Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season delivered explosive fantasy performances from several unexpected sources, with elite tight end production and breakout receiver games defining the scoring landscape. Owners who had the courage to start certain boom-or-bust options were rewarded handsomely, while several traditionally reliable commodities left points on the bench.
Must-Starts: Week 9 Elite Performers
Brock Bowers (LV) — TE: 43.3 pts
Brock Bowers recorded 12 catches for 127 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 6 rushing yards. The Las Vegas tight end was on the field for 81 percent of offensive snaps and delivered the week's highest fantasy total at his position.
Bowers was an absolute no-brainer start in Week 9. His 12 receptions and three-touchdown performance established him as his team's go-to weapon in the passing game, and fantasy managers who started him received league-winning production from the tight end position.
Drake London (ATL) — WR: 38.8 pts
Drake London hauled in 9 catches for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns, commanding 98 percent of the Atlanta Falcons' offensive snaps. His elite snap share and target volume made him a league-leader in Week 9 scoring.
London's three-touchdown game was exactly what fantasy owners hoped for when starting him. With nearly full-game involvement and end zone touches aplenty, he delivered a week-winning performance that justifies starting elite receivers with high target shares.
Caleb Williams (CHI) — QB: 38.7 pts
Caleb Williams completed 280 passing yards with 3 passing touchdowns, added 53 rushing yards, caught 2 passes for 22 yards, and scored 1 receiving touchdown across 100 percent snap share. The Chicago quarterback was a complete offensive weapon in Week 9.
Williams was an obvious start given his dual-threat capabilities. The combination of high passing volume and rushing upside made him a touchdown-heavy option that few fantasy managers would have benched, and his production validated the selection decisively.
Tee Higgins (CIN) — WR: 33.1 pts
Tee Higgins caught 7 passes for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns while playing 82 percent of snaps. The Cincinnati star delivered consistent volume and red zone targets alongside Joe Flacco's efficient passing attack.
Higgins was a clear start entering the week, and his two-touchdown performance with 121 receiving yards confirmed his role as a premier fantasy weapon. With high target opportunity and end zone involvement, he was a lineup lock.
Strong Starts: Reliable Options
- Christian McCaffrey (SF, RB) — 34.3 pts: 106 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 5 catches for 67 yards and 1 receiving TD. The elite running back remained highly productive despite 86 percent snap share.
- Joe Flacco (CIN, QB) — 32.7 pts: 470 passing yards and 4 passing touchdowns showcased an efficient arm in a high-volume passing offense. Flacco was a streaming gem for Week 9.
- Colston Loveland (CHI, TE) — 29.8 pts: 6 catches for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns provided Travis Kelce-like production as Caleb Williams' favored tight end target with 81 percent snap participation.
- Rico Dowdle (PIT, RB) — 28.1 pts: 130 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns across 72 percent of snaps. Dowdle dominated the Pittsburgh ground game in Week 9.
- Josh Allen (BUF, QB) — 28.8 pts: 273 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 19 rushing yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns made the Bills quarterback a multi-dimensional scoring threat.
- Kyle Monangai (CHI, RB) — 22.8 pts: 176 rushing yards and 3 receiving catches for 22 yards. The Chicago back was heavily involved at 74 percent snap share in a dominant offensive performance.
Tough Sits: Disappointing Weeks
- Lamar Jackson (BAL, QB) — 25.6 pts: The Baltimore quarterback recorded only 204 passing yards and 4 passing touchdowns despite 100 percent snap share. For an elite dual-threat QB1, the passing volume was unexpectedly low and limited ceiling potential.
- Trevor Lawrence (JAX, QB) — 22.2 pts: Jacksonville's quarterback threw for just 220 yards with zero passing touchdowns, forcing reliance on 2 rushing touchdowns and 24 rushing yards to reach 22.2 points. The lack of passing TDs made him a weak QB play in Week 9.
- Michael Penix (ATL, QB) — 22.7 pts: Despite 3 passing touchdowns, Penix managed only 221 passing yards and 19 rushing yards at 100 percent snap share. Owners expecting elite QB production from Atlanta's starter were disappointed by the limited yardage output.
- Josh Jacobs (GB, RB) — 20.0 pts: Jacobs posted just 87 rushing yards and 1 touchdown across only 58 percent of snap share. The Green Bay running back disappointed owners expecting heavier involvement in the backfield.
- DeMario Douglas (NE, WR) — 20.0 pts: Despite scoring 20.0 points on 4 catches for 100 yards and 1 touchdown, Douglas appeared in just 24 percent of New England's snaps, making him an unreliable weekly starter despite the strong per-game efficiency.
Leverage PlayCaller's AI-powered lineup tools at playcallerapp.com to identify similar breakout performances and avoid Week 10 missteps.