Fantasy stars like Christian McCaffrey, Amon-Ra St.Brown, and Travis Etienne are all on bye this week, leaving fantasy managers with some choices to make in their lineup. This weekly article is meant to make those lineup decisions a little bit easier. You can always listen to The Footballguys Fantasy Football Show, which releases episodes every weekday - also, check out the free Week 9 Player Rankings.
QUARTERBACKS
START: Sam Howell @ NE - (Listen at 40:00)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 18.6
- Opponent vs QBs: 15th
- Week 9 Rank: QB8
- Projected Points: 18.3
On the surface, the Patriots look like a bad matchup for quarterbacks, but they've had a ton of injuries in their secondary. They have allowed two or more passing touchdowns in three of their last four games and quarterbacks to throw for at least 249 passing yards in five of eight games (O 241.5 Pass yds). Howell has been a Top-8 fantasy quarterback in three of the last four weeks - including an overall QB1 finish in week 8. He's the QB5 in PPG since Week 5 and QB10 on the season. Howell has been able to find the endzone easily. Over the last four weeks, he's thrown nine touchdown passes while averaging 268 passing yards.
SIT: Geno Smith @ BAL
- Avg Fantasy Points: 14.4
- Opponent vs QBs: 1st
- Week 9 Rank: QB17
- Projected Points: 14.5
The Ravens have been excellent against quarterbacks, allowing just six passing touchdowns all season and only two in the last three games. There's little upside in terms of yardage, either. Only one quarterback has surpassed 242 yards in the air against Baltimore. While Geno Smith may be on a bit of a hot streak (two touchdowns in two consecutive games), he has yet to surpass 16 fantasy points in either of those matchups. In fact, Smith has averaged 13.6 fantasy points over his last five outings. Sit Geno Smith against a strong Baltimore defense.
SLEEPER: Dak Prescott @ PHI
- Avg Fantasy Points: 16.7
- Opponent vs QBs: 28th
- Week 9 Rank: QB9
- Projected Points: 18.1
Opposing passing offenses are forced to throw, on average, 41 times per game against the Eagles. If the Cowboys get into a shootout with Philadelphia, we should see Prescott's typical pass attempts (33) take a big jump up. Prescott is fresh off a 304-yard, 4-touchdown performance, and the Cowboys have won two in a row. The last time the Cowboys and Eagles matched up against each other, Prescott finished the week with 347 passing yards and 3 touchdowns en route to a fantasy QB1 overall finish in Week 16 of 2022.
TIGHT ENDS
START: Jake Ferguson VS LAR - (Listen at: 53:00)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 8.7
- Opponent vs TEs: 16th
- Week 9 Rank: TE8
- Projected Points: 9.3
I can't stop streaming Jake Ferguson. He's had four or more receptions in three of his last five games while also hitting 47 or more yards in those same three games. He's the TE15 in points per game, which means he's always hovering around starter-quality numbers. The Eagles aren't exactly a soft opponent against tight ends, but they have allowed three big performances to Logan Thomas, TJ Hockenson, and Hunter Henry - all of whom caught at least five receptions and a touchdown. Should the passing volume for the Cowboys see an uptick, as expected, Ferguson has a good shot at a very productive game.
SIT: Michael Mayer VS NYG
- Avg Fantasy Points: 4.6 (Since Week 2)
- Opponent vs TEs: 5th
- Week 9 Rank: TE19
- Projected Points: 4.6
Michael Mayer had a quick flash-in-the-pan performance in Week 6 when he caught 5 receptions for 75 yards. Since then, Mayers has 3 catches for 32 yards over a two-game span. Now, he faces a tough opponent with a backup quarterback throwing the ball to him. I wouldn't put much stock in Mayer this week; keep him on your bench if you can.
RUNNING BACKS
START: Chuba Hubbard vs IND - (Listen at: 05:00)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 8.1
- Opponent vs RBs: 28th
- Week 9 Rank: RB19
- Projected Points: 12.5
Chuba Hubbard has had 17 or more touches in each of the last two games. He out-touched Miles Sanders last week 17-2 while earning 66% of the offensive snaps. The Colts have allowed six running backs to score at least 15 PPR points in the last five games. If Hubbard maintains control over this backfield, he should be in line for a solid day as a fantasy RB2.
SIT: Alexander Mattison @ ATL
- Avg Fantasy Points: 10.1
- Opponent vs RBs: 2nd
- Week 9 Rank: RB27
- Projected Points: 9.3
The Falcons have still not allowed a single rushing touchdown to running backs all season. Cam Akers continues to take valuable touches away from Mattison, especially around the goalline. The Vikings are starting a rookie backup quarterback with absolutely no NFL experience. All of these statements make me very skeptical about Mattison in week 9, so i'd much rather keep on my bench if I can.
SLEEPER: Darrell Henderson Jr. @ GB - (Listen at: 12:45)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 12.6
- Opponent vs RBs: 26th
- Week 9 Rank: RB22
- Projected Points: 11.5
Henderson has been a Top-20 fantasy running back in both starts this year. The Rams will likely be starting Brett Rypien at quarterback in week 9. The last time Rypien started an NFL game, his running backs combined for 80 rushing yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 receptions on 7 targets - expect a good amount of passing work to go to Henderson. The Packers gave up a combined 137 rush yards to the Broncos running backs in Week 7, and the defense has allowed five running backs to at least 12.5 ppr points against the Packers.
WIDE RECEIVERS
START: Garrett Wilson vs LAC - (Listen at 21:15)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 14.1
- Opponent vs WRs: 30th
- Week 9 Rank: WR12
- Projected Points: 15.8
Garrett Wilson has had 12 or more targets in three of his last four games while also being a Top-24 fantasy wide receiver in those three games. Fantasy managers should expect a lot of passing volume. Chargers opponents have thrown the 4th-most pass attempts per game, and the Jets are underdogs in this game - that should improve their league-low 53 plays per game.
SIT: Jaxon Smith-Njigba @ BAL
- Avg Fantasy Points: 8
- Opponent vs WRs: 8th
- Week 9 Rank: WR46
- Projected Points: 8.6
SLEEPER: Josh Downs @ CAR - (Listen at 29:28)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 12.4
- Opponent vs WRs: 27th
- Week 9 Rank: WR29
- Projected Points: 12.8
The Colts' pace of play has picked up with Gardner Minshew. Both the Panthers and Colts are in the Top-6 in plays per game. To further the argument for Downs as a must-start, the Colts are Top-5 in pass attempts per game. Downs has gone from sleeper to fantasy starter over the last four games as a Top-30 fantasy wide receiver in each game with at least 13 PPR points and nearly an average of 6 receptions for 79 yards.