NFL Week 9 latest intel, buzz questions, fantasy tips and trade deadline news

It's Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season, which means two things. First, we're about to hit midseason. Second, the trade deadline is right around the corner. And insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been calling sources around the league for the latest news and notable buzz.

The Ravens are in a tough spot, dropping to 4-4 and losing not only QB1 Lamar Jackson but also QB2 Tyler Huntley to injuries. What's next for Baltimore? Will the Ravens focus their attention on 2027 or still try to turn things around this season in a tight AFC North? Out west, what's going on with Justin Herbert? The Chargers obviously have big problems at 0-7, and Herbert hasn't played well. What are we hearing on his struggles?

And what about trade buzz? What's the latest around the league? Which teams could be active, and which players could be on the move before the Tuesday deadline? It's all here, as Jeremy and Dan answer big questions, hand out useful fantasy football nuggets and empty their reporting notebooks heading into Week 9.

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Next steps for the Ravens
Buzz on Herbert's struggles
Deadline intel | Fantasy advice

What's your sense on where the Ravens go from here?

Graziano: Baltimore isn't a throw-in-the-towel type of organization. My sense is that the Ravens will work to solve the problem and will be open to a number of ideas at quarterback with Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) out. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano has been announced as their starter for Thursday night against Jacksonville, but if, for example, the Cardinals are done with Jacoby Brissett, Baltimore would be a team I'd expect to at least look into bringing in Brissett for Week 10 on.

Fowler: In the short term, there are several players with lower-cost contracts if the Ravens choose to pursue them. Brissett was with Ravens quarterbacks coach Isaiah Woolfork last season in Arizona. Bears backup Tyson Bagent has familiarity with Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. And some conversations I had early this week made me think the Colts' Daniel Jones is at least on the radar. Baltimore could essentially sign him without spending a lot because of his struggles. Jones' $5.5 million base salary is tradable, and his 2027 guarantees don't trigger until the offseason. He's roughly 11 months post-Achilles tear, so perhaps his play improves.

Graziano: My bigger question is a long-term one involving Jackson's future with the franchise. I believed going into this season that the most important big-picture goal the Ravens had was to get to next offseason with Jackson feeling good about signing an extension that keeps him in Baltimore for years to come. Now that it is apparent that the season isn't going the way he or they hoped, my focus is trying to figure out what comes next for the Ravens and Jackson.

Fowler: Assuming Jackson is done for the season, his $84 million cap hit in 2027 is an albatross for Baltimore, which could give Baltimore justifiable hesitance about giving him a top-of-the-market extension because of durability concerns. Thursday will mark Jackson's fourth missed game this season -- the fourth time in six seasons he has missed four or more games.

I'm pumping the brakes on the "Lamar played his last down in Baltimore" talk for now. He's under contract in 2027. But the Ravens must at least now consider life without him. They had a chance to extend him last offseason, and it didn't happen -- either because he didn't want to sign or they didn't make him an irresistible offer. Both sides eventually need to figure out what they want out of their immediate future together.

Graziano: Yeah, if they get to next spring and still can't get a deal done, they are simply going to have to consider trading him. The no-franchise tag clause in his contract gives him incredible leverage and means he has no reason to sign an extension with Baltimore that he doesn't absolutely love. If nothing happens before March 2028, Jackson would be an unrestricted free agent with at least two MVP awards on his résumé. And the no-trade clause means he could decide his team.

Jackson didn't get the fully guaranteed deal he was looking for the last time he was up for an extension, but he got an awful lot of money. And the reason he got those clauses in his contract is because he wants to have control over where he finishes his career.

Fowler: The no-franchise tag and no-trade clauses make for a fascinating dynamic. He entered the season with considerable leverage, which he mostly still has. But the sheen is wearing off slightly. He'll be 30 in January, which isn't a big deal for quarterbacks but is at least a consideration in terms of his rushing ability.

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Why Stephen A. doesn't think Lamar Jackson is done being a Raven

But if Baltimore were to listen, his trade market should look more robust than it did a few years ago when he was on the franchise tag and whispers of collusion persisted. Whether Baltimore entertains a deal is still a big "if." But come March, Jackson will be 12 months from the chance to enter true free agency, so the clock is ticking.

What's the buzz around the league on Justin Herbert's struggles?

Fowler: League evaluators typically support Herbert more than the media does, but it has been harder to defend him this season. He looks hesitant and is seeing the field poorly. "He doesn't seem comfortable in the offense," an AFC exec said. "I don't know that it's a great schematic fit for his talents. He's throwing a lot of picks where he simply isn't seeing defenders. I don't know how it gets better."

Coaches are more inclined to give him grace. "The entire team has been devastated around him," said an NFL defensive coach who recently prepared for him. "The O-line is a mess, the running game is bad, and the skill guys aren't very good. It's nearly impossible to have success with that setup."

Herbert has proof of concept -- six seasons of quality quarterback play, some of it at quite a high level -- but is in the kind of funk that makes you wonder whether this type of downturn was inevitable, no matter how much Jim Harbaugh tried to motivate him publicly or privately.

Graziano: I have heard similar things about him being an awkward fit for what Mike McDaniel wants his quarterback to do, specifically diagnosing the defense at the line of scrimmage and adjusting accordingly. Oddly, McDaniel's success in Miami came because of his ability to scheme around Tua Tagovailoa's deficiencies, but one thing Tagovailoa could do was make the right decisions when he got to the line. If that's not something that comes as easily to Herbert, that might be showing up.

The question is whether this becomes a completely lost season or if there's some way for Herbert to get to the end of it feeling better about what lies ahead. Considering the Chargers' 0-7 record, the former feels more likely.

Fowler: What's amazing is the Chargers could have used the Week 7 bye to improve their offense. But Harbaugh made zero changes. It's almost as if the Chargers felt that they could roll the ball out and magically turn things around. They probably should have received more heat for not tweaking much of anything.

McDaniel did tweak Herbert's mechanics in the offseason, having him use a weighted, bright green ball to promote a quicker release. Part of me wonders whether the changes affected his confidence. Or maybe he simply never recovered from that ugly playoff loss to New England last season, when he was sacked six times and Los Angeles scored three points. He has taken 248 sacks in six-plus years. Those hits add up.

Graziano: No doubt. I've been asking teams if they have a sense of what the Chargers are going to do ahead of the trade deadline, and a couple told me over the weekend that they don't get the sense that Los Angeles is eager to enter teardown mode. At least entering Sunday, I wasn't getting the impression that the Chargers were open to trading players to inquiring teams. We'll see what this week brings regarding players such as edge rusher Khalil Mack, wide receiver Quentin Johnston, etc.

What are you hearing on the trade deadline?

Graziano: The Colts are still asking for a lot for RB Jonathan Taylor and taking the stance that they don't need to move him. Unlike the recently traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, Taylor is not in the final year of his contract. He's 27 years old and could absolutely be a part of Indy's future if someone doesn't give the Colts the draft capital they're seeking. I do get the sense, though, that enough teams are interested in Taylor that it's too soon for the Colts to think about lowering their demands. I would guess he gets traded, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was the Giants who made that move.

Fowler: Yeah, the Colts are open to dealing him, making this a discussion about value. Executives I've spoken to believe Taylor is worth a second-round pick plus an additional pick. Indianapolis could be holding out for the equivalent of a first-round pick. "They want a bunch," said an AFC exec monitoring the running back market. It feels like this one still has a decent chance to happen, but Indianapolis clearly doesn't plan to give him away.

Taylor isn't the Colts' only offensive player garnering interest. Wide receiver Josh Downs and tight end Mo Alie-Cox are also on that list.

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The team Domonique Foxworth says needs Jonathan Taylor the most

Graziano: Defensive tackle Grover Stewart and wide receivers Downs and Keenan Allen are among the Colts players likely to move. Downs is of interest to the Steelers and the Chiefs. He is 25 years old and eligible for free agency at the end of the season. Stewart might be a little tougher to deal, since his base salary this year is $11.74 million, so an acquiring team would need to be able to fit about half that under its salary cap. But there are enough teams looking for interior linemen that he likely finds a new home at some point in the next week.

Fowler: Could that home be New York? While the Giants have been linked to Taylor and other running backs, defensive tackle might be the spot where they look to add. They inquired multiple times on Jeffery Simmons but were told no by Tennessee. Another player on the Giants' radar is Tampa Bay's Vita Vea. (The Bucs are not expected to move him.) It would be a mild surprise if New York doesn't walk away with some help up front.

Staying in New York, I would be surprised if the Jets moved running back Breece Hall or other major players based on conversations this week. The Jets do not appear to be in the mode to deal talent. They also know running backs get hurt, which is why having Braelon Allen and Hall together isn't a terrible thing. Perhaps a major offer changes things, but I don't have the Jets pegged as major movers despite the 2-6 record.

The Jets were in position to stockpile at last year's deadline, sitting at 1-7 with a transitional roster. This roster is much more promising now -- it's sneaky loaded on offense, in fact -- and New York is much closer to competing. Rival teams I've spoken to believe the Jets will try to snag a few wins as opposed to dealing players.

Graziano: The Jets are one team people had their eye on going into last weekend, wondering if another loss would push them to talk about trading players for picks. But as of right now, the Jets project to have three top-10 picks in next year's draft, so they aren't exactly in dire need of draft capital. But if they get a good offer for someone like edge rusher Will McDonald IV, who is signed through 2027 on a $14.475 million fifth-year option, I believe they'd listen. But like you, I don't get the sense that they want to trade Hall.

As running back names swirl, keep half an eye on Baltimore's Derrick Henry. As mentioned above, the Ravens are down to an injured, undrafted third-string rookie quarterback for Thursday night's game. They will be 4-5 if they lose, with no idea when Lamar Jackson could return.

Henry is turning 33 in January. He is scheduled to earn $12 million next year and none of that money is guaranteed. If he isn't in Baltimore's plans beyond this year, the Ravens could find themselves fielding offers over the next week. Henry's base salary this year is just $1.255 million (he made the rest of this year's $14 million via bonuses the Ravens have already paid), so he'd be extremely easy for another team to absorb onto its cap. Not sure how realistic this is, but it's something to keep an eye on, especially if the Ravens lose to the Jaguars on Thursday night.

Fowler: The Jaguars are compelling deadline players for a few reasons. Jacksonville is looking and willing to be aggressive for defensive line help. It would have heavily pursued Simmons last week if it weren't in the same division as the Titans, Simmons' old team. Now, Simmons is a unique case -- no other available player is like him. But the point stands that Jacksonville could make a move for a key player at the right price.

This could be for edge or interior help, in part because the Jaguars have versatile players such as Travon Walker who can play multiple spots up front. Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo is a person of interest here, though Philly is inclined to keep and potentially extend him. Also, Jacksonville must make a firm decision on Brian Thomas Jr. Several teams are interested (Chiefs and Steelers are in the receiver market) and are confident Jacksonville will eventually move him. But the Jaguars have not shown a willingness to do so yet.

As was pointed out to me, the Jaguars have a window to win big and are in the business of adding, not subtracting. And Thomas still has value as a field-stretching outside receiver. The tricky part is that Thomas could force his way out eventually, like what Downs is attempting to do in Indianapolis. This situation should crystallize after Jacksonville's game Thursday night in Baltimore.

Graziano: The Steelers have been looking for wide receiver help, as Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are on injured reserve, and DK Metcalf is having a disappointing season. Pittsburgh believes it has the defense, run game and offensive line to continue supporting Aaron Rodgers and make a legitimate run in his final season, and the team would like to get him some help, whether it's in the form of Downs, Thomas or another pass catcher.

Moving conferences, the NFC North will be interesting to follow. The Bears made their big move for Simmons, but they're still poking around on potentially available cornerbacks, as are the Lions. Detroit might also be in the market for help at linebacker, particularly in the wake of the terrible injury to mainstay Jack Campbell.

Minnesota has looked around at running backs, but it doesn't sound as if the Vikings are in position to take on much salary. If they make an addition to help their run game, it might just as easily be an interior offensive lineman or a blocking tight end. And the Packers have checked in on running backs (Josh Jacobs' situation remains a major question mark) as well as offensive linemen. All four teams would occupy playoff spots if the season were to end right now, and I expect them all to be at least somewhat active. In some cases, they'll be competing for the same players.

Fowler: The Bears have been linked to edge rushers such as Khalil Mack, but a few league evaluators told me what you heard -- that cornerback is becoming more of a need. Tyrique Stevenson Sr. and Jaylon Johnson have had their up-and-down moments this season. And while Malik Muhammad II is flashing, he's a rookie. Washington's Mike Sainristil is a name that has circulated this week, though I don't get the sense the Commanders plan to trade him. An available corner such as the Eagles' Riq Woolen for a Day 3 pick could make sense.

Speaking of Philadelphia, my sense is the Eagles could be trading some players but likely won't engage in a rebuild. As one source pointed out, that's not in the Eagles' organizational DNA. We already know they aren't trading running back Saquon Barkley. Look, let's not be naive -- general manager Howie Roseman will take advantage of good value if it's there, and supporting players are surely on the radar. But dealing big names would be a mild surprise.

Ojomo will be a test of the Eagles' transitional state. There's real interest in him (from Jacksonville and others). Whether Philly acts on that interest will tell a lot.

Graziano: The Eagles are always active, but they've lost six games in a row and their quarterback is out for the season. But like you, I don't anticipate a big selloff. First off, they're very cap-leveraged because of the way they structure their veteran contracts, and trading some of them would make that worse with dead money hits accelerating into this season. If the Eagles trade away players, I'd be looking at guys like Woolen, WR Hollywood Brown and maybe, maybe tight end Dallas Goedert for the right offer. If they're adding, I would expect it to be players who are signed beyond this season.

Staying in the NFC East, teams are wondering if the Cowboys would consider trading WR George Pickens if they suffer another loss this week and fall to 3-6. I do not get the sense that Dallas would consider such a move, but if it isn't planning to sign Pickens to an extension next offseason, it would make sense to at least take the call. As for potentially adding players, it's always possible, but with just four picks in next year's draft and having already made a jump-the-market move to get CB Joey Porter Jr. earlier this season, the Cowboys might not have another big deadline deal to make.

Fowler: Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat has been linked to Dallas, which could be in the pass rush market but hasn't made any moves there yet. The sense I get from teams in the edge rusher market is that Sweat would prefer a new deal as part of a trade -- or at least a sweetener, such as a raise on his $18.1 million salary this year or next. He's in the second year of a four-year, $76 million contract, so wanting it reworked so early in the deal could be a hurdle to a trade.

Also on the Arizona front, safety Budda Baker remains on my radar, though he has been a Cardinals lifer and would be hard to trade. But my sense is the consistent losing has weighed on him, and teams such as Buffalo or Jacksonville could try to take advantage of that.

What is your best piece of fantasy football advice for this week?

Graziano: Throw an offer out for Saints RB Travis Etienne Jr. if he has been languishing in one of your league mates' IR spots. The Saints have said Etienne could start practicing again this week after missing the past month with a hamstring injury, and during his absence they have not found anyone who could legitimately be called an RB1. They just fired their offensive run game coordinator, which could be scapegoating but certainly signals a desire for some kind of run game structural change. New Orleans also has a favorable remaining schedule for fantasy running backs.

Fowler: Snag WR Adonai Mitchell off waivers if available. One person with the Jets recently told me that the team was excited for Mitchell's return from finger surgery because of the chemistry he developed with Geno Smith in training camp. That was on display during his 142-yard performance Sunday vs. Las Vegas. While that sort of output won't be the norm, it's not a fluke, either. Mitchell can play and will be part of a sneaky-good Jets offense moving forward.