Chiefs get even more banged up but avoid “the big one.” Patrick Mahomes’ arm was dangling by his side. Then, as he so often does, he went “LeBron mode.” It would be difficult to count the number of times I have seen LeBron James suffer what appears to be certain calamity only for the 21st century’s basketball GOAT to walk it off. The same has become true of Mahomes, who though he has missed time, never seems to land on the shelf when it counts. It counts more than ever for a Chiefs team that can’t waste another season after last year’s fiasco and subsequent “big one,” a torn ACL, for Mahomes.
The big one is not back for 2026, but all the other questions remain. Namely: Who can Mahomes actually throw to? The answer for Week 10 is “not Xavier Worthy” after the star-crossed receiver suffered what appeared to be a multi-week hamstring injury against the Jets. This is now the second or third time this season the Chiefs’ offense has suffered a loss it cannot afford. Not because Worthy has been so good or productive, but because the “next man up” will somehow be even worse. The Chiefs are dipping into depth they do not have. That’s why one of the greatest players we have ever seen will remain affixed to the QB1/2 borderline for the foreseeable future — unless a trade deadline addition or two changes things.
Five Week 9 Storylines
Puka Nacua injures his knee and the Rams hold their breath. Sean McVay is a football genius, but his 2026 plan is pretty simple: Get the ball to Nacua as many times as humanly possible. This is a risky approach with any player, but especially one with Nacua’s injury history and pre-existing 2026 ailments. No matter, the Super Bowl favorites’ season went sideways to begin the year and the team is now mired in comeback mode. Things could get so, so much worse if Nacua’s Monday MRI turns up a multi-week issue, but multi-month at least appears to be off the table. Of course, even a few weeks on the shelf would be enough to cost many fantasy managers their playoff spots. That’s extra true since no Rams help is coming via the waiver wire. There’s really only one thing you can do: Join the Rams in waiting to exhale.
Justin Herbert’s season manages to get even more miserable. Having what is probably the worst season of the decade by any established “franchise player,” Herbert now has a new bone break to deal with: Same as the old break. Yes, Herbie seems to have again fractured a bone on his non-throwing hand. He played through it in 2025, but in 2026 this team is 0-8. OC Mike McDaniel’s gig has weeks to live. Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s job might be down to months. Perhaps they will be able to convince Herbert to push through his injury, but then again, do they even want him to at this point? We probably know Herbert’s answer. It’s time to pack it in and wait for the next Bolts savior. There, we will all get fooled again.
Rhamondre Stevenson suffers knee injury vs. Packers. Stevenson lost a third quarter fumble with the Pats trailing 34-14. It would have been hard for his day to get worse at that point. It did. Stevenson was injured on the very next drive and quickly ruled out. That could have been a function of the score, or even the fumble, but that’s not usually how these things work. Coach Mike Vrabel predictably shed little light on the matter after the game, but his tone verged more on “ominous” than simply annoyed with Stevenson’s play. With TreVeyon Henderson already on the shelf with an illness, unheralded second-year UDFA Corey Kiner — whom the Pats reportedly really like — has gone from end-of-bench curiosity to must add ahead of Week 10.
Jonah Coleman further consolidates work in the Broncos’ backfield. Coleman out-snapped JK Dobbins 58-11 and out-touched him 21-5. He scored the Broncos’ only rushing touchdown (from the nine-yard line) and received the lone carry inside the five. He was the preferred option on passing downs. In another words, it was a complete takeover, one we can only hope was not marred by his late fumble on a pitch. Perhaps the miscue will be blamed on Bo Nix. There were at least no hurt feelings one play later, where Coleman took another carry. Annoyingly, fickle coach Sean Payton now has the Broncos’ bye week to think things over, but with RJ Harvey set to miss at least two more contests, Coleman should be returning to an RB2 role in Week 11 against the Raiders’ shoddy defense.
Tank Dell somehow extends the Texans’ sprawling receiver corps. Playing just his second game in two seasons, Dell had his fifth career 100-yard outing. Talk about a performance we didn’t see coming. Not just because of Dell’s health, but because this is a team that also has Nico Collins, Marvin Harrison Jr., Xavier Hutchinson and Kayshon Boutte. Improbably, everyone remained involved coming out of the Texans’ Week 8 bye. It was easy to do with C.J. Stroud roasting the embarrassing Chargers but will again become more difficult in Week 10 vs. Cleveland. That’s too many mouths to feed for any quarterback, especially when there’s an alpha like Collins in the picture. That’s why, even though it’s hard not to be heartened by Dell’s return, I’m probably still not rushing out to scoop him up off the waiver wire. Then again, if you clear 100 yards, you automatically put yourself in the “end of bench” conversation.
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Five More 9 Storylines
Braelon Allen and Breece Hall immediately revert to timeshare backfield. Allen has been a better player than Hall this season. Hall, however, is the “name brand,” one with a massive salary. We could daydream that Allen would maintain the workhorse role he had during Hall’s marathon absence, but it was of course not to be. The duo split snaps in Kansas City, with Allen finishing with a 37-27 advantage due to his somewhat surprising place ahead of Hall on passing downs. That’s notable since this team is going to be trailing a lot in the second half of the year. It could also be a one-week aberration since Hall was working his way back into the lineup. Whatever it was, it was a buzzkill. Hall now threatens to get trapped between the 20s, while whatever advantage Allen has with high-value touches probably won’t be enough to create RB2 status. We are stuck in fantasy limbo at the exact wrong time of year. For Week 10 I will be ranking Hall on the RB2/3 borderline, with Allen just a few spots behind.
Josh Jacobs breaks a finger in the middle of Jordan Love’s perfect game. Injured in the first quarter, Jacobs finished the game on the sideline — in his helmet — but never returned to the field. It suggests an injury the workhorse back wants to play through but may not be able to. It was no matter against the Pats, with the born-again Packers revving their already humming passing machine up to new heights. Although the team would undoubtedly like Jacobs back for Week 10 against the Vikings’ ferocious defense, it does have ample 2026 evidence his participation is not essential. With MarShawn Lloyd (knee) also banged up, somehow Kaleb Johnson has returned.
J.J. McCarthy injures hip on short week. McCarthy has answered many of his Vikings questions in shockingly expedient fashion. But here comes a big one — can he stay on the field this time around? The answer on Sunday was a laudable “yes.” Although clearly in pain, McCarthy played the entire fourth quarter as the Giants grinded out a divisional victory. Now the rest test begins with the painkillers and adrenaline worn off, especially since the Giants of course have this week’s short-week Thursday night contest. Although the G-Men undoubtedly want to continue evaluating McCarthy down the stretch, they are now strong division favorites. They know they can win with Jameis Winston while protecting McCarthy’s health on Thursday. Do not be surprised if that ends up the decision despite “Nine” finishing Sunday’s contest ... is what I wrote before the Monday reports McCarthy will likely give it a go. Nevertheless “keep it locked to Rotoworld.”
Pat Bryant looks like a fantasy factor vs. Panthers. Active for the first time since Week 4, Bryant had his best game of the season and scored his second touchdown. He also played over 50 snaps, a total that might have been lower had Jaylen Waddle not departed early with a concussion. That Bryant might pass Courtland Sutton for No. 2 duties is no longer a controversial proposition. It’s probably 50-50 at this point. What we will whisper here is … what if he becomes the No. 1 over the always injured and now frequently ineffective Waddle? We have to wait until after the Broncos’ Week 10 bye to find out, but the case for Bryant’s continued stashing only became stronger on Sunday.
Audric Estime has pop-up effort for Saints. Waived by the Browns on Monday, Estime was claimed on Tuesday. He was starting on Sunday, getting Kendre Miller released from the roster and banishing beloved veteran Alvin Kamara to the bench. Heady stuff — and a miracle for those of us in Week 9 running back hell — but perhaps a one time turning of the water into wine. That’s because Travis Etienne (hamstring) seems to have much better odds of returning in Week 10 than he did in Week 9. Etienne’s activation off injured reserve would be the sign to jettison Estime just as soon as you added him. If the situation remains uncertain when Tuesday evening waiver bids are due, though, Estime is worth a minimal bid in 12-team leagues.
Questions
1. Which small Jesuit school on the West Coast will announce Jim Harbaugh as its new athletic director in January?
2. Why don’t more teams try to become the 2000 Ravens over the course of only a few weeks like the Bucs have done?
3. They really couldn’t find a different number for Devin Singletary than Saquon Barkley’s old digits?
Early Waivers Look (Players rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues)
QB: Aaron Rodgers (@CIN), Geno Smith (vs. BUF), Michael Penix Jr. (vs. KC), J.J. McCarthy (vs. WAS), Malik Willis (@IND)
RB: Seth McGowan, Corey Kiner, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kaelon Black, Audric Estime, Tyler Goodson, Kaleb Johnson, MarShawn Lloyd, Greg Desrosiers
WR: Caleb Douglas, Demario Douglas, Ryan Flournoy, Pat Bryant, Brian Thomas Jr., Antonio Williams, De’Zhaun Stribling, Tank Dell, Ja’Kobi Lane, Jordan Watkins
TE: Chig Okonkwo, Terrance Ferguson, Eli Raridon, Kenyon Sadiq, Darren Waller
DEF: Ravens (vs. LAC), Bills (@NYJ), Texans (@CLE), 49ers (@DAL), Packers (vs. MIN)
Stats of the Week
Just how bad was Devin Singletary’s 23-touch, 39-yard performance? It was just the third time this decade a player produced fewer than 40 yards from scrimmage on 20-plus touches. His 39 yards were also tied for the fourth fewest on 23-plus touches this century.
Ian Hartitz on the (continued) collapse of the Chiefs’ deep passing game: “Patrick Mahomes completions thrown 20-plus yards down the field, Weeks 1-4: 7. *Tyquan Thornton injured* Weeks 5-9: 0. Mahomes’ last completion thrown 20-plus yards down-field was literally the play Thornton was injured on.”
Field Yates on the geographical divisions in the National Football Conference: “The NFC North is the first division in NFL history with every team three games over .500 through Week 9. The NFC South is the first division in NFL history with every team two games below .500 through Week 9.”
Awards Section
Week 9 Fantasy All-Pro Team: RB C.J. Stroud, RB Kenneth Walker, RB Bucky Irving, WR Puka Nacua, WR CeeDee Lamb, WR Matthew Golden, TE Darren Waller (lol)
Week 9 All Bank Examiner Squad: QB Malik Willis, RB Derrick Henry, RB Tyler Allgeier, WR Zay Flowers, WR Jameson Williams, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Ladd McConkey, TE Tucker Kraft
The Hmm Maybe Every Team Should Try This Award: The Packers remembering deep passing is cool.
Here’s Your Medal For Barely Beating The Colts Award: The Cowboys.
The Arizona Cardinals Team of the Week: The Arizona Cardinals.
Current Rams Continent Award: North America, with Australia looming depending on Puka Nacua’s MRI results.
