Guest of the League
Mini Ballers XXX Est. 2003
FFL: Week 9 | NFL: Week 9

Lions' Aidan Hutchinson lands $180M extension

Wed Oct 29 12:09pm ET
Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions are signing star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a four-year, $180 million contract extension, his agent confirmed to multiple media outlets on Wednesday.

The Lions had not confirmed the reports by late morning, but did post a meme of Hutchinson dancing on the team's official X account.

The reported $141 million guaranteed is the highest ever among non-quarterbacks and the $45 million average salary trails only the Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons ($46.5 million) among non-QBs.

Hutchinson has recorded six sacks, a league-leading four forced fumbles and 13 quarterback hits through seven starts this season with the Lions (5-2).

The 25-year-old defensive end has 34.5 sacks, 78 QB hits, 138 tackles, eight forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, four interceptions and 11 passes defensed in 46 career games (all starts). He made the Pro Bowl in 2023 but missed the last 12 games in 2024 after fracturing his leg in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, already had been signed for $20.86 million for next season on the fifth-year option in his rookie contract.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 9

Player Notes
D.K. Metcalf Nov 1 11:50am CT
D.K. Metcalf

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf finished as the WR12 last week and will look to build on that performance in a Week 9 home bout with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have been strong against the run but vulnerable through the air, giving up the most receptions and third-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts. While Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, and Pittsburgh's tight ends have all shown flashes, Metcalf has consistently been the favorite target of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, especially on deep shots. Sunday's contest carries a high projected point total and should feature plenty of fantasy production. That said, Metcalf should remain locked into lineups as a high-end WR2 with significant upside.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Nov 1 11:50am CT
Jakobi Meyers

The Buffalo Bills are one of the teams with interest in acquiring current Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers ahead of the NFL's November 4 trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Diana Russini. Russini notes that Las Vegas has "set a high price" on Meyers. Across six games this season, the 28-year-old has recorded 29 catches for 329 yards on 43 targets. Meyers has also publicly expressed his desire to be traded as he plays out the final season of his current contract. A new home may help rejuvenate Meyers, who currently profiles as a low-end fantasy WR3. In Buffalo, he would likely join wideout Khalil Shakir as one of the top targets for Bills quarterback Josh Allen. If Meyers is eventually moved, wide receivers Tre Tucker and Jack Bech are the most likely candidates to see their roles in the Raiders offense expand.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Nov 1 11:50am CT
Chris Olave

The Athletic's Diana Russini reports that the New Orleans Saints are expected to retain top wide receiver Chris Olave through the NFL's November 4 trade deadline. Olave has one more year on his current contract with New Orleans following 2025. The 25-year-old is having a solid season so far, recording 52 catches for 503 yards and three touchdowns on 83 targets. Olave has been one of the league's most consistent target-earners, recording double-digit targets in six out of eight games. Olave remaining in New Orleans might be the best thing for fantasy managers, as his target volume would almost certainly go down if he were moved to a contender. He profiles as a fantasy WR2 heading into the Saints' Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Nov 1 11:40am CT
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has been steady this season but will face a tough test in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis has been stout versus opposing backs, allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game and just five total touchdowns to the position. The good news for Warren is that this home matchup is expected to be high-scoring, giving Pittsburgh's offense as a whole a boost for fantasy. Even if the Steelers are forced to abandon the run to keep up with the Colts' high-powered attack, Warren should remain a reliable pass-catching weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Fantasy managers can continue to treat the 27-year-old as an RB2 with a safe floor in PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Nov 1 11:40am CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles says wide receiver Jalen McMillan's (neck) neck injury includes broken bones, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Smith also notes that McMillan's return timeline remains unclear. The 23-year-old suffered a scary-looking neck injury in the preseason and has spent the entire regular season on Injured Reserve. Tampa Bay has not ruled McMillan out for the 2025 season, but it also does not appear as though he is particularly close to making his return. The Buccaneers are also currently without wide receivers Mike Evans (collarbone) and Chris Godwin (leg), although Godwin has a chance to return in Week 10 following Tampa Bay's Week 9 bye. Rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka is the team's clear WR1. Given the team's other injuries, veteran Sterling Shepard and rookie Tez Johnson could both have an extended runway of regular playing time in Tampa Bay.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Nov 1 11:40am CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. has played a consistent role in this offense all season, and last week he led the way with top receiver Drake London (hip) out with an injury, reeling in all nine of his targets from Kirk Cousins, albeit for 59 scoreless yards. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and London will be back on the field for Sunday's contest against the Patriots, but of all the positions on offense for fantasy, the matchup withNew England favors the tight end the most. The Pats have yielded the fifth-most half-point PPR points to TEs thus far, with Cleveland's TEs combining for 10 catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns just last week in Foxborough. While that bodes well for Pitts, he's got just one touchdown all season, so he'll likely have to rely on volume as the 6-foot-6 TE averagesover six targets and five receptions per game. It all leaves the 25-year-old as a low-end TE1 with upside in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Nov 1 11:30am CT
Joe Flacco

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (shoulder) is planning to play in his team's Week 9 matchup against the Chicago Bears, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Flacco has an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, which could certainly impact his performance, but the veteran is at least going to give it a go in Week 9. In three starts for Cincinnati this season, Flacco has completed 64.3% of his pass attempts for 784 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He's also averaging over 40 pass attempts per start with the Bengals, which makes him an appealing high-volume fantasy option. Cincinnati may opt for a more run-heavy game plan in Week 9 to try to protect Flacco. Still, he profiles as a solid fantasy QB2 in a favorable matchup against Chicago. If Flacco is unable to finish the game, the Bengals would likely be forced to turn to backup quarterback Jake Browning.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Nov 1 11:30am CT
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown scored a touchdown in the Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, he had more than a few miserable outings in his following appearances before finally surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark in the Thursday night win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 25-year-old then had his best performance of the 2025 campaign in the Week 8 one-point loss to the New York Jets, finding the end zone twice (one rushing, one receiving). Joe Flacco (shoulder) has the offense back on track. While there's a chance Flacco won't suit up in the Week 9 clash with the Chicago Bears, it appears he's (fortunately) trending toward playing. However, even if Jake Browning finds himself back atop the depth chart, Brown should remain a high-upside option for managers, especially with the game between the Bears and Bengals projected to be one of the highest-scoring contests on the schedule. Granted, Brown's presence in all fantasy lineups isn't without risk. That will apply regardless of who is starting at quarterback.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Nov 1 11:20am CT
Breece Hall

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that the New York Jets are looking for "at least a third-round pick" in return for running back Breece Hall ahead of the NFL's November 4 trade deadline. Russini also notes that the Jets "have been getting calls for a while" on Hall. The 24-year-old is in the final year of his rookie contract with the 1-7 Jets. Across eight games this season, Hall has recorded 759 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 138 touches. If Hall does get traded, second-year back Isaiah Davis would likely dominate backfield work in New York until Braelon Allen (knee) returns from a knee injury that currently has him on Injured Reserve.

From RotoBaller

Michael Penix Jr. Nov 1 11:20am CT
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will returnfrom a one-week absence to face the Patriots on Sunday. The 25-year-old was a full participant on Friday and heads into the contest without an injury designation. The left-handed QB has thrown just five touchdown passes in six games played this season (three interceptions), and will face a New England defense that is yielding theninth-fewest passing yards per game (194.7) over their last three and the fourth-fewest points allowed per game on the season (18.3 PPG; 15.0 PPG last three). The second-year pro owns a 1:2 TD:INT in three road games this season, averaging just around183 yards passing in those contests. The Falcons have an implied point total of under 20 points for Sunday's matchup, which does not foretell great things from Penix, leaving him as a low-end QB2 option in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Nov 1 11:20am CT
Aaron Rodgers

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown at least two touchdown passes in three straight games, but may need to do even more to keep pace with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. The 7-1 Colts boast the league's top-ranked offense, averaging over 33 points per contest. While their defense has been solid overall, it has been more effective against the run than the pass, surrendering the 12th-most fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers. If Pittsburgh falls behind early, Rodgers should have enough passing volume at home to deliver for fantasy purposes. He comes in as the QB18 in RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings and can be viewed as a streaming option or high-end QB2 on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Nov 1 11:10am CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught six of his 10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Thursday night win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he was held to just one catch in the disappointing one-point loss to the New York Jets in Week 8, the reception at least resulted in another trip to the end zone. With a touchdown in three of the Bengals' previous four outings, Higgins will look to stay relevant for fantasy managers versus the Chicago Bears. Granted, his lack of consistent volume from week-to-week is concerning. Joe Flacco (shoulder) appears to have the offense once again clicking on all cylinders, which is great news for fantasy participants. There's a chance Flacco may not be out there due to an AC joint sprain, meaning Jake Browning would be back under center. Still, regardless of who is starting, Higgins remains a risky, high-upside fantasy option, considering Sunday's contest between the Bears and Bengals is projected to be one of the highest-scoring games on the Week 9 schedule. Fortunately, Flacco is trending in a positive direction.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Nov 1 11:00am CT
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase entered the Week 8 loss to the New York Jets by catching at least one touchdown in each of his previous three games. While the former LSU Tiger didn't find the end zone in that one, he still had 12 catches for 91 yards. With the Bengals coming off a disappointing loss, they will try to get on track on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Joe Flacco (shoulder) didn't practice on Wednesday, which is not uncommon for older players, before being limited in Thursday's session. However, panic set in for fantasy managers when he didn't practice on Friday and was slapped with a questionable designation for Week 9. Fortunately, there's reason to believe the signal-caller will be out there on Sunday. It appears Flacco and Chase have quickly developed strong on-field chemistry in a short span, so the duo should continue to connect in the meeting with the Bears. If Flacco can't suit up, Jake Browning would be back under center. Although Browning's presence would presumably lower Chase's ceiling, the wideout remains a must-start for obvious reasons.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Whittington Nov 1 10:50am CT
Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington has officially cemented himself as the No. 3 option on the depth chart after Tutu Atwell (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve. Whittington has multiple catches in each of his last three games, but he has been held to fewer than 6.5 fantasy points (PPR) in all seven of his contests so far. Even with Puka Nacua (ankle) sidelined in Week 7, Whittington was unable to achieve fantasy relevance. As a result, he remains off the fantasy radar in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. With Nacua back and the Rams having a chance to go run-heavy this week, there aren't enough opportunities to go around for Whittington.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Nov 1 10:50am CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has low-end streaming appeal ahead of Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. Higbee has delivered modest production recently, catching seven passes for 59 yards and one touchdown over his last two games. He also commanded six targets during his last contest back in Week 7. Most importantly, Higbee has established himself as the No. 1 tight end in Los Angeles, holding onto his role over players such as Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson. This week, Higbee gets a decent matchup against the Saints, who have allowed the eighth-most touchdowns and 12th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2025. He should be viewed as a low-end TE2 with borderline streaming appeal in a productive offense.

From RotoBaller

Juwan Johnson Nov 1 10:40am CT
Juwan Johnson

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson recorded five receptions on eight targets for 53 yards in the Week 8 blowout loss to the Buccaneers. This marked his second straight game with five catches, a welcome sign after totaling just seven receptions for 60 yards from Weeks 4-6. Johnson has only one touchdown on the season, but with Tyler Shough now under center, the passing game is unlikely to slow down, and he should remain involved as a receiver. In their limited time together in Week 8, Shough and Johnson connected on three passes for 35 yards. Johnson profiles as a TE2 this week, though building chemistry with the rookie quarterback could raise his value going forward.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Nov 1 10:40am CT
Davante Adams

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams will drop back down to second on the depth chart with Puka Nacua (ankle) returning against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. Nevertheless, he's still one of the better No. 2 options in the NFL and is a borderline must-start in fantasy football. The 32-year-old comes off his bye week ranking as the overall WR13 in PPR leagues, tallying a solid six touchdowns to this point. Even with Nacua back in action, managers shouldn't overthink this decision. New Orleans is a great matchup for Adams, as the Saints have allowed the seventh-most receiving touchdowns in 2025. Start him as a high-end WR2 or low-end WR1 in all leagues.

From RotoBaller

Blake Corum Nov 1 10:30am CT
Blake Corum

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum will look to build on his expanded role as he takes on the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. For most of this season, Corum has served as the clear backup to Kyren Williams. However, he has shown flashes of playing at the same level, such as in Week 7 when he and Williams each handled 12 touches against the Jaguars. At the time, this split was likely the product of Los Angeles leading by multiple possessions. However, coming out of the bye week, it could be an indicator of the backfield usage going forward. Corum has the potential to carve out standalone value against the Saints, who have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards to running backs in 2025. That's especially the case if the Rams jump out to a large lead early on.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Nov 1 10:30am CT
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (hip) will return to action in Week 9 after missing last week's game with a hip injury. The 24-year-old had been rolling before last week's absence, logging three straight games with double-digit targets and totaling 22 receptions in those contests, including two touchdowns. The 6-foot-4 wideout is the clear-cut No. 1 receiving option in this offense, amassing 27.8 percent target share on the season and 34.1 percent of the team's air yards. He'll take on the Patriots' pass defense in Week 9, which is middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers and pass yards allowed per game (224.4), although they've been stingier more recently, allowing just 192.7 per game over their last three. With the Falcons 4.5-point underdogs in this one, they may be playing from behind, which could mean more passing, but the matchup against cornerback Christian Gonzalez only projects London as a middling WR2 this week.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Nov 1 10:30am CT
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is immediately back in must-start territory as he returns from an ankle injury ahead of Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. Nacua ranked as the overall WR1 entering Week 6, but he injured his ankle in that contest, missed Week 7, and was on bye last week. As a result, he has slipped down to the WR5 spot in PPR leagues. Despite the hiccup, Nacua should have no trouble bouncing back as one of the best receivers in fantasy football. His production when healthy was otherworldly, and he should quickly return to that level of play now that he's cleared to suit up. A clash with the Saints bodes well for Nacua, as New Orleans has allowed the ninth-most receiving touchdowns in 2025. He's a must-start WR1 in all leagues.

From RotoBaller