Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 9 Big Board

If Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck can put up Bugs Bunny numbers, what should we expect from Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos and Tom Brady's New England Patriots? Fireworks, to say the least.

Expect this to be as entertaining and bountiful as any matchup on the board for fantasy owners, even as numbers seem to be gushing from everywhere of late.

We unveil the initial top 100 plays for Week 9, including position-by-position rankings of all the fantasy options. You can use these rankings to weigh your starts and sits or gear up for your daily fantasy football lineups, drafts and rosters. These rankings represent our predictions for the highest scorers—relative to their use, game plan, health and matchup.

Top 100: Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning Debate Gets Another Episode

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

There are quarterback controversies and there are quarterback shootouts. Then there is Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. That is a debate that has raged this entire century and might rage for all time.

Brady has reached the stage of his career where even he is aware of the career comparisons between the two future Hall of Famers. He told WEEI radio in Boston, as Lee Schechter reported at ESPN.com:

"

Five, six years ago you don't think about those things, but as you mature a little bit and realize this could always be the last one, then you do. It's pretty special. 

[Manning has] been one of the greatest players to ever play. I've been fortunate to share a field with one of the best players that has ever played the game. And every time we play a Peyton Manning-led team, it comes down to the wire. Everything is usually at stake.

"

Brady is scorching-hot, and Manning is his same productive self. This one should wind up being a monster game for both quarterbacks and their respective offenses.

"

What can you say more about what Peyton Manning has been able to accomplish? It's been the greatest season-and-a-half stretch in the history of the NFL. Nobody has really matched what he has been able to do, what that offense has been able to do most importantly. When we play this weekend, we are going to have to try to match it because that is what it is going to take. They have a great team, and we are going to have to be at our best.

"

We give Brady a slight statistical edge playing at home, particularly since Manning will be facing Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Those two corners were brought in specifically to shut down a passing offense such as Manning's.

The Pats have the NFL's No. 2 pass defense, and they are No. 5 against fantasy quarterbacks and No. 3 against fantasy wide receivers, per FFToday.com. It won't stop Manning as much as contain him enough to make Brady slightly more intriguing, particularly since Denver can take away the running game. Denver is No. 1 against the run and top 10 against fantasy running backs.

Brady and Manning are No. 1 and No. 1-A in Bleacher Report's initial Top 100 for Week 9:

Week 9 Top 100 — Eric Mack

Rank	Flex Rankings	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Tom Brady	NE	vs. Den	3	+2
2	Peyton Manning	DEN	at NE	1	-1
3	Arian Foster	HOU	vs. Phi	5	+2
4	DeMarco Murray	DAL	vs. Ari	6	+2
5	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	vs. Oak	13	+8
6	Jamaal Charles	KC	vs. NYJ	16	+10
7	Andrew Luck	IND	at NYG	2	-5
8	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at Hou	20	+12
9	Rob Gronkowski	NE	vs. Den	39	+30
10	Drew Brees	NO	at Car	4	-6
11	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	vs. Bal	19	+8
12	Dez Bryant	DAL	vs. Ari	24	+12
13	Julius Thomas	DEN	at NE	44	+31
14	Andre Ellington	ARI	at Dal	27	+13
15	Ronnie Hillman	DEN	at NE	28	+13
16	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	at NE	26	+10
17	Antonio Brown	PIT	vs. Bal	22	+5
18	Giovani Bernard	CIN	vs. Jac	30	+12
19	Jimmy Graham	NO	at Car	51	+32
20	Russell Wilson	SEA	vs. Oak	7	-13
21	Philip Rivers	SD	at Mia	8	-13
22	Frank Gore	SF	vs. StL	55	+33
23	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	vs. Bal	12	-11
24	Colin Kaepernick	SF	vs. StL	10	-14
25	Lamar Miller	MIA	vs. SD	29	+4
26	Cam Newton	CAR	vs. NO	9	-17
27	Alfred Morris	WAS	at Min	45	+18
28	Ahmad Bradshaw	IND	at NYG	35	+7
29	Mark Ingram	NO	at Car	32	+3
30	T.Y. Hilton	IND	at NYG	36	+6
31	Ben Tate	CLE	vs. TB	41	+10
32	Nick Foles	PHI	at Hou	11	-21
33	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	at NE	42	+9
34	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at Hou	37	+3
35	DeSean Jackson	WAS	at Min	57	+22
36	Pierre Garcon	WAS	at Min	69	+33
37	Shane Vereen	NE	vs. Den	53	+16
38	Chris Ivory	NYJ	at KC	52	+14
39	Mike Wallace	MIA	vs. SD	50	+11
40	Justin Forsett	BAL	at Pit	49	+9
41	Steve Smith	BAL	at Pit	54	+13
42	Julian Edelman	NE	vs. Den	84	+42
43	Jerick McKinnon	MIN	vs. Was	43	0
44	Kelvin Benjamin	CAR	vs. NO	40	-4
45	Denard Robinson	JAC	at Cin	74	+29
46	Doug Baldwin	SEA	vs. Oak	73	+27
47	Vincent Jackson	TB	at Cle	60	+13
48	Andre Williams	NYG	vs. Ind	64	+16
49	Jordan Reed	WAS	at Min	89	+40
50	Carson Palmer	ARI	at Dal	14	-36
51	Andre Johnson	HOU	vs. Phi	56	+5
52	Mohamed Sanu	CIN	vs. Jac	61	+9
53	Marques Colston	NO	at Car	79	+26
54	Keenan Allen	SD	at Mia	59	+5
55	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at Dal	68	+13
56	A.J. Green	CIN	vs. Jac	67	+11
57	Michael Crabtree	SF	vs. StL	78	+21
58	Jeremy Hill	CIN	vs. Jac	75	+17
59	Rueben Randle	NYG	vs. Ind	66	+7
60	Michael Floyd	ARI	at Dal	70	+10
61	Carlos Hyde	SF	vs. StL	131	+70
62	Doug Martin	TB	at Cle	124	+62
63	Wes Welker	DEN	at NE	95	+32
64	Brandon LaFell	NE	vs. Den	72	+8
65	Branden Oliver	SD	at Mia	47	-18
66	Torrey Smith	BAL	at Pit	101	+35
67	Greg Olsen	CAR	vs. NO	63	-4
68	Eric Decker	NYJ	at KC	80	+12
69	Odell Beckham	NYG	vs. Ind	77	+8
70	Terrance Williams	DAL	vs. Ari	62	-8
71	Brandin Cooks	NO	at Car	71	0
72	Antonio Gates	SD	at Mia	65	-7
73	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	vs. NO	120	+47
74	Mike Evans	TB	at Cle	91	+17
75	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	vs. Phi	58	-17
76	Vernon Davis	SF	vs. StL	107	+31
77	Eli Manning	NYG	vs. Ind	18	-59
78	Reggie Wayne	IND	at NYG	121	+43
79	Zach Ertz	PHI	at Hou	109	+30
80	Andy Dalton	CIN	vs. Jac	17	-63
81	Tre Mason	STL	at SF	94	+13
82	Anquan Boldin	SF	vs. StL	83	+1
83	Steve Johnson	SF	vs. StL	125	+42
84	Cecil Shorts	JAC	at Cin	104	+20
85	Dwayne Allen	IND	at NYG	85	0
86	Percy Harvin	NYJ	at KC	105	+19
87	Heath Miller	PIT	vs. Bal	118	+31
88	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	vs. NO	88	0
89	Jason Witten	DAL	vs. Ari	106	+17
90	Hakeem Nicks	IND	at NYG	157	+67
91	Travis Kelce	KC	vs. NYJ	90	-1
92	Cordarrelle Patterson	MIN	vs. Was	97	+5
93	John Brown	ARI	at Dal	116	+23
94	Dwayne Bowe	KC	vs. NYJ	98	+4
95	Martavis Bryant	PIT	vs. Bal	114	+19
96	Darren Sproles	PHI	at Hou	117	+21
97	Riley Cooper	PHI	at Hou	122	+25
98	Andre Holmes	OAK	at Sea	103	+5
99	Ryan Tannehill	MIA	vs. SD	23	-76
100	Trent Richardson	IND	at NYG	82	-18

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Quarterbacks: Brandon Weeden a Fantasy Option? Maybe!

Oh Romo, Romo, where art thou, Romo? On the injury report as always with his back issue, but this time he will apparently be on the wrong side of a game-time decision.

ESPN Radio Dallas' Ian Fitzsimmons tweeted Tuesday night that Tony Romo (back contusion) is "at best questionable for Arizona on Sunday but his season is not in jeopardy."

That doesn't sound promising for Romo's owners in Week 9. Hopefully one of the six bye team quarterbacks isn't the only other passer on your roster. Brandon Weeden might have to play for some fantasy teams this week.

Weeden has grown accustomed to getting snaps with the first team in practice because of Romo's chronic back issues, as Weeden told ESPN.com's Todd Archer:

"

Even though it's a big run install day, it's nice to get in the huddle, call out plays, get to the line of scrimmage and take snaps, make some throws. It's huge. I was telling [quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson] the other day, I don't know if there's a backup quarterback in the league [who] gets as many reps as I do. I need all the reps I can get. You compound that with all the smart minds, the smart quarterback minds we have around here, and I just kind of soak up all the info. I've learned more in however long I've been here than I learned in four years playing as a starter dating back to college.

"

Until Romo's status is finalized, though, don't count on the Cowboys sitting their veteran for the backup, even if the Arizona Cardinals have the NFL's worst pass defense.

B/R's Week 9 quarterback rankings will need a tweak with how this situation plays out later in the week:

Week 9 Quarterback Rankings — Eric Mack

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Tom Brady	NE	vs. Den	3	+2
2	Peyton Manning	DEN	at NE	1	-1
3	Andrew Luck	IND	at NYG	2	-1
4	Drew Brees	NO	at Car	4	0
5	Russell Wilson	SEA	vs. Oak	5	0
6	Philip Rivers	SD	at Mia	6	0
7	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	vs. Bal	11	+4
8	Colin Kaepernick	SF	vs. StL	8	0
9	Cam Newton	CAR	vs. NO	7	-2
10	Nick Foles	PHI	at Hou	10	0
11	Carson Palmer	ARI	at Dal	12	+1
12	Eli Manning	NYG	vs. Ind	15	+3
13	Andy Dalton	CIN	vs. Jac	13	0
14	Ryan Tannehill	MIA	vs. SD	14	0
15	Tony Romo	DAL	vs. Ari	9	-6
16	Joe Flacco	BAL	at Pit	17	+1
17	Alex Smith	KC	vs. NYJ	16	-1
18	Austin Davis	STL	at SF	24	+6
19	Robert Griffin	WAS	at Min	22	+3
20	Mike Glennon	TB	at Cle	23	+3
21	Teddy Bridgewater	MIN	vs. Was	18	-3
22	Michael Vick	NYJ	at KC	20	-2
23	Brian Hoyer	CLE	vs. TB	19	-4
24	Blake Bortles	JAC	at Cin	25	+1
25	Ryan Fitzpatrick	HOU	vs. Phi	21	-4
26	Derek Carr	OAK	at Sea	27	+1
27	Brandon Weeden	DAL	vs. Ari	29	+2
28	Colt McCoy	WAS	at Min	26	-2

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Running Backs: Doug Martin Frustration Just Won't Go Away

The NFL trade deadline might be the most wasted one for all of the sports talk. Doug Martin is still a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, and the man everyone had replacing him, Charles Sims (ankle), is "not a slam dunk" to be activated Sunday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Martin staying put in Tampa Bay is unfortunate news for everyone involved, honestly. Martin is stuck in football purgatory, along with Sims.

Now, we understand the growing love for Sims. The unknown has to be better than what Martin has done, right? But, the devil you know is still better than the devil you don't.

Martin might be a sleeper start for fantasy Week 9 against a Cleveland Browns run defense that only recently improved to third-worst in football because the Oakland Raiders cannot run out of their own way. The Browns are one of the fantasy matchups to take advantage of, ranking seventh-worst against running backs, according to FFToday.com.

With Sims' return from IR on the horizon, it might be now or never for Martin and his dwindling fantasy ownership.

Against our better judgment, we rank Martin (barely) among the top 25 starts in B/R's running back rankings for Week 9:

Week 9 Running Back Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Arian Foster	HOU	vs. Phi	2	+1
2	DeMarco Murray	DAL	vs. Ari	1	-1
3	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	vs. Oak	4	+1
4	Jamaal Charles	KC	vs. NYJ	3	-1
5	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at Hou	6	+1
6	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	vs. Bal	5	-1
7	Andre Ellington	ARI	at Dal	7	0
8	Ronnie Hillman	DEN	at NE	8	0
9	Giovani Bernard	CIN	vs. Jac	11	+2
10	Frank Gore	SF	vs. StL	20	+10
11	Lamar Miller	MIA	vs. SD	9	-2
12	Alfred Morris	WAS	at Min	15	+3
13	Ahmad Bradshaw	IND	at NYG	12	-1
14	Mark Ingram	NO	at Car	10	-4
15	Ben Tate	CLE	vs. TB	13	-2
16	Shane Vereen	NE	vs. Den	19	+3
17	Chris Ivory	NYJ	at KC	18	+1
18	Justin Forsett	BAL	at Pit	17	-1
19	Jerick McKinnon	MIN	vs. Was	14	-5
20	Denard Robinson	JAC	at Cin	21	+1
21	Andre Williams	NYG	vs. Ind	22	+1
22	Jeremy Hill	CIN	vs. Jac	24	+2
23	Carlos Hyde	SF	vs. StL	35	+12
24	Doug Martin	TB	at Cle	34	+10
25	Branden Oliver	SD	at Mia	16	-9
26	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	vs. NO	33	+7
27	Tre Mason	STL	at SF	29	+2
28	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	vs. NO	27	-1
29	Darren Sproles	PHI	at Hou	32	+3
30	Trent Richardson	IND	at NYG	25	-5
31	Juwan Thompson	DEN	at NE	37	+6
32	Knile Davis	KC	vs. NYJ	36	+4
33	Lorenzo Taliaferro	BAL	at Pit	28	-5
34	Alfred Blue	HOU	vs. Phi	49	+15
35	Jonas Gray	NE	vs. Den	30	-5
36	Travaris Cadet	NO	at Car	31	-5
37	Khiry Robinson	NO	at Car	53	+16
38	Bobby Rainey	TB	at Cle	26	-12
39	Terrance West	CLE	vs. TB	41	+2
40	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	vs. TB	40	0
41	Darren McFadden	OAK	at Sea	23	-18
42	Benny Cunningham	STL	at SF	38	-4
43	Zac Stacy	STL	at SF	47	+4
44	Toby Gerhart	JAC	at Cin	51	+7
45	Chris Johnson	NYJ	at KC	39	-6
46	Robert Turbin	SEA	vs. Oak	54	+8
47	Maurice Jones-Drew	OAK	at Sea	56	+9
48	Roy Helu	WAS	at Min	42	-6
49	Matt Asiata	MIN	vs. Was	45	-4
50	LeGarrette Blount	PIT	vs. Bal	50	0
51	Daniel Thomas	MIA	vs. SD	55	+4
52	Joseph Randle	DAL	vs. Ari	57	+5
53	James White	NE	vs. Den	58	+5
54	Brandon Bolden	NE	vs. Den	60	+6
55	De'Anthony Thomas	KC	vs. NYJ	65	+10

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Wide Receivers: Fantasy Owners Left A.J. Green with Envy of Megatron

Al Behrman/Associated Press

Calvin Johnson (ankle), A.J. Green (toe) and their injury report designations have held us hostage with some of our stud wide receivers in recent weeks. At least in the case of Megatron, a bye week makes the decision moot.

We are still left to wonder about Green, Geoff Hobson of the Cincinnati Bengals' official website tweeted.

The official NFL injury report is released for the non-Thursday night games every Wednesday night, but Green is certain to be the most prominent game-time decision on the board. With Megatron telling Detroit Lions broadcast journalist Tori Petry he "definitely" expects to return in Week 10 after the Lions' bye, Green will remain the biggest receiver health question mark for the rest of the season.

Green might return for a very favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars at something less than 100 percent, but don't expect to know anything definitive until the inactives are released Sunday morning.

If Green plays, he should start in fantasy, so at least you get something definitive to work with in preparing your lineups into the weekend.

Here is B/R's top plays at wide receiver for Week 9:

Week 9 Wide Receiver Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Dez Bryant	DAL	vs. Ari	2	+1
2	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	at NE	3	+1
3	Antonio Brown	PIT	vs. Bal	1	-2
4	T.Y. Hilton	IND	at NYG	5	+1
5	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	at NE	7	+2
6	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at Hou	4	-2
7	DeSean Jackson	WAS	at Min	10	+3
8	Pierre Garcon	WAS	at Min	22	+14
9	Mike Wallace	MIA	vs. SD	8	-1
10	Steve Smith	BAL	at Pit	9	-1
11	Julian Edelman	NE	vs. Den	30	+19
12	Kelvin Benjamin	CAR	vs. NO	6	-6
13	Denard Robinson	JAC	at Cin	35	+22
14	Doug Baldwin	SEA	vs. Oak	24	+10
15	Vincent Jackson	TB	at Cle	17	+2
16	Andre Johnson	HOU	vs. Phi	11	-5
17	Mohamed Sanu	CIN	vs. Jac	15	-2
18	Marques Colston	NO	at Car	27	+9
19	Keenan Allen	SD	at Mia	14	-5
20	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at Dal	19	-1
21	A.J. Green	CIN	vs. Jac	13	-8
22	Michael Crabtree	SF	vs. StL	26	+4
23	Rueben Randle	NYG	vs. Ind	18	-5
24	Michael Floyd	ARI	at Dal	21	-3
25	Wes Welker	DEN	at NE	36	+11
26	Brandon LaFell	NE	vs. Den	23	-3
27	Torrey Smith	BAL	at Pit	39	+12
28	Eric Decker	NYJ	at KC	29	+1
29	Odell Beckham	NYG	vs. Ind	25	-4
30	Terrance Williams	DAL	vs. Ari	16	-14
31	Brandin Cooks	NO	at Car	20	-11
32	Mike Evans	TB	at Cle	33	+1
33	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	vs. Phi	12	-21
34	Reggie Wayne	IND	at NYG	48	+14
35	Anquan Boldin	SF	vs. StL	28	-7
36	Steve Johnson	SF	vs. StL	51	+15
37	Cecil Shorts	JAC	at Cin	42	+5
38	Percy Harvin	NYJ	at KC	40	+2
39	Hakeem Nicks	IND	at NYG	59	+20
40	Cordarrelle Patterson	MIN	vs. Was	34	-6
41	John Brown	ARI	at Dal	47	+6
42	Dwayne Bowe	KC	vs. NYJ	37	-5
43	Martavis Bryant	PIT	vs. Bal	43	0
44	Riley Cooper	PHI	at Hou	54	+10
45	Andre Holmes	OAK	at Sea	38	-7
46	James Jones	OAK	at Sea	46	0
47	Malcom Floyd	SD	at Mia	44	-3
48	Jermaine Kearse	SEA	vs. Oak	56	+8
49	Donte Moncrief	IND	at NYG	41	-8
50	Greg Jennings	MIN	vs. Was	45	-5
51	Jarvis Landry	MIA	vs. SD	68	+17
52	Allen Robinson	JAC	at Cin	31	-21
53	Jordan Matthews	PHI	at Hou	55	+2
54	Markus Wheaton	PIT	vs. Bal	60	+6
55	Miles Austin	CLE	vs. TB	53	-2
56	Eddie Royal	SD	at Mia	52	-4
57	Andrew Hawkins	CLE	vs. TB	32	-25
58	Kenny Stills	NO	at Car	49	-9
59	Brian Hartline	MIA	vs. SD	66	+7
60	Tavon Austin	STL	at SF	67	+7
61	Jarius Wright	MIN	vs. Was	62	+1
62	Kenny Britt	STL	at SF	50	-12
63	Danny Amendola	NE	vs. Den	81	+18
64	Allen Hurns	JAC	at Cin	69	+5
65	Louis Murphy	TB	at Cle	61	-4
66	Paul Richardson	SEA	vs. Oak	65	-1
67	Jerricho Cotchery	CAR	vs. NO	63	-4
68	Marqise Lee	JAC	at Cin	82	+14
69	Jeremy Kerley	NYJ	at KC	70	+1
70	Andre Roberts	WAS	at Min	78	+8
71	Travis Benjamin	CLE	vs. TB	79	+8
72	Taylor Gabriel	CLE	vs. TB	57	-15
73	Cody Latimer	DEN	at NE	92	+19
74	Chris Givens	STL	at SF	83	+9

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Tight Ends: Big 3 a Lot More Stable Than Numbers, Health Suggest

Two men enter, one man leaves. No, Julius Thomas is not out, but the trio of elite fantasy tight ends cannot seem to get on the same page with their fantasy production every week.

Thomas has a big week, Rob Gronkowski is marginalized and Jimmy Graham (shoulder) is banged up. Gronk blows up, like he did in Week 8, Graham returns to the end zone and Thomas takes a proverbial week off statistically.

The good news is the trio looks capable of carrying their huge expectations into fantasy crunch time. That is all you can ask for.

Gronk and Thomas are even major players in what should be a legendary next chapter in Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning.

Agonize any given week one of these three lets you down, sure, but don't dare do anything but start them over all but themselves in fantasy leagues. They remain atop B/R's top tight end plays for Week 9, as always:

Week 9 Tight End Rankings — Eric Mack

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Rob Gronkowski	NE	vs. Den	1	0
2	Julius Thomas	DEN	at NE	2	0
3	Jimmy Graham	NO	at Car	3	0
4	Jordan Reed	WAS	at Min	8	+4
5	Greg Olsen	CAR	vs. NO	4	-1
6	Antonio Gates	SD	at Mia	5	-1
7	Vernon Davis	SF	vs. StL	10	+3
8	Zach Ertz	PHI	at Hou	11	+3
9	Dwayne Allen	IND	at NYG	6	-3
10	Heath Miller	PIT	vs. Bal	13	+3
11	Jason Witten	DAL	vs. Ari	12	+1
12	Travis Kelce	KC	vs. NYJ	7	-5
13	Larry Donnell	NYG	vs. Ind	9	-4
14	Owen Daniels	BAL	at Pit	20	+6
15	Tim Wright	NE	vs. Den	16	+1
16	Coby Fleener	IND	at NYG	22	+6
17	Charles Clay	MIA	vs. SD	18	+1
18	Jace Amaro	NYJ	at KC	21	+3
19	Ladarius Green	SD	at Mia	31	+12
20	Jared Cook	STL	at SF	14	-6
21	Jermaine Gresham	CIN	vs. Jac	19	-2
22	Clay Harbor	JAC	at Cin	17	-5
23	Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TB	at Cle	24	+1
24	Garrett Graham	HOU	vs. Phi	35	+11
25	Cooper Helfet	SEA	vs. Oak	39	+14
26	Luke Willson	SEA	vs. Oak	23	-3
27	Niles Paul	WAS	at Min	32	+5
28	Gavin Escobar	DAL	vs. Ari	25	-3

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Defense/Special Teams: Thank Goodness for Seattle Seahawks Here

USA TODAY Sports

Thanks to Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, Arian Foster and DeMarco Murray's video game numbers, fantasy scoring has gone through the roof. Offenses are winning big-time right now.

Defense/special teams are scoring still, but they are scoring in the circumstantial and unpredictable ways: with touchdowns. Stopping people and limiting yards are now unconventional ways to score fantasy points for defensive units.

It sure makes it tough to list fantasy D/ST rankings week to week. About the only sure thing is the Seattle Seahawks defensively...and they are in a down year.

The good news is they draw the woeful Oakland Raiders at home. It doesn't get more promising than that.

We sort through the menagerie of streaming options for defense/special teams in Week 9 here:

Week 9 Defenses and Special Teams Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Defenses and Special Teams	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Seattle Seahawks	Sea	vs. Oak	3	+2
2	San Francisco 49ers	SF	vs. StL	4	+2
3	Kansas City Chiefs	KC	vs. NYJ	2	-1
4	Cincinnati Bengals	Cin	vs. Jac	1	-3
5	Washington Redskins	Was	at Min	14	+9
6	Miami Dolphins	Mia	vs. SD	11	+5
7	Dallas Cowboys	Dal	vs. Ari	10	+3
8	Cleveland Browns	Cle	vs. TB	5	-3
9	Arizona Cardinals	Ari	at Dal	13	+4
10	St. Louis Rams	StL	at SF	24	+14
11	Denver Broncos	Den	at NE	17	+6
12	New England Patriots	NE	vs. Den	19	+7
13	Minnesota Vikings	Min	vs. Was	6	-7
14	Baltimore Ravens	Bal	at Pit	7	-7
15	Houston Texans	Hou	vs. Phi	8	-7
16	Indianapolis Colts	Ind	at NYG	12	-4
17	Philadelphia Eagles	Phi	at Hou	9	-8
18	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	TB	at Cle	18	0
19	Pittsburgh Steelers	Pit	vs. Bal	15	-4
20	San Diego Chargers	SD	at Mia	16	-4
21	Carolina Panthers	Car	vs. NO	21	0

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Kickers: Bye Weeks Will Settle Any Revolving Door You Have Here

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Sure, there are six kickers on bye, but that merely settles decisions and roster juggling for you. All you need from a fantasy kicker is a pulse and a matchup.

As we head into the crux of the bye season with half of the NFL being idle in the next three weeks, we are going to get more and more kickers who have gotten through their bye. That will help fantasy owners set it and forget it.

In case you still like to deal with the fantasy minutia of kicker decisions, B/R is here to rank the top options for you for Week 9, as always:

Week 9 Kicker Rankings — Eric Mack

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	vs. Den	1	0
2	Steven Hauschka	SEA	vs. Oak	2	0
3	Justin Tucker	BAL	at Pit	4	+1
4	Dan Bailey	DAL	vs. Ari	3	-1
5	Adam Vinatieri	IND	at NYG	5	0
6	Phil Dawson	SF	vs. StL	7	+1
7	Nick Novak	SD	at Mia	10	+3
8	Caleb Sturgis	MIA	vs. SD	17	+9
9	Brandon McManus	DEN	at NE	11	+2
10	Shayne Graham	NO	at Car	12	+2
11	Chandler Catanzaro	ARI	at Dal	9	-2
12	Cody Parkey	PHI	at Hou	6	-6
13	Blair Walsh	MIN	vs. Was	13	0
14	Shaun Suisham	PIT	vs. Bal	15	+1
15	Cairo Santos	KC	vs. NYJ	14	-1
16	Greg Zuerlein	STL	at SF	24	+8
17	Josh Brown	NYG	vs. Ind	21	+4
18	Graham Gano	CAR	vs. NO	16	-2
19	Mike Nugent	CIN	vs. Jac	8	-11
20	Kai Forbath	WAS	at Min	25	+5

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros