NFL Week 9 inactives and fantasy tips: T.J. Hockenson makes season debut

Welcome to the Week 9 NFL fantasy and betting cheat sheet, a one-stop-shop for The Athletic’s game previews, injury and weather updates, and expert analysis. Bookmark this page and check back often, as we offer regular updates Thursday through Sunday to assist with fantasy lineups and betting decisions.

The latest NFL news and headlines

Last updated: 6:55 p.m. ET, Nov. 3

Injury news | Weather report
Flex Fliers | Fantasy football player rankings
Featured games | Week 9 best bets

Injury news

Updated through 6:55 p.m. ET, Nov. 3

Sunday Night

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings (knee) — Activated from injured reserve
Hockenson will make his season debut against the Colts. He finished as fantasy’s TE2 last year with 14.6 PPR points per game. While he may need time to ramp up, Hockenson is a better start than many tight ends taking up roster space in 2024.

Monday Night

Kareem Hunt, RB, Chiefs (quadriceps) — Expected to play
Hunt was limited in practice this week but is expected to play and is no longer on the injury report. Since joining the Chiefs, Hunt has been the lead back, no questions asked. Backup RB Carson Steele has had 15 carries to Hunt’s 84 since Week 4. Samaje Perine has only had seven carries in that time.

Bucky Irving, RB, Buccaneers (toe) — Questionable
Tampa Bay’s backfield has become a two- to three-headed monster with Irving and Rachaad White solidified in the committee. In Week 8, Irving had nine carries, averaging 4.9 yards per rush, while White had six carries and averaged 4.8 yards per rush. Sean Tucker only had two carries, but he’ll see more work in Week 9 if Irving can’t play Monday night.

Sunday 4 p.m. Games

Jordan Love, QB, Packers (groin) — Active
Love was officially listed as questionable but will start against the Lions.

Josh Jacobs, RB, Packers (ankle) — Active
Jacobs participated only partially in Thursday’s practice but will suit up. The Packers RB slots in at 16th on Jake Ciely’s weekly running back rankings.

DK Metcalf, WR, Seahawks (knee) — Out
Metcalf has been ruled out for the second week in a row. Wide receivers Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will share the targets left behind by Seattle’s WR1.

Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jaguars (hamstring) — Active
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jaguars (ankle) — Active
Etienne and Bigsby practiced in a limited fashion this week. They will likely share carries in the backfield. Bigsby has a respectable 5.8 yards per carry on the season and has done well in Etienne’s absence.

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars (chest) — Active
Gabe Davis, WR, Jaguars (collarbone) — Out
Christian Kirk, WR, Jaguars (collarbone) — Out
Kirk won’t suit up Sunday after being placed on IR. Thomas was likewise limited, but will play. Tight end Evan Engram, along with WR Parker Washington, could absorb some more targets, especially since Davis is down as well.

Puka Nacua, WR, Rams (knee) — Active
Nacua suffered a knee injury in Thursday’s practice, on the same knee he injured earlier this year. As was expected, he will play Sunday.

Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles (hamstring) — Out
Goedert hasn’t played since Week 6 and hasn’t logged a full game since Week 5. Grant Calcaterra is the next man up and had 58 yards receiving last week. The TE position has been a thorn in the sides of fantasy players this year, but Calcaterra still isn’t likely to start on many rosters.

Sunday 1 p.m. Games

Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders (ribs) — Active
After a game-time-decision start/Hail Mary miracle in Week 8, Daniels is available to play in the Commanders’ matchup with the Giants. Terry McLaurin (Ciely’s WR11) could have a big game against a Giants team ranked 23rd in passing yards per game (223.5), according to TruMedia.

Brian Robinson Jr. RB, Commanders (hamstring) — Out
With Robinson out, Austin Ekeler will take on more carries and see more usage out of necessity. Behind Ekeler and Robinson on the depth chart is Jeremy McNichols, who could also see some work.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens (back/knee) — Active
Jackson returned to practice Friday and will play in Week 9. Coach John Harbaugh indicated Jackson was simply resting on Wednesday when he did not practice, but then he was also out Thursday, causing concern. However, he is good to go against Denver.

Derek Carr, QB, Saints (oblique) — Active
Carr will return in Week 9, which could buoy the Saints’ receiving corps … whatever’s left of it. WR1 Chris Olave had 107 yards receiving last week with QB Spencer Rattler under center and should see high usage again. WR Bub Means was placed on injured reserve, but Cedrick Wilson Jr. is available this week, tentatively giving WR Mason Tipton the WR3 role.

Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins (foot) — Active
Hill was limited in practice this week but is ready for Week 9. QB Tua Tagovailoa needs both Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the field to stand a chance against Josh Allen and the Bills.

Drake Maye, QB, Patriots (concussion) — Active
Maye has cleared concussion protocol and is available for Week 9. RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR DeMario Douglas, and TE Hunter Henry are all healthy, and while Patriots players have not been fantasy stalwarts, Week 9 offers the opportunity for decent production against the Titans.

Will Levis, QB, Titans (shoulder) — Out
Not much changes for fantasy players with Levis out in Week 9. Levis’ dismal 70.7 passer rating bests only recently-benched Colts QB Anthony Richardson.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Titans (shoulder) — Active
Ridley began the week on the injury report but is active this week. Ridley had a massive Week 8, with 143 receiving yards. But that’s the first time he’s eclipsed 100 yards all season.

Tony Pollard, RB, Titans (foot) — Active
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans (hamstring) — Out
Spears is out, but Pollard is available for the Titans in Week 9. With Spears out, Pollard should see the bulk of the carries; Ciely has him as RB18 this week, making him a viable option against the Pats.

Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals (quadriceps) — Out
Higgins is out for the matchup with the Raiders in Week 9. Next-man-up WR Andrei Iosivas had zero receptions the past two weeks, so with Higgins out, move on from Bengals receivers outside of Ja’Marr Chase (obviously).

Zack Moss, RB, Bengals (neck) — Out
After missing Friday’s practice with a neck injury, Moss is out for Week 9. Without Moss, Chase Brown’s fantasy prospects this week skyrocket.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Giants (concussion) — Active
Tracy suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter in last week’s matchup against the Steelers but will play in Week 9 after clearing protocol. Tracy appears to be the lead back in New York after handling 20 carries in Week 8 compared to Devin Singletary’s two.

Amari Cooper, WR, Bills (wrist) — Out
Cooper will not be available for Week 9. Allen’s top targets in Week 8 were WRs Khalil Shakir (10), Keon Coleman (7), and TE Dalton Kincaid (7). For the Bills matchup against Miami, Ciely has Shakir as WR29, Coleman as WR30, and Kincaid as TE8.

Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers (ankle) — Active
Johnston hasn’t played since Week 6, leaving targets galore for rookie WR Ladd McConkey, who has excelled in Johnston’s absence. But with Johnston available, McConkey may come down to earth some; however, Ciely still has the rookie at WR23 this week.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Panthers (knee) — Out
Brooks is out for at least another week. Whenever he debuts, Chuba Hubbard’s fantasy value will suffer.

Adam Thielen, WR, Panthers (hamstring) — Out
Xavier Legette, WR, Panthers (toe) — Active
Thielen, who has been on injured reserve, was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice but has been designated out for Week 9. With Diontae Johnson off to the Ravens and Thielen out, the Panthers will rely on heavily Legette, who is available this week.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys (team decision) — Out
Elliott will be inactive this week for disciplinary reasons, according to NFL.com. The Cowboys elevated Dalvin Cook and have Rico Dowdle back for Week 9.

Week 9 fantasy football flex fliers

Scott Engel’s weekly guide to last-minute free agent additions.

Mike Gesicki, TE, CIN (20% rostered): Gesicki has been a fantasy tease for seven seasons. His size and athletic ability should translate into quality fantasy production, yet he has annually landed on the waiver wire. Week 9 is a good week to stream him, though.

Get Ciely’s full Week 9 analysis. Plus sleepers and projections.

The weather once again has a limited impact on the NFL slate this week. The only game impacted by rain is in Green Bay when the Packers host the Lions on Sunday afternoon.

According to Rotowire, there is a 92 percent chance for rain heading into the Week 9 Packers-Lions matchup. The temperature remains mild at 55 degrees.

Detroit Lions (6-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (6-2)

Jared Goff has played three games in the rain, and in those games, his completion percentage averaged 56.8 compared to 65.1 percent without rain. While that’s significant, these are career numbers, and Goff’s consistency has improved since joining the Lions. He has an overall passer rating of 98.4 and a completion percentage of 67.3 percent with the Lions, compared to 91.5 and 63.4 percent, respectively, when not on the team. Jake Ciely has Goff as QB14 for Week 9, and he’s still a viable fantasy play.

Rain could mean more groundwork for Detroit’s backfield tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs (RB7) and David Montgomery (RB20). Gibbs has already amassed seven touchdowns and 745 net yards on the season while averaging 19.4 PPR points per game, which puts him at RB7 for the year. Montgomery is not far behind at RB11 with 16.2 PPR points per game, eight touchdowns and 556 net yards.

Love has only one rain game under his belt since entering the league, but he did very well, throwing for four touchdowns, one interception and 258 yards while finishing with a passer rating of 119.5 and a completion percentage of 68.8 percent. The Packers expect that he’ll play on Sunday, but even so, rain may mean more reliance on Josh Jacobs (questionable), given he, too, is available.

Wondering what the weather impact is on fantasy production? Jake Ciely has you covered like a poncho in rainy season.

Featured games

Game-specific previews and live updates are available on the day of the game.

• Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium — Minneapolis, Minn.
• Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock, Fubo (try for free)

Desperate for a win, the Colts have benched QB Anthony Richardson, the franchise’s future, in favor of veteran Joe Flacco. Richardson came into the league with raw talent — a huge arm, the ability to run, and the potential to make niche throws — but nearly no high-level experience. His development is now officially on hold because the AFC South offers a path to the playoffs, but not with Richardson’s inefficiency (44.4 percent completion percentage, 57.2 passer rating).

Colts wide receivers, especially Josh Downs, have performed better with Flacco under center. Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., and maybe even Alec Pierce (in deep leagues) are viable flex options for Week 9. With Flacco in, Downs averages 9.67 targets, 68.67 receiving yards and 18.53 PPR points per game. If the Colts had consistent quarterback play, Downs could be a top-10 fantasy WR with those numbers. But even with Jonathan Taylor (Ciely’s RB9) in the backfield, the Vikings are heavily favored in this one.

Vikings QB Sam Darnold is a Comeback Player of the Year candidate but struggles under pressure. After starting the season with five wins, Minnesota has dropped its last two. The Vikings’ offensive line lost Christian Darrisaw but traded for Cam Robinson earlier this week. If Robinson can acclimate quickly, Darnold may be okay, and having WR Justin Jefferson as a target helps offset other offensive deficiencies. Fantasy football’s WR5 (19.4 PPR points per game), Jefferson has solidified himself as one of the league’s best, and with T.J. Hockenson’s return, Darnold may be able to unload shorter passes more effectively.

But the Colts’ biggest weakness is their rush defense, which ranks 30th in rush yards per game. RB Aaron Jones should find plenty of holes during this contest, and the odds likely have this one right.

Read the full preview.

Monday night

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)

• Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, Mo.
• Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN, ABC
• Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

Can the Patrick Mahomes-led, Travis Kelce-true Chiefs go undefeated this season? Off to a 7-0 start, the Chiefs are favored over the Bucs by more than a touchdown. Mahomes has struggled this year, but Kansas City recently acquired DeAndre Hopkins, who could inspire this middling offense. For his part, TE Kelce has had over 15 PPR points in three of his last four games and looks truer to top form as the season continues. The Chiefs have already lost many weapons — Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Isiah Pacheco, Rashee Rice — but coach Andy Reid finds ways to win each week.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield is running out of receivers, as WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin remain out this week. Rookie Jalen McMillan, second-year pro Trey Palmer and TE Cade Otton are now Mayfield’s top targets. By now, Otton is likely unavailable in free agency, but if you have him, start him. In Weeks 7 and 8, he’s put up 18.0 and 29.1 PPR points, respectively, and Ciely has him as TE4 this week.

Mahomes and Mayfield lead the league’s quarterbacks in interceptions, but Mahomes has an advantage in Week 9 against the Bucs’ bottom-dwelling defense, ranking near the bottom of the league in nearly all categories, including total yards per game allowed, passing yards per game allowed, and yards per play allowed.

On the other hand, Kansas City’s defense, led by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, is responsible for many Chiefs’ wins. Mayfield and the three-headed running back committee — Rachaad White, Bucky Irving (questionable), and Sean Tucker — could have a tough time scoring against a defense that ranks 5th in yards per game allowed and 2nd in rushing yards allowed. Think twice before you play these Bucs’ backs.

Read the full preview (coming Monday).

Week 9 best bets

Austin Mock scours his weekly projections to spot the top values on the board.

Bet picked Thursday: Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals under 47 (-110)

I don’t know what the identity of this Raiders offense is, but I do know that it isn’t very good. If there is an offense that I think this putrid Bengals defense can stop, it might be the Raiders. Forty-seven is a key number here, and any move off this price is not worth a play, so pay attention to what price you’re getting.

— Mock

• Worst price to bet: Under 47 (-115)

See all of Mock’s best bets for Week 9.