2026 Fantasy Football Week 9 IDP Report: Risers, Waiver Wire & Matchups

Week 9 will be a return to full strength for several fantasy football managers. There are only two teams on bye: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans. That should help most offensive-only fantasy football leagues, but there are outstanding IDPs for both AFC teams. Replacing Week 9 IDPs can be tricky, as an IDP roster dump is expected. Before we get to the IDPs that will have an outstanding Week 9, first, a look to see how the IDP report did last week.

• DL/LB K'Lavon Chaisson (WAS) 3 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 3 QB hits, 1 tackle for loss, 1.0 sack
• LB Isaiah McDuffie (GB) 3 solo tackles, 7 assisted tackles
• LB Kendal Daniels (ATL) 6 solo tackles, 7 assisted tackles

Grade: B-. There were tackles by the dozens, but the lack of a big play gives the IDP Report card its second B of the season. I. McDuffie and K. Daniels each earned 10 or more tackles, which is a bonus in several IDP fantasy football leagues. K. Chaisson had a great game with constant pressure against the Eagles' patchwork offensive line. It led to 3 QB hits and 1.0 sack, the lone big play from last week’s mentions. 

Fantasy Football IDP Risers Week 9

Defensive Lineman (DL) Jacob Martin, Tennessee Titans.

The Tennessee Titans are on bye week 9, which means most fantasy football managers will not be looking to add their IDPs. Although it’s difficult to make roster space in most fantasy football leagues that are not dynasty, defensive lineman Jacob Martin could be a sneaky stash.

The nine-year veteran has bounced around the NFL, now on his sixth team in six years. Perhaps he is a late-bloomer; his career-best tackle total was last year (39), and this year he has set career marks in sacks (6.5). He has recorded a sack in four of his last five games, has logged 323 defensive line snaps, and he is a great pairing with Head Coach Robert Saleh. Keep an eye on this rising IDP, and for fantasy football leagues with bench space, pick him up for $0 FAAB. 

Linebacker (LB) Ty'Ron Hopper, Green Bay Packers

As mentioned last week, the Green Bay Packers are without both of their week-one starting linebackers. I. McDuffie has been excellent, but Ty’Ron Hopper was the best IDP for the Packers last week. The third-year IDP is busting out and could secure a starting position if his play continues.

Last week, T. Hopper recorded a sack and an interception, which is a rare same-game achievement. In addition to that, he had 3 passes defended, 2 QB hits, 6 solo tackles, and 2 assisted tackles. He has also logged 101 box snaps over the past two weeks. It doesn’t get much better for an IDP. Zaire Franklin is expected to miss Week 9 versus the New England Patriots, and T. Hopper could have another big game against the turnover-prone Drake Maye. Keep an eye on this IDP riser, and for managers who need a linebacker for Week 9, pick Hopper up from the waiver wire.

Defensive Back (DB) Dane Belton, New York Jets

Sometimes a change of scenery is a good thing, even when it’s a change within one city. New York, New York. Dane Belton was a turnover factory for the New York Giants, with 12 turnovers in four seasons. He also recorded 100 combined tackles last season, but he is on pace to shatter his tackle total from last year in his first year with the New York Jets.

The Jets play an uptempo offense and are good enough offensively to take advantage of bad defensive teams. This puts pressure on their defense with weekly high-snap volume, a great thing for IDP fantasy football. D. Bane has played 63 or more defensive snaps in six consecutive weeks, and he also is on kick coverage. He played almost double the number of snaps in the box than he did at free safety for the first time this season (30/16), and has 157 box snaps in total. Belton is owned in just 10% of leagues and is a plug-and-play IDP. Pick up this riser and put him in fantasy football starting lineups.

Fantasy Football Week 9 IDP Waiver Wire Targets

Charles Omenihu, Defensive Lineman, Washington Commanders (0% ownership +/-) 

Charles Omenihu was underperforming prior to his Week 4 injury, but made a big splash in his Week 8 return. He played 46 snaps, the second most of the season, and he didn’t play on the FG/XP block. Indicating that he is a major part of their plans at defensive line. His bad play paired with his injury caused him to be virtually unowned across all IDP formats. This is the moment to take advantage of it, as teammate Daron Payne was placed on season-ending IR.

C. Omenihu registered 3 QB hits, 2 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 1.0 sack. If he produces similar numbers, he will be a reliable IDP going forward. They host the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9 and play the New York Giants in Week 10. The Rams do not travel well, and that is a West Coast to East Coast, early-game trip. Meanwhile, the Giants allow an average of 3 sacks per game, and that will be a pivotal NFC East showdown. Pick up the former Texas Longhorn and have a high-scoring defensive lineman who is past the bye week. 

CJ Allen, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts (9% ownership +/-) 

Rookie linebacker CJ Allen has played 84 of his 93 IDP snaps in the box. The other 9 snaps have been in the slot, most of which came from man-coverage defensive schemes. 45 of those snaps came last week as the Indianapolis Colts are in the process of stripping everything down to the foundation and framing. 

Although a rookie, CJ Allen is a player who has a lot to prove if he wants to stay on the roster. The Colts' ownership also needs to see what they are getting in return for the 53rd pick of the 2026 draft. The Georgia product is 6’ 230 pounds, and is expected to be the centerpiece of a changing defense. He injured his ankle earlier this season, but appears to be fully recovered. The fact that he is a rookie and not utilized on special teams indicates he will be heavily involved with the defense. Despite only scoring 5.25 points through seven weeks, CJ Allen is 9% owned (mostly in dynasty formats). Pick up the rookie IDP and have a high-volume LB for week 9.

Zakee Wheatley, Defensive Back, Carolina Panthers (0% ownership +/-)

Zakee Wheatley is a fifth-round rookie from Penn State who has been forced to “learn on the fly”. The Carolina Panthers have been decimated at cornerback, and that has put pressure on Z. Wheatley as the free safety. Once a cornerback has been beat by a wide receiver, Z. Wheatley is there to prevent more yards, and sometimes touchdowns. 

He has 288 snaps this season, 225 of which have been at free safety. He also has 23 snaps in the box, and 10 at slot corner. He has played just 11 snaps on special teams since week 4, and they have all been on punt return. He earned his first interception of his NFL career last week, and has games against the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints the next two weeks. Pick him up from the Week 9 waiver wire, and play him as an IDP flex this week.

NFL Week 9 IDP Matchups To Capitalize On

Houston Texans vs Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday 4:05 PM ET

Danielle Hunter, Defensive Lineman/Linebacker, HOU Texans

Danielle Hunter is rostered in just 36% of sleeper leagues! Perhaps it is due to the Houston Texans' Week 8 bye, because the 12-year veteran is having as good a season as always. D. Hunter has never been a tackle monster, with 83 his highest season total, but he makes up for it with big plays.

He is a pass-rush specialist, with the fifth-highest active sack total (118.5). He has recorded 0.5 or more sacks in five of the Texans' last six games. D. Hunter and the Texans are coming off a bye week and play against the worst team in the league, the Los Angeles Chargers. Then they play against the Cleveland Browns, who have allowed the most sacks in the NFL. Hunter has potential for massive fantasy football points over the next two weeks. He is a must-start for IDP leagues, and with only 36% of fantasy football leagues rostering him, he is a must-add. Trust him to bring down Justin Herbert in Week 9. 

Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks, Sunday 4:25 PM ET

Mack Wilson Sr., Linebacker, ARI Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals got a jolt of life from Gardner Minshew and Tyler Allgeier last week. Lost in that was Mack Wilson Sr.’s fantastic IDP game against a high-powered offense. M. Wilson Sr. finished with 8 combined tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 QB hit against a quarterback who made several audibles at the line of scrimmage. 

This week Arizona looks to continue their momentum against their division rival, the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are coming off of a tough loss and will look to return to their identity as a run-first team. M. Wilson Sr. could be in for several tackles as a high-volume “green-dot” linebacker. Plug him in against Seattle in Week 9, and expect another double-digit fantasy football performance from an underrated IDP.

Denver Broncos vs Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM ET

Pat Surtain, Defensive Back, DEN Broncos

Pat Surtain went through a lengthy recovery from his injured ankle. He missed three weeks and most of the match against the San Francisco 49ers. That caused several fantasy football managers to drop the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. That is going to happen as most fantasy football managers find IDPs replaceable, and several fantasy football leagues have fewer IDP roster requirements.

However, P. Surtain II returned last week against the Kansas City Chiefs and reminded everyone what a great player he is. The IDP logged 7 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle, and a pass defended. Excluding the game he exited with an injury, P. Surtain II has three consecutive games with double-digit fantasy football points. He is playing against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9, and their quarterback (Bryce Young) has thrown 3 interceptions in the past two weeks. Carolina also has two great wide receivers, which will leave plenty of tackling opportunities for P. Surtain II. Put him in with confidence in the early slate of games.

NFL Fantasy Football Week 9 IDP Injury Report & News

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