Target the Cardinals as Kyler Murray returns against a generous Cowboys defense, and fade the Broncos facing a dominant Texans unit in Week 9.
By Jody Smith
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Updated on Thu, Oct 30 2025 5:03 PM UTC
The fantasy season is entering its stretch run, and every lineup decision matters. Week 9 brings tough matchups, key byes, and a few breakout opportunities that could swing your playoff push.
The right lineup decisions, powered by Draft Sharks rankings, can make all the difference.
Four teams are on bye this week, making many reliable fantasy starters unavailable.
Week 9 byes:
Cleveland BrownsNew York JetsPhiladelphia EaglesTampa Bay Buccaneers
Your Draft Sharks Team Intel page will help you set your ideal lineup, applying our award-winning weekly projections to your custom scoring.
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Quarterbacks
Start
Kyler Murray is poised to thrive, but Bo Nix will struggle in Houston
Kyler Murray, Cardinals
After missing two games due to a foot injury, Murray is expected to start in Week 9. Before the injury, he delivered two of his three best fantasy outings of the season and should carry that momentum into Dallas.
Murray has had three weeks to recover and prepare for a Cowboys defense allowing the most fantasy points to QBs. Dallas has yielded a league-high 2,069 passing yards and 20 passing TDs, plus the most rushing yards (220) and second-most rushing scores (3) to QBs.
Murray ranks sixth among all QBs with 34.6 rushing yards per game. The Cowboys have also surrendered six QB1 finishes, the most in the league. With his dual-threat upside and a 53.5-point game total, Murray profiles as a strong Week 9 starter with an elite matchup.
Sit
Bo Nix, Broncos
Nix has been red-hot, posting back-to-back 4-TD games. Only Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts have more total TDs this year. But Nix and the Broncos face a far tougher challenge this week in Houston.
The Texans allow the fewest fantasy points to QBs, ranking fourth in passing yards allowed (178.4 per game) and first in points allowed (14.7 per game). No passer has reached 250 yards against them all season.
Nix has thrived against weak defenses the past two weeks, but his best outings have come at home. He’s averaged 23.1 fantasy points per game at Mile High, but dips down to 15.7 PPG on the road.
Houston allows just 10.5 fantasy points per game. With Denver carrying a 19-point implied total, Nix projects as a low-end QB2 in a tough matchup.
Running Backs
A pair of new starters are set to thrive
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Kareem Hunt, Chiefs
Isiah Pacheco’s MCL sprain pushes Kareem Hunt into a lead-back role. When Hunt had that role for Kansas City last season (Weeks 4-12), he commanded 79% of Kansas City’s carries and averaged 14.8 PPR points per game. That would have been the RB18 last season.
Last week, Brashard Smith fumbled and lost playing time, which makes it more likely that Andy Reid will rely on Hunt to carry the load while Pacheco is sidelined.
In Week 9, Hunt faces a Buffalo defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to RBs.
Hunt sits among our top 17 RBs across formats, in a game with the second-highest projected total (52.5).
Tyrone Tracy, Giants
Cam Skattebo’s season-ending ankle injury opens the door for Tracy to reclaim his starting job. Tracy out-touched Devin Singletary 7-2 after Skattebo exited and led the backfield in route rate (55%).
Tracy opened the season as New York’s starter, out-snapping Singletary 78-14. As a starter last season, Tracy averaged 13.4 PPR points per game, which would have ranked as the RB31 for the season.
Against a 49ers defense allowing the 13th-most fantasy points to RBs, Tracy is a solid RB2 with TD upside, and a player our Shane Hallam thinks has a high ceiling.
Sit
Alvin Kamara, Saints
Kamara played a season-low 51% of snaps last week and has finished outside the top 25 RBs in PPR scoring in four straight games. His role and efficiency have cratered:
• Week 6: 35 snaps, 15 touches, 12.6 PPR points
• Week 7: 47 snaps, 14 touches, 5.9 PPR points
• Week 8: 37 snaps, 8 touches, 6.5 PPR points
Things won’t get easier for Kamara against the Rams. Los Angeles allows the second-fewest fantasy points to RBs and is the only team yet to give up a rushing score to the position.
The Saints add the challenge of starting rookie QB Tyler Shough for the first time, and they carry a putrid 14.5-point projected total. That all makes Kamara a risky play.
R.J. Harvey, Broncos
Harvey’s 3-TD game looks impressive, but it came on only 8 touches against a porous Dallas defense. In his previous three games, Harvey averaged 6 touches and 6.6 PPR points, all of which came against teams that are in the bottom-13 in terms of allowing fantasy production to RBs.
This week’s opponent, Houston, ranks fifth against the run and has allowed the fewest receptions to RBs. If Harvey’s usage remains low, he’ll be hard-pressed to make a significant impact against the Texans.
Harvey owns just 21% of Denver’s carries and averages 5.5 rushes per game. With limited volume in a low-total matchup, Harvey is a poor bet to repeat last week’s success, and his tape leaves a lot to be desired.
Wide Receivers
Marvin Harrison should get back on track in Dallas
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Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals
Harrison’s target counts and reception totals have lagged with each QB this year, but this week’s Cowboys matchup could deliver a fantasy spike.
Dallas has been shredded by wideouts, allowing a league-high 41.5 PPR points per game and 15 TDs to the position. Although Harrison has continued to disappoint overall, Shane pointed out in last week’s film review that he flashes the traits that got the WR drafted fourth overall.
This matchup features the highest total of the week (53.5), and five straight Cowboys games have gone over that number. There will be points.
Jauan Jennings, 49ers
Ricky Pearsall (knee) has not returned to practice. It looks like Pearsall is trending in the wrong direction, which sets Jennings up to act as San Francsciso’s No. 1 WR.
Jennings has also dealt with injuries but has looked healthier in San Francisco’s last two contests. In those two games, Jennings has played 85% of the 49ers’ snaps, posted an 86% route rate, and registered a 27% target share.
That came against two teams (Houston and Atlanta) who are top-5 in limiting fantasy points to WRs. That won’t be the case this week, as the Niners take on a Giants’ secondary that cedes the sixth-most fantasy points to the position.
Jennings is a high-end WR3 who offers WR2 upside in a great matchup, particularly if QB Brock Purdy returns.
Sit
Quentin Johnston, Chargers
Since his Week 4 breakout, Johnston’s production and usage have plummeted. He failed to draw a target last week and has averaged just 3.3 looks per game over his last three outings.
With declining snaps and increased competition from Oronde Gadsden and Tre Harris, Johnston is a risky boom-or-bust option even in a favorable matchup with Tennessee.
Jordan Addison, Vikings
Addison excelled with Carson Wentz, but now gets J.J. McCarthy back from injury. McCarthy averaged just 150.5 passing yards per game in his two starts, limiting Minnesota’s passing volume.
Addison’s chemistry with Wentz drove his best stretch of production. With McCarthy’s return and a low implied team total (19.5), Addison is a risky WR3.
Tight Ends
Don’t count on a big game from Evan Engram
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Zach Ertz, Commanders
Jayden Daniels was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, putting him on track to start on Sunday. Daniels has averaged 219 passing yards and thrown 7 TD passes in his four full games. In his three starts, Marcus Mariota was less productive, throwing for 192 yards and 4 TDs.
Zach Ertz will benefit from Daniels being back under center. In the four games that Daniels started and finished, Ertz averaged 11.6 PPR points per game. He plummeted to 5.5 PPR PPG in Mariota’s three starts.
Additionally, all 4 of Ertz’s TD receptions have come from Daniels.
That connection has been good for fantasy production, and the Commanders will be without WR Terry McLaurin (quad). Ertz is a good bet to lead Washington in targets and gets an excellent matchup against a Seattle defense that has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing TEs.
Sit
Evan Engram, Broncos
Engram remains consistent but capped. He has caught 4-5 passes in five straight games yet hasn’t topped 42 yards all season. Playing time has a lot to do with that. Engram has played less than half of Denver’s offensive snaps in six of his seven games.
His limited snap share and role in a low-scoring matchup make him hard to trust.
Facing a Texans defense that allows the fifth-fewest points to TEs, Engram profiles as a low-end TE2.
Next Up
Fantasy Football Trade Targets Week 9: Inject Youth Into Your Title Run
Jody Smith,
Analyst
Jody Smith has been playing fantasy football for over 30 years, the last 15 as an analyst, writer, and editor. Jody’s rankings have been among the most consistent, placing him inside the top-10 in multi-year accuracy.