In his 215th start, a 40-year-old QB threw for 400+ yards for the first time in his career, topping his previous high by 81 yards. In his first start, the preseason RB71 became only the third running back this year to rush for 175+ yards. The overall WR21 scored zero fantasy points, despite his team posting its highest point total in seven years. And we witnessed the first 40+ point TE performance in four seasons and only the seventh in the past 20 seasons.
This was Sunday Week 9 in the NFL. This and much more. As always, let's walk through the most notable fantasy impact for each team, with an eye toward Saturday's column on the biggest pressure-point players.
Texans -- Saturday: "Nick Chubb has a career-low broken-tackle rate and is averaging 3.9 yards per carry since Week 2. Woody Marks looks as good or better most weeks. I believe the rookie is one more impressive performance away from taking the 1A role." Sunday: Neither running back stepped up, so we'll continue to wait. And managers have to brace for the possibility of Davis Mills starting next weekend if CJ Stroud doesn't clear the concussion protocol.
Broncos -- Saturday: "Troy Franklin has 18 targets, 108 receiving yards, and three touchdowns these past two games. Is he now a relatively safe weekly fantasy starter?" Sunday: He was once again Bo Nix's (his former college teammate) top target. Didn't do much with it, but managers can't ignore it.
Steelers -- Saturday: "Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin appear to be battling for the low-ceiling WR2 job. But in the midst of bye weeks, some managers need to know if they can trust of these wideouts." Sunday: Austin led Pittsburgh in receptions and receiving yards. Wilson fumbled his only catch. Advantage: Austin.
Colts -- Saturday: "Alec Pierce is somehow still relevant in a crowded receiver corps, collecting 8.9+ fantasy points in four of his last five outings." Sunday: Daniel Jones peppered him early, resulting in an incredible (by historical Pierce standards) 6-115-0 receiving line on a team-leading 13 targets. He's on pace for career-highs in catches and yards despite playing in the most crowded receiving corps of his career.
Giants -- Saturday: "Tyrone Tracy has run relatively poorly for much of the season. Can he recapture last year's magic as the re-installed bell cow?" Sunday: Not even close. While the negative game script didn't help, Devin Singletary clearly outplayed him. A less-than-ideal development heading into Week 10.
49ers -- Saturday: "A seemingly healthier Jauan Jennings could be the fantasy x-factor in an offense that's somehow #2 in passing yards per game despite playing primarily with a backup quarterback and backup receivers." Sunday: He led his WR teammates in targets, receptions, and yards.
Patriots -- Saturday: "Rhamondre Stevenson is out, which means TreVeyon Henderson *might* control his rest-of-season fantasy destiny." Sunday: If only it were that easy. Uber backup Terrell Jennings poached a score on 12 touches. Henderson remains a fringe weekly starter.
Falcons -- Saturday: "Drake London's return makes Kyle Pitts once again a 'start-and-hope' fantasy TE. Sunday: Um, yeah. London made Pitts and everyone else an offensive afterthought.
Titans -- Saturday: "Is rookie Chimere Dike now Tennessee's unquestioned #1 WR?" Sunday: Dike had his lowest fantasy turnout since his Week 1 debut, as Elic Ayomanor led the receiving corps . . . while posting his sixth consecutive single-digit fantasy performance.
Chargers -- Saturday: "Rookie Tre Harris led all Chargers WRs with 43 offensive snaps last week. It was the second time he's led his WR teammates in snaps, the first being a narrow Week 6 victory over Miami. Despite the crowded receiver corps, Harris is on the verge of being a must-roster wideout." Sunday: He's still on the verge. Possibly. The second-round rookie reeled in the Chargers' second reception in the opening minutes and then gave way to pretty much everyone else.
Packers -- One of the day's biggest fantasy stories: Tucker Kraft out for the year. Will Jordan Love's receivers ever be healthy at the same time? Luke Musgrave is a must-add in deeper leagues. The backup TE is a 2023 second-round pick who's struggled with injuries. But the talent is there.
Panthers -- Saturday: "It appears Rico Dowdle is not only Carolina's official 1A running back, but also might be handed bell cow duties. The opposing Packers are yielding the third-fewest RB fantasy points per game. This will be an important test for the re-ascending Dowdle." Sunday: Three weeks ago, I publicly shared that I didn't think Dowdle would have another dominant game this season. One or two very good games? Sure. But nothing like we saw yesterday. He's averaging 6.3 yards per carry since his Week 5 breakout.
Lions -- Saturday: "Is Jameson Williams a squeaky wheel about to be unleashed, or merely a low-floor WR with big-play abilities?" Sunday: That late touchdown elevated him from bad to solid fantasy-wise. At least it's a positive step.
Vikings -- Saturday: "J.J. McCarthy is back under center. The question is whether this is good news for Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison." Sunday: It wasn't pretty, and apparently it didn't have to be to get a much-needed divisional road win. Still, managers have to proceed cautiously as the still-green quarterback finds his footing and his chemistry with Jefferson, Addison, and TJ Hockenson.
Bengals -- Saturday: "While Joe Flacco is questionable for this one, I'm more interested in whether Ja'Marr Chase's unprecedented 42 targets these past two weeks is remotely sustainable." Sunday: This time Flacco (career-high 470 passing yards) didn't try to force it to his #1 WR, instead spreading 30 combined targets to Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, and Chase Brown. And remember, Higgins was last year's WR6 in points per game. There's room for multiple guys to shine in a Flacco-led aerial attack.
Bears -- Saturday: "Seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai gets a dream spot-start with D'Andre Swift out at least one game. Monangai isn't as lively in the passing game, meaning he'll probably be more reliant on volume." Sunday: One of this season's most entertaining contests, and Monangai was a big reason why. Rough news for those only rostering Swift, as the rookie already looked capable coming into this game. Also, DJ Moore finally racked up 13+ points -- something he did eight times last year and nine times the year before. He and ascending rookie Colston Loveland (and Monangai's 29 touches) are big reasons why Rome Odunze posted a zero.
Rams -- Saturday: "Is Matthew Stafford still a safe fantasy start with Puka Nacua returning?" Sunday: Poorly worded. My intent was to ask whether Stafford would go back to being safe now that his #1 WR has returned. The answer was a resounding "yes." He's now the QB7 in points per game.
Saints -- Saturday: "26-year-old rookie Tyler Shough faces longshot odds to elevate Chris Olave or anyone else." Sunday: Juwan Johnson led the team with only 12.1 points. And Alvin Kamara looks finished. He hasn't exceeded 31 rushing yards in any of his last five contests, during which he's averaged 2.95 YPC. Hard to see a path for fantasy relevance on this team.
Raiders -- Saturday: "There is a somewhat realistic scenario where this will be Geno Smith's and Jakobi Meyers' final starts as Raiders." Sunday: Meyers? Sure. But Smith might have earned himself a few more starts, thanks in large part to the returning Brock Bowers, who had the first 40+ point TE effort since Week 15 of the 2021 season, when Travis Kelce topped 40 by scoring 31.2 in the final nine minutes of regulation and overtime.
Jaguars -- Saturday: "With Travis Hunter on IR, can managers finally start Brian Thomas with relative confidence?" A resounding "no." I didn't give Parker Washington enough credit heading into this one. For now, Thomas truly is a dart throw.
Bills -- Saturday: "Khalil Shakir sometimes seems close to locking down the alpha WR role. But Keon Coleman still looms." Sunday: Shakir was Josh Allen's #1 target, while Coleman finished with only two catches for 17 yards on two looks.
Chiefs -- Saturday: "With Isiah Pacheco sidelined, can managers trust Kareem Hunt and/or Brashard Smith as streamers?" Sunday: Hunt (barely) came through, thanks to a fourth-quarter TD. Also notable: my podcast episode ("Why I Traded QB1 Patrick Mahomes") walked through why these next four weeks would be rough.
Commanders -- Saturday: "The opposing Seahawks are giving up a league-low 3.3 yards per carry. Jacory Croskey-Merritt remains a touchdown-dependent dart throw." Sunday: Jayden Daniels suffered an arm injury and JCM gave way to the more effective Chris Rodriguez near the goal line.
Seahawks -- Saturday: "As always, Kenneth Walker vs. Zach Charbonnet." Sunday: The battle continues. More urgently, Tory Horton crushed it on only four targets, far exceeding my expectations for his fantasy production. I dropped Cooper Kupp yesterday morning with few regrets. I now have zero regrets. Horton is the better rest-of-season bet.
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* Today's FF4W podcast, episode 104: "Kyle Monangai, Rico Dowdle, and 'the Lottery Ticket vs the Hedge'" -- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-for-winners/id1800490745