Lineup Rx · Week 9 · 2026
Fourteen games are on the board: 13 on Sunday, starting with Bengals-Falcons in Madrid at 6:30 AM PT, and Bills at Vikings on Monday night. Pittsburgh and Tennessee are on bye, and Jacksonville beat Baltimore 33-10 on Thursday, per the CBS Sports schedule. Every call is for 12-team half-PPR leagues, with a note where full PPR changes the answer. Kickoffs are in Pacific time, with Eastern in parentheses.
Lines are the VegasInsider numbers updated Saturday. The Friday lines at Fox Sports (bet365) and Covers sit within a point of them on most games, and I show a range where the books split. Injury designations come from Friday’s final team reports and NFL.com’s Week 9 injury page, with Saturday news where a row says so. The calls lean on those reports, NFL.com’s Week 9 start/sit columns and FantasyPros’ consensus grades rather than snap-count tables, which I could not confirm for every team. When a status rests on one outlet, I say so.
Our Friday Rounds has the full practice-report breakdown. Pickups to cover holes are in Free Agent Triage, and the buy-low and sell-high moves are in Trade Rx. One update to Friday Rounds: Christian McCaffrey now has no game designation, covered below.
This week’s prescriptions
NFL.com’s start of the week: he played 68% of snaps against Kansas City, and Carolina allows the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs (28.3).
Young was pressured on 50% of his dropbacks over the last two weeks, and Denver’s pressure rate is 40.3%.
Dulcich has four or more catches on five or more targets in four of his last five games, and Detroit allows the most fantasy points to tight ends.
Egbuka is questionable with a foot injury in the Sunday night game. Inactives post at 3:50 PM PT, after every afternoon game has started.
Injury watch
| Player | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Christian Kirk, SF | Out (Achilles/ribs, hamstring, knee) | None of the three plays. Sit all of them. Demarcus Robinson is questionable and coming off injured reserve. |
| Christian McCaffrey, SF | No designation (hamstring) | Did not practice Wednesday, limited Thursday, full Friday. NFL.com’s page carries no game status for him. Start him. |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET | Questionable (rib) | Limited in practice, per the Lions’ report. Start him if active. Inactives post at 8:30 AM PT. |
| George Pickens, DAL | Questionable (hamstring) | Limited Friday. Start him if active. |
| Jake Ferguson, DAL | Questionable (ankle) | Limited Friday. Sit him and stream a tight end. |
| Emeka Egbuka, TB | Questionable (foot) | Did not practice Wednesday, full Thursday and Friday. Flex only, and only if active. |
| Hunter Henry, NE | Questionable (foot) | Did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, limited Friday. Check inactives at 11:55 AM PT. |
| A.J. Brown, TreVeyon Henderson, NE | Out (ankle/knee, illness) | Rhamondre Stevenson is the lead back. DeMario Douglas is the top receiver left. |
| Cam Skattebo, NYG | Doubtful (hamstring) | Did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, limited Friday. Plan for Devin Singletary. |
| DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, PHI | Out (hamstring, ankle) | Joe Milton III makes his first NFL start, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. Sit the Eagles receivers. |
| David Njoku, Brenen Thompson, LAC | Doubtful (fibula, quad/hamstring) | Treat both as out. |
| David Montgomery, HOU | Out (groin) | Woody Marks starts at running back. |
| Garrett Wilson, NYJ | Out (concussion) | Did not practice all week. Breece Hall has no designation after limited, full, full. |
| Sam Darnold, Rashid Shaheed, SEA | Out (quad/ribs, knee) | Drew Lock starts. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the only Seahawk to count on. |
| Bam Knight, ARI | Out (concussion) | Tyler Allgeier is the lead back. Yahoo’s tracker lists Jeremiyah Love as out too. I could not find his official Friday tag, so treat him as out. |
| Brian Robinson Jr., Zachariah Branch, ATL | Out (hamstrings) | Bijan Robinson carries the backfield. |
| CJ Donaldson, NO; Jordyn Tyson, NO | Out (shoulder/concussion); Questionable (hamstring) | Tyson was limited in practice. Sit him. |
| Deshaun Watson, CLE | Questionable (concussion) | Todd Monken says Shedeur Sanders starts. Watson was limited Friday. |
| Terrance Ferguson, LAR | Out (hamstring) | Colby Parkinson (ribs) is questionable. Puka Nacua carries no designation. |
| Jauan Jennings, MIN | Out (calf) | Ruled out Saturday for Monday night, per NBC Sports and Yahoo. Kyler Murray is also out, so Carson Wentz starts. |
| DJ Moore, Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, BUF | No designation | Saturday’s Bills report clears all three. NFL.com’s page shows no game status for any Bills skill player. |
| Kyle Monangai, CHI | Questionable (thumb, toe) | Practiced for the first time in more than a month on Friday. D’Andre Swift keeps the job. |
| Jaylen Wright, Kaytron Allen, MIA | Questionable (quads) | Sit both. |
Bengals vs. Falcons (Madrid)
The diagnosis: This is the highest total on the board, and Atlanta has thinned out. Brian Robinson Jr. and Zachariah Branch are both out, which makes Bijan Robinson the clear lead back. FantasyPros grades Joe Burrow as its top quarterback and Bijan, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins all at A+. NFL.com likes Kyle Pitts because Cincinnati allows the second-most receptions (seven) and 88.7 receiving yards per game to tight ends, and Atlanta will have to throw to keep up with Burrow. Inactives post at 5:00 AM PT (8:00 AM ET), so set your Madrid players before Saturday night ends.
- StartJoe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Chase Brown, Kyle Pitts (touchdown-dependent TE1)
- BorderlineNobody here. Everyone with a role is a start, and everyone else is a sit.
- SitMichael Penix Jr. (FantasyPros QB17), Mike Gesicki, Beaux Collins (questionable, hip), Bengals D/ST and Falcons D/ST in tight leagues
Browns at Saints
The diagnosis: The Saints defense is the weak spot in this game. NFL.com says New Orleans allows 30 fantasy points per game to running backs, the most in the league, with a league-high 11 rushing touchdowns to the position. That makes Quinshon Judkins an easy RB1 start. Harold Fannin Jr. is NFL.com’s tight end start of the week after 16 catches on 21 targets for 245 yards over two games. Deshaun Watson is questionable, but Todd Monken says Shedeur Sanders starts. On the New Orleans side, CJ Donaldson is out, and Jordyn Tyson is questionable for his NFL debut after limited practices.
- StartQuinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr., Chris Olave
- BorderlineAlvin Kamara (flex; FantasyPros RB34), Denzel Boston (flex)
- SitShedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, Tyler Shough (NFL.com’s sit; Cleveland allows the seventh-fewest points to quarterbacks), Jordyn Tyson
Cowboys at Colts
The diagnosis: Dallas is the better offense, and the total is high enough for both sides to score. FantasyPros has CeeDee Lamb at A+, Dak Prescott as the QB5 and Javonte Williams as the RB5. George Pickens is questionable after limited practices, so he is a start if he is active. Jake Ferguson is questionable too, and with KaVontae Turpin out, the depth behind them is thin. On the Colts side, NFL.com’s WR column picks Keenan Allen, who has at least seven targets in four of his last five games and caught all seven last week.
- StartCeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, George Pickens (if active), Keenan Allen
- BorderlineJonathan Taylor (RB2; FantasyPros RB17), Tyler Warren (TE streamer)
- SitDaniel Jones, Jake Ferguson, Colts D/ST
Broncos at Panthers
The diagnosis: Coleman is the lead back (see the card above), and in his three games with an offensive role he averages about 10 carries, 3 catches, 77 total yards and 14.7 fantasy points. Carolina’s Bryce Young is the problem on the other side: he has a 35.4 passer rating against pressure, and Denver has the fourth-highest pressure rate in the league. That hurts Jalen Coker, who has three catches on ten targets for 47 yards when Young is pressured. Jaylen Waddle has no designation, but NFL.com says he averaged 29.2 receiving yards per game over the last six weeks, and last week’s points came from a goal-line touchdown and a two-point conversion. Chuba Hubbard and Tetairoa McMillan remain Carolina’s best plays.
- StartJonah Coleman, Chuba Hubbard, Tetairoa McMillan, Broncos D/ST
- BorderlineBo Nix (QB2 range; FantasyPros QB18)
- SitBryce Young, Jalen Coker, Jaylen Waddle, J.K. Dobbins, Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant (questionable, coming off injured reserve)
Lions at Dolphins
The diagnosis: NFL.com names Jared Goff its quarterback start of the week because Miami ranks last in pass success rate (53.2%) and EPA per dropback. Goff has a 15:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has scored at least 16.44 points in every game but one. Amon-Ra St. Brown is questionable with a rib injury, and he was a limited participant all week. Start him if he is active. The Miami side is a streamer’s game. All seven quarterbacks who faced Detroit scored at least 16.96 points, so Malik Willis is a fair streamer, and Detroit allows the most fantasy points to tight ends, which is the case for Dulcich. In the backfield, Ollie Gordon II has 17 or more carries in four of five games, but Detroit allows the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs.
- StartJahmyr Gibbs, Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown (if active), Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams, Lions D/ST
- BorderlineOllie Gordon II (flex), Malik Willis (streamer), Greg Dulcich (TE streamer), Malik Washington (flex; Detroit allows the second-most receptions to wideouts)
- SitJaylen Wright, Kaytron Allen, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors (all questionable), Dolphins D/ST
Rams at Commanders
The diagnosis: Washington is without Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown, and Terry McLaurin is out for the season. Stefon Diggs and Antonio Williams should absorb the targets, and Jayden Daniels was a full participant all week. NFL.com says Washington allows the fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, which supports Matthew Stafford’s 20-point upside. Puka Nacua carries no designation, and FantasyPros has him at A+. The Rams lost tight end Terrance Ferguson to a hamstring injury in Friday’s practice, and Colby Parkinson is questionable.
- StartPuka Nacua, Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Jayden Daniels
- BorderlineBlake Corum (flex), Stefon Diggs (flex), Antonio Williams (PPR flex), Rachaad White (flex)
- SitJordan Whittington (questionable, back), Colby Parkinson, Commanders D/ST
Giants at Eagles
The diagnosis: This is the lowest total on the board. Philadelphia is without DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks and Britain Covey, and Joe Milton III makes his first NFL start because Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve (our report on his clot). Saquon Barkley has no designation after missing Wednesday’s practice and going limited Thursday and Friday, so he plays, but the offense around him is the worry. For the Giants, Cam Skattebo is doubtful, which leaves Devin Singletary as the likely lead back, and Malik Nabers practiced in full Friday. FantasyPros ranks the Giants D/ST seventh.
- StartMalik Nabers, Saquon Barkley, Isaiah Likely, Giants D/ST
- BorderlineDevin Singletary (flex), Dallas Goedert (TE streamer), Makai Lemon (PPR flier)
- SitJoe Milton III, J.J. McCarthy, Cam Skattebo, Charlie Jones, Eagles D/ST
Jets at Chiefs
The diagnosis: Kansas City is a heavy favorite at home with Patrick Mahomes, Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce all carrying no designation, per the Chiefs’ report. NFL.com says Mahomes has a 114.3 passer rating on underneath throws, second among qualified quarterbacks, and averages 23 points per game when Rice plays a full game. Rice averaged 14.1 points in his four full games and scored 18.3 last week, and Xavier Worthy averaged 3.2 catches and 19 yards in those four games. The Jets lose Garrett Wilson, which pushes Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper Jr. up the depth chart. Breece Hall has no designation after limited, full, full practices, but he and Braelon Allen share the load.
- StartKenneth Walker III, Patrick Mahomes, Rashee Rice, Chiefs D/ST
- BorderlineTravis Kelce (TE1 floor play), Breece Hall (flex), Braelon Allen (flex), Adonai Mitchell (flex), Omar Cooper Jr. (PPR flex)
- SitGeno Smith, Xavier Worthy, Nikko Remigio (questionable, hip), Jets D/ST
Texans at Chargers
The diagnosis: The Chargers are 0-7 and last in the league in EPA per play and points per game (14.1), per Chargers.com. They have also held four straight opposing quarterbacks under 14 points, which is why NFL.com sits C.J. Stroud. David Montgomery is out, and Woody Marks takes the Houston backfield. David Njoku and Brenen Thompson are doubtful. NFL.com also sits Omarion Hampton, who has fewer than eight fantasy points in four of his last five games, and Ladd McConkey, who averages 2.8 catches per game. Only the Houston side is worth your lineup, and Houston’s D/ST is FantasyPros’ third-ranked unit.
- StartWoody Marks, Nico Collins, Texans D/ST
- BorderlineNobody. This game gives you one side to play.
- SitC.J. Stroud, Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey, Dalton Schultz, David Njoku, Chargers D/ST
Cardinals at Seahawks
The diagnosis: Seattle is a heavy favorite with a backup quarterback, and the total is among the lowest on the slate. Sam Darnold is out and Drew Lock starts, with Rashid Shaheed out as well. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is FantasyPros’ top-ranked wide receiver, and Seattle’s D/ST is second. Arizona starts Gardner Minshew II, with Jacoby Brissett demoted to third string. Bam Knight is out, which makes Tyler Allgeier the lead back. Trey McBride is the Cardinals’ best play. Jeremiyah Love is listed out by Yahoo, and our Recovery Room covers the ankle.
- StartJaxon Smith-Njigba, Trey McBride, Seahawks D/ST
- BorderlineTyler Allgeier (RB2/flex), Jadarian Price (flex), Michael Wilson (flex)
- SitDrew Lock, Gardner Minshew II, Cooper Kupp, Jeremiyah Love, Rashid Shaheed (out), Cardinals D/ST
Packers at Patriots
The diagnosis: A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson are both out, per the Patriots’ report, so Rhamondre Stevenson is the lead back and has scored at least 12 fantasy points in four of his last five games, according to NFL.com’s running back column. That column also backs Josh Jacobs, who has scored 20 or more in both games since his activation. Christian Watson had no designation on the Packers’ report after limited practices all week, and Micah Parsons is out. Hunter Henry is questionable after practicing in a limited way Friday, and Mack Hollins is also listed questionable on the Patriots’ report.
- StartDrake Maye, Rhamondre Stevenson, Josh Jacobs, Jordan Love, Christian Watson, Matthew Golden
- BorderlineTucker Kraft (TE1), DeMario Douglas (WR3), Hunter Henry (TE1 only if active)
- SitMack Hollins, Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd (both questionable), Patriots D/ST
Raiders at 49ers
The diagnosis: San Francisco is a 10-point favorite and down three receivers. Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Christian Kirk are all out, even though NFL.com’s receiver column still lists Evans as its start of the week, with an editor’s note that he was ruled out. McCaffrey is the 49ers’ best play: he went DNP, limited, full this week and carries no game designation. FantasyPros ranks him fourth among running backs, Brock Purdy third among quarterbacks and Brock Bowers and George Kittle first and second among tight ends. Ashton Jeanty is the open question. NFL.com says to play him because the 49ers allow the most receiving fantasy points to running backs (13.8 per game), but he lost his rushing role to Mike Washington Jr. last week.
- StartChristian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Brock Bowers
- BorderlineAshton Jeanty (flex on receiving work), Tre Tucker (flex)
- SitKirk Cousins, Mike Washington Jr., Demarcus Robinson, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Christian Kirk, both D/STs
Buccaneers at Bears (Sunday Night Football)
The diagnosis: Chicago’s offense runs through D’Andre Swift. Swift is FantasyPros’ eighth-ranked running back, and Kyle Monangai is questionable after his first practice in more than a month, so Swift keeps the job either way. NFL.com sits Caleb Williams, noting that Swift and the defense did most of the work in Monday’s win over Seattle, while FantasyPros still ranks him seventh at the position. That is a split decision, so he is a borderline start. Bucky Irving has no designation, and Emeka Egbuka is questionable with a foot injury after DNP, full, full. This is the last game of the day, so you will have no pivot if Egbuka sits.
- StartD’Andre Swift, Bucky Irving, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland
- BorderlineCaleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Emeka Egbuka (only if active), Buccaneers D/ST
- SitBaker Mayfield, Chris Godwin Jr., Cade Otton, Kyle Monangai, Kenneth Gainwell (handcuff only), Bears D/ST
Bills at Vikings (Monday Night Football)
The diagnosis: Minnesota is down Kyler Murray, and Carson Wentz starts, per the Vikings. Jauan Jennings is out too, which leaves Justin Jefferson as Wentz’s main target. Buffalo’s Saturday report clears DJ Moore, Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid. Kincaid is still a sit, because Minnesota has held tight ends to a league-low 7.1 fantasy points per game. NFL.com favors T.J. Hockenson, who has a touchdown in each of his last two games. In the Vikings backfield, NFL.com calls Buffalo a bad matchup for Jordan Mason and a decent one for Aaron Jones.
- StartJosh Allen, James Cook, Justin Jefferson, DJ Moore, T.J. Hockenson, Vikings D/ST
- BorderlineAaron Jones (flex), Jordan Addison (deep flex), Khalil Shakir (PPR flex)
- SitCarson Wentz, Dalton Kincaid, Jordan Mason, Keon Coleman, Bills D/ST
Before you lock your lineup: Inactives come out 90 minutes before each kickoff. That’s 5:00 AM PT (8:00 AM ET) for Madrid, 8:30 AM PT (11:30 AM ET) for the 1:00 PM ET games, 11:35 AM PT (2:35 PM ET) for Texans-Chargers, 11:55 AM PT (2:55 PM ET) for the 4:25 PM ET games, 3:50 PM PT (6:50 PM ET) for Sunday night and 3:45 PM PT (6:45 PM ET) for Monday night. If you’re starting Pickens, St. Brown or Egbuka, put your backup in a later slot so you can still swap him in.
About Lineup Rx: FFD posts start/sit calls for every Sunday and Monday game each Saturday at noon Pacific, after the final Friday injury designations. For live statuses, check the FFD Injury Report.
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