Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off a highly efficient performance, completing 18 of 25 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant win over the Minnesota Vikings. This week, he faces a struggling Tennessee Titans defense that is ranked 26th overall in yards allowed. While this matchup is very favorable, the Chargers are heavy 9.5-point favorites and may lean more on their rushing game, especially since the Titans will be missing key defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (hamstring). Herbert remains a solid QB1, but fantasy managers should temper their expectations for a heavy passing day. Additionally, with offensive guard Mekhi Becton (knee) listed as questionable, the Bolts might adopt a more methodical ground-and-pound approach. RotoBaller projects Herbert to be QB6, which gives him a strong floor as a mid-range QB1.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (heel, hamstring) is listed as questionable for Week 9 against the Washington Commanders after hurting his hamstring in Friday's practice, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Kupp was initially dealing with just a heel injury, but he tweaked his hamstring in practice on Friday, which puts his status for Sunday night in question. The 32-year-old was listed as a full participant in practice to begin the Week on Friday, before being downgraded to limited on Thursday, and missing practice altogether on Friday. The veteran wideout will be evaluated during a pregame workout to determine his availability for Sunday Night Football against Washington. If he's unable to play, rookie Tory Horton would see an increase in routes as Seattle's WR2.

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Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Tory Horton might be worth a look on your league's waiver wire heading into the team's Week 9 Sunday night matchup against the Washington Commanders, with veteran Cooper Kupp (hamstring, heel) dealing with two injuries and listed as questionable to play this weekend. Horton has recorded only nine receptions on 18 targets for 113 yards in his first seven NFL games, but he also has scored three times, and he'd be in line for WR2 duties behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba on Sunday if Kupp is unable to play or is limited at all. The 22-year-old didn't catch any of his three targets in the Monday night win over the Houston Texans back in Week 7, but the Seahawks could be looking to get him more involved in the passing game coming out of their Week 8 bye. Horton is currently rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.

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The Minnesota Vikings have struggled immensely in recent weeks, but wide receiver Justin Jefferson remains a clear WR1 with his team set to travel to Detroit in Week 9. Even though Detroit has had the better of the division matchup in recent years, Jefferson has tormented the Lions during his career. In just 10 games against Detroit, Jefferson has more than 1,200 yards, 72 catches, and four touchdowns. Detroit ranks 26th against half-PPR receivers this season, largely because it has surrendered 14 receiving touchdowns in seven games. Notably, Minnesota will bring back starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle), but a second-to-last sack rate behind a beaten-up offensive line remains a major concern. The Lions will see the return of starting cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder), but Jefferson still should be starting in every format, as usual.

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Coming off his worst game of the season, Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason looks to have tough sledding again in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. Only three teams in the NFL have allowed fewer rushing yards than Detroit, which is holding opposing teams to an average of 87.7 rushing yards. Further, the former San Francisco 49er ran for just three yards and played a season-low 35% of Minnesota's offensive snaps when Aaron Jones Sr. returned to the lineup in Week 8. The Vikings will see the return of starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but they finished last week with three backups on the offensive line as both tackles continue to work their way back from knee injuries. Given the number of hurdles this week, Mason should be considered a low-end flex option in most standard formats.

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Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter's (knee) ACL is reportedly intact based on initial testing, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Hunter was surprisingly placed on injured reserve on Friday and will miss at least four games after suffering a non-contact injury to his knee during Thursday's practice. The news comes at an unfortunate time as the rookie was coming off his best game of the season before Jacksonville's Week 8 bye, catching eight of 14 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old was emerging as the top target in the offense, as second-year wideout Brian Thomas Jr. has struggled and has been dealing with injuries to his wrist and shoulder. Hunter could wind up missing the remainder of the season, but the good news is that there is no structural damage to his ACL.

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When the Minnesota Vikings travel to play the Detroit Lions in Week 9, running back Aaron Jones Sr. should be considered a volatile RB3/flex option with the Vikings' offense currently struggling. Minnesota played almost all of its most recent game with three backups on the offensive line, which manifested in an awful showing of 146 yards of total offense. This week, the Vikings will bring back starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle), which could provide a boost, but the matchup remains unfriendly for Jones. The Lions rank fourth in the NFL in rushing defense by holding opponents to just fewer than 88 yards of offense, and Minnesota still intends to give carries to both Jones and Jordan Mason. Jones should still get enough to work to be considered for starting lineups, but he comes with risk, given the circumstances.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is set to return to the starting lineup on Sunday against Detroit, but the biggest question for fantasy managers should be whether the team can keep him upright. The Vikings, who have the second-worst sack rate in the league, are coming off a miserable showing last week in which they ran just 47 plays and gained 146 yards. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) has been in and out of the lineup, right tackle Brian O'Neill (knee) has no designation this week but missed all of last game, and center Ryan Kelly (concussion) is on injured reserve. Still, with skill players like wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, there is at least some hope that McCarthy's return can provide a jolt to an offense that sorely needs it. Playing at Detroit is a tough start, however, so managers should consider McCarthy only in deeper leagues with a superflex spot.

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Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft has thrived over the last few weeks, and the overall TE1 in fantasy points per game looks to keep his hot streak going as the Packers host the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Kraft scored 33.3 fantasy points against the Pittsburgh Steelers as he brought in 7-of-9 targets for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while leading the NFL in yards after the catch with 128 in Week 8. There's no doubt that Kraft has been the Packers' most explosive pass-catcher this season. With six touchdowns in seven games, Kraft has been awesome this season, but is still second to Romeo Doubs in team target share at just 19.1 percent. While he has been a volatile tight end option for fantasy managers over the first few weeks of the season, Kraft is now in must-start territory when the Packers match up with the Panthers in Week 9.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor will have some outside streaming appeal in deep leagues when the Vikings travel to play the Detroit Lions in Week 9. The former Michigan State Spartan has played at least 59% of the team's offensive snaps in every game this season, and he's drawn at least four targets in five of Minnesota's seven games. The Lions' defense is holding opponents to points on fewer than a third of possessions, but quite a bit of the damage has been through the air, as Detroit has allowed 14 passing touchdowns in just seven weeks. Though second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy will return from an ankle injury this week, Minnesota has continued to favor three-receiver looks that will give Nailor opportunities. He'll naturally be behind receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, though, which will make Nailor a touchdown-dependent option for managers in very deep leagues.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison remains a quality WR3/flex option when his team takes on the Detroit Lions in a Week 9 meeting of NFC North foes. It remains to be seen how the USC product meshes with starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, with whom Addison has never appeared in a regular-season game. McCarthy has played in just two games since the start of 2024, and Addison was suspended for both of them. Addison has a decent matchup against a Lions team that has surrendered 14 passing touchdowns in seven games, which is one of the worst marks in the league, but Minnesota has had major issues protecting the quarterback. The Vikings rank 31st in sack rate and managed a miserable 47 plays last week in a loss to the L.A. Chargers, though Addison accounted for the team's only touchdown. Addison has shown steady fantasy appeal this season, giving managers reason to believe he can perform even in the midst of the Vikings' struggles.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has been a fantasy disappointment this season, but is looking to get back on track as the Packers welcome the Carolina Panthers for their Week 9 matchup. In Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Golden had one of his least productive fantasy outings this season, with just three receptions for four yards. Golden, the Packers' 2025 first-round pick, has just two games of five or more targets and has been a top-24 fantasy wide receiver just once through seven games. His involvement in the Packers' offense took another hit when Christian Watson played his first game of the season and immediately caught 4-of-4 targets for 85 yards. Better days are on the horizon for Golden, but as it stands right now, he's difficult to start in fantasy lineups in Week 9 against the Panthers.

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Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard should be avoided in most formats when the Vikings travel to Detroit in Week 9. Not only have the Vikings struggled on offense, ranking 31st in the league in sack rate, but they'll be reintroducing quarterback J.J. McCarthy after he missed the past five games with an ankle injury. Detroit has one of the best run defenses in the league at the midway point of the season, and Minnesota is coming off an absolute dud in Week 8, during which they ran 47 plays and gained only 164 yards. Though Reichard has been mostly reliable when called upon, making 14-of-16 field goals and all 13 extra points, the volatility around him makes him tough to trust in a fantasy lineup.

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Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson should be viewed as a TE2 option when he takes on his former team, the Detroit Lions, in Week 9. It's been a disappointing season so far for Hockenson, who hasn't quite looked the same since an ACL tear in late 2023 and now ranks as the No. 22 fantasy tight end at the halfway point of this season. None of the Vikings played well in a Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but Hockenson had just three targets, two catches, and 26 yards receiving. The veteran tight end and the Vikings will now turn back to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed the past five games with an ankle injury. In McCarthy's two starts this year, Hockenson had just four catches for 27 yards, and both of those took place before receiver Jordan Addison returned from a suspension. With the Vikings struggling and Hockenson set to be the team's third option, at best, he should be played only in formats that start two tight ends.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) made his season debut last week and looks to build off his excellent first outing of 2025 as the Packers host the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Watson, off the injury report after three limited practice sessions this week, returned to the Packers' lineup to post a 4-85 line on four targets in Week 8 following an ACL injury that ended his 2024 season before the playoffs. Watson's role downfield is one where he can accumulate a ton of fantasy production with limited targets. Still, the Packers' passing game, with limited pass attempts and being well behind players like Tucker Kraft and Romeo Doubs, makes it difficult to start Watson in most weeks, even with bye weeks in full swing. For the Packers' Week 9 matchup against the Panthers, consider Watson a low-end flex play.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (hip) is listed as questionable, but is trending positively for Week 9's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Jeff Nowak of Audacy Sports. Shaheed was a limited participant in practice every day this week after picking up the injury in the Saints' blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8. However, Shaheed had his most productive game of the season, setting career highs in targets (12) and receptions (9) while totaling 75 yards. The 27-year-old should be expected to suit up on Sunday and catch passes from rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who is making his first career start against a stout Rams defense.

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Through his first seven games of 2025, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has recorded 720 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns on 130 touches. In his final outing before Detroit's Week 8 bye, Gibbs racked up 218 scrimmage yards and two scores in 20 touches against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 9, Gibbs and the Lions will face a Minnesota Vikings defense that has been roughly mid-pack against the run. Through eight weeks, Minnesota ranks 20th in rushing yards allowed (913) and 10th in rushing touchdowns allowed (five). Gibbs had two monster performances against the Vikings in 2024, recording a combined 327 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns on 47 touches. Lions RB2 David Montgomery did not play in one of those games, but Gibbs' history of success against Minnesota is still noteworthy. He profiles as a must-start fantasy running back in Week 9.

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Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson has seen his workload expand in the last few weeks, and he looks to contribute to the cause in Green Bay's Week 9 game at home against the Carolina Panthers. With Josh Jacobs (calf) banged up and a mainstay on the injury report despite playing in every game, Wilson saw season-highs in snaps (27) and yards from scrimmage (87) in last week's game against the Steelers. Totaling 61 yards on the ground and 26 receiving yards on three receptions, Wilson has been solidly productive in limited work. That said, as long as Jacobs is active, he will be the featured runner for the Packers. As a pure handcuff to Jacobs in case he's out for any length of time, Wilson shouldn't be rostered in all but the deepest of fantasy leagues, and that remains true for Week 9's game against the Panthers.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs has been a rising contributor for the Packers in the last few weeks and looks to keep that run going as the Packers host the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Doubs has averaged almost eight targets over his past three games as Green Bay shifts its focus slightly to featuring more of Doubs and Tucker Kraft in the passing game. With a bit more consistency comes fantasy viability for Doubs, as he's been a top-30 fantasy wide receiver in two of the last three weeks. With Doubs and the Packers facing the Panthers at home and Carolina allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, Doubs is just a flex play this week with the hope that he continues to carry volume and get into the end zone.

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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, but is trending positively to play, according to Jeff Nowak of Audacy Sports. Kamara was a limited participant in practice every day this week, but should be expected to suit up for Week 9. The 30-year-old running back got banged up in the Saints' Week 8 blowout loss against the Bucs and posted his lowest snap share of the season at 52.1%. Kamara has also struggled of late, recording 35 carries for 107 yards while adding 14 catches (16 targets) for 98 yards and no touchdowns over his last four games. He'll look to bounce back in Week 9 with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough making his first career start. It's a tough matchup for Kamara, however, as the Rams have allowed the second-fewest PPR points per game to opposing running backs.

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