Week 9 Fantasy Football Injuries, Coachspeak and News to Help You Win

I’m going game by game through the Week 9 injuries, coach comments, and news that actually change how we should approach our fantasy football lineups.

Also, I’ve included a special trade corner in honor of the trade deadline on Tuesday.

NFL Trade Corner

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Jonathan Taylor and Seth McGowan

Jonathan Taylor had 8 carries last week in a game in which Indianapolis trailed 28–0 at halftime. I have him as a low-end RB1 against Dallas, with Shane Steichen planning to give him his usual (recent) workload.

I’d use a bench spot on Seth McGowan before kickoff – he could be the Colts RB1 by Tuesday.

Minnesota and the Giants have been linked to Taylor. Aaron Jones played 38% of the snaps last week, and Jordan Mason played 30%. I think they could still use Jones for pass downs, but he won’t have standalone value. Both Mason and Jones would become drops.

The most likely scenario to me is Taylor to the Giants, which would make Cam Skattebo and Devin Singletary irrelevant unless they are traded to the Colts in the deal. Singletary is a great streamer this week, and we know deals can fall apart all the time – don’t drop them yet.

Hold Josh Downs through Tuesday

I’m holding Josh Downs through Tuesday after his trade request. I still like him as a WR3 against Dallas. If he’s dealt, his value likely goes up as long as he maintains a high route share. If he stays, he will likely be a drop.

Brissett to Baltimore is official

Baltimore traded for Jacoby Brissett after playing Thursday. With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on IR, I tentatively have Zay Flowers as a back-end WR1. Arizona turns to Gardner Minshew, and Trey McBride is still an elite TE1.

Brian Thomas Jr., Breece Hall, and Tony Pollard

Hold on to Brian Thomas – I don’t think he ends up getting moved, but the 49ers or Chiefs would be very appealing.

Breece Hall has floated in trade rumors – I don’t get the sense that the Jets would like to move him. They seem to want a multi-back approach and feel that having many weapons could help the QB of the future. That will probably make Hall and Braelon Allen low-end RB2 players.

Tony Pollard is one of the players with the higher odds of being traded. My understanding is that the RB market is waiting on the Jonathan Taylor trade. A fourth-round pick should do the trick for Pollard. Teams like the Vikings, Giants, Seahawks, and Broncos are all reportedly in the market for an RB. I would imagine any backfield he goes to could be in a timeshare, which would reduce the value of the other backs (and his). Nick Singleton is my stash in this situation for the Titans.

Vikings Quest for a QB

Per Adam Schefter (and others), the Vikings are a team to watch in terms of acquiring a QB. He specifically mentioned Daniel Jones as an option for the team. It seems unlikely that there are a bunch of other options out there (everyone wants a Cousins reunion, but it’s my understanding that the Raiders want him to keep starting and value his mentorship for Mendoza).

Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons (Madrid, 9:30 a.m. ET)

Bijan Robinson’s early kickoff

Brian Robinson Jr. is on IR with a hamstring injury. That leaves Bijan Robinson with most of the carries in Madrid, where he’s an elite RB1.

Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers

Jonah Coleman has the scoring work

Jonah Coleman got 80% of Denver’s carries inside the 5 against Kansas City, including the game-winner. He also got passing-down work with RJ Harvey on IR and Denver trailing by 11 entering the fourth. Even if J.K. Dobbins takes more of the early downs against Carolina, Coleman’s goal-line role and pass game role make him a borderline RB1. I think he’s ceded control of the backfield.

Chuba Hubbard and Carolina’s line

Chuba Hubbard has averaged 6.1 YPC outside the tackles this season. Those runs are a tougher ask with right tackle Taylor Moton and left guard Damien Lewis out. He’s still an RB1 for me on volume with Jonathon Brooks sidelined.

Dallas Cowboys at Indianapolis Colts

George Pickens and Jake Ferguson

George Pickens is questionable after three limited practices. Brian Schottenheimer said the hamstring was why he played less last week, when Ryan Flournoy outsnapped him. Pickens is a low-end WR1 if Dallas expects him to play his usual snaps. Use Flournoy as a WR2 if he’s out.

Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker are both questionable. Brevyn Spann-Ford played 88% of the snaps and got 5 targets last week after Ferguson left early with Schoonmaker already out. He’s a deep-league streamer if both miss.

New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs

Breece Hall returns to a different backfield

Braelon Allen ran for 504 yards in the five games Breece Hall missed. Frank Reich still has Hall as his starter, with both backs playing and the split up to how the game goes. I have Hall ahead of Allen as a flex this week. Allen moves up if the Jets say Hall will be limited. I don’t believe Reich or Glenn, and think this will be a split backfield. Both should be considered low-end RB2s for the foreseeable future until we get more data points.

Cooper and Mitchell both ran a route on 74% of Jets dropbacks last week. Mitchell turned 9 targets into 142 yards and a TD. It’s a tough matchup, but both are WR3-level players, especially with Mansoor Delane out on the other side.

Detroit Lions at Miami Dolphins

Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Detroit secondary

Amon-Ra St. Brown is questionable with a rib injury after three limited practices. He’s tough as nails and usually plays through any ailment, so he should play. He’s a high-end WR1 if he’s expected to play his usual snaps. Jameson Williams is already a WR2 against Miami and moves up if St. Brown sits, with more work over the middle available for Sam LaPorta too. Detroit is down center Cade Mays, but I don’t expect much of an impact in this specific matchup.

Ollie Gordon II and Malik Willis

Lions defense is down Jack Campbell (IR) in the middle and D.J. Reed and Kerby Joseph in the secondary. As a result, Ollie Gordon II is a solid RB2, and Malik Willis is probably the top QB streamer of the week as a QB1 in the ranks.

Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints

Shedeur Sanders starts, and Harold Fannin stays in my lineup

Todd Monken named Shedeur Sanders the starter, with Deshaun Watson still in concussion protocol. I think this could be net neutral or even a passing game upgrade for all the weapons, especially Harold Fannin, who showed a strong rapport with Sanders last season.

Jordyn Tyson Debuts

Jordyn Tyson was activated off IR and is expected to play on Sunday – he’s a must-add if he’s available in any leagues (he shouldn’t be). I would not start him given the uncertainty around playing time. Everything I’ve read leads me to think the team will ease him in this week. Start him once we feel good about the workload.

I think Devaughn Vele can still be a WR3 in this awesome matchup (for this week only).

Chris Olave could take a slight dip in production long-term (move him down a few WR spots), but he’s still a high-end WR2 in that situation, and a must-start this week.

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

Joe Milton and the Eagles’ missing receivers

Joe Milton III makes his first NFL start – I think things could be pretty bad with Milton under center (worse than McKee, better than Joe Fagnano). Makai Lemon is just a flex/WR4 this week even though DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks are out. I also have Dallas Goedert just outside my TE1s.

Saquon Barkley practiced fully on Friday and has no game designation. He’s averaged 24% of the snaps in his two games back, with Elijah Mitchell playing 16 more snaps last week. Barkley is a flex or RB2 until the full workload comes back. Mitchell is not worth playing or holding; the team will eventually get Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley back and have a bye week looming.

Devin Singletary and Malik Nabers

If Skattebo sits, Devin Singletary should get the early downs and is a strong RB2. Start Malik Nabers as a WR1 after a full practice Friday and no game designation.

Los Angeles Rams at Washington Commanders

Stefon Diggs and Antonio Williams have room for targets

Washington ruled out Treylon Burks and placed Dyami Brown on IR. Stefon Diggs has no game designation and is a WR3 for me. Antonio Williams was already playing most of the passing downs last week, which puts him in the flex mix with two receivers out. The Rams are down Jaylen Watson (IR) and could also be without Trent McDuffie, who missed all three practices (questionable). Myles Garrett was activated off IR. He can disrupt the pass game, but that should impact Diggs less as a low aDOT player.

Rachaad White is a low-end RB2 with Jacory Croskey-Merritt on IR and Jeremy McNichols done for the season. Austin Ekeler is still getting work.

Puka Nacua and Tyler Higbee rested Friday and have no game designation. The Rams ruled out Terrance Ferguson after he hurt his hamstring in Friday’s practice.

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers

Woody Marks and the Chargers’ rotation

David Montgomery is out with a groin injury, which puts Woody Marks in my RB2s. On the other side, Omarion Hampton had 9 carries to Kimani Vidal’s 8 against the Rams. Jim Harbaugh talked about giving one back enough work to get into a rhythm, and Mike McDaniel left the rotation open for this week. Hampton’s a deeper flex until we see consistent work or be in an offense with a pulse.

Las Vegas Raiders at San Francisco 49ers

Ashton Jeanty still has the catches

Ashton Jeanty got 2 carries against the Jets to Washington’s 25 and still caught 3 passes for 64 yards. He leads all RBs in catches and receiving yards, which keeps him in my RB2s in PPR, with Klint Kubiak leaving the split open week to week. Washington stays on my bench against a 49ers defense allowing a league-low 2.20 yards after contact per RB carry. The team should be in a trailing game script, so Jeanty is the priority of the two. He’s still an RB2.

George Kittle and the 49ers’ receiver injuries

George Kittle is my top TE with Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Christian Kirk (IR) all out. Demarcus Robinson was activated off of IR and had his questionable tag removed – he’s a WR4 this week, and he’s my favorite 49ers WR.

Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots

Rhamondre Stevenson and the New England tight ends

Rhamondre Stevenson played most of New England’s snaps last week and is an RB2 with TreVeyon Henderson out. Henderson could be out for a while (potentially the season), so Corey Kiner is a handcuff and worth a speculative add.

A.J. Brown is also out, but Mack Hollins was activated off IR. Hollins was the Patriots’ top WR when Brown missed time earlier this season, so he’s a sneaky deep league add. I would not start him in this matchup.

Hunter Henry returned to practice Friday and is questionable with a foot injury. He’s a TE1 if he plays. If Henry sits, I’d stream Eli Raridon in deeper leagues after he played most of the game last week.

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks

Gardner Minshew and Tyler Allgeier

Tyler Allgeier should get the early downs and goal line with Jeremiyah Love on IR and Bam Knight out with a concussion. That puts him in my RB2s against Seattle. Michael Wilson is a WR3 with Minshew starting against this tough Seahawks secondary.

Drew Lock gets Arizona again

Sam Darnold is out, so Drew Lock starts against Arizona after a week of limited practices with an elbow injury. Lock played Arizona in Week 2 when Jaxon Smith-Njigba went for 155 yards and 3 TDs. Start Smith-Njigba as usual. Lock is a superflex start. Left tackle Charles Cross and guard Quenton Nelson are both out – I don’t expect it to impact the game too much given the state of the Cardinals’ defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears (Sunday Night Football)

A late decision on Emeka Egbuka

Emeka Egbuka is a low-end WR2 if he’s active and expected to play his usual snaps. Chris Godwin gets a bump if he sits, but I wouldn’t start Godwin regardless. He does not look like his old self and is playing an unusually low aDOT role that has low probability of ceiling outcomes.

D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai

D’Andre Swift is an RB1 and bellcow this week, with Kyle Monangai (questionable) expected to sit through the bye week. Colston Loveland is a high-end TE1 with Cole Kmet out for the rest of the season.

Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings (Monday Night Football)

Carson Wentz and the Minnesota pass catchers

Kevin O’Connell named Carson Wentz the starter with Kyler Murray out (hamstring). Buffalo has allowed more TDs to WRs than any team this season, so I’m still starting Justin Jefferson as a WR1 and using Jordan Addison as a flex. If you’re picking between the Monday night tight ends, I have T.J. Hockenson just ahead of Kincaid.

There’s a decent probability this is better for the Vikings pass offense.

Dalton Kincaid and DJ Moore

Dalton Kincaid practiced fully on Saturday, and DJ Moore was limited. Neither has a game designation. Moore is a WR3. Kincaid is just outside my TE1s. Facing a blitz-heavy scheme, we could see Kincaid’s lowest route shares of the season, so I prefer to sit him.

Source: www.fantasylife.com

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