NFL Week 9 Bold Predictions: 3 Bold Calls for This Week's Games

Fantasy Football Bold Predictions at a Glance

• Malik Willis Finishes as a Top-Five Fantasy QB
• The Colts Beat the Cowboys
• The Cardinals Don't Score a Touchdown

The 2026 NFL season has already delivered plenty of surprises, and Week 9 could bring a few more unexpected outcomes.

With several intriguing matchups on Sunday's schedule, there are opportunities for overlooked players to produce huge fantasy performances and underdogs to pull off significant upsets.

With that in mind, here are three bold predictions to keep an eye on this week.

All NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

NFL Bold Predictions This Week: Week 9

Malik Willis Finishes as a Top-Five Fantasy QB

Malik Willis has already demonstrated his fantasy upside this season, and the Miami Dolphins quarterback gets a fantastic matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Detroit has allowed a league-high 25.5 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks while surrendering an NFL-worst 298.7 passing yards per game.

Willis has scored at least 20 fantasy points twice this season, including a 26-point outing in Week 7 when he threw for two touchdowns and added 37 rushing yards and another score. He's also accumulated 225 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in seven appearances, giving him a ceiling that goes beyond his passing production.

In a game with a 50.5-point total, Willis has a legitimate chance to finish among the week's highest-scoring fantasy quarterbacks.

The Colts Beat the Cowboys

The Indianapolis Colts look dreadful and have sold off several key parts. The Dallas Cowboys keep finding ways to lose games to bad teams.

Someone has to win on Sunday — I think it’ll be the Colts.

Dallas has surrendered 26.6 points and 396.9 total yards per game, including an NFL-worst 152.8 rushing yards per contest.

That makes this a particularly appealing matchup for Jonathan Taylor, who could help Indianapolis control possession and keep Dallas' high-powered passing attack off the field — assuming Taylor is still on the Colts by the time kickoff arrives.

The Cowboys have also allowed opponents to convert 52% of their third downs, the second-highest rate in the league.

Despite Indianapolis' offensive inconsistencies, a productive rushing attack and sustained drives could be enough for the Colts to pull off the upset at home against a Dallas team that seems to get in its own way in matchups just like this one.

The Cardinals Don't Score a Touchdown

Gardner Minshew looked outstanding in relief last week, leading the Arizona Cardinals to a wild comeback win over Dallas.

It may be a lot uglier this week as the Cards are on the road at the Seattle Seahawks, and they’ll see a Seattle D that’s likely a little angry after getting smoked by the Bears on Monday night.

Seattle has allowed just 17.9 points and 233.9 total yards per game, ranking third and first in the NFL, respectively. The Seahawks have been particularly dominant against the pass, surrendering an NFL-low 158.0 passing yards per contest while limiting opponents to just 3.99 yards per play overall.

That's a concerning matchup for Minshew, who is making his first start of 2026 and won’t have Jeremiyah Love in the run game while Michael Wilson is banged up.

Even with Trey McBride providing a reliable receiving option, Arizona could struggle to sustain drives and finish scoring opportunities. Don't be surprised if Seattle holds the Cardinals to field goals at best.

Fantasy Football Bold Predictions FAQ

What is a bold prediction in fantasy football?

A bold prediction is an outcome that goes beyond the week's consensus expectations but still has a realistic path to happening. That could include a player significantly outperforming his ranking, an unexpected breakout game, or a highly ranked player struggling.

What factors go into weekly fantasy football bold predictions?

Matchups, injuries, projected workload, target volume, snap rate, recent performance, and changes to a player's role can all factor into weekly bold predictions.

Should bold predictions influence start/sit decisions?

They can provide another perspective, but they shouldn't be the only factor in a lineup decision. Fantasy managers should also consider player rankings, projected usage, matchup quality, and their available alternatives.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.