NFL Week 9 Recap: Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Sunday’s games | Fantasy Football News, Rankings and Projections

• Defenses dominate the Miami Dolphins–Kansas City Chiefs game: The two teams punted a combined 13 times. Neither team scored a field goal, and they combined for just four touchdowns on offense in a surprisingly low-scoring game.

• The Chiefs spread the ball around: Patrick Mahomes targeted 11 different receivers, with backup tight end Noah Gray leading the team in receiving with three receptions for 34 yards.

• Travis Kelce makes history: Kelce had his worst game as a receiver in years, but he still managed to become the Kansas City Chiefs‘ all-time leading receiver. 

PFF’s fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2023.

Miami Dolphins @ Kansas City Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco leads the Chiefs offense: Pacheco led the Chiefs in total yards of offense, running for 66 yards on 16 carries.

• His longest carry went for 9 yards, so his 66-yard game was due to consistently good play rather than one or two explosive runs.
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire missed this game due to an illness. Pacheco received a slight increase in snaps, while La’Mical Perine also received a few snaps after being elevated to the active roster.
• Pacheco has been a pleasant surprise to fantasy managers all season, and he continues to be a must-start.
• Jerick McKinnon played fewer snaps than usual this week, with the Chiefs maintaining a lead all game. It was surprising to see Perine take snaps instead of McKinnon, who was often the primary backup on early downs last season.
• McKinnon scored a touchdown on one of his three opportunities, but he can probably be dropped in most leagues. He can’t be trusted in fantasy starting lineups right now, and even a Pacheco injury might not be enough to make him a starter.

Rashee Rice’s role continues to expand: The rookie receiver had a place in the Chiefs’ starting lineup for the third straight game and played over two-thirds of the offensive snaps for the first time in his career.

• Rice led the wide receiver room in snaps played, though he finished third in routes run. His target rate was also much lower than usual.
• With his playing time increasing, this might be the best time to buy low. The Chiefs have one of the easier schedules for wide receivers over the rest of the season.
• Justin Watson played much more than usual, leading the wide receiver room in targets and routes. He recorded the highest snap percentage of his season.
• This came at the expense of Skyy Moore, who had played at least 50% of offensive snaps in every game until Week 9, but this week his role diminished.
• Both Mecole Hardman Jr. and Kadarius Toney took steps back from last week.
• While the box score didn’t show it, this game was the clearest sign Rice will be the top wide receiver in most games going forward.

Jeff Wilson Jr. remains third on the Dolphins’ depth chart: Wilson was expected to have a significant role on his return, but he remained a clear third for Miami.

• Wilson was playing more than Raheem Mostert by the end of the 2022 season, leading many to assume he would play a significant role in 2023.
• Instead, Salvon Ahmed has remained the primary third-down back, while Ahmed and Wilson have split time on early downs and in short-yardage situations.
• De’Von Achane has spent four games on injured reserve and should be back for the Dolphins’ Week 11 game. The Dolphins could use four running backs on the active roster, or Wilson might become the odd man out in Miami.
• Regardless, Wilson can likely be dropped in most fantasy leagues.

Monitor Jaylen Waddle’s health: Waddle went to the medical tent with an apparent knee injury on the Dolphins’ first drive.

• Waddle was quickly deemed questionable to return, but he was back on the field by the Dolphins’ second drive. He played just under 50% of the offensive snaps in the first half and just over 50% in the second half.
• Cedrick Wilson Jr. not only played in place of Waddle for a lot of the game, but he also played in three-receiver sets in place of Braxton Berrios at times. Berrios had played 94% of snaps in 11 personnel over the first eight weeks and 45% of 11 personnel snaps in this game.
• Wilson caught a touchdown for 31 yards and could be a waiver wire target, especially considering this is the second time in three weeks Waddle has missed significant time.
• It’s also worth noting that Tyreek Hill played over 90% of the offensive snaps for just the second time since joining the Dolphins due to the magnitude of this game.

Miscellaneous Notes

• Travis Kelce now averages 108 yards per game with Taylor Swift in attendance and 41 yards per game when she is not. His 14 receiving yards marked his lowest single-game total since 2018.
• The quiet game was enough for him to overpass Tony Gonzalez for the most receiving yards in Chiefs history. Kelce now sits at 10,941 receiving yards from 152 games, while it took Gonzalez 190 games to reach 10,940 yards.
• The Chiefs recently opened the 21-day practice window for wide receiver Richie James Jr. He played 35% of offensive snaps in Week 1 before suffering his injury early in Week 2.
• The practice window was similarly opened for Dolphins wide receiver River Cracraft a week and a half ago.
• Both the Chiefs and Dolphins have bye weeks this upcoming week, so both players should be suiting up for Week 11.
  

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Minnesota Vikings @ Atlanta Falcons

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Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens

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Arizona Cardinals @ Cleveland Browns

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Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Houston Texans

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Washington Commanders @ New England Patriots

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Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints

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Indianapolis Colts @ Carolina Panthers

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New York Giants @ Las Vegas Raiders

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Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

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Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals

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Table Notes

• Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, including offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have these plays removed.