Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring) is questionable for the Week 9 meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs. Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) are on the shelf, so there are opportunities for others to get involved. However, Shepard may not be one of them, with the veteran wideout missing a few practices throughout the week after tweaking his hamstring in Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. If Shepard plays, he could be rostered for streaming purposes, although he'll be a risky option for fantasy managers. But if he doesn't, Cade Otton, Jalen McMillan, and Trey Palmer would be the favorites to see more attention from Baker Mayfield.

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Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams didn't take advantage of a plus matchup in the Week 8 win over the Carolina Panthers, rushing 17 times or 44 yards, although he did have a season-high 21 touches. Meanwhile, Jaleel McLaughlin led in rushing and scored again. Williams' best game of 2024 came the week prior against the New Orleans Saints, when he scored his first two touchdowns of the year. Denver's offense has improved under rookie QB Bo Nix of late, but Williams' big Week 8 performance could prove to be more of an outlier. The Broncos could be forced to pass often against Baltimore's strong defense this weekend, although Williams has been plenty involved in the passing attack in 2024, catching at least three passes in each of the last four weeks. He's in play as an RB3/flex in fantasy against a Baltimore defense that has been more vulnerable on the ground recently.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott won't play on Sunday versus the Atlanta Falcons. He didn't travel with the team, with the Cowboys declaring him inactive due to disciplinary reasons. The 29-year-old hasn't been productive during the 2024-25 campaign, totaling only 149 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, meaning there aren't many who will be directly impacted by the news. Rico Dowdle (illness) will be back in the mix after missing Sunday night's meeting with the 49ers, so he'll lessen most of the blow caused by Elliott's absence. Dalvin Cook, elevated off the practice squad on Saturday, should also get some work in Week 9, although not enough to be relevant in most fantasy formats.

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Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix heads into a Week 9 showdown on the road against the Baltimore Ravens after throwing for a season-high 284 yards and three touchdowns to take advantage of a cushy matchup versus the Carolina Panthers. Facing the Ravens on the road surely won't be an easy task, but Nix does line up for another plus matchup from a fantasy perspective, as Baltimore's struggling defense has allowed the third-most fantasy points to QBs in 2024 and the most passing yards per game (291.4). Nix and Denver's offense started the year off very slow and inconsistent, but they've found their footing as Nix continues to show improvement in his first year. The 24-year-old from Oregon is suddenly the QB10 in overall fantasy scoring after eight weeks and has thrown just one interception in the last six weeks after throwing four in his first two games in the league.

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Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo projects to be a risky option heading into Week 9 when he faces the New England Patriots. The 25-year-old has yet to eclipse double-digit PPR points this season and has averaged a mere 5.0 PPR points per game. However, he did a season-high five targets last weekend but could only bring in two of them. However, with wide receiver Tyler Boyd (shoulder) listed as questionable, Okonkwo could emerge as the No.3 option in the passing attack behind Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Even though he could see a modest workload, he is best off leaving out of your lineup given his inconsistencies this season.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook was elevated off the practice squad to play in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. Cook made his Cowboy debut last weekend and tallied just 12 rushing yards off six attempts. He caught his lone target for ten yards. With Rico Dowdle (illness) sitting out, Cook was deployed as the No. 2 option in the backfield behind Ezekiel Elliott. However, with Dowdle expected to return to action, Cook will likely be in a depth role this weekend and not have an integral part in the offensive attack. Fantasy managers should view the 29-year-old as a handcuff option in deeper formats that has little to no standalone value.

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Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut could be poised for an increased workload on Sunday afternoon against the New England Patriots. With Tyjae Spears (hamstring) already ruled out, Chestnut is expected to open the game as the No.2 option. However, the lead running back Tony Pollard (foot) is listed as questionable which could open the door for Chestnut to start. In addition, Pollard has not practiced this week, which is not a promising sign for his availability. Chestnut has played three seasons with the Titans but has logged only 20 attempts with 61 yards and four catches for 50 yards. If he gets the start, he would be viewed as a low-end flex option, simply off volume.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine could be worth a look as a high-risk flex option in deep 3WR formats in Week 9. Last weekend, the 27-year-old eclipsed double-digit PPR points for the first time this season and found the end zone for the third straight week. This weekend, Westbrook-Ikhine could continue to have a prominent role in the Tennessee passing attack as wideout Tyler Boyd (shoulder) is listed as questionable. If Boyd cannot suit up, Westbrook-Ikhine would be deployed as the clear No.2 wide receiver opposite of Calvin Ridley. He could enjoy another productive weekend facing the Patriots, who have allowed the 19th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph should be viewed as a QB2 if he is given the starting nod on Sunday afternoon. Rudolph has started in each of the past two games and could get his third opportunity with Will Levis (shoulder), who is listed as questionable. Last weekend, Rudolph scored 26.2 PPR points as he threw for 266 yards with a score and added 29 yards and a rushing score on the ground. However, in his first start, Rudolph scored only 16.1 PPR points. This weekend, he faces a tough New England defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest points to opposing QBs. Fantasy managers in deeper Superflex leagues should only view the 29-year-old as a desperation QB2.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) has been ruled out for Week 9, according to Matt McMullen of the Kansas City Chiefs. The veteran wideout has been unable to practice all week and will now miss his second-straight contest after suffering a hamstring injury during Week 7. Smith-Schuster enjoyed a nice performance in Week 6, bringing in seven passes for 130 yards but has to have any fantasy impact since. Fantasy managers in deeper 3WR formats should continue to stash Smith-Schuster, as he could eventually have a stable role in the Kansas City passing attack. This weekend, DeAndre Hopkins and Travis Kelce should be expected to see the majority of opportunities facing a Tampa secondary that has struggled to defend the pass.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) is dealing with a knee injury that isn't considered a major issue and is expected to play in Week 9 on Sunday against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. Nacua's injury was described to The Athletic's Dianna Russini as "nothing crazy." The Rams listed Nacua as questionable for the weekend, but fantasy managers should leave the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher in their starting lineups. Just make sure to check he's officially active on Sunday, as expected, after he banged up his knee during Thursday's practice. He's not dealing with any structural damage, though, and will be looking for an encore after going for seven catches (nine targets) and 106 yards in the Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday. Nacua hasn't scored in the two games he's played in this year, but he's a must-start in fantasy when active.

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The Athletic's Dianna Russini writes that the Kansas City Chiefs may not be done adding wide receivers via trade with Skyy Moore (core) on Injured Reserve. General manager Brett Veach already acquired receiver DeAndre Hopkins and linebacker Joshua Uche well before the NFL trade deadline this coming Tuesday, and if a wideout falls into their laps, sources are saying the Chiefs won't hesitate to act. If Kansas City opts to add another defensive player, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would love a fast, young cornerback to help improve their secondary. In the Week 8 win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, tight end Travis Kelce led the team in receiving, catching 10 of 12 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown, with rookie receiver Xavier Worthy also finding the end zone. Hopkins had just two catches for 29 yards in his team debut.

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Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner ranks as a high-end RB2 when the Cardinals host the Chicago Bears in Week 9. Conner had over 20 touches last week in the win over the Miami Dolphins. He has benefited from his heavy workload, ranking in the top 10 in rushing attempts this season. His volume makes him an appealing player in fantasy each week, as, despite his inefficiency last week, he still found the end zone. The Chicago Bears rank 10th in points allowed to opposing fantasy running backs, presenting a challenging matchup. Even against the stout Bears front, Conner's workload makes him a viable starter in fantasy.

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The Carolina Panthers continue to receive calls from interested teams in former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, but the Panthers aren't considering moving him at this time, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Young will make a second straight start in Week 9 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints, and Carolina was encouraged by his improvements in the Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. NFL executives think that if the Panthers eventually decide to trade him, they'll get a better deal in the offseason. Young is apparently off the table for now in a trade, but the Panthers are believed to be open to dealing running back Miles Sanders and edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney. The 23-year-old Young went 24-for-37 for 224 yards with his first touchdown of the year and two picks last Sunday. Don't expect much improvement, if any, against the Saints this week with Diontae Johnson out of town and rookie receiver Xavier Legette (toe) questionable to play.

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The Athletic's Dianna Russini doesn't expect the New York Jets to move wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams and cornerback D.J. Reed by Tuesday's NFL trade deadline. The Jets have been receiving calls about the availability of Wilson and Reed lately. New York needs to do a lot of work to even be in the playoff picture by the end of the regular season, but they took a step forward by beating the Houston Texans on Thursday night to improve their record to 3-6. Wilson caught nine of his 10 targets for 90 yards and two touchdowns in the 21-13 win and is still a must-start for fantasy managers despite the recent addition of Adams. Adams also had a strong game in Week 8, going for seven receptions on 11 targets for 91 yards and a score against Houston. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will continue to lean heavily on his top two pass-catchers.

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The Athletic's Dianna Russini doesn't expect the Los Angeles Rams to trade veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp by Tuesday's NFL trade deadline despite being open to moving him this time a week ago. On the flip side, the Rams are trying to move cornerback Tre'Davious White. Kupp returned last Thursday night in the win over the Minnesota Vikings from an ankle injury that he suffered in Week 2. The 31-year-old caught five of his eight target for 51 yards and a touchdown and now has 23 catches on 35 targets for 198 yards and two touchdowns in his three games played in 2024. Kupp took a back seat to second-year wideout Puka Nacua, who was returning from a knee injury he suffered in Week 1, but as long as Kupp is able to remain healthy the rest of the way, he'll be a must-start fantasy receiver. He should be considered a low-end WR1 on Sunday versus the division-rival Seattle Seahawks.

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The New York Giants, who are sitting in last place in the NFC East heading into Week 9 action, are reportedly shopping young edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. The Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals are three teams that are known to be monitoring Ojulari. The Giants are already paying linebacker Brian Burns and spent a top-five draft selection on Kayvon Thibodeaux. It makes sense that the G-Men and general manager Joe Schoen are trying to get something in return for Ojulari now since he's set to hit the free-agent market after the season. The 24-year-old is a big reason why the Giants lead the NFL in sacks. He had two more sacks in the Monday night loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and is now up to six on the year, which is third on the Giants. The fourth-year player needs just three more sacks in 2024 to set a new career-high.

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The Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams has been nowhere close to the level of play they've shown in the past. They have one of the worst units against the pass this season and sit as the 23rd-ranked fantasy defense of the year. They're averaging 5.0 fantasy points per game and lost to the Cleveland Browns in Week 8. Now they take on the Denver Broncos in Week 9, a team that has proven that they have the ability to put up some big scoring weeks with rookie quarterback Bo Nix under center. Usually, the Ravens are good against rookie quarterbacks, but this year has been nothing like years past, so they're not the best option this week.

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New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye (concussion) has cleared the league's concussion protocol and has been removed from the Week 9 injury report on Saturday. Maye was officially listed as questionable on Friday to play in Sunday's contest against the Tennessee Titans after being limited in practice all week as he worked his way through the protocols. The 22-year-old first-rounder suffered a concussion in the Week 8 win over the division-rival New York Jets but won't be forced to miss any time. Maye only attempted six passes before getting knocked out of last Sunday's contest, but he threw for a season-high 276 yards and two touchdowns the previous week in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now that he's in the clear for Week 9, Maye should be considered a low-end QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues against a Titans defense that has been stingy against opposing QBs in 2024.

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The red-hot Washington Commanders are calling around in search of a cornerback as Tuesday's NFL trade deadline nears, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Head coach Dan Quinn knows that the team's secondary is a weakness. Washington is 6-2, but if they want to get past the Philadelphia Eagles and their excellent group of receivers in the NFC East, they need to improve their pass defense in the second half of the season. Despite the Commanders' glaring weakness in their secondary, they are only allowing 202.1 passing yards per game through eight weeks, which ranks as the sixth-fewest in the league. Still, it won't be a surprise if Washington adds help at cornerback before the NFL's trade deadline this coming Tuesday.

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