Here are my rapid reactions, top performers, and key fantasy football takeaways from Sunday of Week 9. You can find our expert consensus fantasy football rankings for the week here. And you can also sync your fantasy football league for free using our My Playbook tool for custom advice, rankings, and analysis.

Get Dr. Deepak Chona’s takeaways here from the Week 9 Sunday night recap show.

Injuries to monitor:

• Packers RB Aaron Jones (left ankle) in walking boot after loss to Lions
• TE Evan Engram is questionable to return with a back injury.
• RB Deon Jackson hurt (knee)
• Romeo Doubs (ankle) downgraded to out vs. Lions
• Raiders TE Darren Waller (hamstring) inactive before game

Quick Game-by-Game Observations & Takeaways

Game 1 – Patriots 26, Colts 3

Fantasy takeaway: Rhamondre Stevenson season continues. No Damien Harris. Stevenson totaled 18 touches for 70 yards and 1 receiving TD (led team with 7 targets). Although J.J. Taylor was involved even before the game was well out of reach for Indy. 10 carries for 9 yards and 1 catch for 8 yards. Also earned a goal-line carry (stuffed).

Other notes:

• Jakobi Meyers going 5-42 on 6 targets (20% Target share).
• Hunter Henry went 4-40 on 5 targets.
• Deon Jackson totaled 13 touches for just 36 yards before his knee injury. Jordan Wilkins operated as next-man up (3 carries, 5 targets) ahead of Phillip Lindsay.
• Michael Pittman Jr., 21% Target share but just 3 for 22 on 5 targets. Alec Pierce had the most receiving yards (23) on the Colts. Woof.

Notable Snap Counts

Patriots

Jakobi Meyers – 81%
Kendrick Bourne – 76%
Rhamondre Stevenson – 73%
Tyquan Thornton – 67%
Hunter Henry – 67%
Jonnu Smith – 54%
Nelson Agholor – 33%
J.J. Taylor – 27%
Lynn Bowden – 22%

Colts

Michael Pittman – 90%
Parris Campbell – 82%
Alec Pierce – 71%
Deon Jackson – 63%
Mo Alie-Cox -55%
Kylen Granson – 42%
Jordan Wilkins – 31%
Jelani Woods – 29%
Mike Strachan – 19%
Phillip Lindsay – 15%

Game 2 – Bills 17, Jets 20

Fantasy takeaway: Michael Carter (12 for 76) and James Robinson (13 for 48) split carries, but Carter scored. Robinsons out-targeted Carter (2 vs 1).

Other notes:

• Garrett Wilson. Let’s go. 8 for 92 yards on a 37% Target share. Alpha. Denzel Mims second with 4 targets. No targets for Elijah Moore.
• Stefon Diggs 5-93 on 10 targets (30% Target share).
• Gabriel Davis inefficient for second straight week (2 for 33) despite decent volume (5 targets).
• Devin Singletary led Bills in carries (8 for 24) and targets (5 for 24 yards on 4 catches). 59% opportunity share. James Cook with just 6 touches and Nyheim Hines with only 1 target.

Notable Snap Counts

Bills

Gabe Davis – 95%
Dawson Knox – 85%
Devin Singletary – 74%
Stefon Diggs – 74%
Isaiah McKenzie – 66%
James Cook -23%
Q. Morris – 21%
Reggie Gilliam – 16%
Khalil Shakir – 15%
Jake Kumerow – 8%
Nyheim Hines – 6%

Jets

Garrett Wilson – 92%
Denzel Mims- 83%
Tyler Conklin – 72%
CJ Uzomah – 53%
Michael Carter – 52%* started
Elijah Moore – 45%
James Robinson – 40%
Braxton Berrios – 35%
Ty Johnson – 12%

Game 3 – Vikings 20, Commanders 17

Fantasy takeaway: Justin Jefferson. Welcome to the scoring party! 7 for 115 and one TD on team-high 13 targets.

• First game as Viking for T.J. Hockenson, no ramp up. 9 catches for 70 yards on 9 targets.
• Adam Thielen with 7 targets, but just 3 for 67 yards.
• Dalvin Cook with 19 touches but for just 49 yards. However, he did score on one of his 6 targets and dominated the workload with a 88% opportunity share.
• Brian Robinson Jr. out-carried Antonio Gibson 13 to 11, but neither averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry nor scored. Both caught 2 passes.
• Terry McLaurin led with nine targets, but just 5 for 56 on a 35% Target share. Curtis Samuel‘s volume remained low (4 targets) but he scored and led with 65 receiving yards.
• Logan Thomas with a goose egg (0-3) on 3 targets.

Other notes:

Notable Snap Counts

Vikings

Justin Jefferson – 100%
Adam Thielen – 94%
TJ Hockenson – 91%
Dalvin Cook – 86%
KJ Osborn – 80%
J Mundt – 23%
Alexander Mattison – 14%

Commanders

Terry McLaurin – 100%
Curtis Samuel – -75%
Logan Thomas – 72%
Antonio Gibson – 58%
Cam Sims – 44%
Brian Robinson – 44%* started
John Bates – 39%
Dyami Brown -31%
Armani Rogers – 20%

Game 4 – Raiders 20, Jaguars 27

Fantasy takeaway: Travis Etienne bellcow season continues…28 carries for 109 yards and 2 rushing TDs. 88% opportunity share. JaMycal Hasty had 4 touches.

Other notes:

• Christian Kirk led the way with 8 catches for 76 yards and 1 TD (9 targets, 31% Target share).
• Evan Engram just caught 1 pass for 8 yards before leaving with injury.
• Marvin Jones (6 targets, 5 for 48), Zay Jones (5 targets, 5 for 40).
• Back to Josh Jacobs workhorse mode. 20 touches for 70 yards on an 80% opportunity share.
• Davante Adams. Have. A. Day. 10 catches for 146 yards and 2 TDs on an absurd 17 targets (47% Target share). Tight end Foster Moreau second with 5 targets. 2 for 42 through the air.

Notable Snap Counts

Raiders

Foster Moreau- 97%
Davante Adams – 95%
Mack Hollins – 85%
Hunter Renfrow – 75%
Josh Jacobs – 69%
Ameer Abdullah – 24%

Jaguars

Zay Jones – 94%
Travis Etienne – 81%
Christian Kirk – 75%
Marvin Jones – 57%
Evan Engram – 55%
Chris Manhertz – 54%
Dan Arnold – 35%
Luke Farrell – 22%
JaMycal Hasty – 19%

Game 5 – Packers 8, Lions 15

Fantasy takeaway: Packers offense. We have a problem. Aaron Rodgers with a 53.5 passer rating.

Other notes:

• Allen Lazard was back to WR1 after a week missed. 4 catches for 87 yards and 1 TD on 10 targets (25% Target share).
• Josiah Deguara out-targeted Robert Tonyan (5 to 4) and led the team in catches (5).
• Romeo Doubs left early with an injury and Aaron Jones later on. A.J. Dillon mustered 11 carries for 34 yards plus 4 targets, 2 catches and 10 receiving yards.
• Sammy Watkins caught one of his 5 targets for 9 yards. Woof.
• Jamaal Williams rushed 24 times for 81 yards but did not score. D’Andre Swift earned just 2 carries for 10 yards (fewer than Justin Jackson, who went 4 for 27).
• Swift did see receiving usage, catching 3 of 4 targets for 40 yards.
• Amon-Ra St. Brown dominated the targets (38%). But just 4 catches for 55 yards on 9 targets.

Notable Snap Counts

Packers

Allen Lazard – 88%
Sammy Watkins – 81%
A.J. Dillon – 66%
Robert Tonyan – 46%
Marcedes Lewis – 43%
Aaron Jones – 41%
Josiah Deguara – 38%
Samouri Toure – 38%
Amari Rodgers – 26%
Christian Watson – 23%
Tyler Davis – 7%
Kylin Hill – 1%
Romeo Doubs – 1%

Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown – 97%
Kalif Raymond – 95%
Brock Wright – 81%
Tom Kennedy – 66%
Jamaal Williams – 61%
Shane Zylstra – 26%
Justin Jackson – 21%
James Mitchell – 21%
D’Andre Swift – 16%

Game 6 – Bengals 42, Panthers 21

Fantasy takeaway: Joe Mixon. Good lord. 5 TDs (4 rushing, 1 receiving) and over 200 yards from scrimmage on 26 touches. Week-winning performance no doubt.

Other notes:

• Tee Higgins led the Bengals with 8 targets (7-60) followed by Tyler Boyd (6 targets, 5-44). Target shares flat across the board. No need to throw with this game a blowout by halftime.
• D’Onta Foreman got game-scripted out, totaling just 7 carries for 23 yards and 2 catches on 3 targets. Raheem Blackshear was more involved receiver out-of-the-backfield (4 for 40 on 4 targets).
• PJ Walker was benched for Baker Mayfield in second half. WRs all disappointed for the most part. D.J. Moore 2 for 24 on 6 targets. Terrace Marshall also saw 6 targets and scored in the 4th quarter.

Notable Snap Counts

Bengals

Tyler Boyd – 66%
Joe Mixon -65%
Tee Higgins – 62%
Mitchell Wilcox – 54%
Trenton Irwin – 49%
Hayden Hurst-46%
Samaje Perine – 36%
Trent Taylor – 35%
Devin Asiasi – 31%
Mike Thomas – 30%

Panthers

DJ Moore – 98%
Terrace Marshall – 92%
Shi Smith – 80%
Baker Mayfield- 63%
Tommy Tremble – 55%
D’Onta Foreman – 43%
Ian Thomas – 37%
PJ Walker – 37%
Raheem Blackshear – 35%
G. Ricci – 27%
Spencer Brown – 27%

Game 7 – Dolphins 35, Bears 32

Fantasy takeaway: QB Justin Fields is the late-round QB we were promised. 15 carries for 178 rushing yards, including a 61-yd TD scamper. Single-game rushing record for a QB. YLTSI. Added 123 passing yards and 3 TDs to Cole Kmet (2) and Darnell Mooney (1).

Other notes:

• Mooney was efficient on his 8 targets, going 7 for 43 (30% Target share).
• Kmet with 6 targets, 5 for 41.
• Chase Claypool in his debut was targeted 5 times, but just 2 for 13.
• With Fields doing it all, not much left over for the RBs. David Montgomery (14 for 36) and Khalil Herbert (7 for 23). Monty also earned 2 targets for a 70% opportunity share.
• Dolphins RBs Raheem Mostert (9) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (9) split carries, but Mostert scored. Wilson hit higher yardage (51 vs 26) and was more involved as a receiver with 3 targets.
• Tyreek Hill is on another level right now. 143 receiving yards on 7 catches plus 1 TD (28% Target share). Jaylen Waddle played second-fiddle (5-85-1 on 7 targets) but still awesome.
• Mike Gesicki back into a pumpkin (1 catch for 3 yards) with No. 2 TE Durham Smythe active.

Notable Snap Counts

Dolphins

Tyreek Hill – 79%
Jaylen Waddle – 72%
Trent Sherfield – 63%
Durham Smythe -58%
Jeff Wilson – 49%
Alec Ingold – 49%
Mike Gesicki – 49%
Raheem Mostert – 47%

Bears

Cole Kmet – 97%
Darnell Mooney – 86%
David Montgomery – 70%
E St. Brown – 70%
Dante Pettis -36%
Chase Claypool – 35%
Khalil Herbert – 28%
N’Keal Harry -28%
Trevan Wesco – 24%

Game 8 – Chargers 20, Falcons 17

Fantasy takeaway: Josh Palmer ALERT. The Chargers de-facto No. 1 WR delivered a 8-106-0 receiving line on a team-high 10 targets (23% Target share). Austin Ekeler finished with 9 targets (23 total touches) with two total TDs.

Other notes:

• Cordarrelle Patterson returned to the starting lineup, leading the Falcons in carries (13 for 44 yards) and 2 rushing TDs. Although he did not completely take over the backfield as Tyler Allegeier carried the ball 10 times for 99 yards. Caleb Huntley also stay involved with 7 carries. None were overly involved as receivers, per usual.
• Drake London and Kyle Pitts each saw a team-high 7 targets (30% Target share). Combined for 5 catches for 50 yards and zero TDs. Woof.
• Gerald Everett and Michael Bandy each saw 8 targets, but less than 40 receiving yards on 5 catches. DeAndre Carter finished second in receiving yards (56), but fifth in targets (6).
• Isaiah Spiller took over No. 2 duties from Sony Michel. The rookie totaled 7 carries to Michel’s 1.

Notable Snap Counts

Falcons

Drake London – 75%
Olamide Zaccheaus – 70%
Kyle Pitts – 69%
Parker Hesse – 48%
Damiere Byrd – 48%
Cordarelle Patterson – 39%* started
Tyler Allgeier – 38%
Mycole Pruitt – 30%
KhDarel Hodge – 26%
Keith Smith – 25%
Caleb Huntley – 21%

Chargers

Josh Palmer – 91%
DeAndre Carter – 83%
Michael Bandy – 80%
Gerald Everett – 68%
Austin Ekeler – 68%
Tre McKitty – 35%
Richard Rodgers – 22%
Isaiah Spiller – 19%
Sony Michel – 16%

Game 9 – Seahawks 31, Cardinals 21

Fantasy takeaway: Kenneth Walker is a MONSTER. 26 carries for 109 rushing yards and two rushing TDs in addition to four targets (3 for 20). All in all, 85% opportunity share. Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas combined for two carries.

Other notes:

• Noah Fant led the Seahawks in targets (6) and receiving yards (96).
• But Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf both scored on 5 targets.
• In James Conner‘s return he handled 7 of the 12 RB carries. But his biggest impact was as a receiver, catching all 5 of his targets for 19 yards. 66% opportunity share.
• Rondale Moore led the Cardinals in targets (10), catches (8) and yards (69).
• DeAndre Hopkins started hot scoring on Arizona’s 1st drive, but almost nothing after that. Finished with just 36 yards on 5 targets. He did get a TD wiped off the board late due to penalty, that eventually Zach Ertz scored.

Notable Snap Counts

Seahawks

DK Metcalf – 81%
Kenneth Walker – 77%
Tyler Lockett -74%
Noah Fant – 60%
Will Dissly – 59%
Dee Eskridge – 53%
Colby Parkinson – 40%
Travis Homer – 29%

Cardinals

Zach Ertz – 97%
DeAndre Hopkins – 94%
Rondale Moore – 90%
Robbie Anderson – 83%
James Conner – 71%
Eno Benjamin – 27%

Game 10 – Rams 13, Buccaneers 16

Fantasy takeaway: Cooper Kupp with his standard 8 for 127 and 1 on 9 targets.

Other notes:

• The gap is narrowing. Leonard Fournette saw just one more carry than Rachaad White (8 vs 9). Fournette did finish with more targets (7 vs 3). But White’s 11 touches were the highest the past three weeks.
• Tom Brady attempted 58 passes so all of the Buccaneers pass-catchers have inflated target numbers: Mike Evans (11, 5-40), Chris Godwin (10, 7-36), Scott Miller (8, 7-53) and Cade Otton (6, 5-68).
• Otton led in receiving yards (68) and scored after coming thru on the Buccaneers’ final/game-winning drive.
• Darrel Henderson led the Rams backfield with 12 carries for 56 yards (1 target). Cam Akers totaled 5 carries for 3 yards. Malcolm Brown went 2 for 9 yards.
• Van Jefferson (5 targets) and Tyler Higbee (1 target) caught zero passes.

Notable Snap Counts

Rams

Cooper Kupp – 100%

Allen Robinson – 89%
Tyler Higbee – 79%
Ben Skowronek – 65%
Darrell Henderson – 49%* started
Van Jefferson – 35%
Malcolm Brown – 28%
Brycen Hopkins – 25%
Cam Akers – 19%

Buccaneers

Chris Godwin -92%
Mike Evans – 88%
Cade Otton – 85%

Leonard Fournette – 62%
Scott Miller – 42%
Julio Jones – 36%
Rachaad White – 35%
Breshad Perriman – 29%

Game 11 – Chiefs 20, Titans 17

Fantasy takeaway: Patrick Mahomes went 43 of 68 for 446 passing yards, but just one passing TD. However, he added 63 rushing yards and 1 rushing score.

Other notes: 

• Isiah Pacheco started for the second straight game and led the team with 5 carries for 5 yards. Clyde Edwards-Helaire totaled 4 carries for 5 yards, but also saw two targets.
• Jerick McKinnon dominated the backfield touches (9) and snaps (62%) in the pass-heavy game plan. 6 for 40 receiving on 8 targets.
• Malik Willis completed just 5 of 16 passes, so all Titans pass-catchers were nuked in fantasy. Rookie tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo led the team in targets for second straight game as a result.
• Travis Kelce led the Chiefs with a 27% Target share (10-106-17), followed by JuJu Smith-Schuster (19%, 10-88-12), and Mecole Hardman (15%, 6-79-9-1).
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught one pass for 12  yards. Woof.
• Kadarius Toney only played 9 snaps, but started the game and was targeted immediately. He finished with 3 targets for 12 yards. His role should only increase in the Chiefs offense, making him a screaming buy-low option after doing nothing special in the final box score.

Notable Snap Counts

Chiefs

JuJu Smith-Schuster – 83%
Travis Kelce – 83%
Marquez Valdes-Scantling – 71%
Jerick McKinnon – 62%
Mecole Hardman – 54%
Noah Gray – 40%
Skyy Moore – 26%
Justin Watson – 26%
Isiah Pacheco – 22%* started
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – 17%
Kadarius Toney – 9%

Titans

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine – 78%
Geoff Swaim – 65%
Robert Woods – 63%
Austin Hooper – 61%
Derrick Henry – 59%
Cody Hollister – 49%
C. Okonkwo – 35%
Dontrell Hilliard – 31%

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