He profiles as a low-end starting tight end option in Week 9 against the Vikings.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Across seven games so far this season, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown has recorded 50 catches for 538 yards and seven touchdowns on 61 targets. The 26-year-old has seen at least six targets in every game he's played, and he earned double-digit targets in each of Detroit's last two games before its Week 8 bye. St. Brown and the Lions will host the division rival Minnesota Vikings in Week 9. The Vikings have been a stingy pass defense, allowing the fourth-fewest passing yards (1,428) in the NFL. Across two games against Minnesota in 2024, St. Brown looked like his usual self by recording 14 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. He's a good bet to see 8-10 targets in his first matchup of 2025 against the Vikings and profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver in Week 9.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Detroit Lions running back
David Montgomery has recorded 451 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 89 touches through his first seven games of 2025. However, Montgomery was trending downwards before Detroit's Week 8 bye. In four games across Weeks 4 through 7, the 28-year-old logged 122 rushing yards and one touchdown on 44 carries (2.8 yards per carry). Montgomery is looking more and more like the clear RB2 in Detroit behind
Jahmyr Gibbs, which makes him heavily reliant on touchdowns for fantasy production. In Week 9, Montgomery will face a Minnesota Vikings defense that has allowed the 10th-fewest rushing touchdowns (five) in the NFL this season. In his lone outing against Minnesota in 2024, Montgomery rushed for just 31 yards on nine carries, although he did add three catches for 39 yards. He profiles as a low-end fantasy RB2 in a difficult Week 9 matchup against the Vikings.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver
Jaylin Lane has caught at least one ball in every game this season and has been forced to step up with injuries to Washington's top wide receivers.
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) is out again for Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks, which opens up more routes and targets for Lane, among others. The fourth-round rookie likely had his worst game as a pro in Week 8 against the Chiefs, committing a costly blunder that set the offense up with field position inside their own five-yard line, and then failing to make up for his mistake by dropping a pass on third down on the same drive. Lane has the speed and ball-in-hand ability that Washington's offense needs, but his hands have been unreliable so far. Lane will have the chance to bounce back on Sunday Night Football, along with
Luke McCaffrey and
Chris Moore vying for targets behind
Deebo Samuel Sr.--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Chris Moore had his lowest route share in a game since Week 1 with the return of
Terry McLaurin last week against the Chiefs, but McLaurin re-aggravated the quadriceps injury that sidelined him for four games and has been ruled out for Week 9's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Moore has stepped into a near full-time role in his absence, posting a 74% route share or higher in three of the four games. The 32-year-old has eight receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets in seven games this season. Moore is likely to run the most routes behind
Deebo Samuel Sr. and carries some deep league appeal in Week 9, given the likely volume of routes he will see.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Luke McCaffrey hasn't had a massive role on offense this season, but he has made a handful of big plays. The second-year wideout has recorded 11 receptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 15 targets this season. With
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) out, McCaffrey should have some more opportunities for targets on Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Plus, he should benefit from having quarterback
Jayden Daniels back as the starter. The 24-year-old has only two games with a route share above 50% this season, so he will need to be efficient on the limited targets he receives. McCaffrey's route share could tick up in Week 9, but he's likely to remain in a reduced role and will need to hit on a few big plays to deliver fantasy value.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. has turned in two of his quietest performances of the season over his last two games. Samuel missed Week 7 against the Cowboys due to a heel injury, but he's totaled just seven catches for 26 yards on 11 targets in Weeks 6 and 8 as he still seems to be impacted by the injury. The 29-year-old will hope to return to his early-season form on Sunday Night Football against the Seahawks, as Washington will again be without top wideout
Terry McLaurin after he re-aggravated his quadriceps injury during their Week 8 loss at the Chiefs. Samuel has averaged 16.4 PPR points per game without McLaurin in the lineup, compared to 12.3 with him, but he'll face a tough Seattle defense getting top cornerback Devon Witherspoon back in action. The former San Francisco 49er wideout will face a familiar division rival he knows well, averaging 110.4 total yards per game with seven total touchdowns in eight career games against the Seahawks, including a three-catch, 102-yard, one touchdown performance in a Week 6 primetime matchup against them last season.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. has seen his snap share decline over the past few weeks. After playing at least 25% of the snaps and handling five or more carries in Weeks 3-5, he's logged just 12 snaps and four carries over the past three games. The backfield touches have consolidated around rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt on early downs, with veteran
Jeremy McNichols handling pass downs both as a receiver and pass protector. Rodriguez could see more touches in Week 9, but it's a brutal matchup against a Seattle defense that has allowed a league-best 3.3 yards per carry. Rodriguez should be left on waivers for Week 9.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols led the team in receiving in their Week 8 loss to the Chiefs, catching five of his six targets for 64 yards and adding one carry for four yards. McNichols has arguably been Washington's most effective back recently, consistently making plays when his number is called. The 29-year-old is tied for the eighth most receiving first downs (seven) despite ranking just 31st in routes run (82) among 54 running backs with at least 50 routes. His 4.58 yards after contact per reception is the third best behind only
Jaylen Warren and
James Cook. McNichols has been one of the best third-down backs in the league this season and should benefit from the return of star quarterback
Jayden Daniels. The veteran still plays predominantly on third downs with rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt filling the early down role. It'll be tough to move the ball on the ground on Sunday Night Football against a Seahawks defense that has allowed a league-best 3.3 yards per carry and tied for the second fewest rushing touchdowns (two) in the league. However, they are tied for the most receptions allowed to opposing running backs (47), which could play in McNichols' favor. McNichols has flex appeal in PPR formats in deeper leagues for Week 9.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 31, 2025
Green Bay Packers kicker
Brandon McManus (quad) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. McManus was limited in practice to begin the week, but was able to get through a few full sessions to end the week. Despite that, McManus will carry a questionable tag into Sunday's game. Fantasy managers will likely have to wait until closer to kickoff before getting a final decision on McManus. The 34-year-old returned last week from a two-game absence and missed two kicks. He's not exactly an elite option when healthy, so maybe fantasy managers should look elsewhere.
--Andy WebbSource: Rob Demovsky
October 31, 2025
Buffalo Bills kicker
Matt Prater (calf) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Prater was limited in practice throughout the week, but that won't stop him from playing this weekend. It doesn't sound like Prater is 100 percent healthy, but he'll be able to kick through the pain. Prater has been a viable option as he has only missed two kicks heading into Week 9. He'll be a viable streaming option for this tough matchup against the Chiefs.
--Andy WebbSource: Buffalo Bills PR
October 31, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Hassan Haskins (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. As expected, Haskins will miss another game as he hasn't practiced since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 7. The absence of Haskins will mean that
Kimani Vidal will see the bulk of the carries once again.
Jaret Patterson figures to be brought up from the practice squad, but Vidal is going to see most of the touches. When healthy, Haskins wasn't doing much anyway, so it's tough to justify holding him outside of dynasty leagues.
--Andy WebbSource: Los Angeles Chargers
October 31, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Nick Chubb continues to share time in the backfield with
Woody Marks, with his primary workload coming on early downs. Chubb had 17 carries last week compared to just 11 for Marks, but since he only had two targets and two catches for 13 yards, Marks was a slightly better fantasy play. Chubb hasn't found the end zone since Week 5, and he only has two touchdowns on the year. Since his high mark of the season is only 61 rushing yards, he needs to get into the end zone to be worth a look in Week 9. He'll face the Broncos, who have been tough against the run, allowing only seven touchdowns to running backs this season. Chubb hasn't been able to consistently get big gains, so he is only the RB38 in RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings. He's a desperation flex play if you need him, but he is very high risk since he's so touchdown dependent.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
October 31, 2025
Tennessee Titans tight end
Chig Okonkwo (foot) was removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Okonkwo was limited to start the week before sitting out of practice on Thursday. Despite that, Okonkwo returned as a full participant on Friday and has been cleared to play this weekend. The 26-year-old has been quiet most weeks and continues to split up the snaps with
Gunnar Helm. That being said, Okonkwo isn't an ideal streaming option and at best offers TE2 value.
--Andy WebbSource: Titans PR
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