Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Lineup Advice for Every Position

Eight weeks of fantasy football have passed. For most of you, it's time to prepare for the home stretch and a run at the fantasy postseason.

From here on out, it's going to be increasingly important to make the right lineup decisions and waiver-wire moves and to keep the foot on the proverbial pedal. Week 9 is only days away, and there are sure to be some difficult decisions ahead—especially with the New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals on bye.

We're here to help you prepare with our Week 9 positional rankings. We'll take a look at our projected top players at each position for the coming week and examine risers and fallers at the skill positions. We will base our decisions on factors such as past performances, projected role, matchup and player health.

Rankings are based on points-per-reception scoring.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	IND
2	Andrew Luck, IND	@ GB
3	Drew Brees, NO	@ SF
4	Matt Ryan, ATL	@ TB
5	Jameis Winston, TB	ATL
6	Cam Newton, CAR	@ LA
7	Dak Prescott, DAL	@ CLE
8	Philip Rivers, SD	TEN
9	Derek Carr, OAK	DEN
10	Trevor Siemian, DEN	@ OAK

Up: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers battled through some struggles earlier this season, but he seems to have gotten back on track in recent weeks. He even had a vintage fantasy performance during Week 8's loss to the Atlanta Falcons—246 yards and four touchdowns.

It's helped that Rodgers seems to have newfound chemistry with wideout Davante Adams. He, Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson form a quality receiver trio (though Cobb didn't play against Atlanta).

Rodgers has completed at least 69 percent of his passes in each of the past three weeks and has just one interception in that span. If this level of play continues in Week 9, Rodgers should be one of the better starting options.

His opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, are rated dead last in overall defense and in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

Down: Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor can be a quality fantasy starter because of his ability as a dual-threat signal-caller. However, his value has slumped in recent weeks due in no small part to a dwindling receiver corps.

Sammy Watkins is injured, while receiver Robert Woods and tight end Charles Clay have both battled injuries. The Bills had just four healthy wideouts for last week's game against the Patriots.

The end result for Taylor was 183 passing yards, 48 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

"I think it might be fair to judge him when you have everyone out there," Bills head coach Rex Ryan said of Taylor, per Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. "It'll be nice one day to sit back and have a full roster."

While the receiving corps may be healthier this week, the Bills won't have Watkins back. They'll also be playing against the Seattle Seahawks, who are rated sixth in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	@ CLE
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	@ BAL
3	DeMarco Murray, TEN	@ SD
4	Carlos Hyde, SF	NO
5	Spencer Ware, KC	JAX
6	Devontae Booker, DEN	@OAK
7	Matt Forte, NYJ	@ MIA
8	Devonta Freeman, ATL	@ TB
9	Todd Gurley, LA	CAR
10	Melvin Gordon, SD	TEN
11	Theo Riddick, DET	@ MIN
12	Jay Ajayi, MIA	NYJ
13	Terrance West, BAL	PIT
14	Latavius Murray, OAK	DEN
15	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	DAL
16	Frank Gore, IND	@ GB
17	Duke Johnson Jr., CLE	DAL
18	Matt Asiata, MIN	DET
19	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	@ LA
20	Bilal Powell, NYJ	@ MIA

Up: Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons

Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has had more value in PPR leagues than in standard leagues as of late. He hasn't topped 60 yards rushing in any of his past three games, and he has only scored three rushing touchdowns this season.

Fortunately for PPR owners, Freeman also has 26 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

This week should see a return to quality running for Freeman, as the Falcons travel to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa is rated a miserable 31st overall in run defense by Pro Football Focus.

If you're a Freeman owner, you probably haven't considered benching him. However, he is a surefire must-start in Week 9.

Down: Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram hasn't been a great fantasy option in recent weeks, either—his highest rushing total since Week 5 was 62 yards. However, he was a downright disappointment in Week 8.

After carrying the ball just three times for five yards, Ingram was benched for fumbling.

Now, the Saints seem willing to insert Ingram back into the starting lineup. ESPN's Britt McHenry has even reported that the team is putting its confidence behind him:

However, it's simply getting too difficult to figure out the running back rotation in New Orleans. Not including quarterback Drew Brees, eight different players have carried the ball this season. If Ingram were a consistent fantasy producer and not a bench risk, we might suggest sticking by him.

As things stand, Ingram appears to be sliding.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Mike Evans, TB	ATL
2	Antonio Brown, PIT	@ BAL
3	T.Y. Hilton, IND	@ GB
4	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	PHI
5	Jordy Nelson, GB	IND
6	Julio Jones, ATL	@ TB
7	Jarvis Landry, MIA	NYJ
8	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	@ OAK
9	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	@ MIA
10	Terrelle Pryor, CLE	DAL
11	Allen Robinson, JAX	@ KC
12	Brandin Cooks, NO	@ SF
13	Dez Bryant, DAL	@ CLE
14	Donte Moncrief, IND	@ GB
15	Amari Cooper, OAK	DEN
16	Marvin Jones, DET	@ MIN
17	Steve Smith, BAL	PIT
18	Michael Thomas, NO	@ SF
19	Doug Baldwin, SEA	BUF
20	Stefon Diggs, MIN	DET

Up: T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton remains one of the NFL's top deep threats. While he has been streaky as far as fantasy performances go, he has also been responsible for some huge games.

Two weeks ago, for example, Hilton racked up seven receptions, 133 yards and a touchdown. In Week 3, he had eight receptions for 174 yards and a touchdown.

Hilton had just one catch for 20 yards last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he also briefly left with a hamstring injury. Assuming he doesn't suffer any injury setbacks—or another in-game injury—Hilton should be in position to produce one of his monster performances.

Hilton and the Colts will battle the Packers in Week 9. The Packers are rated just 29th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu racked up nine receptions for 84 yards and a score against the Packers last week.

Down: Robert Woods, Buffalo Bills

We've already mentioned that Taylor is not in a position to produce a favorable fantasy outing. Well, the same holds true for speedy deep threat Woods.

Woods has been dealing with a foot injury. He missed the team's game against the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago and wasn't regularly on the field against the Patriots last week. To make matters worse, he hasn't seemed to be able to separate like he normally would.

Though he should be healthier in Week 9, he'll also be going up against a stout and physical Seahawks secondary. Don't expect anything more than an average fantasy day.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Greg Olsen, CAR	@ LA
2	Dennis Pitta, BAL	PIT
3	Jimmy Graham, SEA	BUF
4	Delanie Walker, TEN	@ SD
5	Hunter Henry, SD	TEN
6	Jason Witten, DAL	@ CLE
7	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	DET
8	Gary Barnidge, CLE	DAL
9	Coby Fleener, NO	@ SF
10	Travis Kelce, KC	JAX

Down: Jacob Tamme, Atlanta Falcons

Veteran tight end Jacob Tamme will not play this week against the Buccaneers, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Up: Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons

With Tamme down, the Falcons should depend a whole lot more on rookie tight end Austin Hooper. The Stanford product saw some significant playing time last week against the Packers, and he finished the game with five receptions and 41 yards.

If you're a Tamme owner, snag Hooper for the week. If you're looking for a fill-in or bye-week replacement, try grabbing Hooper off the waiver wire before Tamme owners can get to him.

Sleeper: Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers

If you're dealing with the bye-week blues at tight end—guys such as Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Tyler Eifert and Jordan Reed are all on bye—take a look at San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald.

McDonald hasn't had a big game yet this season, but he has shown that he can be a deep threat—he's averaging 17.8 yards per reception. Against the Saints, who are rated 30th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus, he might just get an opportunity to break out.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Dan Bailey, DAL	@ CLE
2	Mason Crosby, GB	IND
3.	Adam Vinatieri, IND	@ GB
4	Matt Bryant, ATL	@ TB
5	Blair Walsh, MIN	DET
6	Cairo Santos, KC	JAX
7	Josh Lambo, SD	TEN
8	Justin Tucker, BAL	PIT
9	Steven Hauschka, SEA	BUF
10	Brandon McManus, DEN	@ OAK

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	Kansas City Chiefs	JAX
2	Dallas Cowboys	@ CLE
3	Seattle Seahawks	BUF
4	New York Jets	@ MIA
5	New York Giants	PHI
6	San Diego Chargers	TEN
7	Minnesota Vikings	DET
8	Los Angeles Rams	CAR
9	Philadelphia Eagles	@ NYG
10	Miami Dolphins	NYJ