Best/Worst Matchups - 2025 Week 9

Hello again! I hope you all survived the Bye-Pocalypse and are ready to start the second half of the fantasy season. Let's keep chugging along with my top plays for this upcoming week.

QUARTERBACKS

START Joe Flacco vs Chicago Bears

Uncle Joe has been really productive in his time with the Bengals with two Top-10 QB finishes. He gets the juicy matchup against the Bears who have allowed the 8th most points to opposing QBs.

Honorable Mention: Kyler Murray vs DAL, Sam Darnold vs WAS

SIT Jayden Daniels vs Seattle Seahawks

Daniels has had quite the down year from his rookie season. With not being fully healthy, he hasn't been able to unleash his full potential. You ought to find someone else that can give you a higher ceiling when Daniels gets to face the Seahawks who are in the Top 10 in preventing points to opposing QBs this season.

Honorable Mention: Jordan Love vs CAR, Bo Nix vs HOU

RUNNING BACKS

START Kareem Hunt vs Buffalo Bills

Isiah Pacheco went down with an injury last week and is considered week-to-week. If he were to miss time or to be limited in his snaps, Hunt should receive more looks along with Brashard Smith. This is a good week to use that stash on Hunt against the Buffalo Bills who have been notoriously bad against the run this year (6th most points to opposing RBs).

Honorable Mention: Bam Knight vs DAL, TreVeyon Henderson vs ATL

SIT Panthers RBs vs Green Bay Packers

Since Chuba Hubbard returned, there hasn't been a clear favorite in the Panthers backfield even after Rico Dowdle's impressive stats in Hubbard's absence. To add on to it, the Panthers draw the Packers who are quite stout against the run this season (3rd least points) Don't trust either of them this week with a poor game script coming.

Honorable Mention: Vikings RBs vs DET

WIDE RECEIVERS

START Josh Downs vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Downs had a nice week last week and is looking to be more featured in this offense alongside Michael Pittman. The Colts get the Steelers who continue to get gashed through the air (6th most points to opposing WRs). Downs is getting more looks and has FLEX appeal.

Honorable Mention: Tre Tucker vs JAX, Elic Ayomanor vs LAC

SIT Romeo Doubs vs Carolina Panthers

The Packers are stout against the run, while their opponent this week, the Carolina Panthers, are stout against the pass this season. They have allowed the 3rd least points to opposing WRs this season and Doubs does not have FLEX appeal this week in a matchup where the game script favors the run and Josh Jacobs.

Honorable Mention: Khalil Shakir vs KC, Stefon Diggs vs ATL

TIGHT ENDS

START Colston Loveland vs Cincinnati Bengals

Loveland saw 80% of snaps last week for the Bears for the first time this season and is a sign of things to come for him. This week, he gets the JUICIEST matchup of the week against the Bengals who are the worst against defending tight ends this season. It may be a speculative play as he still has yet to break out but he's on the streaming radar.

Honorable Mention: Pat Freiermuth vs IND, AJ Barner vs WAS

SIT Travis Kelce vs Buffalo Bills

The Bills will do all they can to shut down rival Travis Kelce and the Chiefs. The Bills have a nice track record against TE's this season (2nd least points to TEs). It may be hard to sit him but the Bills want to shut down their biggest playmakers and make them run with the Chiefs' depleted backfield.

Honorable Mention: Hunter Henry vs ATL, Evan Engram vs HOU

#DRock313