Man, time flies when you’re out here crushing your fantasy opponents. Can you believe it’s already Week 9?! Wild. It hasn’t been an easy ride getting here: injuries, bye weeks, and those fun utilization surprises, but the Ballers have your back like always. Every week, they are breaking down their favorite Starts of the Week to help you lock in the right calls for your lineup. And hey, if your fantasy team’s looking a little dead in the water, don’t sweat it. These picks also make great DFS plays. Might as well snag some weekly wins if your season-long squad isn’t cutting it. Want access to the full DFS package? You can grab it through the FootClan Ultimate or pick it up separately. Now let’s get those wins!
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Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB- Kyler Murray @ DAL
It doesn’t get juicier than this. A 54.5 over/under in a dome on Monday Night Football. Every single QB to face Dallas this year has finished as a QB1. Seriously. Hurts (QB8), Russ (QB2), Caleb (QB1), Love (QB4), Fields (QB8), Bryce Young (QB12), Commanders QBs (QB11), and Bo Nix (QB7). That’s a full lineup of top-12 finishes against the Cowboys. Kyler’s mobility and dual-threat upside make him the perfect plug-and-play for fantasy managers dealing with bye weeks (Baker, Hurts) or second-guessing a risky start like Flacco. If he’s on your roster, or somehow on waivers, this is the week to plug in Kyler.
RB – Kimani Vidal @ TEN
Since Omarion Hampton went down, Kimani Vidal has stepped up and looked the part. Over the last three weeks, he’s averaged 20 opportunities per game, played 69% of the snaps, and put up 15.3 FPPG. This week, he gets a dream matchup against the Titans, who have been run all over. They just gave up three rushing TDs to Jonathan Taylor and rank 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to the position. Tennessee is one of only eight teams in the last decade to allow 14 rushing TDs through their first eight games. That’s bottom-of-the-barrel bad. Fire up Vidal with confidence. Volume, matchup, and game script are all on his side.
WR- Jaylen Waddle vs BAL
Take out that ugly weather game in Cleveland, and Waddle’s been balling since Tyreek went down: finishing as WR4, WR17, and WR4 over the past few weeks. He’s currently sitting as the WR12 on the season. This week, he gets the Ravens on Thursday night, who have been getting cooked by WRs. They rank 29th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to the position. Don’t overthink it. Waddle is a must-start on Thursday Night Football.
TE- Kyle Pitts @ NE
Yeah, the name might make you wince, but don’t let the past fool you. Kyle Pitts has quietly been very involved this season, ranking 3rd among all TEs in receptions and pacing toward 114 targets and 95 catches. That’s elite usage, especially in PPR formats where his floor is much safer than people think. The matchup? The Patriots rank 29th in receiving yards allowed to TEs and just gave up 10 catches, 99 yards, and two TDs to the Browns’ TEs last week. Over the last five games, they have also ranked 29th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to the position. You might grimace when you hit “Start,” but Pitts is in a prime spot to deliver.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
QB – Jordan Love vs CAR
Andy nailed it, calling Jordan Love his Start of the Week last time, and Jason’s doubling down. The Packers are 13.5-point home favorites against Carolina, and Love’s efficiency metrics have been off the charts. Love currently ranks #1 among all QBs in Expected Points Added per Dropback, 3rd in Adjusted Completion Percentage, 5th in Yards per Attempt, and 5th in Passer Rating. With the Packers’ offense rolling and a cupcake matchup ahead, Love has both the floor and ceiling to deliver another QB1 week. He’s heating up at the right time, and Carolina’s about to get burned.
RB – Travis Etienne @ LV
It’s been a quiet stretch for Travis Etienne lately. After opening the year on fire, finishing as RB3, RB12, RB18, and RB11 from Weeks 1–4. However, over the last month, he’s averaged just 6.9 FPPG. The good news? The usage hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s still handling strong volume and averaging four targets per game in that span. The issue has been the matchups. He just faced a gauntlet of tough run defenses in the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Rams. Now, coming off the bye, Etienne gets a fresh start against the Raiders. Over the last six weeks, the Raiders rank 26th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Jason loves that.
WR – Michael Pittman Jr. @ PIT
Did you know that Pitty City is currently the WR7 overall!? I knew the Colts offense was cooking, but I had no idea that Pittman had been an absolute stud. If you drafted Pittman late, you’re definitely reaping the benefits. He’s already matched his career high in receiving TDs through Week 8. He’s been super consistent, and the volume keeps flowing his way. The matchup against the Steelers could be his biggest performance yet. They are 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to opposing WRs. Lock him in.
TE – Brock Bowers vs JAX
He’s baaaaaack! If you’ve been waiting (and suffering) through his absence, your patience is about to pay off. Brock Bowers hasn’t played since Week 4, and the Raiders’ passing game has fallen apart without him. They’re currently 30th in Expected Points per Pass Attempt and dead last in passing yards per game during that stretch without Bowers. It’s been uglier than one of Papa Josh’s soiled adult diapers. Now he returns home against the Jaguars, who rank 24th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. Expect the Raiders to waste no time funneling targets his way. Bowers is their best weapon by a mile. The comeback begins this week; you’ve got to get him into your lineups.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
David Banks-Imagn Images
QB – Daniel Jones @ PIT
Daniel Jones just keeps producing. He’s been a top-12 QB in 6 of 8 weeks, yet somehow fantasy managers still won’t give him his flowers. The Colts’ offense has been rolling, and Jones is a big reason why. Among all qualifying QBs this season, he ranks 3rd in completion percentage, 5th in passer rating, and 4th in fantasy points per dropback. Quietly elite. Now he gets the dream matchup: the Steelers’ secondary has been getting absolutely torched. They are dead last in passing yards allowed per game (273.3) and are currently on pace to give up the 8th-most passing yards in NFL history. For the most expensive defense in the league, the Steelers sure aren’t getting a return on their investment. Jones has been efficient, consistent, and underrated. Against the Steelers, Jones is primed for yet another QB1 finish.
RB – Bam Knight @ DAL
This is the final week before Trey Benson returns, and Bam Knight has one more shot to shine. Before the bye, he finished as RB14 and RB24, showing he can handle lead-back duties when given the chance. With Michael Carter released (and now on the practice squad), Knight should again dominate touches in this backfield. You already know the motto when it comes to teams playing the Cowboys. FIRE UP EVERYONE. RBs especially have produced against Dallas. They rank 29th in rushing yards allowed per game, 26th in yards before contact, and 31st in explosive rush rate allowed. On top of that, they’re 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. This is the week to roll with Bam. Enjoy it while you can until Trey Benson returns.
WR – DK Metcalf vs IND
DK Metcalf has been quietly one of the most consistent wideouts in fantasy this year, posting 9.5+ fantasy points in six of seven games. Only four other WRs in the entire league have matched that kind of weekly floor. The ceiling game? It’s coming. Mike’s predicting it to be this week. The Colts force teams to air it out to keep pace, with opponents throwing on them 66% of the time, the second-highest rate in the NFL. Their defense hasn’t held up well, ranking 29th in passing yards allowed per game and 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. DK’s been steady all season, but this matchup sets up perfectly for a blow-up game.
TE – Colston Loveland @ CIN
With Cole Kmet sidelined last week, Colston Loveland stepped right in and delivered career highs: 81% of snaps, five targets, 38 receiving yards, and even saw a red zone target inside the five. That kind of usage is exactly what you want to see from a streaming TE. This week, the Browns take on Cincy, who are dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to the position. They have surrendered the most receiving yards and, by far, the most TDs to TEs through eight weeks. If Kmet sits again, Loveland’s a perfect streaming option.
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/RuTm96n
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October 30, 2025
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