November 1, 2025
San Francisco 49ers kicker
Eddy Pineiro has played his way into being one of the more valuable kickers in fantasy football in 2025. Unsigned until the 49ers brought him in to replace the erratic
Jake Moody after Week 1, Pineiro ranks fifth in both total fantasy points and fantasy points per game. In last week's slog against the Houston Texans, Pineiro's only opportunity was a single extra point try, which he converted. On the season, he is 10-for-11 on extra points and a perfect 17-for-17 on field goal attempts. In Week 9, the 49ers square off against the New York Giants, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers. Pineiro is a relatively safe bet for fantasy production out of the kicker slot and can be included in starting lineups in Week 9.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers' defense has been plagued by injuries all season. Edge rusher Nick Bosa (knee) tore his ACL in Week 3. Fred Warner suffered a dislocated and fractured ankle in Week 6. In Week 9, four defensive linemen have been declared out or questionable, thinning the team's depth up front. Linebacker Dee Winters (knee) is also questionable, as is defensive back Deommodore Lewis (quadriceps), whose interception in Week 8 was the team's first since Week 11 of 2024. San Francisco's D/ST has been able to limit scoring here and there, but its inability to force turnovers (0.8 per game) and sacks (1.1 per game) curtails the unit's fantasy value. It will be a risky start in Week 9 against a New York Giants offense that has averaged 28.3 points per game over the last three weeks.
--Dan StephensSource: 49ers.com
November 1, 2025
The Houston Texans defense has been excellent this season, holding opponents to 20 points or fewer in all but one of their seven games. Last week at home, they held the 49ers to 15 points, with two sacks and an interception. Will Anderson Jr. continues to lead an excellent pass rush, and Derek Stingley Jr. is the focal point of a strong secondary. This week, they face a tough home matchup against the Broncos and
Bo Nix, but they are still the No. 10 DST in RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings. The defense has enough playmakers to be a solid play even in a tough matchup like this. It could be a huge win for the team as it tries to fight its way back to playoff contention, and so far, the defense has been up to the task most weeks, with its only down game on the road in Seattle two weeks ago. It's not a perfect spot, but the Texans defense is still a strong enough unit to start if you have them this week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle caught four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown in Week 8. The stat line was not outstanding, but it was enough to qualify as one of the few bright spots for the team on a day where they generated just 223 net yards on offense. Kittle ranked third on the team with five targets, behind
Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs, shoulder) and
Christian McCaffrey, and will be in the mix to lead the team in targets in Week 9 against the Giants.
Mac Jones (knee) has been tabbed to start while
Brock Purdy (toe) is listed as questionable. Jones has been unafraid to throw this season (37.7 pass attempts/game), and he kept his tight end
Jake Tonges in the picture while Kittle was on the shelf (6.5 targets/game in Jones' starts). Kittle is projected as a TE1 with top-five upside and should be plugged into starting lineups for Week 9.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
Houston Texans kicker
Ka'imi Fairbairn has been a starting kicker for fantasy teams for most of the season, but there may be a better option available this week. He has converted 17 of his 19 field goal attempts this season, with both misses from beyond 50 yards. He has made five field goals of more than 50 yards as well, though, and has also converted all 12 of his extra-point attempts. Fairbairn was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points last week against the 49ers, but this week, he's facing the Broncos in Houston. In that difficult matchup, he's only the No. 16 kicker in RotoBaller's rankings this week. He's still startable, for sure, but check what the alternatives are as well.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Demarcus Robinson finally made it into the end zone last week, though it was only to secure a two-point conversion and not a touchdown catch. Robinson's snap share shot up to 55% in Week 8, his second-highest mark of the year, but it resulted in just two catches for five yards on three targets. Even with
Ricky Pearsall (knee),
Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs, shoulder), and
George Kittle missing multiple weeks due to injury, Robinson has been an afterthought in the 49ers' offense. Pearsall is out again in Week 9, but Jennings and Kittle will play when the 49ers face the Giants on Sunday. They, along with
Christian McCaffrey, will dominate the demand for targets, leaving scant opportunities for Robinson. Despite the fact that the Giants allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, Robinson can be left off of fantasy rosters entirely.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Harrison Bryant has been the team's primary backup since Week 2, but his production has been limited to just one catch for five yards on four targets all year. He could be lined up for more work this week, though, since
Dalton Schultz (knee/shoulder) has a questionable tag heading into a tough matchup with the Broncos. Schultz has been a solid PPR producer since tight ends are usually heavily involved in Houston's passing game under
C.J. Stroud. Bryant is the No. 64 tight end in RotoBaller's rankings, so he isn't a good play unless Schultz is out or limited, but it is worth monitoring if the sixth-year tight end gets more work this week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz (knee/shoulder) is officially questionable for Week 9's matchup with the Broncos, but the veteran from Stanford was able to put in a full practice Friday and seems to be on track to play through the injury. He's RotoBaller's No. 20 tight end this week if he does play, and he'll be looking to bounce back from his quietest game of the season. Last week, he had two catches for 24 yards against the 49ers after hauling in nine passes for 98 yards the previous week against Seattle. On the season, he has 32 catches for 308 scoreless yards in his seven games. He can be a PPR emergency start if needed, but with
Nico Collins (concussion) and
Christian Kirk (hamstring) back from their injuries, the Texans have lots of pass-catching options. It's also a very tough matchup for the passing game against a strong Broncos defense, so temper expectations for Schultz this week. He's only a starter if you have bye week issues or are in a very deep league.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Kendrick Bourne will get another shot at starting when the team clashes with the New York Giants in Week 9.
Ricky Pearsall (knee) will miss his fifth straight game, allowing Bourne to stand in again.
Mac Jones (knee), with whom Bourne has demonstrated a solid rapport, will get his seventh start on Sunday, in place of
Brock Purdy (toe), who is listed as questionable. The Giants have given up the most yards and third-most receptions to opposing wide receivers, but fantasy football managers will have to think twice before plugging Bourne into lineups. With
Jauan Jennings' (ankle, ribs, shoulder) health improving and
George Kittle back from injured reserve, Bourne's target share over the last two weeks sits at 11%. Bourne is projected as a borderline WR4/5 in Week 9, and deserves consideration only in deeper leagues.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Xavier Hutchinson has found the end zone three times in his last three games and is coming off a season-high five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the 49ers. However, with
Christian Kirk (hamstring) and
Nico Collins (concussion) returning from their injuries, the Texans suddenly have a lot of receivers to rotate through. Hutchinson was rotating with rookie
Jayden Higgins as the perimeter receiver across from Collins prior to all the injuries, and if he returns to that reduced role, he'll have a hard time putting up a big game against the Broncos, who have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Hutchinson is the No. 74 WR in RotoBaller's rankings this week, so in most formats, there are better flex plays available.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs defense will take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. The Chiefs are coming off a performance where they allowed just seven points to the Washington Commanders. Over the last two games, the Chiefs have allowed just seven points in eight quarters, but they have a tougher test this week. The Buffalo Bills offense is one of the best in football, averaging 29.6 points per game, and the Chiefs offense will have to keep scoring to keep the game competitive. The Chiefs defense is ranked 20th in our RotoBaller rankings this week. With two high-powered teams going against each other, the Kansas City defense should not be considered a start this week.
--Joshua CostelloSource: ESPN.com
November 1, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Jaylin Noel has been one of the team's busiest receivers in the last two weeks, hauling in nine of 13 targets for a total of 140 receiving yards in his last two contests. The rookie from Iowa State was filling in for
Christian Kirk (hamstring) and showed the ability to make plays out of the slot. This week, Kirk is ready to return in a very tough matchup against the Broncos. While Noel will still likely mix in on a decent amount of snaps and brings big-play upside, he is very high-risk since he'll have a smaller snap share. He's RotoBaller's WR76, so even though he has some potential, there are probably better options available in most standard-sized leagues.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs, shoulder) logged three full practices this week and carries no designation on the team's final injury report. Jennings has been rather ineffective when active, catching just 18 of his 36 targets for 212 yards and one touchdown in six games. He has also looked out of sync with quarterback
Mac Jones (knee), who has filled in for
Brock Purdy (toe) in six starts this season and will get his seventh in Week 9. The Giants give up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, but based on what we have seen from Jennings so far, he will be hard to trust on Sunday. Projecting as a borderline WR3/4, he probably needs to be used in three-WR setups and in deeper leagues, but fantasy managers in shallower leagues can and should find a more reliable option in Week 9.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Jayden Higgins worked his way into a larger role for the team while injuries to
Christian Kirk (hamstring) and
Nico Collins (concussion) opened an opportunity. While he still has upside, he's tough to count on in fantasy linesups for Week 9 against the tough Broncos secondary, with both Kirk and Collins cleared to return. Higgins had four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown in Week 8's win, leading the team in targets with eight. He is unlikely to see that much volume this week, but he has shown an ability to make big plays, with two touchdowns on the season. This week, he'll be a touchdown-dependent flier play in a flex spot, and he's only the WR70 in RotoBaller's rankings. There are probably better options available for your lineup in most formats.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
November 1, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk is set to return in Week 9 from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury, but he steps into a brutal matchup against the Broncos, who have allowed the second-fewest wide receiver fantasy points this season. Kirk has missed two games on two occasions this season with hamstring issues, and in his three healthy contests has totaled 10 catches on 16 targets for 109 yards. The Texans have young receivers who stepped up while Kirk was out, so it will be very interesting to see how the veteran works back into the mix on Sunday. He is the WR58 in RotoBaller's rankings for Week 9, so he's tough to start in most formats unless bye weeks and injuries have you desperate for PPR production.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
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