Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 8, 2026, 4:05 PM ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Network: CBS
Houston Texans
Quarterback
C.J. Stroud: SIT, QB2 (Startable in Superflex)
C.J. Stroud was playing solid football heading into the Texans’ Week 8 bye, averaging two touchdowns per game over his last four and just one interception. But the matchup isn’t a desirable one in Week 9. The Chargers are one of the stingiest defenses to opposing quarterbacks, ranking top 10 in takeaways and bottom ten in passing yards allowed. Stroud’s earned Superflex start status for pretty much every week, but I’d look elsewhere in 1QB leagues.
Running Back
Woody Marks: FLEX, RB3
David Montgomery: SIT
Dare Ogunbowale: SIT
There’s a chance that David Montgomery returns this week from injury after resting up through Houston’s bye. If he does, as poorly as he played before missing Weeks 6 and 7, Monty has a home on fantasy benches until we see some sign of life on the field. I wish we could be more excited for a good matchup if Woody Marks gets the backfield to himself once again, but he’s averaged less than 10 points per game in the two games without Monty. He’s a fine FLEX, but a far cry from a bell cow back.
Wide Receiver
Nico Collins: START, WR2
Marvin Harrison Jr: SIT
Xavier Hutchinson: SIT
Nico Collins currently sits as the WR15 on a points-per-game basis, and that’s right about where I have him in Week 9. The Chargers allow less than 200 passing yards per game and the ninth-fewest points to the position over their last three. Nico’s in your lineup every week, but he’s on the wrong side of his typical borderline WR1 status. Marvin Harrison Jr. and the rest of the healthy Texans receivers are easy sits in a game the pass game likely struggles.
Tight End
Dalton Schultz: SIT
Twenty-three percent of Dalton Schultz’s fantasy points for the entire season came in fourth-quarter garbage time in Week 2.
Defense/Special Teams
Houston Texans: START
The Chargers score the fewest points in the league and lead the NFL in giveaways.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback/Running Back/Wide Receiver/Tight End
Justin Herbert: SIT
Omarion Hampton: FLEX, RB3
Keaton Mitchell: SIT
Kimani Vidal: SIT
Ladd McConkey: START, WR3
Tre’ Harris: SIT
Quentin Johnston: SIT
Charlie Kolar: SIT
Oronde Gadsden II: SIT
I’m not going to stop doing this. You can’t make me. The Chargers offense scored fewer than 10 points for the second straight game and showed absolutely nothing to spark any sort of excitement or encouragement that this offense can turn things around. Justin Herbert hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in two games. Omarion Hampton only scored 4.7 fantasy points, and that includes two catches.
But… what’s that on the horizon? Is it… potentially… a startable asset?! On the Chargers?? Well, maybe. Ladd McConkey had his second-best game this season (12.6 points), but the total mostly came from one 54-yard catch at the end of the first half. Both Hampton and McConkey have graduated from unstartable to barely startable considering the positional matchups, but they are extremely shaky starts and could easily fall flat.
Defense/Special Teams
Los Angeles Chargers: SIT
Houston is tied for the fewest giveaways in the league, and the Chargers average fewer than two sacks per game.