The New Orleans Saints D/ST struggled again in Week 8, giving up 26 points to the Los Angeles Chargers. The team did record three sacks (which matched their output over their last three games) and a safety to salvage the day but failed to crack double-digits in fantasy points for the sixth time this season. In Week 9, the Saints get a rematch against the Carolina Panthers, who delivered the Saints' highest-scoring performance in 2024. In that game, New Orleans held Carolina to 10 points, had four sacks, and picked up three takeaways. Unfortunately, New Orleans is missing some key pieces in their secondary. Paulson Adebo (leg) broke his femur last week and both Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) have already been declared out. Still, until Bryce Young gives cause to do otherwise it is safe to bet against him.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip) logged a DNP to start the week followed by a pair of limited practices on Thursday and Friday. He will carry a questionable tag going into Week 9's matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The seldom-used wideout saw an uptick in usage in Weeks 6 and 7 as injuries to Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) left New Orleans short on experienced pass catchers. He was the top receiver in Week 7, catching six of seven targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. However, he picked up a hip injury that kept him out of Week 8 entirely. Even if he is active on Sunday he will be competing for targets against Mason Tipton and recent signee Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

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New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson had three catches for 48 yards in Week 8, matching his season highs in both categories set in Week 6. Johnson is in line to better those numbers in Week 9 when the Saints go up against the Carolina Panthers, who have allowed more fantasy points per game and touchdowns to opposing tight ends than any other team. In Week 1 against the Panthers Johnson had two catches for 26 yards and his only touchdown of the season to date. Johnson showed good rapport with quarterback Spencer Rattler while he filled in for Derek Carr (oblique) but he will be better served by the former, who is set to return to action for the first time since Week 5. Johnson might be viable as a streamer in fantasy lineups tested by injuries and bye weeks and is an intriguing option for DFS players.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill caught two of his four targets for 21 yards, took four carries for 20 yards, and completed his lone pass attempt for a three-yard gain in Week 8 against the Chargers. He also forced a fumble while playing on special teams that resulted in a safety. It was his first game back after a three-week absence due to a rib injury and featured his heaviest usage yet. In Week 9, Hill is suited for an even bigger game. Another week removed from injury, Hill will be facing the Panthers who have allowed the most fantasy points to both running backs and tight ends in 2024. With Jamaal Williams (groin) doubtful and Kendre Miller (hamstring) already out, Hill will likely act as Alvin Kamara's primary backup. Hill's atypical usage makes his boom games difficult to predict but conditions are favorable in Week 9, making him worthy of a stream for managers needing a solution at tight end.

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New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe converted field goal attempts from 40 and 43 yards out in Week 8 before missing a 44-yarder in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was his first missed field goal attempt of the season. He was not able to try for an extra point as the Saints were held out of the end zone in the 26-8 loss and remains a perfect 20-for-20 on the season. In Week 9, Grupe and the Saints take on the Panthers in a rematch of their Week 1 blowout wherein Grupe had his highest-scoring game of the season. In that matchup, he converted five extra points and had four field goals, including two from over 50 yards away. New Orleans figures to put up big numbers once more against Carolina's soft defense, paving the way for another big day for Grupe. Fantasy managers in need of a streaming option can plug him into their Week 9 lineups.

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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (hand/ribs) was limited in practice all week, nursing a fracture in both his hand and a rib. Kamara carries no injury designation going into Week 9's game against the Carolina Panthers, however. In Week 1, Kamara had a total of 20 touches for 110 scrimmage yards and a touchdown and is in line for another big game on Sunday. Jamaal Williams (groin) is doubtful and Kendre Miller (hamstring) is already listed as out, making Kamara the lone healthy running back on the Saints' active roster. Already a key component of New Orleans' offense, Kamara will see an even higher snap share than usual with Taysom Hill seeing increased run as well. Carolina has given up more touchdowns (15) to opposing running backs than any other team. Kamara is as close as you can get to a lock for RB1 status.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave had his first 100-yard game of the season in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. In Week 9, Olave has a weaker opponent in the Carolina Panthers and a better quarterback as Derek Carr is set to return to the field for the first time since injuring his oblique in Week 5. Injuries to Rashid Shaheed (knee) and Bub Means (ankle) have thinned out the wide receiver room so Olave will have less competition for targets. In the Saints' Week 1 blowout of the Panthers, Olave was targeted just twice and caught both for a disappointing 11 yards. Expectations can be set closer to last week's performance rather than the season debut but his production may still be hampered if New Orleans take advantage of Carolina's porous run defense. Olave looks like a mid-range WR2 in Week 9.

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A week after leading his team in targets, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Mason Tipton drew just two in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers and finished the game with two catches for 14 yards. With fellow rookie Bub Means (ankle) declared out and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip) tagged as questionable for Week 9, Tipton is suddenly next in line behind Chris Olave at wide receiver. Even with the dramatic jump up the depth chart, Tipton will be hard to trust against the lowly Carolina Panthers. The Saints' Week 1 blowout of their division rival featured the use of their running backs and tight ends, positions that the Panthers have continued to struggle against mightily. A similar game plan this time around would leave Tipton short on usage. He can be left on the wire in 12-team leagues in favor of players with more certain roles.

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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton enters Week 9 against the Washington Commanders amid trade rumors and coming off a productive game against Pittsburgh, where he led the team with 108 receiving yards on four catches, including a deep 43-yard reception. Slayton has shown his big-play ability this season, averaging 14.5 yards per catch and posting 420 total yards, although he's managed only one touchdown across 29 receptions. Facing a Washington defense ranked 19th against fantasy wide receivers but allowing just 186.8 passing yards per game (sixth in the NFL), Slayton's upside will hinge on his connection with Daniel Jones on vertical plays. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues might view Slayton as a potential flex, especially with a higher volume, if the Giants look to showcase him ahead of the trade deadline.

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New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson will look to make an impact in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders following a quiet Week 8 performance, where he managed five catches for 30 yards. Robinson has been a reliable short-yardage option for the Giants this season, racking up 333 yards and two touchdowns on 48 receptions, though he's averaging just 6.9 yards per catch. Facing a Washington defense that ranks 19th against fantasy wide receivers but is sixth in overall pass defense (allowing only 186.8 passing yards per game), Robinson's ceiling remains capped by limited downfield usage. However, his consistent target share (72 targets) makes him a possible PPR flex option in deep leagues.

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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers remains the team's top target heading into their Week 9 matchup against the Washington Commanders, aiming to build on his strong season. Nabers has tallied 498 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 46 receptions, averaging 10.8 yards per catch, and his consistent involvement (73 targets) highlights his central role in the Giants' offense. Last week against Pittsburgh, he showed big-play potential, narrowly missing additional yards and a touchdown due to minor execution issues. The Commanders' pass defense ranks sixth overall, allowing only 186.8 passing yards per game. Still, they sit at 19th against fantasy wide receivers, making Nabers a fantasy starter with upside if he capitalizes on his end-zone opportunities.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will look to bounce back in Week 9 at home against the Washington Commanders after a challenging outing in Week 8, where he finished without a touchdown and threw one interception in the Giants' 26-18 loss to Pittsburgh. Jones has struggled to find the end zone this season, tallying just six passing touchdowns and zero rushing scores, which has limited his fantasy production to 14.73 points per game, ranking him 26th among QBs. He'll face a Washington defense that's been solid against opposing quarterbacks, ranking 13th in fantasy points allowed to the position and allowing only 12 passing TDs all season. Given Washington's sixth-ranked pass defense (186.8 yards per game), Jones projects as a low-ceiling option for fantasy managers, especially without a single 300-yard passing game this season.

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Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little should serve as an average kicker at best against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9. Little put up nine fantasy points against the Green Bay Packers last week and reached double digits against the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts in Weeks 5 and 6. Despite the Jaguars struggling on offense for a lot of the season, Little has been okay in fantasy as the offense has been just serviceable enough. They could put up multiple field goal attempts against a tough Eagles defense but with all their injuries, the offense could struggle even more than usual. Unless the Jaguars can somehow keep the game close and move the ball enough to attempt field goals, it's hard to imagine Little having much upside. Feel free to avoid Little for other higher upside options in Week 9.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington has a unique opportunity to be fantasy-relevant this week against the Philadelphia Eagles. First off, Christian Kirk is ruled out for the rest of the season, so Washington is the most likely replacement for him going forward. Also, Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis are game-time decisions, meaning Washington could be Jacksonville's top wide receiver this Sunday. He would still certainly be behind Evan Engram in the target pecking order, but he has shown chemistry with Trevor Lawrence in the past to step up as the second receiving option. The Eagles are a tough matchup, but fortunately, Darius Slay is out with injury, meaning Washington at least wouldn't be shadowed by a top corner. While it's a bit of a risk in a tough matchup, Washington could serve as a deeper league flex play against the Eagles in Week 9.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson could suddenly jump from third to first in the depth chart in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Both Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are questionable this week, so Johnson would be the next man up. For Johnson to be fantasy-relevant, it would likely take both players to be ruled out. In recent weeks with Etienne Jr. or Bigsby out, the starter dominated the touches. The Eagles are also a tough matchup for running backs in general, so it's hard to see a third-string running back having that much upside against them. With all the injuries to the receiving core though, the starting RB could be more involved in the passing game than usual. It would take two injuries, but Johnson does have potential as a flex play in Week 9 against the Eagles.

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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange has a unique opportunity to produce this week against the Philadelphia Eagles despite starting tight end Evan Engram fully healthy. Every prominent receiving option besides Engram is seemingly banged up, so the Jaguars could run more two tight end sets than usual. If that is the case, Strange could receive a decent target share this week due to less target competition than usual. That is a big if, but he did finish with five catches for 59 yards last week, so that should leave fantasy managers with some optimism for his outlook this week. If all of the receivers questionable are ruled out, Strange serves as an interesting dart-throw option at the tight end position for fantasy managers in Week 9.

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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram is the last healthy receiving option heading into Sunday's matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis are questionable along with running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby. Christian Kirk was ruled out for the rest of the season after last week's game, making Engram essentially the last man standing. Since returning from injury in Week 6, Engram has amassed 19 receptions and 173 yards, with most of that coming against the Chicago Bears. Engram should be more involved this week against the Eagles, making him an even better starting fantasy option as a tight end than usual. Engram is a clear TE1 option in Week 9, especially in PPR leagues given his potential for a huge target share.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has a banged-up receiving core, making it hard to trust him in a difficult matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Darius Slay is out for the Eagles, which could mean the secondary is weaker than usual. However, with Christian Kirk out for the season and Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis potentially out, the only certain reliable option for Lawrence this week is Evan Engram. Even Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby out of the backfield are questionable. The former top pick is coming off a 308-yard performance against the Green Bay Packers, but it is hard to imagine Lawrence improving on that performance with the surrounding uncertainty. Lawrence can be viewed as a solid QB2 with potential for more if all his weapons play in Week 9.

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Dallas Cowboys edge-rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) and defensive back DaRon Bland (foot) have both been ruled out for the team's Week 9 road tilt against the Atlanta Falcons. It's no surprise, as both athletes logged three DNPs ahead of Sunday's outing. Parsons hasn't appeared in a game since sustaining an ankle injury ahead of the team's Week 5 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Bland hasn't appeared in any action all season. Dallas did move the cornerback to their 53-man roster this past Wednesday, so it would seem they intend to activate him soon. However, they'll go at least one more week down two key defensive contributors.

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Per Ian Rapoport, after talking to multiple sources, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) "should be ok moving forward" and reportedly has a chance to suit up for Week 9. Despite being listed as questionable after recording a DNP to close out the week, head coach Sean McVay has not ruled Nacua out for the team's divisional clash against the Seattle Seahawks. It's excellent news for the Rams and fantasy managers, as this most recent flare-up has afflicted the same knee that forced the 23-year-old to miss the prior five weeks. While nothing is set in stone for Sunday's matchup, it doesn't appear to be another long-term issue for the young superstar wideout. Keep an eye on his status over the next 36 hours.

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