Let’s look at our hits and misses from Week 8. Sam Howell was a start and ended up as the QB1. Some big misses with Dameon Pierce not being able to do anything against a weak Carolina Panthers’ run defense. He is droppable in all redraft leagues.
Then, on the other side of things, Geno Smith was just the QB15. He peaked last season, let’s be clear. Brian Robinson has not finished as a RB1 since Week 2, his only RB1 finish. He might be the lead back in Washington, but he is merely a flex play who can be left on the bench with no regrets. Now let’s dive into the starts and sits for Week 9.
Week 9 Starts and Sits
Quarterback Sits
Geno Smith @ Baltimore Ravens
First things first, Geno Smith peaked last season and that is okay. He completely turned his career around, earned himself a nice contract, and is the starting quarterback for an NFL franchise. Smith was the QB8 in ppg last season and is averaging four less ppg this season and is the QB21 in ppg.
It does not make things better when he has to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, the best team in terms of least ppg allowed to quarterbacks. The Ravens came away victorious in Week 8 and also destroyed the Detroit Lions the previous week. It seems they are starting to fully click at the correct time. Smith is a must-sit in a road match-up that can get out of hand rather quickly.
Sam Howell @ New England Patriots
One week after Sam Howell made the starts and sits as a start, he finds himself on the other side of things. Against a poor Eagles secondary, Howell exploded with the overall QB1 finish in Week 8. Now, he faces the New England Patriots who allow just 15.83 fantasy ppg. That is the 12th fewest among defenses.
The only good thing the Patriots have is that they have their head coach and a defense that will always play tough. This and being on the road, scares me away from Sam Howell this week, making him a sit.
Running Back Sits
Chicago Bears Running Backs @ New Orleans Saints
The Chicago Bears are even worse without Justin Fields. This should not be such a surprise to people. The organization is poorly run and it has been displayed everywhere this NFL season. The Saints on the other hand are fierce on defense. The Saints are allowing the FOURTH fewest ppg to running backs and just 104.3 total yards per game to running backs.
D’Onta Foreman has had one good game this season and Roschon Johnson has had zero. Khalil Herbert is still on the injured reserve, too. With no Fields again under center, almost every Bears’ offensive weapon is a sit in Week 9, especially all of their running backs.
Green Bay Packers Running Backs vs. Los Angeles Rams
Losers of four straight, the Green Bay Packers should have expected this with no Aaron Rodgers. This team does not have a leader and no real alpha on the offense to get things moving every week. Aaron Jones has dealt with being hurt for the most part. Then, AJ Dillon has not lived up to the hype and is the most overrated handcuff in the NFL.
The Rams are allowing the seventh fewest ppg to running backs with just 100 total yards per game allowed. This season just keeps on getting tougher for the Packers as a whole. Jordan Love has ten games left to show management what he is capable of and his running backs have not made it easy with their lackluster play. Sit AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones against this tough run defense.
Alexander Mattison @ Atlanta Falcons
The team allowing the third-fewest ppg to running backs is the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have been fierce on defense. Overall, the only thing stopping them was Desmond Ridder and he is now benched. Alexander Mattison has been extremely underwhelming in replacing Dalvin Cook in Minnesota this season.
Mattison has had just ONE RB1 week and it came in Week 3. A Falcons defense that is giving up just 13.84 points to running backs does not make it any easier to keep Mattison in lineups.
Wide Receiver Sits
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown vs. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have one of the best defenses in all of football. They now get to face Clayton Tune in Week 9. Sometimes, fantasy football does not have to be difficult. Tune will be having a very stressful time this Sunday which in turn, will lead to Marquise Brown not getting enough looks to be fantasy-relevant in Week 9. Brown has been the only life for the Cardinals besides Josh Dobbs who was traded.
With that being said, it is tough to sit Brown, but with the defense the Browns have, it is best to go another direction and keep Brown on your bench in Week 9.
Terry McLaurin @ New England Patriots
The Patriots do not enjoy letting WR1s for other teams have monster games against them. The best game the Patriots let a receiver have was Jaylen Waddle in Week 8 with 121 yards and a touchdown. Other than that, no other star receiver has seen a great game besides Tyreek Hill as well in Week 8 with 112 yards.
AJ Brown had 79 yards, Ceedee Lamb did not even accumulate 50 yards and Michael Thomas was the lead receiver when the Saints played the Patriots. My prediction is that Terry McLaurin will be the main focus on the Patriots’ defense in Week 9, forcing Sam Howell to look at his other weapons.
Jordan Addison @ Atlanta Falcons
Yes, there is no Justin Jefferson for a few more weeks, but there is also no Kirk Cousins for the rest of the season. Addison and the rest of the weapons on the Vikings offense take a hit with Jaren Hall now being named the starter this Sunday. The Vikings did trade for Josh Dobbs at the deadline, but until he starts, this does not feel good.
Addison has been on a tear as of late, but with a rookie quarterback against an amazing Falcons defense, Addison makes the starts and sits in Week 9.
Tight End Sits
Logan Thomas @ New England Patriots
It is not a coincidence that three players from the Washington Commanders ended up on the sit side of things of my Week 9 starts and sits. The Patriots are giving up less than 50 yards per game to tight ends and Thomas ended up on the injury report Wednesday. With the Patriots shutting down Sam Howell in Week 9, it is only right his two best weapons end up as sits. The Patriots offense might not have much life, but their defense will always play hard every week.
Cole Kmet @ New Orleans Saints
Cole Kmet led the Bears in yards and receptions in Week 8, but against a much softer defense in the Chargers compared to the Saints. With no Justin Fields, the expectations for this offense have plummeted severely. The Saints also have a very tough linebacker room with just 33 yards per game allowed to the tight end position. I see a tough day for the entire Bears offense, making everyone a sit, even DJ Moore.
Quarterback Starts
Mac Jones vs. Washinton Commanders
This can go either really well or I will look like an absolute FOOL. Mac Jones is on thin ice and will probably not be a starting quarterback next season. For now, he gets the Washington Commanders in Week 9. The same Commanders team that is allowing over 270 yards per game to the position with 21.01 fantasy ppg, second most.
With four teams on a bye this week, it does not hurt to start Jones against a defense that has given up the most total points to quarterbacks and the most total passing touchdowns with 18. Mac Jones is the most intriguing player in starts and sits with a chance to replicate his Week 1 outing.
PJ Walker vs. Arizona Cardinals
It looks as if Deshaun Watson will not be fully healthy till next season. PJ Walker has filled in for the Browns as he did last year with the Carolina Panthers. Walker has not been good this season, but if you are feeling desperate, there is room for Walker as he faces the team giving up the ninth most ppg to quarterbacks.
Running Back Starts
Rachaad White @ Houston Texans
Rachaad White is the RB24 in ppg. He has not taken the leap most of us thought he’d take, but the volume is there. White is sixth in snap share and 11th in opportunity share. With a Texans defense giving up 19.89 fantasy ppg and 119.6 total yards per game to running backs, this is time for White to make up for this season. White has strung along back-to-back weeks of being an RB1. This will be his third consecutive week as an RB1. Do not overthink it.
Darrell Henderson @ Green Bay Packers
With Matthew Stafford in jeopardy of missing time, Darrell Henderson becomes a must-start in Week 9. To make things better, Henderson faces the Packers. The Packers have not been able to stop a parked car or the run in years. Currently, giving up 22.51 fantasy ppg, 102.7 rush ypg, and 140.8 total yards giving up to running backs per game. Henderson will be busy if Stafford ends up missing time and it starts in Week 9. Darrell Henderson is my favorite start in starts and sits for Week 9.
Chuba Hubbard vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts and the Panthers are both in the top five of most fantasy PPG giving to running backs. Both of these times should combine for over 200 rushing yards when they meet in Week 9. Chuba Hubbard has taken over as the lead back in Carolina, too. Ever since Hubbard had a nice showing against the Miami Dolphins, we all have been waiting for it again.
In Week 9, Chuba Hubbard will be a top-12 running back and will officially put an end to Miles Sanders being a fantasy asset.
Wide Receiver Starts
DeAndre Hopkins @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Yes, DeAndre Hopkins has not lived up to anything this season. He has had two good games with the second one coming just last week. With a three-touchdown game in Week 8, Hopkins will look to capitalize with rookie quarterback, Will Levis getting the Week 9 start.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a bottom-five team against receivers, giving up over 190 ypg to them. Hopkins will heavily be relied on with a rookie under center and deserves to be in all line-ups in a Thursday night match-up.
Brandin Cooks @ Philadelphia Eagles
Brandin Cooks made it as a streamer for me in Week 9 and now is a start in a highly anticipated match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles. Sam Howell just threw for almost 400 yards against this Eagles secondary. Now, with a better Quarterback and better weapons, the Cowboys will look to get a much-needed win against the division-leading Eagles.
Cooks has touchdowns in back-to-back games and will be needed in what should be a high-scoring game this Sunday. Start Cook in your flex with the high possibility of Dak Prescott throwing numerous touchdowns and Cooks coming down with one of them.
Drake London vs. Minnesota Vikings
Desmond Ridder is no longer the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. This is fabulous news for the likes of Kyle Pitts and Drake London. Arthur Smith’s arrogance finally got the best of him and he put his thinking cap on. With Taylor Heinicke starting, a much better thrower than Desmond Ridder, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts become startable every single week he is under center.
The Vikings are the sixth-worst team in terms of fantasy ppg allowed to receivers. They are also giving up over 180 ypg to opposing receivers, making London a fabulous start in starts and sits for Week 9.
Tight End Starts
Kyle Pitts vs. Minnesota Vikings
God has answered the prayers all of us fantasy managers have been asking for. Desmond Ridder not being the starting quarterback means Kyle Pitts has life once again in fantasy football. The Vikings are an average team in terms of ppg allowed to tight ends. It is a good thing that Kyle Pitts is not average. Pitts is a must-start in Week 9 with the news of Ridder no longer under center.
Dalton Kincaid @ Cincinnati Bengals
There is no Dawson Knox for the foreseeable future. Dalton Kincaid is the second-best catcher on this Buffalo Bills team and they face the Bengals, the worst team against tight ends. The Dalton Kincaid show continues in Week 9. Kincaid has had back-to-back weeks as a TE1 and this will be the third consecutive week he finishes as a TE1. A league winner is happening right before our eyes.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty