October 30, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (knee) most likely will not be available for Sunday's Week 9 showdown against the Buffalo Bills, which means that rookie
Brashard Smith will see the field more as the complement to veteran
Kareem Hunt in KC's backfield. The 22-year-old seventh-rounder only played 13% of the offensive snaps in the Monday night win over the Washington Commanders and had just three carries for eight yards. However, in Week 7, he played a season-high 35% of the snaps and had a season-high 14 rushing attempts for 39 yards while also catching all five of his targets for an additional 42 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders. Although Pacheco might only miss one game due to his knee injury with the Chiefs having their bye in Week 10, fantasy managers should expect Smith to be much more involved this weekend against Buffalo, making him a potential flex option in deeper fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
October 30, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Darius Slayton is a candidate for an elevated touch share moving forward in the team's offensive attack. With running back
Cam Skattebo (ankle) going down with a gruesome injury, head coach Brian Daboll may deploy a more pass-heavy approach. Through eight weeks, New York has attempted a pass at the ninth-lowest rate in the league (54.39%). However, as
Jaxson Dart grows and matures, it makes sense that Daboll would allow him more freedom in the passing game. That may come sooner, as New York will be without the driving force of its offense for an extended period. With teammate
Wan'Dale Robinson in the fold, consistency could be hard to find for Slayton. Still, the latter is the only other active Giants' wideout who's accrued more than 160 snaps (341).
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said that he is going to do a better job at getting wide receiver
Jameson Williams "more involved," according to Eric Woodyard of ESPN. Morton told Williams he's "failed him" so far. "He just goes and plays. Like I told him, 'I wouldn't fault you if you're pissed at me,'" Morton said. Many fantasy managers will have Williams sitting on their benches coming out of the team's Week 8 bye when they face the division-rival Minnesota Vikings this weekend, but don't be surprised if Williams gets the squeaky-wheel treatment after failing to catch his two targets in the Week 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 24-year-old has had two or fewer targets in two of the last three games and hasn't had a 100-yard performance for Detroit since Week 2 back on Sept. 14. Williams will likely continue to be a high-risk, high-reward fantasy wideout in a Lions offense with lots of mouths to feed.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Eric Woodyard
October 30, 2025
The Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams was giving up historic amounts of points through the first five weeks of the season. Since then, they've given up 17 to the Los Angeles Rams and 16 to the Chicago Bears. They also forced two turnovers, limited both teams to under 100 rushing yards, and collected three sacks. With a healthier squad and a Miami Dolphins offense that has given up an average of 8.00 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, it makes the Ravens an interesting streaming option. They're not an automatic start every week like they once were, but their improvements over their last couple of weeks have made them a stash candidate, if possible, with a much easier schedule the rest of the way.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star
Travis Hunter usage on both sides of the ball in his first NFL season has been fluid through the first eight weeks of the season. However, he played a season-high 87% of the offensive snaps in London in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and head coach Liam Coen has hinted that the 22-year-old Heisman Trophy winner's role on offense could continue to grow in the second half of the year. ESPN's Michael DiRocco says not to be surprised if Hunter "starts getting the WR1 treatment." In the blowout loss to L.A. before the team's Week 8 bye, Hunter had his breakout game, catching eight of 14 targets for 101 yards and his first touchdown of the year. It will be interesting to see how Hunter is used on both sides of the ball down the stretch, but if he does end up becoming more of a full-time offensive piece, he'll have clear WR2 upside to close out his rookie campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 30, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs (hip) remains a solid bet in fantasy, despite the team's aversion to 11 personnel. Through eight weeks, Indianapolis has run three-wide-receiver sets at one of the lower rates in the league (58.81%). Still, Downs has finished with double-digit fantasy points in four of seven appearances while participating on more than 60% of snaps just twice. Unfortunately, the former North Carolina Tarheel began the week as a DNP due to a hip injury, so fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his status ahead of Sunday's road outing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Downs can't go, fellow wide receiver
Alec Pierce projects to see a bump in targets alongside
Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end
Tyler Warren.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens kicker
Tyler Loop bounced back in a big way in the Week 8 win over the Chicago Bears. He made three field goals from 42, 28, and 32 yards while making all three of his extra point attempts as well. Now,
Lamar Jackson returns in Week 9 against a Miami Dolphins defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing kickers and is tied for seventh-most points per game to opposing teams. That puts Loop firmly into the K1 conversation, and he's currently projected in the RotoBaller rankings to finish as the K5 in Week 9.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens running back
Justice Hill hasn't held much value throughout this season despite being the main pass-catching back for the team. He's had two finishes in the top 25 of running backs in half-PPR formats, and saw his snapshare fall a bit in Week 8 as
Keaton Mitchell was active for the first time.
Lamar Jackson returns for the Week 9 tilt against the Miami Dolphins, which means some more running plays designed for the QB and fewer touches for Hill. The Dolphins are ranked 28th against opposing backfields after giving up a total of 941 yards and six touchdowns on the ground versus 322 yards and one touchdown through the air. That likely means even more work for
Derrick Henry, and if Mitchell keeps getting some snaps, that leaves Hill off the fantasy radar.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Per the team, the Carolina Panthers have signed veteran quarterback
Mike White from the practice squad to the active roster. Offensive lineman Brady Christensen (Achilles) was placed on IR in a corresponding move. Fortunately,
Bryce Young (ankle) got in a full practice on Wednesday. However, that wasn't the case for teammate
Andy Dalton (thumb). The 38-year-old picked up a thumb injury, presumably in Carolina's loss to Buffalo in Week 8, that kept him from practicing altogether. White's addition to the roster is likely just precautionary, as Young appears on track to play after a promising start to the week. Still, if Dalton trends in the wrong direction, it'll be White backing up Young when the team takes on the hosting Green Bay Packers this Sunday.
--Alex CiullaSource: Darin Gantt
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
DeAndre Hopkins got everyone's hopes up after finding the end zone in each of the first two games of the season. Since then, he's only received more than two targets once and hasn't caught a touchdown pass either. To make things even tougher on fantasy managers wanting to start Hopkins, the Miami Dolphins are ranked as the toughest defense against opposing receivers, only allowing 25.84 fantasy points per game to the whole receiver group. Fantasy managers will want to look for other options outside of Hopkins if possible.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
When asked about Dallas Cowboys rookie running back
Jaydon Blue and his performance following Sunday's 44-24 loss to the Broncos, head coach Brian Schottenheimer was disappointed in his output. "[Jaydon Blue] is a young back learning the speed of the game and the physicality of the game," said Schottenheimer. "But to me, I'm always going to go back to the consistency...You have to do those things." The "consistency" Schottenheimer referred to is blitz pickups and ball protection, something he feels Blue still needs to work on. Furthermore, Schottenheimer sang the praises of fourth-year pro
Malik Davis after his second elevation from the practice squad. Blue has remained ahead of Davis in the depth chart, but the backfield split this weekend will be telling of Schottenheimer's sentiment about the duo moving forward. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely in Dallas' home meeting with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night.
--Alex CiullaSource: Nick Harris
October 30, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Max Brosmer shouldn't be a factor in fantasy this Sunday when the team takes on the hosting Detroit Lions. Although he gains some modest fantasy appeal, considering he's the second-string option behind fellow rookie signal-caller
J.J. McCarthy (ankle). If all goes according to plan, McCarthy is Minnesota's starting QB moving forward. Encouragingly, he logged a full practice on Wednesday for the first time since Week 2. However, the high-ankle sprain he's been battling may linger, leaving Brosmer as the Vikes' only other option at QB. While fantasy managers may not call upon him in Week 9, the 24-year-old should at least be stashed in superflex dynasty leagues on the off-chance his team needs him down the stretch. In three appearances, he's completed 5-of-8 passes for 42 yards.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Rashod Bateman has registered just one week finishing in the top 36 of his position. That came back in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions when the Ravens were in a shootout that ended in a 30-38 loss.
Lamar Jackson is back under center, which automatically increases Bateman's value, but the matchup isn't the best. The Miami Dolphins are ranked as the number-one defense against opposing receivers, and they tend to play zone more often than not, which doesn't play to Bateman's strong suit. Since the fifth-year pro is always a threat to take a deep-ball to the house, he still presents some flex appeal, but is a risky option compared to others that are likey on the waiver wire.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Flacco (shoulder) has been outstanding through his first three starts with the team, throwing for 801 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions. The 18-year veteran has leaned heavily on
Ja'Marr Chase, who's drawn an incredible 54 targets over that span. Flacco suffered a shoulder injury late in last week's loss to the New York Jets, putting his Week 9 status in doubt. With the Bengals heading into a Week 10 bye, the team may opt to give
Jake Browning another spot start to allow Flacco time to recover. Even so, Flacco has played at a high level and remains fantasy-relevant across all formats once healthy.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens tight end
Mark Andrews hasn't really been fantasy-relevant over the last three weeks. His best finish in that time has been TE20 in half-PPR formats, and the last time he put up double-digit fantasy points was in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions. A couple of things going in his favor this week are the return of
Lamar Jackson and the fact that the Miami Dolphins are ranked 22nd against opposing tight ends. Having Jackson under center hasn't exactly made that much of a difference so far this season, as he has two points in the first two games. The biggest issue has been that the offensive line has been so terrible that they've needed Andrews to help block more often.
Patrick Ricard's presence should help in this area, but until Andrews is more involved, he'll stick around the TE2 area with better options out there for fantasy managers.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
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