November 2, 2025
Green Bay Packers kicker
Brandon McManus (quadriceps) is officially active and will kick in Week 9 on Sunday against the visiting Carolina Panthers. McManus was listed as questionable on the final injury report despite putting in two full practices this week. The 34-year-old veteran placekicker came out of the team's Week 5 bye with a quad injury that sidelined him in Weeks 6 and 7, but he returned in last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers to make two of his four field-goal tries and all three of his extra-point attempts. He has gone 9-for-13 on field goals in 2025 and 14-for-15 on extra points. With McManus active for the second straight week,
Lucas Havrisik is a healthy scratch. McManus might not be completely healthy, which makes him a borderline streaming option for fantasy managers in Week 9.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sleeper Packers
November 2, 2025
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps) could return by the first week of the playoffs, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Oliver tore his biceps against the Carolina Panthers last week and will undergo surgery, shutting him down for the remainder of the regular season but leaving the door open for him to play in the first or second round of the playoffs. In the interim, Buffalo is looking for defensive line help in the trade market to fill Oliver's void. Rapoport notes that there aren't many big defensive line names available this fall, but the Bills are exploring their options nonetheless. The 2025 NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
November 2, 2025
Carolina Panthers veteran wide receiver
Hunter Renfrow will be a healthy scratch once again on Sunday as the team takes on the Green Bay Packers in Week 9 at Lambeau Field, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. It's the third straight week that Renfrow has been a healthy scratch, and it coincides with
Jalen Coker's return from Injured Reserve. The 29-year-old did have seven catches for 48 yards and two touchdowns (his only two on the year) in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals back on Sept. 14, but he has done little else in his six games played with the team. Renfrow has 15 catches on his 26 targets for 89 yards and the two touchdowns in his first year with Carolina, and he's now buried on the WR depth chart behind Coker, rookie first-rounder
Tetairoa McMillan,
Xavier Legette, rookie
Jimmy Horn Jr., and
Brycen Tremayne.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
November 2, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey will play free safety during Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Mike Tomlin told Bob Labriola of the team's official website. Ramsey's position change comes in the wake of the Steelers placing safety DeShon Elliott (knee) on injured reserve and ruling out Jabrill Peppers (quadriceps) and Chuck Clark (illness) for this week. Pittsburgh does have several other safeties who can fill the void, and they added Kyle Dugger via trade last week. However, Tomlin noted that Ramsey is being shifted to safety to offer constant communication and assist some of the new or lesser-experienced defenders. "Given the circumstances, we felt it was prudent to lock him down specifically at free safety, and so he'll be a constant hub of communication to assist [his teammates] in processing and playing," Tomlin said. The 31-year-old has primarily played cornerback this year, but he did log some reps at safety during training camp and the regular season. Through seven games, he has 30 tackles, two sacks, and one interception.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bob Labriola
November 2, 2025
Carolina Panthers veteran quarterback
Andy Dalton (thumb) is active for the Week 9 contest against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday and will serve as the backup to
Bryce Young, who is returning from a one-game absence due to an ankle sprain, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. The 38-year-old Dalton made his first start of the year in place of the injured Young last weekend and fell flat in the blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, going 16-for-24 passing for 175 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. The Red Rifle sustained a broken right thumb in the process, which limited him in practice this week. Dalton is apparently good to go as the backup this weekend, though, so third-stringer
Mike White will be a healthy scratch.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
November 2, 2025
New York Giants tight end
Daniel Bellinger (neck), who was listed as doubtful to play in Week 9, is officially out on Sunday against the visiting San Francisco 49ers. Bellinger suffered a neck injury in last Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and will not suit up. His next chance to play will come next Sunday, Nov. 9, versus the Chicago Bears on the road. With the 25-year-old sitting out this weekend,
Chris Manhertz will see more time on the field as a blocking TE, but he shouldn't be an option in any starting fantasy options.
Theo Johnson should see more targets in the passing game as the G-Men look to get back on track after two straight losses. When healthy, Bellinger is more of a TE3 in fantasy as he shares playing time in New York with Johnson. In his eight games played in 2025, he has only 11 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets.
--Keith HernandezSource: Giants.com - Dan Salomone
November 2, 2025
Indianapolis Colts running back
DJ Giddens (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Giddens opened the year as the primary backup and handcuff behind
Jonathan Taylor, but he seems to have fallen out of favor as the season goes on. Now, the rookie will watch from the sideline for the second week in a row.
Ameer Abdullah and
Tyler Goodson have both surpassed Giddens on the depth chart and will occupy depth roles behind Taylor once again this Sunday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Indianapolis Colts
November 2, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers right guard Mekhi Becton (knee) is inactive for Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Tennessee Titans. He had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday. The 26-year-old has played every snap in just two games this season, struggling with availability as he plays for his third different team in three years. Foster Sarell is expected to take over as the primary right guard in his absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: Los Angeles Chargers
November 2, 2025
San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy (toe) has officially been ruled out for the Week 9 contest on Sunday on the road against the New York Giants, the team announced. Purdy came into the weekend with yet another questionable tag after aggravating his turf-toe injury back in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 25-year-old has made slow and steady progress, but he has not been able to practice in full yet, so the Niners will hold him out for another week. It's been an incredibly frustrating season for fantasy managers who drafted Purdy, as he's played in just two games in 2025 due to his toe injury. The good news is that all signs are pointing toward him potentially returning next Sunday for a big divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. Purdy has QB1 potential still when he's fully healthy, but using him in fantasy next week if he returns will be a risky prospect given his long layoff and the less-than-stellar matchup.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco 49ers
November 2, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers tight end
Will Dissly (illness) is inactive for Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Tennessee Titans. He had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday. This marks the fifth absence of the year for Dissly, who was a healthy scratch last week against the Minnesota Vikings.
Oronde Gadsden II will continue to lead the position group as a mid-range TE1 in fantasy football while
Tyler Conklin and
Tucker Fisk occupy depth roles.
--Andersen PickardSource: Los Angeles Chargers
November 2, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) and linebacker Logan Wilson (calf) are both inactive for Week 9 against the Chicago Bears. Neither player practiced this week, so their absence on Sunday is not much of a surprise. As Tuesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline approaches, Hendrickson and Wilson may have played their final snaps for the Bengals. The former had requested a trade back in March, but seemingly rescinded his request after signing a new one-year contract to kick the extension saga down the road. Now, midway through the season, Hendrickson is unpaid, and trade rumors surrounding the defensive star continue. Meanwhile, Wilson formally requested a trade in October, setting the stage for a partial divorce between the two sides.
--Andersen PickardSource: Cincinnati Bengals
November 2, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz (knee, shoulder) is officially active for Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Denver Broncos. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after logging a full practice on Friday. The veteran tight end started to turn the corner in October, but he finished the month with a disappointing two-catch, 24-yard showing against the 49ers. He posted that stat line despite Houston playing without its top two receivers,
Nico Collins and
Christian Kirk. Both Collins and Kirk are back this week, so he'll have even more competition. Schultz could bounce back against a Broncos defense that might lock down Houston's receivers, forcing
C.J. Stroud to target his tight ends more. However, that's far from a guarantee, especially with Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II (pectoral) sidelined. Fantasy managers should view Schultz as a high-end TE2 with TE1 upside.
--Andersen PickardSource: Houston Texans
November 2, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Minnesota Vikings did not want to head into this season without an experienced veteran backup quarterback, which is why they signed
Carson Wentz (shoulder). However, Wentz underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last week. Sources think that if that was the Vikings' thought process before the season, it will be the same now as they look for depth behind inexperienced QB
J.J. McCarthy.
Kirk Cousins makes sense, but the Atlanta Falcons "haven't shown any willingness to trade him." League sources think the Vikings still "could make a move for a quarterback" by Tuesday's deadline. Schefter mentions New York Giants backups
Russell Wilson and
Jameis Winston as possibilities. Right now, McCarthy's backup is
Max Brosmer, so it's understandable why they'd want to trade for a veteran signal-caller for the remainder of the 2025 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
November 2, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (knee) is expected to return in Week 11, following the team's bye, according to head coach Andy Reid (via CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson). Pacheco has already been ruled out for Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills, and he'll use the bye week as a little extra time to rest and recover. In the meantime, Kansas City's backfield will be led by
Kareem Hunt, while rookie
Brashard Smith also figures to get involved.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire and
Elijah Mitchell round out the running back depth chart. Pacheco should rank as a high-end RB3/flex against the Broncos when he returns.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tracy Wolfson
November 2, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Flacco (shoulder) will play in Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Chicago Bears. He had been listed as questionable after missing practice on Friday, but Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that the veteran signal caller is healthy enough to suit up on Sunday. Having Flacco healthy and available offers the Bengals a major sigh of relief ahead of a potential must-win game against the Bears. Cincinnati sits at 3-5 ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline, and a win on Sunday could be the difference between buying and selling. From a fantasy perspective, Flacco is a high-end QB2 option given his impressive passing skills, which have led to 784 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions over the last three weeks. He'll also boost the fantasy values of his offensive weapons, including
Ja'Marr Chase,
Tee Higgins, and
Chase Brown, all of whom are startable in fantasy football this week.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
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