Nine weeks into the 2026 NFL season, fantasy managers are still trying to decipher teams’ usage. Injuries continue to create opportunities, trade rumors are making some situations even more interesting, and coaches still apparently believe the best way to use a talented running back is to give the ball to three other guys.
Week 9 gave us plenty to discuss, including Puka Nacua’s injury creating opportunities in Los Angeles, questions surrounding Jonathan Taylor and George Pickens ahead of the trade deadline, and several backfields that are becoming difficult to predict. Of course, not every change in playing time is meaningful. Sometimes a backup gets a bunch of carries because his team is getting blown out, and that’s an important distinction for fantasy managers.
More Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | Players You Can Drop | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Re-Draft Trade Targets | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Dynasty Risers and Fallers | Weekly Rankings | Game Previews
This weekly piece will look at the trends and make recommendations for players who might be worth rostering or starting in our fantasy lineups. Looking ahead to Week 10, we’ll focus on the most meaningful changes in playing time, touches, targets, and opportunities, separating legitimate changes in roles.
If you have interesting usage notes, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter/X (@CableBoxScore) and let me know. Let’s dive into the 2026 NFL Week 9 usage!
NFL Week 9 Usage Trends
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Arizona’s passing game faces another potential shakeup after Michael Wilson suffered a neck injury against Seattle, while Gardner Minshew also left with an elbow injury. Both are reportedly facing potentially season-ending absences. Fantasy managers should be cautious about assuming that increased playing time will translate into production if Arizona also has to make another quarterback change. Tyler Allgeier and Trey McBride are the only pieces who should be on rosters.
ATLANTA FALCONS
Atlanta’s passing game continues to have difficulty supporting consistent fantasy production beyond its primary options, and the 34-17 loss to Cincinnati did little to improve matters. With Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons playing from behind, the important question wass whether Kyle Pitts’ involvement from recent weeks can continue. Pitts had 15 catches and four touchdowns over the previous three games, making his route participation and target share interesting. He had five targets, but finished with just three catches for 23 yards.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Justice Hill’s 85 rushing yards and touchdown look impressive, but it was a blowout. Hill received seven of his nine carries on Baltimore’s final two possessions in a 33-10 loss to Jacksonville, including a 65-yard touchdown run in garbage time. Derrick Henry actually played 61% of the snaps through three quarters and handled 16 of 21 running back opportunities before the game got out of hand. This remains Henry’s backfield, and Hill’s big fantasy performance was largely a product of the blowout.
BUFFALO BILLS
Do we have the league’s next undisputed workhorse in running back James Cook? In a brutal matchup against the Vikings’ run defense, Cook rushed the ball 31 times for 107 yards and a touchdown. For comparison, every other player on the Bills combined for 34 total rush attempts and receptions. Managers for D.J. Moore and Dalton Kincaid are likely to be disappointed, but the clear game plan here was to get the ball to Cook.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Darren Waller is becoming a much bigger part of Carolina’s passing game. He led the Panthers with 10 targets and 100 air yards against Denver. Waller caught eight passes for 90 yards and a touchdown while running routes on a season-high 67% of dropbacks. The negative game script certainly helped, but that’s encouraging usage for a tight end. Tetairoa McMillan caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, while Carolina’s tight ends combined for 18 targets compared with just 11 for McMillan and Jalen Coker.
CHICAGO BEARS
Chicago’s passing game continues to offer plenty of fantasy upside, but the receiver rotation remains something to watch, particularly with Luther Burden III’s playing time increasing in recent weeks. Burden went from 39% of the snaps in Week 6 to 61% in Week 7, when he produced 130 yards and a touchdown. Colston Loveland also entered Week 9 with 19 targets over his previous two games.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Chase Brown’s 62% snap share and nine carries this week might suggest Samaje Perine is taking over a larger portion of Cincinnati’s backfield, but the game script tells a different story. Perine received seven of his 11 carries on the Bengals’ final two possessions in a 34-17 win over Atlanta. Before that, Brown had played 72% of the snaps and handled 10 of 14 running back opportunities. Brown remains the clear lead back.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Cleveland’s backfield is becoming a frustrating committee, with Dylan Sampson playing 63% of the snaps compared with just 36% for Quinshon Judkins. However, Judkins handled 15 carries for 43 yards, while Sampson had only eight rushing attempts. Sampson’s advantage came in the passing game, where he ran 26 routes and drew six targets compared with just four routes and one target for Judkins. Judkins remains the preferred early-down runner, but Sampson has become a legitimate PPR option.
DALLAS COWBOYS
With George Pickens absent amid trade speculation, Dallas’ passing game still managed to produce 335 yards and two touchdowns against Indianapolis. CeeDee Lamb remains the obvious centerpiece, but the distribution of targets among the other receivers is particularly important if Pickens is moved before the deadline. Dallas also continues to lean heavily on Javonte Williams, who played 72% of the snaps and handled 20 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Goodson added 77 yards on 12 carries but suffered a knee injury, potentially creating even more opportunities for Williams.
DENVER BRONCOS
Jonah Coleman appears to have taken complete control of Denver’s backfield. Coleman played 82% of the offensive snaps against Carolina, handling 17 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown while catching four passes for another 31 yards. J.K. Dobbins was limited to just nine snaps (14%), four carries and one reception. Coleman also ran 25 routes compared with just four for Dobbins. This is no longer looking like a committee, and Coleman should be a reliable fantasy starter as long as this workload continues.
DETROIT LIONS
Detroit’s offense continues to struggle to produce points, scoring just 19 in its victory over Miami. The Lions have now failed to score more than 20 points in three consecutive games, a concerning development for an offense with several fantasy-relevant players. The normal names are getting the production, but Jared Goff is getting less efficient and is turning the ball over a lot more.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Josh Jacobs’ finger injury creates another potentially significant change in Green Bay’s backfield. Pierre Strong played 45% of the snaps against New England, handling eight carries and catching two passes, while Kaleb Johnson broke a 34-yard run and scored a touchdown. Jacobs is reportedly expected to miss up to three weeks, making this a backfield fantasy managers need to attack on waivers. Neither replacement has established himself as a dependable workhorse, but Johnson’s rushing upside makes him interesting.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Houston’s receiving rotation is getting very crowded, even after Jaylin Noel’s season-ending injury. Tank Dell played 45% of the snaps but drew a team-high nine targets, catching four passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Kayshon Boutte somehow produced 125 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 routes, while Xavier Hutchinson led the receivers with 53 snaps and Nico Collins played 47. Marvin Harrison Jr. was limited to 31 snaps and three targets. Dell looks like the most intriguing upside stash, but with six receivers involved, predicting weekly production could become a nightmare.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
With Jonathan Taylor on the trading block, Seth McGowan is suddenly a very interesting waiver-wire name. Taylor played 69% of the snaps against Dallas, handling 13 carries for 46 yards and catching five passes for 18 yards. McGowan played the other 31%, rushing six times for 45 yards and a touchdown. Taylor still handled 18 of 25 running back opportunities, but McGowan’s touchdown came when Taylor briefly left. If Taylor gets traded, McGowan could immediately become a significant fantasy asset.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Bhayshul Tuten’s 36% snap share against Baltimore looks concerning, but he didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter of Jacksonville’s 33-10 victory. Before the final quarter, Tuten played 50% of the snaps and handled 12 of 20 running back opportunities. Chris Rodriguez Jr. finished with 10 carries and a touchdown, but six of his 12 opportunities came in the fourth quarter. Ameer Abdullah’s seven carries were in garbage time. Tuten remains the most interesting fantasy option, although Rodriguez continues to threaten his touchdown opportunities.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Kansas City’s 35-12 victory over the Jets provided a much-needed offensive rebound after the Chiefs managed just three points against Seattle in Week 8. The most important fantasy question remains how the receiving opportunities are distributed. Xavier Worthy has the ability to produce explosive plays, but the Chiefs need more consistent contributions from their secondary receivers. Rashee Rice returned for Kansas City in Week 9 and caught five passes for 49 yards on seven targets, while Kenneth Walker handled all 22 of the Chiefs’ running back opportunities before garbage time, scoring three touchdowns.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Ashton Jeanty’s workload remains the most important situation to monitor in Las Vegas. He entered Week 9 coming off a game in which he played 71% of the snaps and handled 16 of 23 running back opportunities, but managed only 15 rushing yards on eight carries. Mike Washington Jr. continues to threaten some of the rushing work, and the Raiders’ offensive struggles are making Jeanty dependent on receiving production.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Chargers’ backfield has become a three-headed monster, with Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal each playing 40% of the snaps against Houston, while Keaton Mitchell played 25%. Hampton led the team with 13 carries for 60 yards, but Mitchell had 10 touches for 67 yards, and Vidal managed just 36 yards on eight touches. But does any of this matter considering how poor the offense is playing? I don’t feel comfortable starting any of them.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Puka Nacua’s knee injury could completely reshape the Rams’ receiving rotation. Nacua dominated Washington with 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown on an incredible 19 targets, accounting for 46% of the team’s targets and 60% of its air yards. Tutu Atwell and Konata Mumpfield each ran 20 routes, with Atwell drawing five targets compared with two for Mumpfield. Jordan Whittington played just four snaps. With Nacua headed to injured reserve, Atwell and Mumpfield are the players to monitor.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Miami’s offense struggled again in its 19-9 loss to Detroit, continuing a difficult stretch for its fantasy-relevant players. Ollie Gordon II entered the game having played 83% of the snaps in Week 8, when he handled 25 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown. That kind of workload makes him worth starting, but Miami’s inability to score consistently creates some concern. Gordon’s rushing volume and involvement in the passing game remain the only fantasy-relevant part of this team.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
If I am Justin Jefferson, I go into the Vikings office first thing on Tuesday morning and demand they trade for another quarterback before the trade deadline in the afternoon. Jefferson’s talent is being wasted behind the likes of Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. Despite getting 11 targets, Jefferson caught three passes for 58 yards, and the Vikings did not score a touchdown.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Rhamondre Stevenson’s knee injury could create a significant opportunity in New England’s backfield, especially with TreVeyon Henderson sidelined by a personal illness. Stevenson played 86% of the snaps through three quarters and handled 10 of 12 running back opportunities before leaving. Corey Kiner finished with eight carries for 55 yards and a touchdown, but most of that work came after New England pulled its starters. Lan Larison played 21% of the snaps and could handle passing downs. Kiner is the preferred waiver-wire addition.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
With Kendre Miller released and Travis Etienne still sidelined, Audric Estime has emerged as a significant part of New Orleans’ backfield. Estime and Alvin Kamara each played 49% of the snaps against Cleveland, but Estime led the team with 15 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown. Kamara had just six carries but ran 26 routes compared with 13 for Estime, maintaining his receiving role. Estime handled 16 of 27 running back opportunities, so he is a legitimate waiver-wire option while Etienne remains sidelined.
NEW YORK GIANTS
With Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. sidelined, Devin Singletary became New York’s entire backfield. Singletary played an incredible 92% of the snaps and handled 24 of 27 running back opportunities against Philadelphia. Unfortunately, he was inefficient and managed just 31 yards on 21 carries and eight receiving yards. Skattebo is expected to return Thursday, potentially ending Singletary’s brief workhorse role. The Giants’ backfield could look considerably different next week.
NEW YORK JETS
Breece Hall returned against Kansas City, but the Jets continued to give Braelon Allen significant playing time. Hall played 44% of the snaps compared with 58% for Allen, although Hall handled 15 carries for 61 yards and caught three passes for 26 yards. Allen received eight carries and two receptions. Hall handled 18 of 26 running back opportunities through three quarters, with Allen receiving additional work in the fourth quarter. This is going to get messy because the Jets really like both players.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Saquon Barkley returned to a substantial role against the Giants, playing 58% of the snaps and handling 13 carries, although he managed only 22 rushing yards and needed a touchdown to salvage his fantasy performance. Elijah Mitchell played the other 42% and ran 15 routes compared with 14 for Barkley, catching three passes for 20 yards. Barkley remains the starter, but the Eagles’ offense needs to improve before fantasy managers can feel particularly confident about his massive ceiling.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Pittsburgh Steelers were on bye for Week 9.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
San Francisco’s receiver room continues to be affected by injuries, creating opportunities for players who weren’t expected to have significant roles earlier in the season. Jordan Watkins’ increased involvement is happening every week, while Brandin Cooks has struggled to establish himself as a reliable fantasy option. With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel dealing with injuries, fantasy managers should look into Watkins, Cooks, or Demarcus Robinson if they are desperate for WR help.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Zach Charbonnet is taking control of a larger share of Seattle’s backfield, playing 56% of the snaps against Arizona. He handled 16 carries for 77 yards while catching one pass for nine yards. Jadarian Price remained heavily involved, playing 38% of the snaps and giving us 78 total yards on 13 touches. This remains a committee, but Charbonnet has the advantage in both early-down and passing situations.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Bucky Irving continues to dominate Tampa Bay’s backfield, playing 69% of the snaps against Chicago and handling 20 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 28 yards, giving him 125 total yards on 24 touches. Kenny Gainwell played 39% of the snaps and was productive as a receiver, catching three passes for 60 yards, but received only five carries.
TENNESSEE TITANS
The Tennessee Titans were on bye for Week 9.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
With Terry McLaurin, Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown sidelined, Van Jefferson became a much bigger part of Washington’s passing game against the Rams. Jefferson caught five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, tying for the team lead despite running routes on just 57% of dropbacks. Antonio Williams had an 81% route share and six targets, while Chig Okonkwo also ran routes on 81% of dropbacks. Jefferson and Williams are interesting short-term waiver options if the injuries continue.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 10 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!
