Updated November 3, 2026
Two teams are on bye in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans are off, per NFL.com's 2026 bye-week list. This page covers who you lose, how to choose a fill-in, and when Week 9 lineups start locking. It is about fantasy lineups only. Player lines below come from the Week 8 ESPN box scores; they describe one game, not a projection.
Who's on Bye in Week 9
Pittsburgh (6-2) and Tennessee (1-7) are the only teams off in Week 9, according to the NFL.com Week 9 schedule. That leaves 15 games and 30 teams. The bye load gets heavier soon: NFL.com lists Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay on bye in Week 10, and six teams (Atlanta, Cleveland, Green Bay, the Rams, New England and Seattle) in Week 11. If you are picking up a bye-week fill-in now, check whether he also helps in Weeks 10 and 11.
Steelers Players You're Missing in Week 9
Pittsburgh beat Cleveland 27-6 in Week 8. From the ESPN box score for Steelers-Browns:
- RB Jaylen Warren: 17 carries, 143 yards, one touchdown. The AP recap on ESPN says that tied his career high.
- RB Rico Dowdle: 15 carries, 56 yards, one touchdown.
- QB Aaron Rodgers: 13 of 25 for 172 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
- TE Darnell Washington: three catches for 94 yards, including a 58-yarder.
- TE Pat Freiermuth: two catches for 35 yards and a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
- WR DK Metcalf: one catch for 4 yards on six targets.
- Steelers defense: eight sacks of Deshaun Watson, per the AP recap.
Warren had the biggest Week 8 fantasy line of the group. Metcalf's was thin (one catch for 4 yards), but one game is a small sample, and the Steelers are back on the schedule in Week 10.
Titans Players You're Missing in Week 9
Tennessee lost 43-36 in overtime at Cincinnati. From the ESPN box score for Titans-Bengals:
- QB Cam Ward: 26 of 40 with two touchdown passes and no interceptions, plus seven carries for 41 yards. The AP recap called it the first 300-yard passing game of his career.
- RB Tony Pollard: 21 carries, 117 yards, two touchdowns. The AP recap notes that gives him five scores in his last two games.
- WR Wan'Dale Robinson: six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.
- WR Chimere Dike: five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
- TE Gunnar Helm: five catches for 76 yards, plus the 2-point catch that put Tennessee up 36-29 late in regulation.
- WR Calvin Ridley: one catch for 10 yards.
Tennessee played without injured receiver Carnell Tate, who was inactive with a shoulder injury, and without Jeffery Simmons after his trade to Chicago.
How to Pick a Bye-Week Replacement
A one-week fill-in is a different decision from a long-term pickup. A short checklist:
- Start with your own bench. If you already roster a usable player at the position, start him before spending waiver priority or budget.
- Look at role, not one big game. Snap share, carries and targets usually tell you more than a single touchdown. A player who is on the field most of the game is a safer one-week start.
- Check the injury report before you claim. A starter listed as out can open a role for his backup. Our guide to questionable vs. doubtful on the injury report explains what each tag means, and the NFL.com injury report page carries the official designations.
- Know your league's waiver rules. Claims usually process mid-week, so plan before your league's deadline. Our explainer on how waivers work covers NFL waivers; fantasy leagues set their own rules, so check your league settings.
- Think two weeks ahead. With four teams off in Week 10, a fill-in who can also cover Week 10 is worth more than one who only helps once.
For the bigger-picture approach to roster building, see our piece on fantasy football strategy that holds up.
Thursday Night Lineup Lock Reminder
Week 9 opens Thursday, November 5, with Jacksonville at Baltimore at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) on Prime Video, per the NFL.com schedule. In leagues with game-time locks, Jaguars and Ravens players lock at kickoff. Sunday starts early: Cincinnati and Atlanta play in Madrid at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT) on NFL Network, so Bengals and Falcons players lock before the 10:00 a.m. PT window. The week ends Monday, November 9, with Buffalo at Minnesota at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) on ESPN and ABC. For anything that changes after Week 8, our Week 8 recap and standouts has the latest results.
Week 9 Bye Fantasy Questions
Which NFL teams are on bye in Week 9 of 2026?
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, according to NFL.com's 2026 bye-week list.
When do Week 9 fantasy lineups lock?
In leagues with game-time locks, players lock at their game's kickoff. Jaguars and Ravens players lock Thursday, November 5, at 5:15 p.m. PT. Bengals and Falcons players lock Sunday at 6:30 a.m. PT for the Madrid game.
Which teams are on bye in Week 10?
Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, per NFL.com. Six teams follow in Week 11.
