Fantasy football is fun because every week feels like a new story. Some players suddenly shine, and some players who looked great earlier suddenly stop giving good points. That is why many fantasy experts share weekly “fade” lists — these are players who might not do as well as people think. It does not mean …
Fantasy football is fun because every week feels like a new story. Some players suddenly shine, and some players who looked great earlier suddenly stop giving good points. That is why many fantasy experts share weekly “fade” lists — these are players who might not do as well as people think. It does not mean you must bench them, but it is a warning to be careful and not expect too much.
This article talks about a few players who might struggle in Week 9 of the football season. The idea is to help fantasy managers stay smart and avoid being disappointed. Sometimes a player has one amazing week, and everyone gets excited, but the next week they face a stronger team or a tougher situation. So the goal here is to explain it all in very simple English, like a friendly guide talking to students, and to keep everything clear and easy to understand.
Let’s start with the quarterback who surprised many fans…
Jordan Love, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, had a big and flashy game last week. He scored 28.3 fantasy points, threw for 360 yards and made three touchdowns. Many fantasy managers feel excited and want to keep him in their starting lineup because of that strong performance. But if we look closely, we understand something important. Jordan Love has only crossed 16 fantasy points in three games this season, and those games were against the Commanders, Cowboys, and Steelers — teams that have been easy matchups for quarterbacks this year. This means that his big games came mainly when the defense wasn’t that strong.
Now, in Week 9, the Packers play against Carolina. Carolina’s defense has been strange this season. Sometimes they allow more than 22 points to a quarterback, and sometimes they shut down average or “fringe” quarterbacks very easily. The Packers are expected to win the game, and the total points predicted are low. That means Green Bay might focus more on running the ball instead of making Love throw again and again. He may still throw one or two touchdowns, but the number of passes and yards is expected to be lower. So instead of a big 28-point game, he might end up with only around 13 to 15 points, which is not enough for someone depending on him for a huge score.
Fantasy managers then face a question: what should they do? There are many injuries this week, some quarterbacks have been benched, and players like Jalen Hurts and Baker Mayfield are on a bye week. So Jordan Love still ranks somewhere around a borderline QB1. You can start him if you have no better choice. But if you want a player with higher upside or if you have another good quarterback on your roster, you should think twice before trusting Love again this week.
While quarterbacks get a lot of attention, running backs are also extremely important in fantasy football. That brings us to Panthers running back Rico Dowdle. Many fans loved him earlier because he looked like a bright spot in the offense. But the situation changed. Two weeks ago, Chuba Hubbard returned, and since then, Dowdle has been sharing touches. Over the past two games, he averaged only 13 touches and scored a total of 15.5 points. That is not very impressive.
Last week, the Panthers had a rough game and lost 40-9 to the Buffalo Bills. Even though the Bills were a soft matchup for running backs on paper, the Panthers offense just could not do anything. That kind of situation affects running backs the most, because if the team falls behind early, they stop running the ball and start passing more. This limits Dowdle’s chances to score.
And sadly, it gets harder for him this week. The Panthers are playing the Green Bay defense, which has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. They have also given up only two rushing touchdowns all year, which is extremely tough. Even more importantly, their defense has one of the lowest explosive run rates allowed, which means running backs rarely break free for long runs. Dowdle’s best performances earlier came when he managed explosive plays. Without those big runs, it becomes very difficult for him to deliver strong fantasy points.
Because of this, Dowdle becomes a risky option for fantasy managers in Week 9. It is not his fault — the matchup and the team situation are simply not in his favor. If you have another running back with a better matchup, it might be wise to play that person instead of Dowdle.
As we go deeper into the fantasy season, it becomes more and more important to think before every lineup decision. Injuries, difficult matchups, and team strategies can change everything. A player who looked great two weeks ago can suddenly become a risky choice. And sometimes, a player who has been quiet may explode with a big game. That is the magic and mystery of fantasy football.
But one thing is always true: you should look at the situation, not just the name of the player. Jordan Love may be popular right now, but popularity doesn’t always help your fantasy score. Rico Dowdle may have talent, but talent alone does not beat a strong defense. Smart fantasy managers look at matchups, team dynamics, injuries, and recent trends before deciding who to trust.
In the end, Week 9 is shaping up to be a challenging week for many fantasy managers. With key quarterbacks missing because of bye weeks, people are forced to make tough decisions. This is why fade lists exist — not to tell you what to do, but to warn you about players who might disappoint. It helps you stay one step ahead and avoid losing matchups because you trusted the wrong player at the wrong time.
