November 1, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Jonnu Smith has seen underwhelming utilization this season and will hope to turn things around at home against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. The Colts have allowed the fourth-most receptions and fifth-most fantasy points per contest to opposing tight ends, opening the door for Smith to contribute in this matchup. Still, it remains difficult to predict how opportunities will be distributed among the crowded Steelers' tight end room. Between Smith,
Pat Freiermuth, and
Darnell Washington, Smith is the most viable fantasy option, but none can be relied upon with confidence. The 30-year-old checks in as the TE21 in RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
November 1, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Calvin Austin III will hope to bounce back from a quiet Week 8 in a Week 9 showdown with the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts. Fellow receiver
Roman Wilson had a breakout showing last week, but it was Austin that logged the second-most snaps among Pittsburgh's wideouts behind
DK Metcalf. While the Colts have been difficult to defeat on the scoreboard, they've proven beatable through the air, giving up the third-most fantasy points per game and most receptions to opposing receivers. Austin has the explosiveness to break a big play against this defense and should be involved in what is projected to be a high-scoring affair. However, the fourth-year pro has not been consistent enough to warrant consideration in most fantasy leagues. He should be viewed as a low-end flex option with upside in deeper leagues on Sunday.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
November 1, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Jacoby Brissett will officially make his third straight start in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Schefter reports that Cardinals QB1
Kyler Murray (foot) is "making progress" in his recovery from a foot sprain and "could have a role Monday night." It's unclear exactly what Murray's potential role would be, as a foot injury would seemingly limit his ability to be effective as a rusher. Brissett has arguably outplayed Murray this season. Across his two starts, Brissett has thrown for 599 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. The 32-year-old profiles as a solid fantasy QB2 in a very favorable Week 9 matchup against Dallas.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
November 1, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Darnell Mooney (hamstring) closed out the week with full participation in practice on Friday and heads into Sunday without an injury designation. The 28-year-old was able to muster just one grab on four targets last week despite
Drake London (hip) missing the contest with an injury. The veteran receiver has failed to produce consistently this year, catching two passes or fewer in three of the five games he's played in, and has yet to find the end zone. With
Bijan Robinson's expanded role in the passing attack in 2025 and
Kyle Pitts Sr. finding consistency, Mooney has been pushed down in the pass-catcher pecking order. With London likely to see a lot of cornerback Christian Gonzalez, things could open up a bit for Mooney, but the Pats have limited opposing offenses to 194.7 pass yards per game over the last three games (ninth-fewest) and just 18.3 points per game on the season (fourth-fewest), leaving Mooney as an unexciting WR4/Flex for Week 9.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
November 1, 2025
Running back
Tony Pollard is one of the players the Tennessee Titans are "fielding the most calls on" ahead of the NFL's November 4 trade deadline, according to Diana Russini of The Athletic. Pollard has recorded 555 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 127 touches across eight games for the 1-7 Titans so far this season. Tennessee has a younger and cheaper running back option behind Pollard in
Tyjae Spears, so it may make sense for the rebuilding Titans to try to maximize Pollard's value. Depending on where he gets moved, a trade could significantly boost Pollard's fantasy value. He's been losing touches to Spears in recent weeks, and the Titans' anemic offense limits the scoring opportunities for both running backs. If Pollard gets traded, Spears would become the unquestioned lead back in Tennessee. Currently, both players profile as high-end flex options heading into their Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Diana Russini
November 1, 2025
The Athletic's Diana Russini reports that the New Orleans Saints are expected to retain top wide receiver
Chris Olave through the NFL's November 4 trade deadline. Olave has one more year on his current contract with New Orleans following 2025. The 25-year-old is having a solid season so far, recording 52 catches for 503 yards and three touchdowns on 83 targets. Olave has been one of the league's most consistent target-earners, recording double-digit targets in six out of eight games. Olave remaining in New Orleans might be the best thing for fantasy managers, as his target volume would almost certainly go down if he were moved to a contender. He profiles as a fantasy WR2 heading into the Saints' Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Diana Russini
November 1, 2025
The Buffalo Bills are one of the teams with interest in acquiring current Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers ahead of the NFL's November 4 trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Diana Russini. Russini notes that Las Vegas has "set a high price" on Meyers. Across six games this season, the 28-year-old has recorded 29 catches for 329 yards on 43 targets. Meyers has also publicly expressed his desire to be traded as he plays out the final season of his current contract. A new home may help rejuvenate Meyers, who currently profiles as a low-end fantasy WR3. In Buffalo, he would likely join wideout
Khalil Shakir as one of the top targets for Bills quarterback
Josh Allen. If Meyers is eventually moved, wide receivers
Tre Tucker and
Jack Bech are the most likely candidates to see their roles in the Raiders offense expand.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Diana Russini
November 1, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
DK Metcalf finished as the WR12 last week and will look to build on that performance in a Week 9 home bout with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have been strong against the run but vulnerable through the air, giving up the most receptions and third-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. While
Calvin Austin III,
Roman Wilson, and Pittsburgh's tight ends have all shown flashes, Metcalf has consistently been the favorite target of quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, especially on deep shots. Sunday's contest carries a high projected point total and should feature plenty of fantasy production. That said, Metcalf should remain locked into lineups as a high-end WR2 with significant upside.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
November 1, 2025
Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. has played a consistent role in this offense all season, and last week he led the way with top receiver
Drake London (hip) out with an injury, reeling in all nine of his targets from
Kirk Cousins, albeit for 59 scoreless yards.
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and London will be back on the field for Sunday's contest against the Patriots, but of all the positions on offense for fantasy, the matchup with New England favors the tight end the most. The Pats have yielded the fifth-most half-point PPR points to TEs thus far, with Cleveland's TEs combining for 10 catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns just last week in Foxborough. While that bodes well for Pitts, he's got just one touchdown all season, so he'll likely have to rely on volume as the 6-foot-6 TE averages over six targets and five receptions per game. It all leaves the 25-year-old as a low-end TE1 with upside in Week 9.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
November 1, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles says wide receiver
Jalen McMillan's neck injury includes broken bones, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Smith also notes that McMillan's return timeline remains unclear. The 23-year-old suffered a scary-looking neck injury in the preseason and has spent the entire regular season on Injured Reserve. Tampa Bay has not ruled McMillan out for the 2025 season, but it also does not appear as though he is particularly close to making his return. The Buccaneers are also currently without wide receivers
Mike Evans (collarbone) and
Chris Godwin (leg), although Godwin has a chance to return in Week 10 following Tampa Bay's Week 9 bye. Rookie wideout
Emeka Egbuka is the team's clear WR1. Given the team's other injuries, veteran
Sterling Shepard and rookie
Tez Johnson could both have an extended runway of regular playing time in Tampa Bay.
--Will BradySource: Pro Football Talk - Michael David Smith
November 1, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren has been steady this season but will face a tough test in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis has been stout versus opposing backs, allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game and just five total touchdowns to the position. The good news for Warren is that this home matchup is expected to be high-scoring, giving Pittsburgh's offense as a whole a boost for fantasy. Even if the Steelers are forced to abandon the run to keep up with the Colts' high-powered attack, Warren should remain a reliable pass-catching weapon for quarterback
Aaron Rodgers. Fantasy managers can continue to treat the 27-year-old as an RB2 with a safe floor in PPR formats.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
November 1, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals running back
Chase Brown scored a touchdown in the Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, he had more than a few miserable outings in his following appearances before finally surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark in the Thursday night win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 25-year-old then had his best performance of the 2025 campaign in the Week 8 one-point loss to the New York Jets, finding the end zone twice (one rushing, one receiving).
Joe Flacco (shoulder) has the offense back on track. While there's a chance Flacco won't suit up in the Week 9 clash with the Chicago Bears, it appears he's (fortunately) trending toward playing. However, even if
Jake Browning finds himself back atop the depth chart, Brown should remain a high-upside option for managers, especially with the game between the Bears and Bengals projected to be one of the highest-scoring contests on the schedule. Granted, Brown's presence in all fantasy lineups isn't without risk. That will apply regardless of who is starting at quarterback.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
November 1, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Flacco (shoulder) is planning to play in his team's Week 9 matchup against the Chicago Bears, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Flacco has an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, which could certainly impact his performance, but the veteran is at least going to give it a go in Week 9. In three starts for Cincinnati this season, Flacco has completed 64.3% of his pass attempts for 784 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He's also averaging over 40 pass attempts per start with the Bengals, which makes him an appealing high-volume fantasy option. Cincinnati may opt for a more run-heavy game plan in Week 9 to try to protect Flacco. Still, he profiles as a solid fantasy QB2 in a favorable matchup against Chicago. If Flacco is unable to finish the game, the Bengals would likely be forced to turn to backup quarterback
Jake Browning.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
November 1, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers has thrown at least two touchdown passes in three straight games, but may need to do even more to keep pace with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. The 7-1 Colts boast the league's top-ranked offense, averaging over 33 points per contest. While their defense has been solid overall, it has been more effective against the run than the pass, surrendering the 12th-most fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers. If Pittsburgh falls behind early, Rodgers should have enough passing volume at home to deliver for fantasy purposes. He comes in as the QB18 in RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings and can be viewed as a streaming option or high-end QB2 on Sunday.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
November 1, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will return from a one-week absence to face the Patriots on Sunday. The 25-year-old was a full participant on Friday and heads into the contest without an injury designation. The left-handed QB has thrown just five touchdown passes in six games played this season (three interceptions), and will face a New England defense that is yielding the ninth-fewest passing yards per game (194.7) over their last three and the fourth-fewest points allowed per game on the season (18.3 PPG; 15.0 PPG last three). The second-year pro owns a 1:2 TD:INT in three road games this season, averaging just around 183 yards passing in those contests. The Falcons have an implied point total of under 20 points for Sunday's matchup, which does not foretell great things from Penix, leaving him as a low-end QB2 option in Week 9.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
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