Fantasy Football Week 9: 3 WR/CB matchups to target and avoid
Philadelphia Eagles rookie receiver Makai Lemon is among the receivers with strong matchups in Week 9, taking on Giants slot cornerback Dru Phillips.
Latest news and updates about the Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles rookie receiver Makai Lemon is among the receivers with strong matchups in Week 9, taking on Giants slot cornerback Dru Phillips.
Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson doubles down on his blunt, film‑based criticism of the unit ahead of the matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Wilson says he’s never shied away from hard conversations, calling out collective behaviors—not individuals—after a Week 6 loss where the Giants missed 18 tackles and he branded non‑pursuing players “traitors.” He credits strong player relationships for allowing such honesty. The Giants, now 4‑2‑1 after a 27‑21 win over Houston, aim to keep the momentum against an Eagles team on a six‑game skid.
The Bengals, after landing defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in the 2026 draft, still lag behind AFC rivals due to a porous linebacker corps. With Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. struggling in coverage, the article argues Cincinnati’s only must‑make move before the Nov. 6 trade deadline is acquiring Philadelphia’s Zack Baun. Baun, a former edge rusher turned elite coverage linebacker and a member of the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl‑winning squad, could be available as Philadelphia eyes a rebuild after Jalen Hurts’ DVT injury. Adding Baun would give the Bengals veteran skill and championship pedigree on defense.
The New York Giants gear up for a pivotal showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, aiming to snap their long road drought in Philly. Tight end Isaiah Likely brings rivalry experience from Baltimore, while rookie wideout Malik Nabers, fresh off an NFC Offensive Player of the Month stretch (36 catches, 509 yards, two TDs in October), offers a deep-threat weapon. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy uses the bye week to cement chemistry with Likely and the receiving corps, aware of Vic Fangio’s defensive schemes. Defensive backs Greg Newsome II and the secondary work on cohesion under coordinator Dennard Wilson as the Giants seek to measure John Harbaugh’s evolving team against a tough division foe.
The Chicago Bears are in a heated bidding war with the Detroit Lions for Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen as the trade deadline approaches. After giving up two first‑round picks for All‑Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, General Manager Ryan Poles seeks to shore up a struggling secondary, seeking a upgrade over Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson. Eagles insider Thomas R. Peterson says the Bears and Lions are both deep in talks, and Chicago may need to offer a 2027 or 2028 Day‑3 pick if outbid. The move could be pivotal for the Bears' 2026 Super Bowl push.
Joe Milton III will make his first NFL start on Sunday against the New York Giants as the floundering Philadelphia Eagles try to end a six-game losing streak.
The Eagles release their Week 9 injury report ahead of the New York Giants matchup, highlighting a slew of absences. Saquon Barkley moves to limited participation after missing Wednesday practice, still facing hamstring/back issues. Wide receiver depth shrinks as DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Britain Covey sit out, leaving only Darius Cooper, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, and Elijah Moore available. LB Jihaad Campbell and RB Michael Carter II also miss practice, while LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. steps in. On the Giants side, leading receiver Malik Nabers and rusher Cam Skattebo are out, with Darius Alexander added to the limited list. Both teams head into the game with multiple key players on the sidelines.
Former Eagles center Jason Kelce dismissed rumors that players wanted offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland out, stating the decision came from the organization, not the locker room. During a 94 WIP interview, Kelce highlighted Stoutland’s recent goodbye dinner with Jordan Mailata and his support of Lane Johnson’s retirement, emphasizing that the move reflects a new direction from team management. He condemned speculation blaming players for the change, calling it “crap” and reaffirming that the coaching shift is a front‑office decision.
John Harbaugh, the Giants' new head coach, warns his 2026 squad against complacency despite a surprising 4‑2‑1 start that tops the NFC East. After a 5‑12 finish in 2025, Harbaugh — a Super Bowl‑winning veteran of the Baltimore Ravens — stresses treating every snap as a separate task and shuns the “division favorite” label. With ten games left and rivals like the 2‑6 Eagles looming, his week‑by‑week focus aims to keep the team disciplined and avoid a slip in the tight race.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni opens up about missing quarterback Jalen Hurts after a blood‑clot diagnosis sidelined the star for the rest of the 2026 season. Hurts tallied 933 passing yards, eight TDs and 107 rushing yards in five games before a calf clot progressed to deep‑vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, landing him on IR. Philadelphia fell from 2‑0 to 2‑6, cycling through Tanner McKee and Joe Milton III with limited success. Sirianni stresses constant contact with Hurts and hopes for a speedy recovery while the team scrambles to fill the massive production gap.
As the Nov. 10 trade deadline looms, the Dallas Cowboys—sitting 3‑5 after a 33‑30 OT loss to Arizona—are eyeing Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat. Sweat, a Super Bowl‑winner with the Eagles, is in the second year of a four‑year, $76 million deal and could demand a raise on his $18.1 million 2026 salary, complicating a trade. Dallas, already heavy on draft‑pick expenditures for players like Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr., must balance adding a pass‑rusher against remaining draft capital and lingering needs at cornerback and linebacker.
Caleb Williams sparked a 34-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 5, 2026, throwing for 247 yards and a TD, and credits a "be decisive" mantra from former USC coach Lincoln Riley. The Heisman winner, Chicago’s top overall pick in 2023, has helped the Bears claim the NFC North title and reach a 6-2 record, including a second win against a defending Super Bowl champion (the 2025 24-15 win over Philadelphia). New head coach Ben Johnson says the mindset shift is unlocking Williams’ potential, reigniting championship talk in Chicago.
Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers quells knee worries ahead of Sunday’s Week 9 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles, replying simply, “I’ll be good.” The 2025 ACL‑meniscus survivor missed Wednesday’s practice and was listed as a non‑participant, but worked with trainers Thursday. Nabters was just named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October after four straight 100‑yard games. New York (4‑2‑1) faces an Eagles squad (2‑6) at Lincoln Financial Field, a site where the Giants haven’t won since 2013. The team will confirm his status Friday before the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
Former Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles sparks controversy by claiming a Big 12 college offense contains more “details” than Philadelphia’s current NFL scheme, calling it “a problem.” He also praised former coordinator Kevin Patullo’s system as superior. Fans and SportsRadio WIP hosts reacted fiercely on X, and Foles has echoed his criticism on multiple podcasts after the Eagles’ recent loss to Washington. The comments raise questions about the team’s playbook sophistication and the quarterback’s role in the ongoing offensive debate.
The NFL roundup highlights several NFC moves: The Giants' attempt to claim RB Robert Henry Jr. was foiled when the Commanders scooped him up. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defends his low‑pay coach philosophy, backing head coach Brian Schottenheimer (now 10‑14‑1) and dismissing staff changes despite injuries to OLB Malachi Lawrence and TE Jake Ferguson. Eagles plan to start QB Joe Milton in Week 9, seeking an offensive spark, while LG Landon Dickerson remains uncertain about the change. Giants lock CB Greg Newsome into a three‑year, $46 million extension, and contend with RB Cam Skattebo’s hamstring issues.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee explains his humble reaction after being benched for rookie Joe Milton ahead of the Week 9 showdown with the New York Giants. With the Eagles slipping to 2-6 after six straight losses, McKee, who started the last three games (72 of 114 passes for 638 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) says he’ll focus on controllable factors and improve his play. The move makes Milton the fourth passer this season after Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton and McKee. Milton, signed from Dallas’s practice squad on Oct. 16, will start Sunday as the Eagles seek a turnaround.
The New York Giants receive encouraging news on running back Cam Skattebo ahead of Week 9’s NFC East showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles. Skattebo, who suffered a hamstring strain two weeks ago, shows noticeable sharpness in Thursday side‑drills, according to North Jersey reporter Art Stapleton, who refuses to rule him out of the game. While Giants rumors link them to a potential Jonathan Taylor trade, Skattebo remains the focal point of New York’s offense, needing to prove he can handle a full three‑down workload against a strong Eagles run defense. His physical, hard‑hitting style could boost the Giants’ division‑title push.
The New York Giants held workouts Thursday for four wide receivers—Maurice Alexander, River Cracraft, Steven Sims, and Wes Pahl, according to the NFL’s Official Transaction Wire. The focus is on veteran WR River Cracraft, 32, who has bounced between practice squads and futures contracts with the Broncos, Eagles, 49ers, Dolphins, Seahawks and Commanders, appearing in a single 2025 game with no stats. The Giants’ interest hints at a possible depth addition ahead of the season’s second half.
The Carolina Panthers welcomed former Raiders and Eagles cornerback Jakorian Bennett for a visit on Thursday, according to NFL Transactions. Bennett, a 25‑year‑old Maryland standout drafted in the fourth round in 2023, is on the final year of his four‑year rookie deal after the Raiders traded him to Philadelphia for DT Thomas Booker in August. He was released by the Eagles this week after a 2025 season with 11 games, seven tackles and one pass deflection.
The New England Patriots add depth to their secondary by signing cornerback Kindle Vildor to the practice squad, according to the NFL Transaction Wire. The 28‑year‑old, a 2020 fifth‑round pick of the Bears, has bounced around the league—stints with the Titans, Eagles, Lions (where he earned a $1.3 M one‑year deal for 2024), and Buccaneers—before joining New England in 2026. Vildor has already played five games for the Patriots, posting seven tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass defended and a forced fumble.
Commanders coordinators Daronte Jones and David Blough field questions ahead of Sunday’s home clash with the Rams. After a 27-10 win over the Eagles, Jones stresses the need to disrupt Puka Nacua’s quick‑pass, run‑after‑catch style, noting that trailing him puts defenders in unfamiliar space. Blough discusses the challenge of facing former teammate Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ revived defensive line—Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett and Byron Young—explaining why a constant double‑team on Donald isn’t feasible. Both also address recent injuries, including the loss of starting defensive tackles Kinlaw and Payne, and reflect on former OC Kliff Kingsbury’s influence. The preview highlights the Rams’ potent offense and the Commanders’ defensive adjustments as pivotal for staying alive in the NFC East.
Chicago Bears left tackle Braxton Jones undergoes right‑knee surgery after a partially torn patellar tendon forced him out in the third quarter of the Bears’ 27‑7 win over the Eagles on Sept. 28. The procedure ends his season, removing a potential late‑year option at left tackle and thinning the line’s depth as the team heads into the stretch run. Theo Benedet and Ozzy Trapilo will now handle the position through the final games, starting Sunday’s matchup against the Buccaneers. Jones, 27, signed a one‑year, $5 million deal and becomes an unrestricted free agent in March, with a recovery timeline aimed at late spring.
The Patriots’ gamble of trading two first‑round picks for veteran WR A.J. Brown is now in doubt as a lingering knee injury sidelines him for a fourth straight practice and forced him out of the win in Miami. After just three games (nine catches, 101 yards) and a prior high‑ankle sprain, the knee issue—flagged during trade talks with the Eagles and the Rams—has resurfaced, prompting concerns from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf. With a $26 million dead‑cap hit looming, New England is unlikely to cut Brown now, but his short‑term availability and long‑term durability remain uncertain.
Giants RB Cam Skattebo remains a DNP after missing a second straight practice, leaving his Week 9 availability against the Eagles in question. The 24‑year‑old hurt his hamstring on a 42‑yard TD run in the Giants’ OT win over Houston, and despite hopes of a quick return, he was still sidelined with a trainer on Thursday. With the team’s RB depth thin—Tyrone Tracy Jr. on IR and Devin Singletary poised as the lead back—fantasy owners should treat Skattebo as a high‑risk flex in PPR leagues unless he logs a practice Friday. Check the final injury report before Sunday’s game.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, sitting 5-2 and boasting the NFL’s fifth‑ranked offense, look to shore up their defense before the Nov. 10 trade deadline after season‑ending injuries to safety Eric Murray and DT DaVon Hamilton. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell says the Jaguars see Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, 25, as a “luxury trade target.” Ojomo posted a career‑high six sacks in 2025 and could replace the departing Arik Armstead if Jacksonville extends his contract, while the Eagles may gain draft picks as they move on from a surplus interior line. The move could boost Jacksonville’s postseason chances.