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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Through his first seven games of 2025, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has completed 74.9% of his pass attempts for 1,631 yards, 16 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Coming out of their Week 8 bye, Goff and the Lions will have a difficult matchup at home against the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota has allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards (1,428) in the NFL so far this season. Across two games against the Vikings in 2024, Goff completed 49 of 58 pass attempts for 511 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Lions scored 31 points in each of those contests, so they have had some success moving the ball against Minnesota in the past. Goff profiles as a borderline low-end fantasy QB1 and a must-start fantasy quarterback in two-QB formats in Week 9.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is coming off his best fantasy outing of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he looks to carry that over in Week 9 as the Packers host the Carolina Panthers. Love was the overall QB1 last week, throwing for 360 yards and three touchdowns in their Sunday Night Football win in Pittsburgh. Despite that huge game, it's hard to imagine Love stringing together multiple fantasy-worthy games, as his last two back-to-back top-12 games came in Week 4 and Week 5 of the 2024 season. But we know Love has the potential to put up yards and fantasy points each week. It's also possible the Packers lean more on the run as the Panthers' defense is one week removed from letting Buffalo's James Cook run wild for 215 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. In this matchup at home against Carolina, consider Love a low-end QB1 with some boom-or-bust potential.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) was a full participant in practice on Friday and is not listed on the injury report ahead of Sunday's matchup against the New England Patriots. Penix was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but upgraded to full on Friday and is all set to return after missing Week 8 with a bone bruise in his knee. The 25-year-old has been up-and-down in six games this season, completing 61% of his pass attempts for 1,409 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Penix will be joined by Atlanta's top wideout, Drake London, as he will return on Sunday after missing last week's game with a hip injury. Penix will rank as a low-end QB2 in Week 9 against the Patriots.

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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (calf) has practiced in a limited capacity all week, but is off the injury report and good to go for the Packers as they host the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Jacobs has averaged just 3.6 yards per carry this season, but has scored nine touchdowns in seven games to help balance things out. With Jacobs being banged up over the last few weeks, backup running back Emanuel Wilson has helped to shoulder some of the rushing load. Still, Jacobs has been taking fewer opportunities for the Packers, but is making it work. After the Panthers' run defense allowed 215 rushing yards from Buffalo's James Cook in Week 8, Jacobs' fantasy managers have to be salivating at this upcoming matchup. Lock Jacobs in as an RB1 in fantasy lineups against Carolina this week.

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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said wide receiver Puka Nacua (ankle) will play in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. Nacua missed the Rams' final game before their Week 8 bye due to a sprained ankle. When healthy, the 24-year-old has arguably been the NFL's best wide receiver this season. Across his first six games of 2025, Nacua recorded 54 catches for 616 yards and two touchdowns on 65 targets. He's been targeted at least 11 times in four out of six contests. Nacua profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver in a favorable Week 9 matchup against New Orleans.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (hip) logged a full practice on Friday and will not carry an injury designation into his team's Week 9 matchup against the New England Patriots, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. London was a late addition to the injury report last week and ended up missing Atlanta's Week 8 loss to the Miami Dolphins. His return should be a major boost for the Falcons' offense, which will also be getting back quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee). Across six games played this season, London has recorded 38 catches for 469 yards and two touchdowns on 63 targets. Before missing Week 8, London had earned double-digit targets in three straight games. He profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver in Week 9, even in a tough matchup on the road against New England.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter has "been the first RB working with the starters both days this week," according to Theo Mackie of azcentral.com. Arizona re-signed Carter to a practice squad contract earlier this week after releasing him on Monday in a procedural move. With presumed RB1 Trey Benson (knee) sidelined for at least one more week due to a knee injury, Carter and Bam Knight should see the team's carries in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys. Emari Demercado (ankle) could factor into the backfield mix as well. In Arizona's final two games before its Week 8 bye, Knight earned 29 touches compared to 20 for Carter. Still, it appears Carter will remain a part of Arizona's offensive game plan. He profiles as a low-end flex option for fantasy managers in a favorable Week 9 matchup against Dallas.

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Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) has officially been ruled out for his team's Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a concussion. Burden III suffered the injury during Chicago's Week 8 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and was a non-participant in practice this week. The 21-year-old has recorded 13 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets across seven games so far this season. Without Burden III, top Bears wideouts Rome Odunze and DJ Moore should still command the majority of the team's wide receiver targets. Additionally, WR3 Olamide Zaccheaus could see a slight uptick in playing time and target share.

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