The Fantasy Footballers Podcast Recap: Week 9 (Fantasy Football)
As we head into Week 9, Andy, Mike, and Jason deliver more episodes of news and advice you need to make rational decisions! Remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Monday – Week 8 Studs & Duds + Trade Rumors
Monday Punday
Jonah Swoleman, Booyah Tuten, Matthew Goldmine, and Glee Higgins were some of the best performers of Week 8. Unfortunately, Omar Pooper Jr., Slim Pickens, Ashton Empty, Dookie Metcalf let you down.
Bank on It Smartly
Jeremiyah Love and Bam Knight’s injuries cleared a path for Tyler Allgeier to be great in Week 8. Love was placed on IR with a high-ankle sprain, while Knight suffered a concussion at the end of the first half. Allgeier and the Cardinals will face off against the Seahawks, Rams, and Eagles’ defenses in the coming weeks. These matchups led the Ballers to not bank on it. However, he will get all of the work and will be a volume-based play that you cannot bank on in Week 9.
The “other” Kansas City Chiefs RB Emmett Johnson produced 143 scrimmage yards and a TD on six opportunities in Week 8. The Ballers unanimously agreed, “Don’t Bank on It.” Kenneth Walker III is still the clear priority RB for the Chiefs, and Johnson will never have enough volume to be a consistent player in your lineup with Walker III on the field.
Yards per route run leaders this year (min. 40 routes):
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (3.96)
2. Emmett Johnson (3.95)Yes. Emmett Johnson. The Chiefs running back.@FantasyPtsData
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) November 6, 2026
Omar Cooper Jr. and Garrett Wilson had significantly worse games than Adonai Mitchell coming off a hand injury. Andy led the charge in the first triple “Don’t Bank on It” of the season, due to Geno Smith not being able to provide for multiple pass-catching options in a single week. There is just too much target competition with Wilson, Cooper Jr., Kenyon Sadiq, and Mason Taylor to play Mitchell confidently.
News
RJ Harvey was placed on IR after suffering a knee injury in practice. Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were placed on IR after Week 8. Jackson suffered a thumb injury that will likely end his season, while Huntley’s turf toe injury ended his season. Kyler Murray played through hamstring tightness against the Detroit Lions and will miss Week 9. Michael Wilson played through two broken ribs, while Kendrick Bourne, Jeremiyah Love, and Bam Knight left early with various injuries.
Studs
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
QBs
Joe Burrow was the QB1 in Week 8. He threw for 462 yards and two TDs in an overtime shootout against the Tennessee Titans. Kirk Cousins sits as the QB7 on the season after a 247/3 performance in the air and scoring on a QB sneak. Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes came through for your fantasy teams in big-time NFL matchups. Cam Ward had one of the best statistical games of his career, posting 304/2 in the air and rushing for 41 yards.
RBs
The top-five RBs of this week included Tyler Allgeier, Bhayshul Tuten, Tony Pollard, and Emmett Johnson. Jahmyr Gibbs was the best RB of the elites in Week 8, while Bucky Irving and James Cook III were the other high-end RBs to produce. Braelon Allen rushed for 147 yards and one TD against the Las Vegas Raiders, but Breece Hall’s return serves as a cloud looming over Allen’s season.
WRs
Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase were the top two WRs against the Titans. Adonai Mitchell and Michael Wilson were the other WRs to record over 100 yards in Week 8. Matthew Golden pushed through a few drops to produce for your fantasy lineup, while Christian Watson made a WWE-like return after visiting a local hospital during the game.
Productive day for Christian Watson via Next Gen Stats. pic.twitter.com/PRGhsDHQYV
— Daire Carragher (@DaireCarragher) October 30, 2026
TEs
Brock Bowers went 7/92/2 to finish as the TE1 on the week. Harold Fannin Jr. recorded 154 receiving yards to be the only good TE performance without a TD in Week 8. Trey McBride, Dalton Kincaid, Mike Gesicki, Tucker Kraft, and T.J. Hockenson all scored and helped your teams.
Duds
QBs
Jacoby Brissett was benched against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. Matthew Stafford did not have to do much in order to beat the inferior LA team. Jared Goff struggled against the Minnesota Vikings, but he has been a matchup-based play at QB throughout his career.
RBs
Jonathan Taylor got game-scripted out of the game, recording rushing the ball only eight times. Javonte Williams went 24/56 against the Arizona Cardinals. Both Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason disappointed in Week 8, and they will continue eating into each other’s workloads. Ashton Jeanty rushed the ball twice against the Jets and has slowly seen fewer carries in each game this season.
WRs
Zay Flowers put up a donut with Joe Fagnano at QB, while Ja’Kobi Lane only caught one pass for 13 yards. Drake London’s poor performance was a direct result of the weather in Tampa Bay and Michal Penix Jr.’s disaster class. Parker Washington failed to see a second-half target and went 1/16. AFC North WRs DK Metcalf, Germie Bernard, KC Concepcion Jr., and Denzel Boston all disappointed in Week 8.
TEs
Tyler Warren saw 10 targets against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8, but he only caught four of them for 18 yards. Tyler Higbee caught one pass for 14 yards against the Chargers, while Kyle Pitts caught two passes for six yards.
Among 101 TEs over the last decade to see 45+ targets through their team's 1st 8 games:
Tyler Warren ranks 100th in Yards per Target 😅 pic.twitter.com/rbBATOdjXK
— Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg) November 2, 2026
Tuesday – Week 9 Waivers + Full Stream Ahead
News
Matthew Stafford has been dealing with right arm soreness and was seen with an ice pack on his arm against the Chargers. Gardner Minshew will start against the Seahawks in Week 9, while Carson Beck will be the QB2. Kendrick Bourne is out for the season with a fractured tibia. AJ Brown is dealing with a knee injury and is uncertain to take the field for the Patriots in Week 9.
Waiver Wire
RBs
Tyler Allgeier is the highest-priority pickup at RB for Andy this week, while Jadarian Price is Mike’s #1 option. Allgeier’s upcoming schedule is tough (Seahawks, Rams, Chiefs, Commanders, Eagles), which makes it tough to comfortably rely on him as a weekly start. However, his volume should give him a relatively safe baseline. Andy believes Zach Charbonnet’s involvement will vulture into Price’s workload too much for him to be consistent. Mike projects Price to be the new Kenneth Walker III for Seattle, and Charbonnet will stay in his carved-out role. Mike Washington’s 25 carries last week are encouraging, but his upcoming schedule (49ers, Seahawks, Broncos) makes him hard to put into your lineup. Andy brought up Devin Singletary as a potential spot-start should Skattebo miss or be limited by his hamstring injury.
WRs
Antonio Williams is Mike and Andy’s #1 pickup at WR this week, while Jason has Makai Lemon as his WR1 off waivers. Williams led the Commanders in total routes and targets in Week 8. Andy also mentioned Ryan Flournoy and Caleb Douglas as solid spot-starts. Adonai Mitchell could be a FLEX play with Garrett Wilson dealing with a concussion. Khalil Shakir and Keenan Allen were also mentioned as PPR-based plays.
Antonio Williams tho pic.twitter.com/aIUDyJmOhk
— PFF (@PFF) November 5, 2026
TEs
Andy hates the current state of the TE waiver wire. Eli Raridon is the only name that intrigues him. Mike Gesicki has four finishes in the top 12 and is a solid play against the Falcons in Madrid. Mike said that Terrance Ferguson should be picked up as he is expected to return to practice this week.
Full Stream Ahead
Andy – Malik Willis vs DET
The Detroit Lions’ defense is last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs this season. Malik Willis has also performed significantly better in his last two games after the bye week, throwing for 200+ yards and two TDs in each game. The 50.5-point over/under indicates that both teams should be able to have fantasy-relevant options this week.
Jason – Carson Wentz vs BUF
Jay Grizz’s pick for Full Stream Ahead this week is Carson Wentz. The Bills were 30th in the NFL in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs before facing Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano last week.
Mike – Sam Darnold vs ARI
The Arizona Cardinals are the new 30th-ranked team in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Sam Darnold was mentioned as a second-half sleeper last week, and the schedule is starting to ease up for the Seahawks.
Wednesday – Midseason Review + Bounce Backs, Miscellany
News
Brandon Aiyuk has filed for reinstatement and plans to report to the 49ers’ facility on Friday. Deshaun Watson is in concussion protocol and is unlikely to take the field for the Browns in Week 9. Joe Fagnano was confirmed as the Ravens’ starting QB against the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football.
Mid-Season Review
QBs
Josh Allen is the QB1 of the season with the second-highest fantasy PPG of his career through eight weeks. Joe Burrow leads all QBs in completion percentage, passing TDs, and pass success rate at QB2. While Brock Purdy is the QB3 of the season, he has averaged 15 PPG since Week 5. Jayden Daniels leads all QBs in rushing at 47 yards per game. Drake Maye is the QB5 despite seeing the most pressure in the NFL. Trevor Lawrence has the easiest strength of schedule remaining for QBs and could have another second-half breakout. Jordan Love leads the NFL in pass attempts and passing yards so far this season.
The Ballers agree that Kirk Cousins will be replaced by Fernando Mendoza at some point this season and will exit the top 10. Mike expects Tyler Shough to finish as a top-10 QB, with Jordyn Tyson expected to make his NFL debut in the coming weeks. Andy brought up Malik Willis as a rest-of-season streaming candidate.
RBs
Jahmyr Gibbs has scored at least 14 fantasy points in each game so far this season. He has averaged 29 opportunities per game so far, and should continue to see this usage post-Montgomery. Kenneth Walker is on pace for 450 total opportunities, just as Mike prescribed. James Cook III is on pace for 2,000 scrimmage yards and 17 TDs this season. Bijan Robinson leads the NFL in rushing yards, but his five total TDs this season have him at RB. Chuba Hubbard is surprisingly at RB6, just ahead of D’Andre Swift, who is averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor are currently top-10 RBs, but their teams’ limited offensive success could hinder them in the second half of the season. Jaylen Warren leads all RBs in yards per touch at 6.9. Bucky Irving has the easiest rest-of-season schedule for RBs, and you could see more performances similar to last week’s.
Andy has Warren and Ashton Jeanty as RBs to consider falling out of the top 15, while bringing up Chase Brown as a prime candidate to enter the list.
WRs
Jaxon Smith-Njigba averages five more fantasy PPG than Puka Nacua at WR2. He leads NFL history with seven games of 19+ fantasy points in the first eight weeks of the season. CeeDee Lamb has re-established himself as the clear WR1 in Dallas, leading the league in targets, second in receptions, and third in receiving yards. Tee Higgins (WR4) is ahead of Ja’Marr Chase (WR7) so far this season. Green Bay Packers WRs Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are both in the top 12 so far. Watson is on pace for 89/1505/13, but also leads the league in drops, while Golden leads the league in air yards and deep targets. Davante Adams is the WR9 in PPG and aims to return “a little after” the Rams’ Week 11 bye, according to Sean McVay. Zay Flowers and DeVonta Smith are both top-12 WRs, but their QB situations may keep them out of being productive for your fantasy squads in the back half of the season.
Mike has Drake London, George Pickens, DJ Moore, and Rashee Rice bouncing back in the second half of the season, while Justin Jefferson, Emeka Egbuka, and Garrett Wilson will hover around where they currently stand.
TEs
There have been four difference-making TEs so far this season: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Isaiah Likely, and George Kittle. The difference between the TE5 (Sam LaPorta) and TE12 (Tucker Kraft) is 1.2 PPG. Bowers has been a top-three TE in four of his six games played. McBride is one pace to break his own TE receptions record he set last season with 126. Isaiah Likely has surprisingly seen the second most targets among TEs this season. Kittle returned from his Achilles injury and has not missed a beat, and he is fourth in first-read target share.
Thursday – Starts of the Week + Week 9 Games, Nasty Boys
News
¡Es tiempo de fútbol americano! The Ravens acquired Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals. Sam Darnold has been ruled out with a quad injury, and Drew Lock is expected to start. Joe Milton was named the Eagles’ starting QB for Week 9. Carson Wentz will start for the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. David Montgomery will not play in Week 9 and remains week-to-week. Cam Skattebo is dealing with a hamstring injury and is considered day-to-day. Mike Evans (Achilles), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), and Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) were DNPs on Wednesday. AJ Brown was a DNP with a knee injury, and TreVeyon Henderson is dealing with an illness.
Starts of the Week
Thursdays are when the Ballers give their weekly picks for starts of the week. The Ballers’ picks are meant to give you confidence in players you might have hesitancy to plug into your lineup for a multitude of reasons.
Fantasy Forecast
CIN vs ATL (CIN -3, O//U 52.5)
Chase Brown is the only regularly started Cincinnati Bengal who has not performed at an elite level so far this season, but the Ballers have him at RB8 this week. Mike Gesicki leads all TEs in yards per reception and receiving TDs. Kyle Pitts is Mike’s start of the week at TE, and his six targets per game over the last month are a good indicator of what workload Pitts could see against the Bengals in Madrid.
The FIRST QB in NFL history to complete 70%+ of his passes and throw 4+ TDs in 3 straight games…
🔥 JOE FREAKIN' BURROW🔥 pic.twitter.com/8fUGDxsgjo
— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) November 6, 2026
NYJ @ KC (KC-10, O/U 47.5)
Patrick Mahomes is Andy’s QB start of the week for Week 9. Breece Hall’s return murkies the water for Braelon Allen this week, who has averaged 5.6 yards per carry in his last four games. Garrett Wilson’s concussion clears the path for Omar Cooper Jr. and/or Adonai Mitchell to have another explosive game. However, Mike would bench both of them, even with Wilson’s absence.
DET @ MIA (DET -7, O/U 50.5)
Start every Detroit Lion most weeks, but especially against the Miami Dolphins. Caleb Douglas is Mike’s start of the week at WR, and Andy compared him to Khalil Shakir as a high-floor, low-ceiling, PPR-based play. Mike suggested playing Gordon II over Derrick Henry and Ashton Jeanty. Malik Willis was Andy’s Full Stream Ahead QB for Week 9, and the potential for garbage time is enticing.
DEN @ CAR (DEN -2.5, O/U 44.5)
Jonah Coleman is clearly the most exciting player on the Denver Broncos for fantasy football. Jaylen Waddle has just one game over 50 receiving yards, while Courtland Sutton has done nothing this season. Coleman is Mike’s start of the week at RB, but he is the only Bronco you should feel inclined to start this week. The Panthers have the lowest completion percentage of the year, but that should not discourage you from playing Tetairoa McMillan. Jalen Coker has just two games inside the top-20 this season, and the matchup against the Denver is scary. Chuba Hubbard has solidified himself as a weekly must-start at RB.
Friday -Week 9 Matchups + Maximum Kubes!
News
Fridays are one of the busiest days for injury news in the NFL, but this week had even more updates than usual. Garrett Wilson has been ruled out for Week 9 with a concussion, while Breece Hall is expected to play. A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson have been ruled out for the New England Patriots. Deshaun Watson has been ruled out with a concussion, and Shedeur Sanders will get the start for the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. Harold Fannin Jr. was added to the injury report on Thursday with a groin injury. Cam Skattebo (hamstring) and Malik Nabers (knee) were DNPs on Thursday. Saqon Barkley (hamstring, back) was upgraded to a limited practice while DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) were DNPs. Christian McCaffrey returned from a hamstring injury to a limited practice on Thursday. Emeka Egbuka was upgraded to a full practice.
Fantasy Forecast
GB @ NE (NE -3, O/U 44.5)
Jordan Love leads the NFL in passing yards this season, but the return of Josh Jacobs could lead to less passing volume for Green Bay. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden have cemented themselves as weekly must-starts, while Tucker Kraft has quietly averaged 11 PPG since Week 4. Drake Maye will be without A.J. Brown again in Week 9, but the Ballers have him as QB7 this week. Rhamondre Stevenson saw 22 opportunities last week and should see a similar market share without TreVeyon Henderson in Week 9.
LV @ SF (SF -10, O/U 51.5)
The Ballers have Brock Purdy as their consensus QB1 this week against the Raiders. Christian McCaffrey averages 1.03 fantasy points per carry, the most by an RB over the last decade. Brandin Cooks could be a dart-throw FLEX play with Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Christian Kirk dealing with injuries. That cleared the way for George Kittle to be the Ballers’ TE1 this week above Brock Bowers. Tre Tucker may see a couple deep targets in what should be a blowout, but his player archetype is hard to count on for fantasy. Ashton Jeanty is tough to put back into your lineup this week, but the Ballers have him at RB21.
TB @ CHI (CHI -6, O/U 47.5)
Caleb Williams is second in completion percentage so far this season, but his rushing upside has been limited since returning from his hamstring injury. D’Andre Swift is on pace for over 1,500 yards and 21 TDs, and the absence of Kyle Monangai keeps Swift as a weekly must-start. Luther Burden III has the same yards per route run (2.68) as CeeDee Lamb and is the Bears’ WR1. Colston Loveland leads the team in target share since Week 4 and is TE3 this week, ahead of Trey McBride. Bucky Irving is the only player on the Buccaneers worth starting this week, as Emeka Egbuka is recovering from a foot injury.
Caleb Williams doesn't miss 🎯 pic.twitter.com/RN2fOvgZud
— PFF (@PFF) November 4, 2026
BUF @ MIN (BUF -3, O/U 44.5)
The Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings are polar opposites, making this week’s Monday Night Football intriguing. The Bills have a league-high 59.1 combined PPG, while the Vikings have a league-low combined 33.3 PPG. Start the superstars in this game. Minnesota’s RB room of Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason is tough to start without knowing if either one will get significant receiving volume or who the goal-line back would be. T.J. Hockenson and Dalton Kincaid are playable at TE this week, but there are better options out there.
Fantasy Faceoff
Andy
QB: Joe Milton more than 10.5 longest rush
RB: Bucky Irving more than 11.5 rushing attempts
WR: Jameson Williams more than 52.5 receiving yards
TE: Tyler Warren more than 8 receiving targets
Mike
QB: Malik Willis more than 16.5 fantasy points
RB: Jonathan Taylor more than 61.5 rushing yards
WR: Nico Collins more than 67.5 receiving yards
TE: Kyle Pitts Sr. more than 19.5 receiving yards
Owl Borland
QB: Jordan Love more than 23 passing completions
RB: Bucky Irving more than 15.5 rushing attempts
WR: Matthew Golden more than 67.5 receiving yards
TE: Trey McBride more than 4.5 receptions