Fantasy Football studs & duds Week 9 of 2026 NFL season

Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season presented a mix of fantasy football studs and duds. Brock Purdy, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, continued to impress despite the absence of key players. With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel out for the game, and Christian McCaffrey only available for a quarter, Purdy still managed to throw for 288 yards and a touchdown.

The injury-plagued 49ers should benefit from this performance as they head into a bye week, and Purdy's impressive statistics, including 1,748 passing yards and 15 touchdowns in seven games, suggest he should continue to be a valuable asset for his owners.

On the other side of the field, Jayden Daniels, the quarterback for the Washington Commanders, faced a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite generating 217 passing yards and a touchdown in the previous game, Daniels' role seems limited due to cautious deployment by the Commanders. The Rams, however, are known for allowing a high number of fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, making Daniels an enticing target for fantasy owners.

Meanwhile, Derrick Henry, the running back for the Baltimore Ravens, found himself in an unfavorable situation as the Ravens were without key players like Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. The Jaguars, who allow the second fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, presented a challenging matchup for Henry, who had only 11 carries for 53 yards in Week 8. Despite his recent struggles, Henry remains a valuable asset for fantasy owners, as his inconsistent performance can still yield occasional big plays.