This is about the time on the NFL calendar when teams begin taking a hard look at themselves. With the arrival of Week 9, we're halfway through the regular season, and the Nov. 10 trade deadline is on the league's doorstep. That leaves every franchise facing the same question: What are we in 2026?
Should we invest in the club we have or sell off pieces and begin building for a brighter tomorrow? The answer, of course, will vary from team to team. We could, however, start seeing some early indications of which way these clubs are leaning in response to that question as Week 9 unfolds.
In our five predictions this week, three of them center around the trade deadline and/or facing the reality that 2026 is not their year and need to make moves to better themselves for 2027 and beyond. Meanwhile, there are a couple of other less existential developments that we wouldn't be shocked to see, including a rough showing from Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. We'll look to carry the momentum from a strong selection last week, where we accurately pinpointed a reduced snap share from Jonathan Taylor amid trade rumors and a strong performance from T.J.
Below, you can find five storylines and/or individual performances that we wouldn't be shocked to see happen over the course of Week 9. The Broncos have been in the thick of trade rumors leading up to the Nov. 10 deadline as they've been a team eyed as a potential landing spot for some of the top available running backs. When you look at their 92.6 rushing yards per game average on the season, it makes sense why they'd possibly pursue the likes of Jonathan Taylor in Indianapolis, especially with the club sitting atop the AFC West and hoping to make another deep playoff run.
However, that's a 10,000 ft. view of the situation in the backfield. If you zoom in, there's a possibility that the answer to their rushing woes is already on the roster. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman had a mini breakout performance in the win over Kansas City last week.
In just his second game back from returning off injured reserve due to an ankle injury, Coleman saw a team-high 11 carries and rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four of his five targets for 63 yards, which included a pivotal 51-yard catch-and-run on the go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. That flash could just be the beginning for Coleman, who should continue to break out this week against Carolina.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
