Joshua Larky, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports Thu, November 5, 2026 at 11:38 PM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, we nailed the Jonathan Taylor fade as he failed to reach five fantasy points against the Jaguars . I'm determined to get our bold calls right once again, as we continue to study the matchups and the data behind them.
This week, while we only have two byes to contend with (Steelers, Titans), fantasy managers have been hit with a litany of quarterback injuries and/or changes in starters ( Ravens , Vikings , Seahawks , Cardinals, Eagles).
Every week, I'll continue to identify and write up players that are not obviously starts or sits. Regardless of matchup, you're starting someone like Puka Nacua every week, so I try to go a few layers deeper than your early-round fantasy studs.
Note: Projections refer to player props in the betting and prediction markets, which are a valuable reference tool for anyone playing fantasy football.
Willis' play has improved as the season has moved along. He's now thrown for over 200 yards and multiple passing touchdowns in back-to-back contests. The Dolphins ' skill position groups are not inspiring, though they're deep enough to look like passable units at this stage.
The main reason for optimism, though, is the matchup against Detroit. Quarterbacks average 6.5 more fantasy points per game against Detroit than expected, throwing for 298 yards per game and nearly three passing touchdowns per game.
The Lions have also struggled to stop mobile quarterbacks, and the loss of Jack Campbell to a scary neck injury in Week 8 certainly won't help their chances of keeping Willis' legs in check.
Consider Willis a fringe top-12 fantasy option given the matchup.
Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) Week 5: New England Patriots cheerleaders perform during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 5: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as Brock Purdy #13 leaves the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) Week 5: A Seattle Seahawks fan cheers during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) Week 5: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson does a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears, 31-7 . (Sarah Kloepping, Green Bay Press-Gazette) Week 5: Fans look on from the stands during the game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The game ended in a 27-27 tie . (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) Week 5: The mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaxson de Ville, performs before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Jaguars won the game, 19-17 . (Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 5: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on October 8, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) Week 5: Singer and songwriter Lainey Wilson dances with members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) Week 4: The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders take the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium. (Darren Yamashita, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: Seattle Seahawks fans hold cutouts of quarterback Sam Darnold prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lumen Field. (Joe Nicholson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: Houston Texans mascot Toro and Superfan pose for a photo prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium. (Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders perform before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium. (Jonathan Dyer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: A young fan of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the start of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: Washington Commanders mascot Major Tuddy holds a camera during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. (Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 3: Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform during the "Sunday Night Football" game against the Los Angeles Rams at Empower Field at Mile High.
Week 3: The Maracanã Stadium gets set to host the International Series game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Week 3: Corgi dog competitions take place during halftime of the game between the Detroit Lions and New York Jets at Ford Field.
Week 3: A fan looks on during warmups prior to the game between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Week 2: Singer Taylor Swift watches the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 2: The Canadian and U.S. anthems are sung during a pregame ceremony before the "Thursday Night Football" game between Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at new Highmark Stadium.
Week 1: Singer Taylor Swift and actor Tom Cruise attend the "Monday Night Football" game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 1: Fans arrive ahead of the NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (in Melbourne, Australia. The 49ers won the first NFL game played in Australia, 27-7 .
Week 1: Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam perform during halftime of the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
1 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) 1 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) 2 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: New England Patriots cheerleaders perform during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 3 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as Brock Purdy #13 leaves the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 4 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: A Seattle Seahawks fan cheers during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 5 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson does a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears, 31-7 . (Sarah Kloepping, Green Bay Press-Gazette) 6 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: Fans look on from the stands during the game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The game ended in a 27-27 tie . (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) 7 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: The mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaxson de Ville, performs before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Jaguars won the game, 19-17 . (Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 8 / 37 NFL Week 5 highlights, standout performances and reactions Week 5: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on October 8, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) 9 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: Singer and songwriter Lainey Wilson dances with members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) 10 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders take the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium. (Darren Yamashita, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 11 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: Seattle Seahawks fans hold cutouts of quarterback Sam Darnold prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lumen Field. (Joe Nicholson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 12 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: Houston Texans mascot Toro and Superfan pose for a photo prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium. (Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 13 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders perform before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium. (Jonathan Dyer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 14 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: A young fan of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the start of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 15 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: Washington Commanders mascot Major Tuddy holds a camera during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. (Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 16 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 3: Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform during the "Sunday Night Football" game against the Los Angeles Rams at Empower Field at Mile High.
Week 3: The Maracanã Stadium gets set to host the International Series game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Week 3: Corgi dog competitions take place during halftime of the game between the Detroit Lions and New York Jets at Ford Field.
Week 3: A fan looks on during warmups prior to the game between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Week 2: Singer Taylor Swift watches the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 2: The Canadian and U.S. anthems are sung during a pregame ceremony before the "Thursday Night Football" game between Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at new Highmark Stadium.
Week 1: Singer Taylor Swift and actor Tom Cruise attend the "Monday Night Football" game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 1: Fans arrive ahead of the NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (in Melbourne, Australia. The 49ers won the first NFL game played in Australia, 27-7 .
Week 1: Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam perform during halftime of the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
The Panthers are a top-three matchup for running backs after adjusting for opponents faced. The counting stats are impressive, too, as running backs have now scored 11 touchdowns in just seven games against Carolina.
In Week 9, Coleman monopolized the high value touches that lead to fantasy points. Coleman handled all four of the team's goal line carries and also received all four of the team's running back targets. His total yardage prop for Week 9 is over 80 yards, as well − another sign that the masses believe Coleman has already iced veteran JK Dobbins.
The Panthers have come back to earth after a surprising first month of the season and are currently home underdogs against the Broncos . Expect game script and the touches to be there for Coleman, who is a top-15 fantasy option this week.
The Bills have struggled against outside receivers this year, presenting Jefferson with the second-best matchup of Week 9. Jefferson is the WR29 in fantasy points per game right now, so I understand why most readers will be skeptical initially.
However, Carson Wentz is expected to draw the start this week , and he's a far better fit for Jefferson and his skill set. In Week 1, Jefferson had his best game of the year with Wentz, catching eight passes for 92 yards and two scores.
The Bills (3.5-point favorites with a 45.5-point game total) should put up enough points on the Vikings to force Wentz and company to drop back and pass 30-plus times.
Hold your nose and consider Jefferson a top-12 option this week.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the NFL game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Greg Dulcich vs. the Lions The Lions are currently allowing a ludicrous nine catches, 98 yards and more than 1.5 touchdowns per game to the tight end position. All three of those marks lead the league by a decent margin.
Even after adjusting for the Lions' schedule, they're still allowing 11.3 more fantasy points per game than expected to opposing tight ends.
Dulcich in his own right has been solid, averaging over four catches and 55 yards per game over his past three contests. For those in a pinch at tight end, Dulcich should be a high floor streamer with a promising ceiling in Week 9.
Ferguson started practicing Wednesday, though we don't know yet if he'll be activated off Injured Reserve. Consider this a crystal ball lookahead (if he plays) and please ignore this write-up if Ferguson is held out until Week 10.
The Rams really, really need a second option to emerge alongside Puka Nacua now that Davante Adams is on Injured Reserve.
After the Lions, the Commanders are the next-best matchup for fantasy tight ends, and Ferguson most recently caught six of nine targets for 54 yards and a score in his last healthy game.
Matthew Stafford is the king-maker in fantasy football, and Ferguson is a top-12 option in Week 9 if he plays.
Right now, I'm assuming AJ Brown (knee) won't play. Hunter Henry also looks likely to miss this matchup, and Romeo Doubs is on Injured Reserve already.
The Patriots are thin at pass-catcher and the Packers ' defense is beginning to hit its stride. They are now top-five in quarterback pressure rate and have an extra three days of rest after beating the Panthers on Thursday night last week.
Maye struggled against a much-inferior Dolphins defense last week, failing to eclipse 200 passing yards. While Maye isn't a sit necessarily, there are eight quarterbacks I'd rather start this week (Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Wiliams, Jared Goff, Patrick Mahomes).
The Rams have locked down the slot this year. While cornerback Jaylen Watson's season-ending shoulder injury affects the Rams defense overall, I'm anticipating that Antonio Williams and Treylon Burks are the primary beneficiaries as a result.
Diggs' role really hasn't changed much with Terry McLaurin out for the season. To-date, the veteran Diggs has gotten by in fantasy football through touchdowns. He's caught five through six games played, which has hidden his concerning 42 receiving yards per game.
Only one receiver has reached 40 slot yards against the Rams this year, and Diggs' touchdown odds are just 33% in betting markets. Put another way, Vegas isn't buying that Diggs' touchdown rate this year is sustainable.
Diggs is in the fantasy WR3 conversation this week due to the tough matchup.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 7 best and worst fantasy football matchups for Week 9
Source: Sports
0 Comments