Injuries are never new each season, yet we always emphasize them week-to-week because of the impact for fantasy football. Last week, the Atlanta Falcons were missing their QB-WR combo of Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London. It led to disaster in a blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Houston Texans were without top WR Nico Collins, who was out with a concussion. The Rams were without Puka Nacua, the Raiders without Brock Bowers, both fantasy stars having been out with injuries for multiple weeks.
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This week, we saw Penix, London. Collins, Nacua and Bowers all return to the lineup for fantasy football managers. We’re going to recap how they looked in Week 9 and what it means the rest of the season.
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Penix-London stack comes through despite tough loss to Pats
You think Penix likes throwing the ball to London? It was a line many analysts used going into the 2025 season to highlight expectations for London. Late last season, we saw Penix look London’s way a ton in three starts to finish the 2024 campaign. With both players healthy in Week 9 vs. New England, we saw that elite connection back again.
London was targeted 14 times by Penix, hauling in nine catches for 118 yards and three TDs. London was a walking highlight reel all Sunday afternoon. When Penix was in trouble, he looked to London. When Penix needed a big play, he looked to London. It was the type of target share we’re used to seeing from elite wideouts like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb. It may be time to add London to that group.
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As for Penix, it was a good sign for his fantasy prospects moving forward. He had one of his better days passing the ball all season. It was also a tough spot on the road vs. a winning team. The Falcons have a very favorable schedule upcoming (vs. IND, vs. CAR, @ NO, @ NYJ), so if you’re in need of a backup QB or looking for a long-term streaming option, Penix isn’t a bad add off the waiver wire. He’s a player who could help you get to the playoffs in fantasy.
As for London, there isn’t much more to say — he’s a WR1.
Collins returns, but outlook is bleak as we await word on CJ Stroud
Collins missed Week 8 vs. the Niners after being placed into concussion protocol. He was able to clear and get back on the field in Week 9 against the Broncos, who were operating without top cover corner Pat Surtain II. Early in the contest, Texans QB CJ Stroud was forced to exit after taking a big hit and didn’t return due to a concussion. Stroud and Collins connected on one catch for nine yards prior to the QB exiting the game.
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Davis Mills came in relief and things went about as expected for a backup like him. He threw for 137 yards and finished with a 68.3 QB rating in an 18-15 loss. Collins finished with seven catches on 11 targets for 75 yards, so most of his production came after Stroud left. While that output was good for 11 fantasy points, which isn’t terrible, Collins’ long-term outlook takes a hit if Stroud misses any time. Mills starting would limit Collins’ ceiling, which had been lowered this season anyway with how the offense was operating.
The Texans have some good game environments the next few weeks, so Collins should continue to be a WR2/3 option even if Mills starts. But proceed with caution. If you have depth at WR and better matchups, it may be better to play them over Collins if Stroud is out. If Stroud is OK and can return next week or in Week 11, that, of course, bodes well for Collins.
Puka Nacua, Rams make quick work of Saints
Nacua was back in the lineup after missing one game due to an ankle injury. He left briefly due to a chest issue but was able to return. Matthew Stafford picked apart New Orleans’ secondary and Nacua finished with a solid seven catches on eight targets for 95 yards and a score (19.3 FP). Nacua would have had more had it not been for this game being a cakewalk. Davante Adams also ate, scoring two TDs in the win.
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This is a great sign for Nacua managers. Of course, you never want to see him exit but that doesn’t appear to be an issue moving forward. You can safely lock Nacua back into your lineup at WR1. Adams should continue to be a strong WR2 option and TD hawk. Stafford, who has at least 25 fantasy points in four of his past five games, should continue to be a solid start most weeks.
It’s nice to have Brock Bowers back
If you spent a high draft pick on Bowers this season, it’s been tough sledding. Until now.
Bowers returned in the biggest way possible with a huge 12-127-3 line on 13 targets in his return in Week 9 vs. the Jaguars. His 37.3 fantasy points are the most by a tight end all season by a wide margin. The Raiders offense looked like an entirely different animal from what we saw the previous seven games. QB Geno Smith had his best game of the season, finishing with 284 passing yards, four TDs and one INT for 27.26 fantasy points. Smith has a shot at a top-five QB finish in Week 9.
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We weren’t exactly sure if Bowers would go back to dominating in his return, so this was a great sign moving forward that he’s shaken off the knee injury entirely. Bowers is locked back into your TE1 slot.
Will his ceiling be this high the rest of the way? The schedule may be saying no. The Raiders have a pretty brutal stretch of games the rest of the way — @ DEN, vs. DAL, vs. CLE, @ LAC, vs. DEN, @ PHI, @ HOU. Outside of Dallas, that’s mostly elite defenses and four tough road matchups. Bowers will always have a high floor, which could get higher if the team opts to deal WR Jakobi Meyers before Week 10.
Bowers’ return obviously doesn’t have a negative impact on Smith or RB Ashton Jeanty. It’s the schedule that’ll hold them back.
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J.J. McCarthy leads Vikings to win in first game since Week 2
The Vikings picked up a big win over the Lions in Week 9 and while McCarthy wasn’t a force, he did enough to get the job done. He finished just shy of 20 fantasy points, throwing for 143 yards, two TDs and a pick while adding 12 rushing yards and a score on the ground. McCarthy also took five sacks on the day.
This is less about McCarthy as a fantasy option and more about his impact on the players around him. Justin Jefferson was able to find the end zone, which helped a ton, but he only had six catches on nine targets for 47 yards. Jordan Addison had just two catches for 48 yards, while TJ Hockenson had two catches for 11 yards and a score.
It’s clear that, with McCarthy under center, the Vikings’ pass catchers are going to have a limited ceiling. With that said, Detroit’s defense is tough and this game was on the road, so maybe it had more to do with the matchup. But if that’s the case, it will be difficult to fully rely on Jefferson and Addison moving forward. You’re still starting Jefferson while Addison may be a tougher call.