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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Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (groin) has been ruled out for his team's Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a nagging groin issue, per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. The 26-year-old has recorded 656 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 118 total touches through seven games so far this season. It's unclear how long Swift will be sidelined, but Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that the groin issue is something Swift has been dealing with for multiple weeks. Without Swift in Week 9, the Bears will likely rely heavily on rookie running back Kyle Monangai. Monangai has been efficient on a limited workload so far this season, recording 247 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 48 total touches. He profiles as a must-start fantasy running back in a highly favorable matchup against Cincinnati in Week 9.

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Carolina Panthers beat writer Joe Person reports that running back Rico Dowdle will "start and get the bulk of the carries" in his team's Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Dowdle posted a dominant two-week stretch in early October when Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard was sidelined by a calf injury. Across two games against the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, Dowdle recorded 473 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 50 touches. In the two games since Hubbard has returned to the field, the two backs have split touches. However, it appears that will change in Week 9. It's unlikely that Hubbard's role in Carolina's offense will completely disappear. Still, Dowdle has a chance to see the majority of backfield snaps, which puts him on track to be a fantasy RB2 in Week 9 against Green Bay.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett "got the majority of snaps during the individual portion of drills" during the team's practice on Friday, per ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. Weinfuss also reports that Brissett was throwing to wide receivers at the top of Arizona's depth chart, while quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) was working with the reserves. Brissett started in place of Murray in each of the Cardinals' last two games before their Week 8 bye while Murray was sidelined by a foot sprain. Earlier reporting indicated that Murray was being prepped to return in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, but it appears Arizona's QB situation remains up in the air. Brissett has played well in his two starts this season, completing 64.2% of his 80 pass attempts for 599 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. If he's pressed into action again in Week 9, he profiles as a mid-tier fantasy QB2 in a favorable matchup against Dallas.

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Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (groin) has been on the team's injury report since Week 7, and head coach Ben Johnson believes the lingering groin issue dates back even earlier than that. To Swift's credit, he has played in every game this year and has not seen fewer than 13 opportunities in any of them. With the Bears currently sitting one spot outside the playoff picture, Johnson understands the importance of balancing the short and long-term health of his team. Rookie Kyle Monangai was a popular Week 8 waiver wire add after seeing a season-high in snaps, carries, and yards in the team's Week 7 win over the Saints. And while he didn't see that type of usage in last week's loss to the Ravens, he was still on the field for 29 offensive snaps, compared to Swift's 31. In positive game scripts moving forward, the Bears might be more inclined to rest Swift, making the rookie a hold with a stretch of winnable games coming up for Chicago.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) has officially been ruled out of Sunday's marquee matchup with the Bills. The team described Pacheco as week-to-week after an MCL sprain knocked him out of Monday night's win over the Commanders, so the designation comes as no surprise. Kansas City is on a Week 10 bye, so there is a hope that Pacheco could miss only one game, but for as long as he's out, veteran Kareem Hunt is expected to handle the bulk of the team's carries, especially near the goal line. Rookie Brashard Smith is also likely to see an uptick in usage, primarily in third-down and two-minute situations, making him a viable flex option in deeper leagues and PPR formats.

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Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro pass-rusher and the NFL's reigning sack king, Trey Hendrickson (hip), is doubtful for the team's Week 9 matchup with the Bears. Hendrickson missed one game with a hip injury before returning for the Bengals' surprise loss to the Jets in Week 8. Having missed practice all week, he is unlikely to play in Cincinnati's final game before the NFL trade deadline. While trade rumors have followed Hendrickson since training camp, the team has maintained that he will not be moved. The Bengals enter Week 9 with a 3-5 record that is good enough for second place in the AFC North, so how they fare on Sunday could affect how willing they are to become buyers or sellers at Tuesday's deadline.

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Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (knee/shoulder) was spotted during the stretching portion of Friday's practice after logging two straight DNPs. Schultz has provided a consistent fantasy floor for managers streaming the position, putting together a string of four consecutive games with at least five receptions before being held to only two catches for 24 yards in a Week 8 win over the 49ers. The Texans face a stingy Broncos defense in Week 9, and with Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) both appearing set to return, along with the recent emergence of rookies Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, streamers would do best to look elsewhere this week.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (illness) was a full participant at Friday's practice. Legette had been held out of the week's first two practices with an illness, but he appears to have recovered, and he carries no injury designation heading into the team's Week 9 matchup with the Packers. With quarterback Bryce Young (ankle) also carrying no injury designation after missing one week with an ankle sprain, the Panthers' offense will look to get back on track after putting up fewer than 250 total yards and scoring only nine points in that Week 8 loss to the Bills. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere, though, as Legette's Week 7 explosion against the Jets is looking more like an outlier than a breakout, and Jalen Coker continues to see his usage increase since returning from the quad injury that caused him to miss the first six games of the year.

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