Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz said that rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike has "really taken advantage of his opportunities" recently in the offense. Holz also mentioned that Dike is "going to be a really good player in this league," and the team is excited for what is to come for him this year. Dike played a season-high 89% of the offensive snaps in the Week 8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and he responded with a breakout performance, catching seven of his eight targets for 93 yards. The 23-year-old had his first career touchdown the previous week against the New England Patriots, catching all four of his targets for 70 yards in that contest. With Tyler Lockett now in Vegas, Dike should continue to be more involved in the passing attack in Tennessee, especially with Calvin Ridley (hamstring) injured. Dike is squarely on the radar for fantasy managers looking for a waiver-wire pickup at WR this week.

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said on Tuesday that quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is "expected to have a full week of prep" leading up to the Week 9 contest this Sunday versus the division-rival Detroit Lions, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. O'Connell also said that QB Max Brosmer "will step into the No. 2 role." Veteran Carson Wentz will undergo season-ending left-shoulder surgery, so McCarthy is expected to step back into the starting role for the first time since suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 22-year-old former first-rounder missed all of his rookie season with a knee injury that required surgery, so the jury is still out on the Michigan product. In his two starts to open 2025, McCarthy completed 58.5% of his passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and three picks. It will not be a soft landing spot for his return on the road in Detroit this weekend.

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Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz had some good things to say about rookie tight end Gunnar Helm on Tuesday, saying he is "developing quickly, which is tough to do for tight ends." Holz also said Helm has been "impressive physically." Helm is now up to 19 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown on 24 targets in his first eight NFL games. The 23-year-old isn't a household name yet or anything like that in fantasy, but he should be on the radar as a young, rising TE. He has played at least half the team's offensive snaps in three of the last four games, and he found the end zone for the first time in his career in Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. If the Titans ship Chig Okonkwo away at the trade deadline, Helm will become popular on the waiver wire, and he should continue to see his role grow in Tennessee's offense.

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Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz said Sunday "was a reminder of what running back Tyjae Spears can do with the ball in his hands," according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Holz is "hoping it's a sign of more things to come," and Spears is expected to remain involved alongside Tony Pollard in the backfield. Spears played over 50% of the offensive snaps in the Week 8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and outproduced Pollard on two fewer carries while also scoring his first touchdown of the year. The 24-year-old missed time earlier this year due to injury, but now that he's back to full health, he's become a bigger part of the offense. It sounds like the Titans envision more of a split backfield between Spears and Pollard. It's good news for Spears' fantasy managers, but the timeshare situation still probably caps his fantasy value as an RB3/flex in PPR leagues.

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The New Orleans Saints informed rookie Tyler Shough on Tuesday that he will be their starting quarterback, with Spencer Rattler remaining on the bench, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN. Rattler was benched after another rough performance in the Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Saints will continue to move forward with Shough as their starter for a Week 9 tilt on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. The 26-year-old second-rounder will have a tough matchup on the road for his first NFL start, and fantasy managers should consider him a low-end QB2 streamer, at best, this weekend. In relief of Rattler last weekend against Tampa, Shough went 17-for-32 passing for 128 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception while carrying the ball three times for 12 yards. He has plenty of arm strength, but little mobility outside the pocket. The switch to Shough could be bad news for top wideout Chris Olave, who had developed nice chemistry with Rattler.

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Veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett has joined forces with the Las Vegas Raiders after seven underwhelming games with the Tennessee Titans this year. Lockett will be reuniting with quarterback Geno Smith, whom he played with in Seattle, but will that suddenly make him fantasy relevant again? It's unlikely. Lockett, 33, had just 10 catches for 70 yards and no touchdowns on 20 targets in his seven games in a struggling Titans offense led by a rookie QB. He'll be reuniting with a familiar face in Vegas, but the Raiders' offense hasn't been much better in 2025, and both tight end Brock Bowers (knee) and receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee, toe) are expected to return following the bye to play this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Meyers is healthy, Lockett could end up being the WR5 behind Meyers, Tre Tucker, and rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech.

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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has played some of his best football in recent weeks. Across his team's last three games, Stroud has thrown for 791 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. Perhaps most importantly for his fantasy outlook, Stroud has attempted 88 passes over his last two games alone. That marks a notable shift in the Houston offense, as Stroud cracked 28 pass attempts just once over his first five games. If the Texans' game plan on offense is shifting to a more pass-heavy approach, Stroud could be a more viable streaming option for fantasy managers in single-quarterback formats going forward. Houston has a difficult matchup in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, so Stroud may not be a player to target specifically for this week. However, his uptick in pass attempts is still a trend worth monitoring for fantasy managers as the Texans hit the second half of their season.

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Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has seen minimal usage so far in 2025, recording five catches for 26 yards on five targets across four games played. However, three out of Likely's four games played this season have come with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) sidelined. With Jackson expected to return in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, Likely could see his role in Baltimore's offense expand. Across 16 games with the Ravens in 2024, Likely recorded 42 catches for 477 yards on 58 targets. Likely still figures to split playing time with Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, which limits the upside of both players. However, in deep fantasy leagues, Likely could be a stash candidate off the waiver wire now that Baltimore's offense has its quarterback back.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp has struggled to consistently earn targets so far in 2025. Across seven games, the 32-year-old has recorded 24 catches for 293 yards and a touchdown on 33 targets. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerging as the clear WR1 in Seattle, Kupp has been forced into a secondary role. However, Kupp still holds upside depending on the Seahawks' game script. In the three games where Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold has been forced to attempt at least 30 passes, Kupp has recorded 14 catches for 181 yards on 19 targets. Coming out of their Week 8 bye, the Seahawks will face the Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Rams. In fantasy leagues where Kupp may have been dropped during his bye week, he could be worth adding as a matchup-dependent flex option.

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Miami Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II had the most productive game of his career in his team's Week 8 win over the Atlanta Falcons, recording 66 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 11 touches. His 10 carries against Atlanta marked the first time he has earned double-digit rush attempts in a game this season. If Miami can stay in positive game scripts, Gordon II's ability to be a physical downhill runner could be a good complement to the speed of Dolphins RB1 De'Von Achane. Gordon II also profiles as the clear handcuff in Miami to Achane. The Dolphins have a potentially difficult matchup in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, who are slowly getting healthier on the defensive side of the ball. Gordon II may not carry standalone value in Week 9, but he's still worth rostering in fantasy leagues with 14 or more teams.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs returned from a one-week absence due to a concussion in Week 9, recording three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown in his team's win over the Tennessee Titans. Downs has now hauled in 29 receptions for 256 yards and two scores on 37 targets across seven games in 2025. The Colts have been one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL this season, averaging over 30 points per game. Given the environment around him, Downs holds fantasy value even if he's a tertiary target earner behind Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end Tyler Warren. Downs has earned at least five targets in five out of his seven games played. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues heading into Indianapolis' Week 9 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is expected to return in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions from an ankle injury that has sidelined him since Week 2. However, with veteran quarterback Carson Wentz (shoulder) dealing with a significant shoulder injury, undrafted rookie QB Max Brosmer is now the next man up in Minnesota if McCarthy's injury woes continue. Brosmer has appeared in three games so far this season, mostly in mop-up duty. While playing for the University of Minnesota in 2024, Brosmer completed 66.5% of his passes for 2,828 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions across 13 games. Given that McCarthy has been unavailable for 23 out of 25 possible games in his career, there's a real chance that Brosmer could be pressed into action. He could be a name to monitor in deep two-quarterback fantasy leagues until McCarthy establishes himself as the clear QB1 for the Vikings.

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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku could be made available for trade with the deadline coming up on November 4th, according to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. Njoku is currently in the final year of the four-year, 54.75 million contract signed back in 2022, and would be among the top tight ends available. The 29-year-old has caught 27 of his 41 targets for 260 yards and two touchdowns in seven games this season for Cleveland. He has been overshadowed a bit by third-round rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., and his emergence would make sense as to why the Browns may move Njoku. In addition, the Browns claimed tight end Brendan Bates off waivers on Monday after their loss to the New England Patriots, perhaps signaling what could happen at the trade deadline with Njoku.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) has missed the last two games, but is expected to return for their Week 9 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Murray has struggled a bit in five games this season, averaging 192 passing yards per game to go with 35 rushing yards per game and a career low 6.0 yards per attempt. Veteran Jacoby Brissett filled in admirably in his place, but head coach Jonathan Gannon has made it clear that Murray is the team's starting quarterback when healthy. The 28-year-old gets a great spot in his return out of the bye week against a Dallas defense that just got torched by the Broncos for 44 points in Week 8. Murray should be the top quarterback add wherever he is available.

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San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges has been pushed down the depth chart and back into his former special teams role now that George Kittle is back in action. Tonges saw just eight offensive snaps in Week 7 and was on the field for five in the 49ers' 26-15 loss to the Texans in Week 8. He managed to add another touchdown to his resume, though, securing his lone target for a score from two yards out. During Kittle's stint on injured reserve, Tonges made for a TD-dependent streaming option that paid off with three top-12 finishes among tight ends. On the season, he is up to 26 receptions for 226 yards and four touchdowns. With minimal involvement on offense now, he doesn't belong on fantasy football rosters. He won't be a factor in the 49ers' Week 9 matchup against the Giants.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt found the end zone twice in Monday night's 28-7 win over the Washington Commanders, rushing for 40 yards on nine carries with a touchdown and adding a two-yard touchdown reception. Hunt leads Kansas City in total touchdowns on the season with five and continues to be very effective at converting short-yardage situations. The veteran has been outcarried by fellow running back Isiah Pacheco this season, but Hunt has gotten the majority of the rush attempts inside the 10-yard line, with seven compared to Pacheco's three. That should continue moving forward, making Hunt a viable add off the waiver wire this week. While he is dependent on scoring touchdowns, the 30-year-old is in one of the best fantasy situations to capitalize on.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is coming off his fifth career game with five touchdown passes, completing 21 of 33 pass attempts for 182 yards in their 35-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Stafford and the Rams were on bye in Week 8, and they'll return for a soft home matchup against the New Orleans Saints, who are tied with the Jets and Titans for the worst record in the league. The 37-year-old is expected to have his star receiver Puka Nacua back, who missed Week 7 with an ankle injury. Stafford is a prime streaming candidate for Week 9 and ranks as RotoBaller's QB9.

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New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal didn't have a carry in Week 8, but he played almost half of the team's offensive snaps, logging 33 snaps compared to 37 for veteran Alvin Kamara. He was the clear second running back this week, following the loss of Kendre Miller (knee) for the season in Week 7 against the Bears. The sixth-round rookie from Kansas did haul in all three of his targets for 11 yards in his first opportunities as a receiver out of the backfield. While he only had three carries for 10 yards all season, he is clearly the next man up for the Saints, which could make him extremely important for fantasy if the team decides to trade Alvin Kamara. If you are in a deep league and looking to get ahead of a rush to the waiver wire, stashing Neal is a move that makes sense. He could get more of a chance to audition for a role in the young offense even if Kamara sticks around, so he makes sense to at least monitor in all leagues when the Saints face the Rams in Week 9.

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Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford is worth a look on waiver wires in deep leagues this week, if you're trying to get ahead of a roster crunch down the road. Ford has been playing behind rookies Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, but he could be in a much bigger role after the team's bye in Week 9 since Judkins is day-to-day, dealing with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Ford hasn't gotten much work lately as a rusher, but he did have multiple catches in five of his last seven games, including a pair of five-catch performances. While Sampson would likely headline the backfield if Judkins misses the team's Week 10 contest with the Jets, Ford would also likely get enough playing time to be a deep-league flex consideration. Last season, Ford led the team with 565 rushing yards, while scoring three rushing touchdowns and posting eight plays of at least 20 yards.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) will miss at least one more game before his potential return, but he could be worth grabbing from the waiver wire this week if you have the roster flexibility to do so. Before his meniscus injury that required surgery, he had stepped in as the early-down workhorse after the season-ending foot injury to James Conner. The Cardinals released Michael Carter, which indicates something is in motion at the position, which could mean a trade or that Benson will be back to take over the job very soon. Bam Knight will likely continue to carry the load this week, with Emari Demercado potentially mixing in as well. The Cardinals have a great running back schedule the rest of the way, so whoever gets the playing time should have good value, and Benson would seem to have the inside track for that spot once he returns.

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