Washington Commanders kicker Matt Gay (back) has been cleared from the injury report and is set to return for Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Gay missed last week's matchup against the Chiefs, but will only end up missing only one game due to the back injury. The 31-year-old has been solid for Washington in seven games this season, making 10 of 14 attempts and all 18 extra points. However, Gay has been a little shaky from 50 or more yards, with those being three of his four misses. Gay should have more opportunities on Sunday with Jayden Daniels back in the lineup and projects as a decent fantasy option.

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The Washington Commanders elevated wide receiver Treylon Burks from the practice squad ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Burks was signed to Washington's practice squad in the middle of October as the team deals with multiple injuries to its wide receiver core. Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) is set to miss his fifth game of the season, and Washington's depth options have struggled to emerge in his absence. Burks will make his team debut on Sunday Night Football with the opportunity to establish himself as an option for now and in the future for the Commanders. The 2022 first-round pick has battled injuries throughout his career, but flashed promising moments in his rookie year. The 25-year-old faces a tough Seattle secondary in Week 9, but could be a name to watch in deeper leagues over the next few weeks.

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Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III remains a must-start despite a matchup against the formidable Kansas City Chiefs defense. Cook was electric last week, posting 216 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. The emerging star's 753 rushing yards and seven touchdowns through seven games place him in the most elite tier of the position this season, and make him a lock for starting lineups moving forward.

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Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus (quad) returned in Week 8 against the Steelers after missing Weeks 6 and 7. McManus was a tad shaky in his return, making two of four field goal attempts and making all three extra points. The 34-year-old missed a 57-yard field goal early in the second quarter before also missing a 44-yarder just before halftime. McManus was listed as a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday, likely signaling that he is good to go for Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. McManus should be busy in a game where the Packers should put up plenty of points.

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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton could be in line for more targets in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers with multiple pass catchers sidelined. Slayton had a quiet game in Week 8 against the Eagles, but it could have been a much bigger day. The 28-year-old had a 68-yard touchdown wiped out due to a questionable pass interference call where both players were hand-fighting. Slayton has been a fairly consistent piece of the Giants' offense since Week 2, catching multiple balls in each game despite the Giants leaning pretty heavily into the run. Slayton has proven capable of winning on vertical routes throughout his career, which aligns with some of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart's strengths. This could be the week where Slayton and Dart connect for a deep touchdown against an exploitable 49ers secondary that was torched by C.J. Stroud and the Texans last week.

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith enters a Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed the fifth-most points to opposing quarterbacks. Smith continues to struggle with his new team, as he posted a season-low 2.78 points last week against the Chiefs. The Raiders' signal-caller has been one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league, with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions on the year. Fantasy managers should continue to look elsewhere and even watch Kenny Pickett as a potential late-season replacement for Smith.

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New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is in line to serve as the team's lead back in Week 9 with rookie Cam Skattebo (ankle) sidelined for the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old began the season as the Giants' starter, but ended up missing two games due to a shoulder injury, which opened the door for Skattebo. Now, Tracy and veteran Devin Singletary are expected to see the majority of the snaps moving forward. Tracy hasn't been overly efficient with his touches in six games this season, handling 45 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown while adding 10 catches for 68 yards on 16 targets. The New York offense looks much more exciting with rookie Jaxson Dart at the helm, although they are lacking legitimate pass-catching threats at the moment. Tracy ranks as RotoBaller's RB17 for the Giants' Week 9 matchup at home against the San Francisco Giants.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (heel, hamstring) is trending in the wrong direction for Sunday night's matchup against the Washington Commanders. Kupp missed Friday's practice after tweaking his hamstring, which is usually not an encouraging sign this late in the week. The 32-year-old has served a complementary role this season behind star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, catching 24 of his 33 targets for 293 yards and a touchdown in seven games. Kupp missed five games last season with an ankle injury and is in jeopardy of missing his first game with the Seahawks in Week 9. Kupp will test out the injury in pre-game warmups and would rank as a low-end flex option if he suits up. If he's unable to play, Tory Horton's profile is an interesting flex option against Washington's struggling secondary.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen remains at the top of the quarterback hierarchy despite a matchup with an elite Kansas City Chiefs defense. Allen's scrambling ability raises his floor, making him matchup-proof. Last week, the reigning MVP ran for two touchdowns to balance out his limited pass attempts based on the team's blowout win. The Chiefs rank fourth in yards of offense per game (277.8) and second in points allowed per game (16.4), setting the stage for a showdown.

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Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Tory Horton was held without a catch on four targets across the team's final two games before its Week 8 bye. The 22-year-old has struggled to be consistently productive this season, recording nine catches for 113 yards and three touchdowns on 18 targets in seven games played. However, injuries could allow Horton to play a larger role in Seattle's offense in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders. Seahawks wideouts Jake Bobo (Achilles) and Dareke Young (quad) have been ruled out, while veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp (heel, hamstring) is listed as questionable after injuring his hamstring in practice on Friday. If Kupp is ruled out, Horton looks like the clear WR2 in Seattle alongside star Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 9. The Commanders enter Week 9 allowing the most yards per reception in the NFL (12.8), so Horton will have a favorable matchup as well. Horton profiles as a high-upside flex option for deep-league fantasy managers in Week 9 against Washington if Kupp is unable to play.

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Through eight games this season, Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin has recorded 33 catches for 358 yards and four touchdowns. The 22-year-old has played some of his best football of late, hauling in nine catches for 108 yards and three touchdowns on 18 targets over his last two games. Franklin appears to be emerging as the clear WR2 in Denver alongside Courtland Sutton. Franklin's target share could be even more solidified in Week 9 against the Houston Texans, as Broncos wideout Marvin Mims Jr. (concussion) will be sidelined due to a concussion. If there's a concern for Franklin's outlook in Week 9, it's the strength of the Houston defense. The Texans have allowed the third-fewest passing yards (1,375) and the fewest passing touchdowns (six) in the NFL through eight weeks. Still, Franklin profiles as a low-end WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 9.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown has recorded 32 catches for 316 yards and four touchdowns on 49 targets across his first eight games of 2025. However, Brown has seen his role in the offense shrink in recent weeks. After earning at least five targets in each of his first five games of the season, Brown has failed to reach the five-target mark in each of his last three. He was held without a catch on just one target in his most recent outing in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders. With Chiefs wideouts Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy back from the suspension and injury that limited their participation early in the season, Brown appears likely to remain in a marginalized role. Kansas City will play the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 in a matchup that has definite shootout potential. Still, Brown is unlikely to provide fantasy-relevant production if he fails to crack 40% of the team's offensive snaps, a number he hasn't reached since Week 6. Brown profiles as a desperation deep-league flex option in Week 9 against Buffalo.

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The Chicago Bears elevated running back Brittain Brown from their practice squad for the team's Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Chicago will be without running backs D'Andre Swift (groin) and Roschon Johnson (back) against Cincinnati. Rookie running back Kyle Monangai is expected to step into a workhorse role in Week 9. Brown and veteran Travis Homer are the most likely candidates to give Monangai a breather when he needs one. Brown has not appeared in an NFL game since 2022, when he played in six games for the Las Vegas Raiders. The 28-year-old exclusively played special teams for Las Vegas, so he's unlikely to take on much of an offensive role for Chicago in Week 9.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have elevated running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire from their practice squad for the team's Week 9 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. With running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) out, Edwards-Helaire will give the Chiefs a little extra depth in their running back room. Veteran back Kareem Hunt should be expected to serve as the team's early-down and goal-line rusher, with rookie Brashard Smith mixing in in a gadget and passing-downs role. However, both Edwards-Helaire and Elijah Mitchell could steal a few touches away from Hunt and Smith. Edwards-Helaire has not appeared in a game yet this season. Across two games for the New Orleans Saints in 2024, he recorded 70 scrimmage yards on 16 touches. Edwards-Helaire should remain off fantasy radars heading into Week 9.

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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell drilled all four of his field goal attempts, including three from over 50 yards out, and converted his lone extra-point try in a Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The 34-year-old remains a dependable fantasy option against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. Although the Colts haven't given up many fantasy points to opposing kickers this season, this contest is projected to feature upwards of 50 total points scored. If it turns into a shootout, Boswell should be plenty involved as the Steelers aim to keep pace with Indianapolis' high-flying offense. Fantasy managers can count on Boswell as a top-10 option once again on Sunday.

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Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier found the end zone for the fourth time in his last six games last week, although he carried the ball just four times for four yards, adding two catches for 10 yards. Of Allgeier'sfourscores, three have come in wins, with the 25-year-old mustering just one touchdown on a total of nine rushes for 24 yards in the team's last three losses. If that trend continues, it could be a quiet Sunday in Week 9 for the 5-foot-10 running back, as the Falcons are 4.5-point road underdogs and carry an implied point total under 20 in this one. Not to mention, New England is tough against the run, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, and has allowed just 76 rush yards per contest and 3.5 yards per rush (both second-fewest). The BYU product is a touchdown-dependent RB4/Flex this week, who has a very low floor.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) is making progress from his foot sprain and could have a role on Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, but veteran backup Jacoby Brissett will make another start, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Murray has not started for the Cardinals since spraining his foot in the Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans, and he's not ready to take over starting duties under center coming out of the team's Week 8 bye. Murray has been limited in practice so far this week. He may be active on Monday night, but in that scenario, he'd be serving as the emergency backup to Brissett. It's been another frustrating season for the 28-year-old signal-caller so far in 2025, and there's no guarantee he'll be ready to return for Week 10 against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. Murray so far has 962 passing yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions while adding 173 rushing yards and another score in only five games.

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth missed practice on Wednesday with a quad injury but has since been removed from the injury report and should be a full-go against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. The fifth-year pro had a massive showing back in Week 7, but followed it up with a quiet three-catch, 13-yard performance in last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers. He gets another great matchup on Sunday, as the Colts have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game and fourth-most receptions to opposing tight ends. This contest is projected to be high-scoring, so Freiermuth may see enough opportunities to bounce back for fantasy purposes. Still, with Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington also in the mix for snaps, Freiermuth remains difficult to trust as anything more than a low-end TE2.

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Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Saturday that running back Bam Knight will be the "first one out there" on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 at RB, but the work will likely go to whichever back is most effective, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Knight will be battling for lead-back duties with Michael Carter, who got work in with the first-team offense at practice this week and will rejoin the active 53-man roster. Meanwhile, Emari Demercado (ankle) will be active after missing Week 7 with an ankle injury. Knight has operated as Arizona's primary back over Carter the last two games, receiving 25 combined carries for 91 yards (3.6 yards per tote) and a touchdown while adding four catches for 27 yards receiving. He will be the "starter" on Monday, but he might need to perform to hold off Carter. Knight is shaping up as a shaky low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex option in a good matchup against Dallas this week.

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith has seen underwhelming utilization this season and will hope to turn things around at home against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9. The Colts have allowed the fourth-most receptions and fifth-most fantasy points per contest to opposing tight ends, opening the door for Smith to contribute in this matchup. Still, it remains difficult to predict how opportunities will be distributed among the crowded Steelers' tight end room. Between Smith, Pat Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington, Smith is the most viable fantasy option, but none can be relied upon with confidence. The 30-year-old checks in as the TE21 in RotoBaller's Week 9 rankings.

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