Biggest Sleepers at Every Position for Week 9 Fantasy Football 2025

A couple of veteran quarterbacks, two rookies and potentially high-scoring AFC games will get you through a week without Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, DeVonta Smith and Emeka Egbuka.

At the midpoint of the 2025 season, with fantasy playoffs a little more than a month away, you need trustworthy sleepers for a run or to solidify your postseason spot.

Sure, you should still throw a few darts at long shots, but this week is about finding value in known commodities that are widely available ahead of favorable matchups.

You can find fantasy gems in the marquee contests. A rookie running back could steal the spotlight in an AFC showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. Consider a quarterback and a running back for the Sunday and Monday night games.

Check out our biggest sleepers at every position, who are available in more than 50 percent of leagues, according to FantasyPros' roster consensus percentages. We also listed DraftKings' daily fantasy sports price for each player.

QB Aaron Rodgers vs. Indianapolis Colts (45 Percent Rostered)

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers

DK DFS Price: $5,800 

The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Indianapolis Colts, who field the league's No. 1 scoring and total offense.

The Steelers defense has allowed 68 points and 924 total yards over the last two weeks, which means Aaron Rodgers may have to chase points in this matchup.

Fortunately for the veteran quarterback, he'll have a chance to go score-for-score with the Colts, who field the 29th-ranked pass defense.

Over the last three weeks, against Indianapolis' pass defense, Jacoby Brissett and Justin Herbert finished within the top seven in fantasy scoring among QBs, and Cam Ward had his best fantasy ranking (17th).

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith knows how to dissect Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's defense. The two play-callers prepared for each other's unit last year when Anarumo was the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers scored 44 points in one of the two contests.

Rodgers should have the blueprint to attack the Colts defense.

QB Sam Darnold at Washington Commanders (30 Percent Rostered)

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold

DK DFS Price: $5,500 

Coming off a bye week, Sam Darnold faces the Washington Commanders' reeling pass defense, which allowed 236 or more yards to opposing quarterbacks in each of the last three weeks.

Those signal-callers, Caleb Williams, Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes, all finished top-10 in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks in weeks against the Washington unit.

The Commanders allow the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. With an extra week to prepare for this contest, Darnold will be ready to carve up one of the league's worst pass defenses.

Primary slot receiver Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba could take advantage of a matchup with cornerback Mike Sainristil, who's struggling in coverage, allowing a 103.1 passer rating.

Darnold leads the league in yards per completion (13.4) and averages nearly two touchdown passes per game. Don't be surprised if he throws for 250-plus yards and a couple of touchdowns Sunday night.

RB Bam Knight at Dallas Cowboys (27 Percent Rostered)

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Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight

DK DFS Price: $5,000 

The Arizona Cardinals cleared the pathway for Bam Knight to take on the bulk of the carries after they released Michael Carter and re-signed him to the practice squad.

Knight started in the Cardinals' previous game before the team's Week 8 bye, and he's recorded double-digit rush attempts in back-to-back outings, racking up 91 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Running back Emari Demercado missed Arizona's last game with an ankle injury, though even if he suits up, the 26-year-old will likely reclaim a limited third-down pass-catching role.

This week, Knight draws a highly favorable matchup with the Cowboys' 29th-ranked run defense. He could be in line for his best rushing performance Monday night. Dallas allows the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs.

RB Brashard Smith at Buffalo Bills (20 Percent Rostered)

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith

DK DFS Price: $4,200 

The Kansas City Chiefs will likely shake up their backfield pecking order this week. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, running back Isiah Pacheco is week-to-week with an MCL injury.

If Pacheco misses time, Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith would likely see an uptick in touches and split the rushing and pass-catching duties.

Hunt is a popular pickup, but managers can still find great value in Smith, who has carved out a steady role in the short passing game over the past month.

In four consecutive outings between Weeks 4 and 7, Smith caught at least three passes. The Chiefs dominated the Washington Commanders last Monday night, which allowed them to run the clock out on the ground in the second half. As a result, Smith didn't see much action (zero targets).

This week, Kansas City could be a high-scoring battle with the Buffalo Bills. So, expect Smith to be more active, especially with Pacheco's expected absence. 

Buffalo allows the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs, the second-most rushing yards per game and the second-most yards per rush attempt. Smith has boom potential as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher in this matchup.

WR Kendrick Bourne at New York Giants (19 Percent Rostered)

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne

DK DFS Price: $5,000 

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall hasn't played or practiced since September. Without him, the team turned to Kendrick Bourne, who was signed earlier in the season.

Backup quarterback Mac Jones developed a rapport with Bourne during their time together in New England. Starting signal-caller Brock Purdy is practicing with limitations because of a toe injury, but his status for Sunday's game against the New York Giants remains uncertain.

Nonetheless, as the 49ers' No. 2 wideout, Bourne could see plenty of targets regardless of who starts at quarterback. He could be the receiver to feast on the Giants' 24th-ranked pass defense, while fellow wideout Jauan Jennings pushes to play through multiple injuries.

Bourne racked up 142 receiving yards in back-to-back outings with Jones under center. By the way, Big Blue allows the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.

WR Alec Pierce at Pittsburgh Steelers (17 Percent Rostered)

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce

DK DFS Price: $4,600 

Quietly, Alec Pierce has solidified himself as a fantasy WR2 with big plays. He's accumulated 67 or more yards in four out of six outings while averaging a league-leading 21.4 yards per reception.

Even though he has yet to score a touchdown this season, he will have opportunities to reach paydirt against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that has surrendered 13 passing touchdowns in seven contests and given up the most passing yards per game. 

From a fantasy perspective, Pittsburgh allows the sixth-most points to wide receivers. If you don't have Michael Pittman Jr. or Josh Downs on your roster, add Pierce immediately. 

The 25-year-old possesses tremendous upside if you're looking for an available Colts pass-catcher in a plus matchup with the Steelers' atrocious defense.

TE Colston Loveland at Cincinnati Bengals (23 Percent Rostered)

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Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland

DK DFS Price: $3,300 

On Wednesday, the Chicago Bears' top four wide receivers popped up on the injury report. Luther Burden III is in concussion protocol. DJ Moore has been battling hip and groin injuries. Rome Odunze suffered a heel injury over the past week. Olamide Zaccheaus is dealing with a knee issue. All of them missed Wednesday's practice.  

One or more of the Bears' banged-up receivers could see enough improvement to play on Sunday. Regardless, Colston Loveland should be on your radar ahead of what could be a back-and-forth contest. DraftKings set the over/under for this matchup at 51.5.

Furthermore, the Cincinnati Bengals allow the most fantasy points to tight ends. Last week, their defense gave up five catches, 34 yards and a touchdown to New York Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor. 

If Loveland is a primary option in the Bears' passing attack, he could produce a breakout performance. Even with a few of the receivers back on the field, the rookie tight end could play a solid role. Last week, against the Baltimore Ravens, he saw a season-high five targets.

TE Ja'Tavion Sanders at Green Bay Packers (2 Percent Rostered)

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Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders

DK DFS Price: $2,800 

DraftKings lists the Carolina Panthers as 12.5-point underdogs in a road matchup with the Green Bay Packers. They could be chasing points for most of the game.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has shown signs of a potential return after sitting out with an ankle injury last week. On Wednesday, he went through a full practice.

Young would raise the ceiling of production for the Panthers' pass-catching group, and managers who roster Ja'Tavion Sanders can reap the benefits. Green Bay allows the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.

Earlier in the season, Sanders missed multiple games because of a high ankle sprain, though he did catch seven passes for 54 yards when the Panthers fell multiple scores behind the Arizona Cardinals on the road in Week 2. This game could follow a similar game script.

Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.