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Sione Vaki Tough to Trust in Week 9 Despite Growing Role in Detroit
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki has seen minimal usage for most of the 2026 season to this point. However, the 25-year-old is coming off his best game of the year in Week 8, recording 11 carries for 65 yards against a very tough Minnesota Vikings defense. As long as star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs remains healthy, Vaki's production season is capped. Still, Gibbs has recorded an NFL-leading 191 touches in seven games. To keep Gibbs healthy throughout the season, Detroit may be coming to the realization that Vaki needs to be more involved. The Lions may look to lean on the run game in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, although Miami's defense currently ranks 10th in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (3.8). Vaki should not be trusted as a fantasy starter yet, but he's worth monitoring in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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Jahmyr Gibbs Remains an Elite Running Back Option in Week 9
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has put together an excellent 2026 season so far, recording 773 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 157 carries and hauling in 34 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns on 44 targets. Gibbs leads the NFL with 191 total touches, and he's logged at least 25 touches in five out of his seven games played. The Lions got RB2 Sione Vaki more involved in Week 8, as Vaki recorded a season-high 11 carries against the Minnesota Vikings. However, Gibbs still saw 23 carries and four targets as a receiver out of the backfield. In Week 9, Gibbs and the Lions will take on a Miami Dolphins defense that has been solid against the run, ranking 10th in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (3.8). Still, Gibbs profiles as a high-end RB1 option in Week 9 for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jared Goff Could Be Set Up for Bounce-Back Game in Week 9
Across seven games so far in 2026, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has completed 67.7% of his pass attempts for 1,964 yards, 15 touchdowns, and one interception. Goff is coming off his worst game of the season in Week 8 against the very tough Minnesota Vikings defense. However, the 32-year-old has a much easier matchup on paper in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins. Through eight weeks, Miami's defense ranks last in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (8.3) and 29th in passing touchdowns allowed (16). The Lions have shifted to a more run-heavy approach in recent games, as Goff has averaged 29 pass attempts per game since Week 5 after averaging over 40 attempts per game through Week 4. Still, Goff should have a chance to move the ball against the Dolphins and profiles as a must-start fantasy quarterback.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chargers Not Inclined to Trade Ladd McConkey
The Los Angeles Chargers have no interest in trading star wide receiver Ladd McConkey ahead of the upcoming NFL trade deadline, according to Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport of ESPN. The Chargers currently sit at 0-7 and are likely playing out the string of a lost season in 2026. However, it appears as though the team is uninterested in a complete rebuild, especially with regard to a third-year player in McConkey. Across six games in 2026, McConkey has recorded 17 catches for 286 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets. The 24-year-old has battled multiple injury issues, and his production has suffered from the overall ineptitude of the 2026 Chargers offense so far. While his short-term fantasy value would likely benefit from a trade to a healthier offensive environment, McConkey appears likely to remain in Los Angeles through Tuesday's trade deadline.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Chargers Not Inclined to Trade Justin Herbert
The Los Angeles Chargers have answered trade inquiries from rival teams about quarterback Justin Herbert with "hard nos," per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. The 0-7 Chargers appear to be out of the playoff picture in 2026, but the organization does not seem to be inclined to fully blow up their current team. Herbert is in the midst of an awful season, as he's completed 61.8% of his pass attempts for 1,398 yards, five touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across seven games. However, the 28-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowler who has finished in the top 10 of the MVP vote twice in six full NFL seasons. While Herbert would surely fetch the Chargers a massive return in trade, replacing their franchise quarterback does not appear to be an option Los Angeles is considering ahead of the upcoming NFL trade deadline.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Tyler Shough Faces Tough Test Against Browns in Week 9
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 30-of-38 pass attempts for 278 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Week 7's loss to the Steelers. Despite the Saints scoring just 10 points, Shough's 7.3 yards per attempt and 78.9% completion rate were both his highest marks since Week 2. That's an encouraging sign after he averaged 6.1 yards per attempt or fewer and completed 69% or less of his passes in each of the previous four weeks. Things don't get easier for Shough in Week 9, as he'll face a Browns defense that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to average just 175 passing yards and 0.5 passing touchdowns per game over the last four weeks. The difficult matchup, combined with the Saints' inconsistent offensive production in recent weeks, lands Shough at QB14 in RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Commanders haven't abandoned the idea of adding Brandon Aiyuk
The Washington Commanders "haven't completely abandoned the idea" of trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, per Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport of ESPN. Aiyuk has not played in the NFL since tearing his ACL midway through the 2024 season. While the 28-year-old is reportedly fully healthy and looking to get back in the league, he's currently locked in a complicated standoff with the 49ers. Aiyuk reportedly owes San Francisco $13 million in bonus forfeitures after essentially abandoning the team during the 2025 season, and it's unclear how long it will take him to be reinstated from the NFL's reserve/left squad list. Aiyuk was highly productive in his last fully healthy campaign, recording 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns on 105 targets across 16 games in 2023. Aiyuk carries some deep-league stash appeal for fantasy managers, but it does not appear that his return to the NFL is imminent.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Derrick Henry Expected to Remain in Baltimore Through the Trade Deadline
The Baltimore Ravens are not expected to move Derrick Henry before the upcoming NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Across nine games in 2026, Henry has recorded 689 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries and hauled in 12 catches for 75 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. However, the 32-year-old is currently averaging a career-low 3.9 yards per carry after logging over five yards per carry in each of his first two seasons with Baltimore in 2024 and 2025. With Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (thumb) likely to miss the remainder of the 2026 season, Baltimore could look to move Henry and reset for 2027. Instead, it appears that they will look to make another run with Jackson and Henry next year.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Daniel Jones Receiving Trade Interest from Multiple Teams
The Indianapolis Colts have heard from multiple teams with interest in trading for quarterback Daniel Jones, per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. Jones has had a rough 2026 season so far, completing 60.4% of his pass attempts for 1,542 yards, five touchdowns, and nine interceptions across eight games. However, the 29-year-old is just one season removed from the best year of his career in 2025, when he threw for 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns over 13 games before suffering a season-ending torn Achilles. The 2-6 Colts have already started trading off key pieces and could look to move on from Jones as well. If Jones is no longer in Indianapolis after the deadline, former first-round pick Anthony Richardson would likely take over under center.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport
Broncos Checked on Trey McBride; Cardinals Refuse to Trade Him
The Arizona Cardinals have zero intention of trading star tight end Trey McBride before the upcoming NFL trade deadline, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Schefter reports that the Denver Broncos recently checked in on McBride but were rebuffed by Arizona. Across eight games in 2026, McBride has recorded 66 catches for 544 yards and five touchdowns on 88 targets. His efficiency has taken a hit this year, as he's averaging a career-low 6.3 yards per target and 8.2 yards per reception. While a move to a more potent offense would likely help McBride's per-target numbers, he remains the clear number one option in the Arizona passing game. As long as he remains healthy, McBride profiles as an elite tight end option for fantasy managers.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
C.J. Stroud a QB2 in Return from Bye Week
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has thrown 11 touchdowns and just one interception in his seven games this season, but his team went just 2-5 before a Week 8 bye. The offensive line has been inconsistent this season, without much success in the running game, leaving Stroud to air it out quite a bit this season. However, the 0-7 Chargers have actually been solid at pass defense, allowing the seventh-fewest passing yards per game and giving up only eight passing touchdowns in seven games. While it isn't a great matchup, Stroud is still a viable fantasy option in two-QB or deep formats. He is RotoBaller's QB16 this week and will look to keep the Chargers winless with a strong road showing on Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dare Ogunbowale Set for a Backup Role
Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale did play seven snaps in Week 7 against the Giants, although he failed to show up in the box score with a catch or a carry. With David Montgomery (groin) and Jawhar Jordan (practice squad injured list) sidelined again in Week 9's matchup with the Chargers, the veteran is lined up to be the primary backup behind Woody Marks once again. Ogunbowale isn't likely to get a large role, though, especially since the team added Emari Demercado from waivers as well. He is only the RB69 this week and remains well off the fantasy radar, barring further injuries ahead of him on the depth chart.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks Set for Featured Role Again
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks will get another week as the primary leader in the backfield, with David Montgomery (groin) still not ready to return from his groin injury originally suffered in Week 5. Marks had 15 carries in that game after Montgomery's early exit and had 15 carries the next week against the Jaguars as well. In Week 7 against the Giants, Marks had a season-high 19 carries and racked up 66 rushing yards and added a 15-yard reception. He was the only running back with a catch or carry in that contest, and should carry a major workload again in Week 9 against the Chargers, as the Texans return from their bye. Marks is RotoBaller's No. 19 RB in Week 9, and he's a low-end RB2 based on his volume, even though he hasn't found the end zone in the last two games despite his increased workload. He will be busy enough to be started in almost all formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tank Dell Looking for More Targets After Successful Return
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was able to return to the field in Week 7 after missing almost two full years recovering from a dislocated kneecap and a series of torn ligaments in his left knee. He caught his one target for a 43-yard gain and played just 11 offensive snaps. Dell's role is still uncertain with Marvin Harrison Jr., Xavier Hutchinson, and Kayshon Boutte all rotating with him for snaps behind Nico Collins. Dell will have a "natural progression in his workload" in the coming weeks, according to coach DeMeco Ryans, and as he ramps up, he could climb back to a regular fantasy role. Headed into Week 9 against the Chargers, though, he is too high-risk to count on in most formats, which is why he's only the WR72 in our RotoBaller projections for this week. He's worth stashing in deep leagues but is hard to start until he's more re-established.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Hutchinson Not a Reliable Option in Most Leagues
Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson scored his first touchdown of the season before his Week 8 bye, finishing with three catches for 17 yards and the score against the Giants. He has 21 catches in his seven games this year, with at least three catches in all but one game. The Texans are rotating multiple receivers behind Nico Collins, with Hutchinson, Tank Dell, Kayshon Boutte, and Marvin Harrison Jr. all getting playing time. The uncertain volume and reduced roles make them all high-risk plays, although there could be more time available with Jaylin Noel (toe) expected to miss the rest of the season. Hutchinson is the WR65 this week as the Texans face the Chargers, in a fairly neutral WR matchup. He isn't reliable enough to be started in most formats until he carves out a more consistent role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Andre Szmyt Is Reliable Kicker Option In Week 9
Cleveland Browns kicker Andre Szmyt is in a good spot to deliver solid results in Week 9 at the New Orleans Saints. The Browns are in a good position to score points against a very porous Saints defense and Szmyt has been a reliable option all season long. He is 16-of-18 on field goal attempts and 11-of-12 on extra-point tries this season. Szmyt has a long field goal of 56 yards this season and is coming off of two made field goals in Week 8's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Against the Steelers, Szmyt made one kick in the 30-yard range and one kick in the 40-yard range. Look for Szmyt to deliver more solid results in an indoor environment at the Saints.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Marvin Harrison Jr. Only an Option in Deep Leagues
Houston Texans wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. cost the team some significant draft capital to bring in via trade earlier this season, but the move hasn't fully paid off yet. In his two games with the team, he has eight targets, but just four catches for 40 yards. He did get into the end zone on his one catch for six yards in Week 7 against the Giants, but he was still limited to only 13 snaps in Week 7 after playing just 12 offensive snaps in Week 6. Hopefully, the bye week gave him time to get more involved, and his role could increase now that he's been around the team for several weeks. However, Harrison is still only WR62 in our RotoBaller Week 9 projections. In a mostly neutral matchup against the Chargers, he is still only an option in deep leagues until he shows he's ready for a larger workload in Houston.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins Is In a Strong Bounce-Back Spot Against Chargers
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins had a quiet few weeks before his Week 8 bye, totaling only 10 catches for 136 yards without a touchdown over his last three games. Offensive coordinator Nick Caley emphasized earlier in the week that Collins will "always be a focal point of the offense" and that the team intends to find more ways to get him the ball. Collins had a huge seven-catch, two-touchdown, 118-yard performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 when he returned from a two-week injury absence, but he has been quiet since then and only caught two passes for six yards in Week 7. He should be in a good bounce-back spot after the bye as he faces the winless Chargers, and he is the WR12 in RotoBaller's rankings this week, making him a low-end WR1 or high-end WR2 depending on the size of your league.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Harold Fannin Jr. Should Continue Hot Stretch In Week 9
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is starting to emerge in the Browns' passing game and should continue his hot stretch with another good game in Week 9 at New Orleans. With Shedeur Sanders stepping in at quarterback, he should look to Fannin Jr. as his main target against a Saints defense that ranks near the bottom of the league against the pass. Fannin Jr. is coming off a 10-catch, 154-yard performance in the Week 8 loss to the Steelers and had six catches for 91 yards two weeks ago at Tennessee. Fannin Jr. is racking up the targets the last two weeks with Deshuan Watson as his quarterback with nine against Tennessee and 12 against Pittsburgh. Fannin Jr. has shown that he is a reliable target and with inexperienced wide receivers in Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion Jr., he could come through as the main option for Sanders. Fannin Jr. is reliable on short-field targets and is an option down the middle of the field on deeper targets. He is averaging 11.7 yards per reception this season and has three receiving touchdowns. He hasn't scored since the first matchup with Pittsburgh in Week 4. Fannin Jr. looks like a very dependable tight end play this week. Start with confidence.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Foster Moreau A Very Touchdown-Dependent Long Shot
Houston Texans tight end Foster Moreau caught a pair of touchdowns in Week 6 against the Jaguars in London, but did not have a catch or a target in Week 7 against the Giants. He continues to play well behind Houston's top tight end, Dalton Schultz, and is only a viable fantasy option if he gets more work or gets back into the end zone. Moreau does have three touchdowns in seven games this season, even though he only has 11 catches. He will look to bounce back from that catchless game before the bye week as he faces the Chargers, who have been solid against tight ends, despite their other struggles in their 0-7 start to the season. Moreau is only the TE45 in RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings, so he's best left out of lineups this week in almost all formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalton Schultz Only a Deep-League Option in Week 9
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has been a steady but unspectacular PPR producer this season. He had a massive, 12-catch performance in Week 2, but with the team adding pass-catching options since then, he has played a smaller role. He has 33 catches for 322 yards in seven games, with at least three catches in all but one game this season. In Week 7, he had five catches for 45 yards against the Giants, but he still has not found the end zone this season. After the bye, he'll go on the road to face the Chargers, who have been one of the better teams in the league at defending TEs. This season, the Bolts have allowed just one tight-end touchdown, so it's hard to count on Schultz to break through for a score this week. He is RotoBaller's No. 21 TE in the Week 9 rankings, making him worth considering as a starter in two-tight end formats or desperate situations.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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