Weekend Wonderings: Week 09 (2025)

1. Last week, I mentioned that Saquon Barkley (RB-Phi) was averaging only 3.3 yards per carry for the season, and the Week 08 game against the Giants would serve as a litmus test of what to expect in the future with Philly’s passing attack improving.  We received our answer, as Barkley’s 14 carries for 150 yards bumped up his yards per carry to 4.1 for the season. I think Barkley will be just fine from here on out.

 

2. I will also repeat what I wrote last week, as he was on a Bye in Week 08: if I have Trey McBride (TE-Ari) on my fantasy team, I am hoping that Arizona stays with Jacoby Brissett (QB-Ari) at QB over Kyler Murray (QB-Ari) for the rest of the season.  He saw the 5th most targets (13) he has ever seen in a game in Week 07 with Brissett at QB, and he had his first 2 TD game of his career.

 

3. Kansas City’s defense has given up a grand total of 3 TDs (rushing/receiving) to the running back position (non-garbage time).  I am not saying to bench James Cook (RB-Buf), but I am saying do not expect a ceiling game here. Staying in this same game, both KC and Buffalo’s defenses have been stingy against the pass, with KC giving up, on average, 186 passing yards and 1 passing TD per game while Buffalo is giving up, on average, 180 passing yards and 1 TD per game.  However, the odds have this game being the 2nd highest scoring of Week 09, and we have seen Patrick Mahomes (QB-KC) and Josh Allen (QB-Buf) duel it out before.  I expect both QBs to push each other to produce high level fantasy stats.  Maybe the two more interesting plays in this game are Kareem Hunt (RB-KC) and Brashard Smith (RB-KC).  As mentioned in past waiver wire columns, Hunt has an absolute stranglehold on the short-yardage/goal-line work on this offense.  The Bills defense is 2nd worst in the league versus the run (5.5 YPC) and have given up the 2nd most rushing TDs (10-tied), and that is even with playing one less game than many teams thus far due to their Bye Week already occurring. Hunt could flirt with RB2 status while Smith, who should see more work with Isiah Pacheco (RB-KC) expected to miss Week 09, is a sneaky play in deeper leagues. 

 

4. Speaking of Brashard Smith (RB-KC), Week 09 against Buffalo is where we will see how much fantasy relevance Smith is going to have this season.  If he does well, not only will he get more snaps down the stretch, but it would make it less likely that KC trades for a RB.  If he falls flat, however, I would say its a 50/50 chance KC does make a move for RB, but not necessarily one that moves the needle, like Breece Hall (RB-NYJ).  It would also mean that Smith’s chances of being fantasy relevant this season drop substantially.

 

5. And Speaking of Breece Hall (RB-NYJ), rumors are the Jets are asking for a 3rd round draft pick.  I would be surprised if that happens.  That is a high cost for a player that is basically a rental (going to be a free agent in 2026) unless trading team signs him to a new contract, which will then be costly.  I am not sure any of the contending teams are going to do that.

 

6. Along with Smith (RB-KC), TreVeyon Henderson (RB-NE) has a huge opportunity in Week 09 with Rhamondre Stevenson (RB-NE) ruled out.  How he responds will help decide his fantasy relevance for the rest of the season.

 

7. Reacting to TNF’s Baltimore-Miami game,I noted two things.  One involves Greg Dulcich (TE-Mia), who had 5 targets, 5 receptions, and 49 yards, and he may be a usable deep league option at TE until Darren Waller (TE-Mia) returns.  The other is that Isaiah Likely (TE-Bal) saw more targets, receiving yards, and snaps than Mark Andrews (TE-Bal).  This could be nothing, and Andrews did come away with 2 TD receptions.  Still, we should not completely dismiss this.

 

8. Aside from Brashard Smith (RB-KC), I wonder if I could interest you in some other deeper league sneaky plays for Week 09:  D’Ernest Johnson (RB-NE), Samaje Perine (RB-Cin)–if Joe Flacco (QB-Cin) plays, Brittain Brown (RB-Chi)–if Flacco (QB-Cin) does NOT play, Devin Neal (RB-NO), Luke McCaffrey (WR-Was), Tyler Lockett (WR-LV), and Noah Fant (TE-Cin)–if Flacco (QB-Cin) plays.  Many of these plays do involve Joe Flacco (QB-Cin) playing or not playing.

 

9. While we are on the subject of “if Joe Flacco (QB-Cin) plays,” if he does not, I would downgrade Ja’Marr Chase (WR-Cin), Tee Higgins (WR-Cin), and Chase Brown (RB-Cin) 16 spots in the rankings.  And while we are on the subject of Cincinnati’s offense, fantasy managers of Chase Brown (RB-Cin) cannot be pleased with the playing time of Samaje Perine (RB-Cin).  Once Zach Moss (RB-Cin) injured himself in 2024 and Brown took over, he saw no less than 80% of the snaps in each game (8) that he played afterwards.  This season, Brown has seen 54%, 63%, and 54% in the three games since the arrival of Joe Flacco (QB-Cin).  Brown still has a good match-up, but Perine is making me a little nervous.

 

10. And finally…, (in the spirit of Halloween), I wonder how I am going to fix my broken jack-ó-lantern.  I guess I need a pumpkin patch.