NFL Week 9 | Monday, November 9, 2026 | 8:15 PM ET | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis | ESPN
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Two 6-1 Contenders Close Out Week 9
Week 9 ends with a heavyweight Monday night. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills visit Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings, and both teams walk in at 6-1.
Buffalo brings one of the league's most dangerous offenses. Allen has thrown for 1,793 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, and James Cook III has 707 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 138 carries. Minnesota wins with defense: Andrew Van Ginkel has 6.5 sacks.
The story is under center for Minnesota. Kyler Murray is out with a hamstring strain, so Carson Wentz starts. Wentz has done this before this season: he came on in Week 1 when Murray left in the concussion protocol and led a comeback win over Green Bay, then started and won in Chicago the next week. Murray has started the last five games, throwing for 1,022 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Conditions: indoors at U.S. Bank Stadium, so weather is not a factor. Run it yourself in the Bills-Vikings game simulator, and check both lineups on the Bills depth chart and Vikings depth chart.
Bills vs. Vikings Odds and Betting Lines
MarketLine Buffalo spread-3 Minnesota spread+3 Buffalo moneyline-178 Minnesota moneyline+150 Total43.5The spread came down from 3.5 to 3 once Murray was ruled out. Buffalo is the road favorite, but a 6-1 Minnesota team at home with a strong defense makes this closer than the record of either quarterback suggests.
Our betting angle: Buffalo has the better quarterback tonight, but laying a field goal on the road against a 6-1 team is not an automatic play. With Wentz starting, the total deserves the closer look. See every number on the Week 9 matchups board.
Injury Report and Fantasy Impact
- Kyler Murray, QB: OUT (hamstring)
- Jauan Jennings, WR: OUT (calf)
- Demond Claiborne, RB: OUT (knee)
- Theo Jackson, S: Questionable (quad)
- Jay Ward, S: Questionable (knee)
- Joshua Palmer, WR: OUT (hamstring)
- Dion Dawkins, OT: Questionable (ribs)
- Alec Anderson, OL: Questionable (ankle)
- Greg Gaines, DL: Questionable (calf)
- Jordan Hancock, DB: Questionable (hamstring)
- Tyrell Shavers, WR: Questionable (knee)
What matters: losing Murray lowers the ceiling of Minnesota's passing game. Jefferson (28 catches, 335 yards, four touchdowns) is still an elite fantasy option, and Wentz said this week he wants to get him the ball whenever he can. How Wentz handles Buffalo's pass rush, led by Greg Rousseau and his seven sacks, decides how much is left over for Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.
Buffalo's offensive line is worth watching too. If Dawkins can't go, Van Ginkel and the Minnesota pass rush get a lot more interesting. Final word on every player is on the NFL injury report.
DFS Breakdown: Captains and Values
On a single-game showdown slate you balance the expensive stars with players who free up salary. See our prices and projections on the NFL DFS lineup page and the NFL projections board.
PlayerRoleDFS Outlook Justin JeffersonWR, MINElite captain candidate Josh AllenQB, BUFHighest ceiling on the slate James Cook IIIRB, BUFPremium workload T.J. HockensonTE, MINSalary saver Tai FeltonWR, MINDeep tournament sleeperOur DFS targets:
Josh Allen: the highest-upside quarterback on the slate. His legs give him more than one way to a big night.
Justin Jefferson: our favorite Minnesota play. He caught a touchdown from Wentz in Week 1, and he's the first read in any game script.
James Cook III: a big workload at 5.1 yards a carry with seven touchdowns, and he's the back Buffalo leans on near the goal line.
T.J. Hockenson: one of the best ways to save salary. Tight ends get looks from a backup quarterback, and his red-zone role gives him touchdown upside.
Jordan Addison: a strong tournament play who could see single coverage while Buffalo rolls toward Jefferson.
Tai Felton: deep sleeper. With Jennings out, there are snaps and targets to go around.
Keon Coleman: a lower-cost Buffalo receiver with Palmer out.
Lineup strategy: build around Allen, Cook and Jefferson, then use Hockenson or a cheaper receiver to make the salary work. Don't give up all your upside just to squeeze in another expensive player. Build it in the NFL DFS edge tool.
Players to Watch: Fantasy and Prop Targets
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo: the best quarterback play on the field. Passing touchdowns and rushing yards are both markets worth a look.
Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota: our favorite Vikings player. Targets and receiving yards are where to look.
James Cook III, RB, Buffalo: strong rushing and anytime touchdown candidate.
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota: a big-play threat if Buffalo commits to stopping Jefferson.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota: his red-zone role makes him a touchdown and DFS value play.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo: Buffalo's leading receiver (27 catches, 401 yards, two touchdowns), and with Palmer out his target share should hold.
Best Player Props and Betting Angles
PlayerMarketAngle James Cook IIIAnytime touchdownPlay Aaron Jones Sr.ReceptionsLean Over: Wentz checks the ball down Justin JeffersonReceiving yardsLean Over Jordan Addison40+ receiving yardsSleeper DJ Moore50+ receiving yardsWorth a lookEvery line and price for tonight is on the NFL player props board. Thresholds like 40+ and 50+ are targets, so check the number before you play them, and look for the unders on the NFL unders board.
Same-Game Parlays: Three Ways to Attack Tonight
Parlay #1: The Smarter Build
- Minnesota Vikings +3
- James Cook III 50+ rushing yards
- Justin Jefferson 50+ receiving yards
- Aaron Jones Sr. 2+ receptions
A balanced ticket that wins in a close game.
Parlay #2: The Offensive Build
- Josh Allen 1+ passing touchdown
- James Cook III anytime touchdown
- Justin Jefferson 60+ receiving yards
- T.J. Hockenson 30+ receiving yards
A bet on each offense's main weapons getting their touches.
Parlay #3: The Long Shot
- Josh Allen 2+ passing touchdowns
- Justin Jefferson anytime touchdown
- Jordan Addison anytime touchdown
- James Cook III 75+ rushing yards
Plenty of upside, and plenty more risk. Build your own in the NFL parlay generator, then check it in the Parlay Doctor.
Six-Point Teaser Strategy
Original lineTeased line Buffalo -3Buffalo +3 Minnesota +3Minnesota +9 Over 43.5Over 37.5 Under 43.5Under 49.5Our preference: Minnesota +9. Teasing the home dog up through both key numbers, 3 and 7, means the Vikings only need to stay within a touchdown and a field goal. If your book allows same-game teaser legs, Under 49.5 fits the same read. Build it in the NFL teaser generator.
FantasyDailies Final Predictions
CategoryOur pick Game winnerBuffalo Against the spreadMinnesota +3 TotalUnder 43.5 Best DFS captainJustin Jefferson Best QBJosh Allen Best RBJames Cook III Best DFS valueT.J. Hockenson Biggest sleeperJordan Addison Anytime TDJames Cook III Contrarian playCarson WentzFinal score prediction: Buffalo 21, Minnesota 20.
The Final Word
Buffalo should win, but this doesn't look like a game the Bills run away with. Minnesota's defense can make Allen uncomfortable, and the Vikings are at home. The biggest question is Wentz: if he gets Jefferson and Addison going early, this is a four-quarter fight.
Our favorite fantasy combination tonight is Allen, Cook and Jefferson, with Hockenson as the value.
Run the game 10,000 times in the game simulator, then follow every drive live in the NFL Game Zone and get the final in the Bills-Vikings box score. Get the whole week on the Week 9 hub, and the playoff race on the NFL standings.
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Lines and odds change. Check the current numbers before you bet, and bet responsibly. Parlays and teasers carry substantial risk.
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