As we enter Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season, fantasy managers are starting to see clear trends emerge in player usage and performance. Injuries, offensive shifts and coaching adjustments are forcing managers to make tougher start/sit and waiver decisions every week. This column breaks down the key fantasy football risers and fallers heading into Week 9, helping you identify players to buy or sell before the market adjusts. For a deeper look at positional changes, check out the RotoWire NFL team depth charts and weekly fantasy football projections to stay ahead of the curve.
Fantasy Football Risers
Quarterback
The Texans' offensive line remains a major concern, but Stroud continues to elevate the team around him. He's thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of his last four games and just posted 318 yards and two scores against a banged-up 49ers defense despite missing Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. His ability to find secondary receivers shows improved poise and vision under pressure. Stroud's floor is trending up as he keeps producing even in tougher matchups.
Running Back
After a slow start, Barkley finally erupted for 174 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Week 8. The Eagles leaned on extra tight end sets and improved offensive line play to open running lanes against the Giants. Even with Philadelphia on bye, Barkley looks primed for a massive second-half surge. Expect the Eagles to keep feeding him as a focal point of their balanced attack.
As we enter Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season, fantasy managers are starting to see clear trends emerge in player usage and performance. Injuries, offensive shifts and coaching adjustments are forcing managers to make tougher start/sit and waiver decisions every week. This column breaks down the key fantasy football risers and fallers heading into Week 9, helping you identify players to buy or sell before the market adjusts. For a deeper look at positional changes, check out the RotoWire NFL team depth charts and weekly fantasy football projections to stay ahead of the curve.
Fantasy Football Risers
Quarterback
The Texans' offensive line remains a major concern, but Stroud continues to elevate the team around him. He's thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of his last four games and just posted 318 yards and two scores against a banged-up 49ers defense despite missing Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. His ability to find secondary receivers shows improved poise and vision under pressure. Stroud's floor is trending up as he keeps producing even in tougher matchups.
Running Back
After a slow start, Barkley finally erupted for 174 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Week 8. The Eagles leaned on extra tight end sets and improved offensive line play to open running lanes against the Giants. Even with Philadelphia on bye, Barkley looks primed for a massive second-half surge. Expect the Eagles to keep feeding him as a focal point of their balanced attack.
Vidal's breakout in Week 6 looked like a fluke, but he's proving otherwise. After a quiet outing against the Colts, he rebounded with 117 yards and a score on 23 carries versus Minnesota. Two strong performances in three weeks has led to growing trust from the coaching staff. Vidal has moved into solid RB2 territory and should remain a top-20 back in the short term.
Wide Receiver
With Calvin Ridley sidelined by a hamstring injury, Dike has taken full advantage, totaling 163 yards and a touchdown in two games. Ridley's return timeline is unclear, but Dike's explosiveness adds a much-needed spark to Tennessee's offense. He's worth rostering in all leagues in case his role sticks.
After a sluggish start, McConkey has emerged as a reliable weekly play. He's topped 14.9 PPR points in four straight games and is now operating as the Chargers' best wide receiver. With Los Angeles leaning heavily on its passing attack, McConkey's volume and consistency make him a borderline WR1.
Tight End
Pitts has finally found stability, posting back-to-back double-digit PPR performances. He averaged eight catches and 61 yards over that span, showcasing his chemistry with multiple QBs. While the explosive breakout hasn't come yet, his improved floor makes him a steady top-12 option at the position.
Fantasy Football Fallers
Quarterback
After a hot start, Williams has cooled off significantly, failing to top 16.7 fantasy points in three of his last four games. Even against soft matchups, his production has dipped as Chicago leans on its running game. Unless the Bears fall behind more often, Williams' weekly ceiling will remain capped.
Running Back
Dowdle's momentum has stalled since Chuba Hubbard returned to the mix. His snap share has fallen to the mid-40s, and his last two outings have produced just 10.6 or fewer PPR points. Despite running well, his inconsistent workload makes him no more than a flex play for now.
Mason's output has plummeted when Aaron Jones is active, averaging only 5.3 PPR points in those games, with Minnesota's banged-up offensive line limiting efficiency. As long as Jones remains healthy, Mason's weekly floor is too low to trust.
Wide Receiver
Egbuka's early season explosion has been derailed by a hamstring injury and recent struggles. Despite 21 targets in his last two games, he's managed just 94 total yards and no touchdowns. Whether it's lingering injury effects or defensive adjustments, his production dip is concerning for managers expecting WR1 value.
Golden's momentum took a hit with Christian Watson's return. After a solid three-game stretch earlier in the year, Golden had an uninspiring game (4/37) against Arizona. Then, in Watson's return against the Steelers, Golden caught three passes for four yards. The rookie looks like he'll remain a secondary option in the Packers' passing game.
Tight End
Hockenson hasn't topped 10.3 PPR points since Week 3 and just posted just 26 yards despite a pass-heavy loss to the Chargers. The inconsistency stems largely from Minnesota's unstable quarterback situation. Without a reliable passer, his weekly upside is much lower than expected when fantasy drafts occured.
Conclusion
Week 9 brings another wave of fantasy football adjustments, as breakout candidates like Barkley, McConkey and Stroud continue to surge, while previously reliable options such as Williams and Hockenson trend down. Staying proactive with roster moves is critical as the playoff race tightens. Be sure to monitor positional changes and depth chart shifts on the RotoWire NFL team depth charts and use the RotoWire weekly projections to plan your next lineup or waiver move. Staying ahead of fantasy football risers and fallers 2025 could be the difference between making and missing your league's playoffs.
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