As we roll into Week 9, making the right start ’em sit ’em moves is crucial to your hopes of moving up the regular season standings as the fantasy football playoffs loom. That’s especially true at wide receiver, where a decent chunk of the player pool is gone this week thanks to six byes, which shakes up our Week 9 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues.
On top of six teams being on bye (Steelers, Browns, Cowboys, 49ers, Giants, Broncos), injuries continue to mount. Michael Thomas (foot), Allen Lazard (shoulder), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), and Ja’Marr Chase (hip) were the most notable pass-catchers to miss Week 8. Additionally, Rashod Bateman (foot) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) went down mid-game, forcing their respective fantasy owners to monitor the practice reports closely this week.
Bench stashes and waiver-wire streamers are going to be more important than ever this week. Middling options like Robert Woods (@ Chiefs) and Adam Thielen (@ Commanders) are virtual must-starts, and you can’t really pivot away from steady target-getters like Jakobi Meyers (vs. Colts), D.J. Moore (@ Bengals), and Michael Pittman Jr. (@ Patriots) despite tough opponents.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fortunately, there are quite a few fill-ins based on matchups. Josh Palmer (@ Falcons), who will be resuming his role as L.A.’s No. 2 receiver with Mike Williams (ankle) out, is an optimal choice against a Falcons’ defense allowing the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to WRs, but Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardman (vs. Titans), Devin Duvernay (@ Saints), Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool (vs. Dolphins), Zay Jones (vs. Raiders), and Romeo Doubs (@ Lions) are all available in at least 45 percent of Yahoo leagues and could be difference-makers this week.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
One other potential sleeper to watch in Week 9 is Treylon Burks (@ Chiefs), who’s eligible to come off the IR this week. Burks has been battling a sore foot, but if he’s back, he’s in a good spot and could make an immediate impact.
WEEK 9 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
If deeper leagues, you could try DeAndre Carter (@ Falcons), Marvin Jones Jr. (vs. Raiders), Kedarius Toney (vs. Titans), Demarcus Robinson (@ Saints), Sammy Watkins (@ Lions), Tre’Quan Smith (vs. Ravens), Dante Pettis (vs. Dolphins), K.J. Osborn (@ Commanders), and even Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (@ Chiefs) if Burks is out. All of these receivers are the definition of “boom-or-bust,” but in weeks like this, you have to take some chances.
WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
As alluded to above, there aren’t many “must-sits” given the depleted depth, but guys like Garrett Wilson (vs. Bills), Alec Pierce and Parris Campbell (@ Patriots), Isaiah McKenzie (@ Jets), and Hunter Renfrow (@ Jaguars) haven’t been inspiring much confidence lately anyway. In tough matchups, you don’t need to risk it with them, though Wilson will be tough to sit after he put up 100-plus yards on the Pats last week.
WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Ultimately, this is the type of week where you can’t be overly choosy. If a receiver is getting “sure” targets, then he’s a potential starter. Fortunately, “it only takes one” for a WR to produce, so hope for a TD and regroup with a fuller depth chart next week.
Note: We’ll be updating these WR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes.
Week 9 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues
These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues
Rank Player
1 Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Buccaneers
2 Justin Jefferson, Vikings @ Commanders
3 Davante Adams, Raiders @ Jaguars
4 Tee Higgins, Bengals vs. Panthers
5 A.J. Brown, Eagles @ Texans
6 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Bears
7 Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Jets
8 Chris Olave, Saints vs. Ravens
9 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins @ Bears
10 Keenan Allen, Chargers @ Falcons
11 Mike Evans, Buccaneers vs. Rams
12 DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
13 Christian Kirk, Jaguars vs. Raiders
14 Tyler Lockett, Seahawks @ Cardinals
15 Tyler Boyd, Bengals vs. Panthers
16 JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs vs. Titans
17 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions vs. Packers
18 Allen Lazard, Packers @ Lions
19 Chris Godwin, Buccaneers vs. Rams
20 Gabriel Davis, Bills @ Jets
21 Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. Vikings
22 DK Metcalf, Seahawks @ Cardinals
23 Adam Thielen, Vikings @ Commanders
24 Curtis Samuel, Commanders vs. Vikings
25 D.J. Moore, Panthers @ Bengals
26 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts @ Patriots
27 Jakobi Meyers, Patriots vs. Colts
28 DeVonta Smith, Eagles @ Texans
29 Robert Woods, Titans @ Chiefs
30 Brandin Cooks, Texans vs. Eagles
31 Zay Jones, Jaguars vs. Raiders
32 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Titans
33 Joshua Palmer, Chargers @ Falcons
34 Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Lions
35 Darnell Mooney, Bears vs. Dolphins
36 Devin Duvernay, Ravens @ Saints
37 Treylon Burks, Titans @ Chiefs
38 Rondale Moore, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
39 Drake London, Falcons vs. Chargers
40 Jahan Dotson, Commanders vs. Vikings
41 Allen Robinson II, Rams @ Buccaneers
42 Demarcus Robinson, Ravens @ Saints
43 Parris Campbell, Colts @ Patriots
44 Mecole Hardman, Chiefs vs. Titans
45 Chase Claypool, Bears vs. Dolphins.
46 Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Bills
47 Hunter Renfrow, Raiders @ Jaguars
48 Alec Pierce, Colts @ Patriots
49 Tre’Quan Smith, Saints vs. Ravens
50 Josh Reynolds, Lions vs. Packers
51 Isaiah McKenzie, Bills @ Jets
52 Marvin Jones Jr., Jaguars vs. Raiders
53 Mack Hollins, Raiders @ Jaguars
54 DeAndre Carter, Chargers @ Falcons
55 Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers @ Bengals
56 Phillip Dorsett, Texans vs. Eagles
57 K.J. Osborn, Vikings @ Commanders
58 Julio Jones, Buccaneers vs. Rams
59 Kadarius Toney, Chiefs vs. Titans
60 Marquez Callaway, Saints vs. Ravens
61 Marquise Goodwin, Seahawks @ Cardinals
62 Dante Pettis, Bears vs. Dolphins
63 Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans @ Chiefs
64 Sammy Watkins, Packers @ Lions
65 Van Jefferson, Rams @ Buccaneers
66 Velus Jones Jr., Bears vs. Dolphins
67 Kalif Raymond, Lions vs. Packers
68 Robbie Anderson, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
69 Damiere Byrd, Falcons vs. Chargers
70 Trent Sherfield, Dolphins @ Bears
71 Quez Watkins, Eagles @ Texans
72 Olamide Zaccheaus, Falcons vs. Chargers
73 A.J. Green, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
74 Tyquan Thornton, Patriots vs. Colts
75 Elijah Moore, Jets vs. Bills
Week 9 WR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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