October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson is set to be under center for the first time since Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. As a potential QB1 every time he takes the field, it's not a surprise that he becomes a must-start the moment he returns. Jackson will take on the Miami Dolphins defense in Week 9, a unit that ranks 24th against opposing QBs and has allowed an average of 18.71 fantasy points per game. Through four games this season, Jackson has accrued 869 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one interception while completing 71.6% of his passes. He's also contributed 166 yards and another touchdown on 21 carries. Fantasy managers probably have already thrown him into their lineups the moment he was confirmed to be back, as they should.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Tre Tucker has had a solid season, catching 29 of his 39 targets for 389 yards and four touchdowns in seven games. Tucker could see a boost in value after the trade deadline on November 4th, as well as with wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers appearing in multiple trade rumors. Star tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) will make his return and earn a high number of targets, but Tucker has carved out a meaningful role in the Raiders offense as a solid YAC guy, plus the ability to win vertically. The 24-year-old could be a solid flex option over the second half of the season, but the Raiders' passing attack with
Geno Smith will also need to show more to support multiple fantasy viable pass catchers.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold has enjoyed a strong start to his first season with the team, completing 68.2% of his passes for 1,754 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions through seven games. Darnold has established a strong connection with star wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and has peppered him with a league-high 34.7% target share. The 28-year-old has been the league's most efficient passer, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt, but it's come on limited volume, with just 27.4 pass attempts per game, ranking 29th in the league. Darnold has appeal as a weekly streamer in the right matchups, but he doesn't have the pass volume to be a reliable weekly starter for fantasy. He does have a great matchup in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders and is ranked as RotoBaller's QB15.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Roman Wilson caught four of his five targets for 74 yards and his first career touchdown in Sunday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers. Wilson has been earning trust from his quarterback,
Aaron Rodgers, saying in a press interview that he told Wilson that "this is going to be your week" last Wednesday ahead of their Week 8 matchup. The 24-year-old led the Steelers in receiving and was third in targets behind
Calvin Austin III and
D.K. Metcalf in the game. There have been plenty of rumors regarding the Steelers trading for a wide receiver ahead of the deadline on November 4th, which would obviously impact Wilson's outlook. Wilson could still potentially emerge over the second half of the season as a second-year player with day two draft capital out of Michigan. He is a player to put on the watch list for now and see how he performs in Week 9 against the Colts.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end
Oronde Gadsden has taken off over the last three weeks, recording 19 receptions for 309 yards and two touchdowns on 22 targets. Gadsden ranks as the TE2 in PPR points per game with 61.9, trailing only Green Bay Packers star tight end
Tucker Kraft by half a point in that span. The 22-year-old is emerging as one of
Justin Herbert's go-to targets along with sophomore wide receiver
Ladd McConkey. The Chargers should continue to lean more pass-heavy with their elite crew of pass catchers, and now that left tackle Joe Alt is back to protect Herbert's blindside. Gadsden had an excellent prospect profile at Syracuse with strong athletic traits as a former wide receiver, and he has all the makings of a stud at the tight end position for years to come. He is ranked as RotoBaller's TE5 for Week 9 against the Titans.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 29, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Xavier Hutchinson led the team in receiving with 69 yards and his third touchdown of the season on a season-high six targets in the Week 8 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. It was a career-best day for the 25-year-old pass-catcher, but will it continue? Hutchinson's career day came with both
Nico Collins (concussion) and
Christian Kirk (hamstring) out due to injuries. Going into Week 8, the former sixth-round pick had only 13 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets in six games. Whether Hutchinson continues to see elevated volume in Houston's passing attack will depend entirely on whether Collins and Kirk can return this weekend to face the visiting Denver Broncos. Collins and Kirk both practiced on Wednesday, so they could be on track to return. Despite Hutchinson's career day last weekend, he's still only rostered in 1% of Yahoo fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 29, 2025
Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver
Troy Franklin has drawn real attention off the waiver wire in fantasy leagues over the last two weeks after catching nine of his 18 targets for 108 yards and three touchdowns in wins over the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Franklin's chemistry with quarterback
Bo Nix from their days in college at Oregon is starting to manifest itself after a lackluster rookie campaign in 2024. Through eight weeks, the 22-year-old ranks second behind
Courtland Sutton in receiving yards for Denver with 358, and he leads the Broncos with his four touchdowns. Franklin is now rostered in just under 50% of fantasy leagues on Yahoo, and with
Marvin Mims Jr. now dealing with a concussion and questionable to play in Week 9 against the Houston Texans, he could find the end zone for a third straight week. Disclaimer: Since Franklin's last 89-yard performance in Week 2, he failed to eclipse 50 receiving yards in four of five games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 29, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Samaje Perine had easily his best game of the year in the Week 8 loss to the New York Jets, carrying the ball a season-high nine times for a season-high 94 rushing yards and his first touchdown of 2025. He also caught his only target for a six-yard gain. The 30-year-old veteran's touchdown came on a 32-yard scamper to put the Bengals up comfortably at the time in the third quarter. Perine also had seven carries in Week 7 for 31 yards, which at the time represented a high mark for the season. It was a nice showing for the veteran back this past Sunday, but
Chase Brown also continued his upward trend with 108 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 15 touches. Brown will continue to be Cincy's RB1, though, making Perine nothing more than a deep-league handcuff. He is only rostered in 8% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 29, 2025
The Cleveland Browns are on their bye in Week 9, but rookie running back
Dylan Sampson could be in line for the lead-back role in Week 10 when the team takes on the New York Jets. Fellow rookie
Quinshon Judkins left the Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots in the third quarter with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder that could keep him sidelined coming out of the bye week. Sampson didn't have any rushing yards on only three carries in the blowout loss to the Patriots, but he did contribute five receptions for 29 yards, and he figures to be the Browns' first choice for RB1 duties in Week 10 if Judkins isn't ready to go. The 21-year-old fourth-round pick out of Tennessee is only rostered in 17% of Yahoo leagues, but that number should jump up next week if Judkins does not return to practice. The Browns also have
Jerome Ford, but he's a candidate to be dealt by next Tuesday's trade deadline.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 29, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Julian Hill (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's Week 9 contest against the Baltimore Ravens. Hill had been trending in the wrong direction after missing three consecutive practices this week. His absence leaves Miami extra short-staffed at tight end, as they're also without
Darren Waller (pectoral).
Tanner Conner and
Greg Dulcich should step up as the Dolphins' top two tight ends, but neither of them possesses significant fantasy intrigue for Week 9.
--Andersen PickardSource: David Furones
October 29, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Hassan Haskins (hamstring) did not participate in Wednesday's practice. As the Chargers begin preparing for a matchup against the Tennessee Titans, it appears there's a chance they could be without Haskins for the second week in a row. He has spent most of this season in a depth role but did handle a slightly increased workload after
Omarion Hampton (foot) was placed on IR, peaking with 14 rushing yards and nine receiving yards in Week 6. If Haskins' status improves and he's able to play Sunday, he'd serve as the clear backup to
Kimani Vidal. If he can't play,
Jaret Patterson would likely be elevated from the practice squad to serve as the Bolts' No. 2 option out of the backfield. Vidal remains the only fantasy starter among the Chargers' running backs.
--Andersen PickardSource: Daniel Popper
October 29, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receivers
Luther Burden III (concussion) and
Olamide Zaccheaus (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. Both receivers' statuses are in doubt ahead of Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. Burden faces an uphill battle to play, as he'd first need to clear concussion protocol. The rookie entered protocol last Sunday, and while a player can be cleared in less than seven days, it's certainly improbable. Managers should pay close attention to his status on Friday, when the Bears publish their final injury report. As for Zaccheaus, the 28-year-old appears to be banged up after posting a season-high seven catches for 33 yards in Week 8. He'd likely need to log a limited session over the next two days in order to have any shot at playing this coming Sunday.
DJ Moore (hip, groin) and
Rome Odunze (heel) also missed Wednesday's practice, leaving Chicago at risk of playing without its top four receivers. Even if some of them are healthy in time for kickoff, we'll likely still see depth receivers like
Jahdae Walker and
Devin Duvernay take on expanded roles in Week 9.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bears Communications
October 29, 2025
Tennessee Titans tight end
Chig Okonkwo (foot) was listed as a limited participant following Wednesday's practice. The 26-year-old has been a steady target for
Cameron Ward this season, so his absence would hurt the passing game. Okonkwo has at least four catches in five of eight contests this year, ranking as the overall TE24 in PPR leagues. He should continue to rank as a fringe top-24 fantasy tight end against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9, assuming he's active. Managers should monitor his status over the next two days of practice. If he can't suit up, we would expect more volume for
Gunnar Helm, who had 23 yards and a touchdown last Sunday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Titans PR
October 29, 2025
Chicago Bears tight end
Cole Kmet (back) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. Although the 26-year-old wasn't able to practice in a full capacity, he still took a step in the right direction, as this was his first recorded on-field work since exiting the Bears' Week 7 contest. With four days until Chicago's game against the Bengals, it looks like there's a real chance that Kmet could suit up this weekend. If so, he'd likely step back into his role as the team's 1A tight end alongside the 1B, rookie
Colston Loveland. The exact usage is a bit unclear, though, as Kmet had played at least 90% of the snaps in the Bears' first four games, but his snap share dropped to 52% following the bye. Regardless of the exact split, there is an opportunity for both tight ends to carve out fantasy-relevant roles this week against the Bengals. Cincinnati has been exposed by the position, allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends in 2025, as well as a league-high 10 touchdowns.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bears Communications
October 29, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson (knee) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Unsurprisingly, Watson is limited to begin the week after making his season debut last Sunday. Watson missed the beginning of the season while recovering from an ACL tear dating back to Week 18 of last season. The Packers are going to be careful with Watson, so having him limited to begin the week makes sense. The assumption is that Watson should be ready to go for the Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The Packers might ease Watson back into action, but that hasn't stopped him from making an impact. He hauled in all four of his targets for 85 yards in his season debut. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday for more updates on his status.
--Andy WebbSource: packers.com
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