NFL Week 9 Game by Game: Pass Rates, Key Players and Injury News

Here is a game-by-game look at all 11 games on the Week 9 DraftKings Sunday main slate: which offenses like to throw, the players worth knowing, and the injury news that matters. Each game ends with a watch list that shows live injury status, projections and snap share, so it stays current as inactives come in.

A quick word on pass rate over expectation (PROE). It compares how often a team actually throws with how often an average team would throw in the same game situations. A positive number means the offense passes more than expected, and a negative number means it leans on the run. All PROE numbers below cover the season through Week 8 and only count neutral game scripts, when the game is still competitive. You can compare every team on the team tendencies page.

Broncos at Panthers

Carolina is at +6.2 PROE, the most pass-heavy offense on this slate, while Denver sits near neutral at -0.5. The Broncos activated wide receiver Pat Bryant from IR, and Sean Payton said Friday he is in line to play. RJ Harvey is still on IR, which keeps Jonah Coleman in the lead role, and Carolina's defense has allowed the second-most DraftKings points per game to running backs among this slate's defenses. Chuba Hubbard leads the Panthers backfield with Jonathon Brooks on IR.

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Cowboys at Colts

Dak Prescott ($6,500) is at 19.9 proj and CeeDee Lamb at 20.1. George Pickens (hamstring) and tight end Jake Ferguson (ankle) are both questionable, and KaVontae Turpin is out. Dallas has allowed the fourth-most DraftKings points per game to backs among this slate's defenses, and that makes Taylor worth a look. Indianapolis is without Alec Pierce (IR). Javonte Williams remains the Dallas back to watch.

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Jets at Chiefs

Kansas City is at +3.1 PROE with Patrick Mahomes ($6,100) at 19.8 proj and Kenneth Walker III at 20.0. Garrett Wilson (concussion) is out for the Jets, and ESPN's Rich Cimini expects a significant role for rookie Omar Cooper Jr., who had back-to-back 100-yard games before a zero-target week. Rashee Rice is at 14.5 proj in his second game back from a hamstring injury. Walker and Mahomes lead the Chiefs at home.

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Lions at Dolphins

Jahmyr Gibbs ($10,000) is the top proj on the whole slate at 27.0. Amon-Ra St. Brown (ribs) is questionable after practicing on a limited basis all week, though he told reporters Thursday he is all good. Detroit's defense has allowed the most DraftKings points per game to quarterbacks and tight ends among this slate's defenses, which puts Malik Willis and Greg Dulcich in a good spot. Both offenses lean run: Detroit is at -3.7 PROE and Miami at -8.9.

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Browns at Saints

Todd Monken named Shedeur Sanders the starter with Deshaun Watson coming back from a concussion. New Orleans has allowed the most DraftKings points per game to running backs among this slate's defenses, a good draw for Quinshon Judkins and pass-catching back Dylan Sampson. The Saints ruled out CJ Donaldson, and Travis Etienne Jr. is still on IR. Tyler Shough ($5,700) is at 17.6 proj with Chris Olave at 15.6.

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Giants at Eagles

The Eagles benched Tanner McKee and are starting Joe Milton, who makes his first start for Philadelphia. The Eagles ruled out DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks and Britain Covey. For the Giants, Cam Skattebo (hamstring) is doubtful and Tyrone Tracy Jr. is on IR, which puts Devin Singletary in line for the backfield work. Philadelphia's defense has allowed the most DraftKings points per game to wide receivers among this slate's defenses.

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Rams at Commanders

Puka Nacua ($8,800) is the top wide receiver on the slate at 23.6 proj, and the Rams are at +4.3 PROE, third highest among this slate's offenses. Tight end Terrance Ferguson was ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury Friday. Washington has allowed the third-most DraftKings points per game to quarterbacks and the second-most to tight ends among this slate's defenses. The Commanders are without Terry McLaurin (IR), Dyami Brown and Treylon Burks, which could open a bigger role for Antonio Williams.

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Texans at Chargers

The Chargers' -11.9 PROE is the lowest among this slate's offenses. Houston ruled out David Montgomery (groin), and Woody Marks is the RB1. C.J. Stroud is at 18.2 proj and Nico Collins at 14.6. Houston's defense has allowed the third-most DraftKings points per game to wide receivers among this slate's defenses, and the Chargers are without David Njoku (IR) with Brenen Thompson doubtful.

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Raiders at 49ers

San Francisco ruled out wide receivers Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Christian Kirk, Brandon Aiyuk is also out, and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) is questionable. That could concentrate more work on Christian McCaffrey ($8,000, 21.1 proj) and George Kittle ($6,000, 17.2 proj) as key options, with Brock Purdy at 20.9. The 49ers are at +2.5 PROE. On the other side, Brock Bowers is the top tight end proj on the slate at 17.4.

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Packers at Patriots

New England ruled out A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson, and Hunter Henry (foot) and Mack Hollins (calf) are questionable. Drake Maye ($7,000) is at 19.4 proj and Rhamondre Stevenson at 14.3 with less competition for backfield work. Green Bay is at +1.3 PROE with Jordan Love at 18.1 proj. Matthew Golden and Christian Watson lead the Packers receivers, while New England's defense has allowed the fewest DraftKings points per game to running backs among this slate's defenses.

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Cardinals at Seahawks

Sam Darnold is out, so Drew Lock ($4,000, 14.7 proj) starts for Seattle. He was limited all week with an elbow injury but has no game designation. Rashid Shaheed is also out, which leaves Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($9,300, 20.7 proj) as the clear top target. Arizona has allowed the second-most DraftKings points per game to quarterbacks among this slate's defenses. The Cardinals ruled out Bam Knight (concussion), with James Conner and Jeremiyah Love on IR, so Tyler Allgeier leads the backfield.

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Matchup and Role Plays to Consider

Start with opportunity and matchup rather than a popularity label. Stafford and Puka offer a direct Rams passing-game pairing; Washington has allowed the third-most DraftKings points per game to quarterbacks among this slate's defenses. Puka is our highest-projected receiver, but pairing him with Stafford still needs enough passing production to justify using two roster spots on the same offense.

Taylor and the Cleveland backs have appealing matchups. Dallas has allowed the fourth-most DraftKings points per game to running backs among this slate's defenses, while New Orleans has allowed the most. Judkins is the lead rushing option; Sampson offers a different path through receiving work. One Week Season's Week 9 analysis, updated November 6, notes that Judkins retained the larger opportunity share while Sampson worked into passing situations. Neither back needs to be called overlooked to warrant consideration.

Nabers offers the most direct Giants receiving exposure against Philadelphia, which has allowed the most DraftKings points per game to receivers among this slate's defenses. Singletary is the cheaper way into the Giants if Skattebo sits. Keep those roles separate: a strong receiving matchup does not guarantee McCarthy will throw at high volume.

For Green Bay-New England, Maye with Douglas and a Golden return is a stack idea featured in Alex Hunter's November 6 FantasyLabs analysis. Brown's absence opens receiving work, but Henry and Hollins still affect its distribution. Henderson being out strengthens Stevenson's workload case rather than automatically increasing Maye's passing volume.

Bowers leads our tight end projections and offers a Las Vegas return for builds using San Francisco players. Dulcich is the salary-saving alternative against Detroit, which has allowed the most DraftKings points per game to tight ends among this slate's defenses. Willis-Dulcich with a Detroit return is a matchup-based stack option; Miami's run-leaning tendencies mean a favorable matchup alone is not a promise of passing volume.

Wrap-up

Inactives come out 90 minutes before kickoff, so check back Sunday morning. The watch lists above update live, and the full board is on the Week 9 projections page.