Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: Projections to Love and Matchups to Exploit

From a matchup standpoint, Week 9 started with a bang Thursday night.

The usual suspects put on a show during a Thursday Night Football encounter between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with the former's Matt Ryan and the latter's Mike Evans popping off for 27 points apiece.

The only disappointment in Atlanta's 43-28 win was Julio Jones' 17 points, but it helps to stress the importance of finding the right matchups, because even a top-three wideout such as Jones can have an off day.

With the week started right, here's a look at player rankings and matchups to love before it kicks into high gear.

Week 9 Schedule

Sunday, November 6	Time (ET)
Monday, November 7
Dallas at Cleveland	1 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore	1 p.m.
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants	1 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota	1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Miami	1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Kansas City	1 p.m.
New Orleans at San Francisco	4:05 p.m.
Carolina at L.A. Rams	4:05 p.m.
Tennessee at San Diego	4:25 p.m
Indianapolis at Green Bay	4:25 p.m
Denver at Oakland	8:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Seattle	8:30 p.m.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Drew Brees	26
2	Andrew Luck	23
3	Cam Newton	22
4	Dak Prescott	19
5	Ben Roethlisberger	18
6	Aaron Rodgers	18
7	Philip Rivers	17
8	Marcus Mariota	17
9	Colin Kaepernick	16
10	Blake Bortles	14
11	Matthew Stafford	12
12	Nick Foles	12
13	Joe Flacco	12
14	Derek Carr	12
15	Russell Wilson	12

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees might not outscore Ryan, his NFC South counterpart, but he will put on a show regardless in a game against the San Francisco 49ers.

He might not receive the hype of past years, but Brees has been his usual self with 20 or more points in five outings. The veteran has been on a hot streak, too, hitting on three of those in a row.

Expect a fourth. Since Week 2, the 49ers have allowed at least two passing scores in every game. For those counting, the unit has now coughed up 15 total passing touchdowns. A floor of two passing scores has Brees looking great.

It sounds odd to say about a guy who entered the week sixth in scoring among quarterbacks, but Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers hasn't looked like his usual self.

Rodgers has been above 20 points four times, but it's when he misses that has caused owners problems, with those misses coming in at 16, 15 and 11 points.

Still, Rodgers hits Week 9 coming off a 33-point outing and gets the Indianapolis Colts, owners of a defense allowing the sixth-most points to quarterbacks on average with 11 passing scores permitted over the last five weeks.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Ezekiel Elliott	20
2	Le'Veon Bell	18
3	Matt Forte	16
4	Devontae Booker*	15
5	Todd Gurley	14
6	DeMarco Murray	14
7	Charcandrick West	13
8	Jay Ajayi	13
9	Mark Ingram	13
10	Christine Michael	12
11	LeSean McCoy*	12
12	Melvin Gordon	12
13	Jonathan Stewart	12
14	Terrance West	11
15	Theo Riddick*	11
16	Isaiah Crowell	11
17	Frank Gore	10
18	Ty Montgomery*	10
19	Jerick McKinnon*	10
20	Latavius Murray	10
21	DuJuan Harris	9
22	Rashad Jennings	9
23	Duke Johnson Jr.	8
24	Matt Asiata	8
25	Ryan Mathews	8
26	Darren Sproles	7
27	Mike Davis	7
28	Derrick Henry	7
29	Tim Hightower	6
30	Chris Ivory	6

Entering the week fourth in scoring at running back, Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys looks like a guy ready to rule the weekly leaderboard. 

Elliott has 14 or more points in every game since Week 3, and he has managed to go for 20 or more twice in that stretch. His carry opportunities have fallen below 20 just once all season.

The Cowboys won't hesitate to let Elliott run wild against the Cleveland Browns. Those Browns allow the fourth-most points to running backs on average and have looked especially bad in recent weeks, having allowed five rushing scores over two outings.

In such a context, Elliott might have his best game of the year.

Also of note is Tennessee Titans' lead man DeMarco Murray. He won't have a problem keeping the usual programming going against a weak San Diego Chargers defense.

While somewhat quietly, Murray has a score in three games and counting and has not scored less than 12 points in a game while going for 18 or more four times.

The Chargers own a defense that has allowed 10 rushing scores already, three over the past two outings. Murray's streak should hit four with ease.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Antonio Brown	16
2	Jordy Nelson	16
3	Dez Bryant	15
4	Jarvis Landry	15
5	Allen Robinson	15
6	Odell Beckham Jr.	15
7	Demaryius Thomas	14
8	Brandon Marshall	14
9	T.Y. Hilton	13
10	Randall Cobb	13
11	Emmanuel Sanders	12
12	Terrelle Pryor Sr.*	11
13	Stefon Diggs	11
14	Brandin Cooks	10
15	Donte Moncrief	10
16	Ty Montgomery*	10
17	Kelvin Benjamin	10
18	Amari Cooper	10
19	Davante Adams	10
20	Willie Snead	9
21	Jordan Matthews	9
22	Marvin Jones	9
23	Kenny Britt	8
24	Doug Baldwin	8
25	Corey Coleman	8
26	Golden Tate	8
27	Allen Hurns	8
28	Tyrell Williams	8
29	Sammie Coates	7
30	Jeremy Maclin*	7
31	Tavon Austin	7
32	Michael Thomas	7
33	Mike Wallace	6
34	Michael Crabtree	6
35	DeVante Parker	6

Other than the usual suspects such as Antonio Brown dominating bad defenses, it's worth keeping an eye on Miami Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry. 

Landry is a target hog who hasn't lived up to expectations this year by only reaching double digits twice. But coming out of a bye, owners don't have a choice but to take notice of a matchup pitting him against the New York Jets.

Those Jets used to strike fear into owners thanks to Darrelle Revis and others. Now they seem more like a punch line and cough up the most points on average to wideouts, meaning a wealth of opportunities should equal plenty of production for Landry.

As a matter of fact, call it redemption week for wide receivers.

Allen Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars has been another disappointment this year, also sitting on all of two double-digit outings.

A third seems a guarantee, though, as he next gets to go against a Kansas City Chiefs unit that has coughed up four scores to wideouts over its past three outings and nine overall. It has allowed eight over its past four games.

With Jacksonville likely passing to keep pace on the road, Robinson should have a big day.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Jimmy Graham	14
2	Kyle Rudolph	13
3	Antonio Gates	11
4	Greg Olsen	10
5	Jason Witten	9
6	Delanie Walker	8
7	Gary Barnidge	8
8	Travis Kelce	8
9	Eric Ebron	7
10	Lance Kendricks	7
11	Dennis Pitta	6
12	Coby Fleener	6

The redemption chances extend to tight ends as well in large part thanks to Jimmy Graham of the Seattle Seahawks.

Graham has only scored once and hit double digits twice, but it's all systems go when his Seahawks meet the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

Those Bills just gave up nine catches for 144 yards and a score to tight ends in Week 8, good for 19 points. Graham hasn't produced as expected, but he's still second on the Seahawks in targets, meaning the work rate will equal expected production against a unit struggling with the position.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph could use a little redemption story, too. He actually sits above Graham in scoring this year with three touchdowns, though he too has hit on double digits just twice.

With a switch to Pat Shurmur as offensive coordinator, one has to hope Rudolph will see more usage against the Detroit Lions, the team allowing the most points on average to tight ends.

At eight touchdowns allowed to the position this season, the Lions will struggle with Rudolph, so long as he's included in the attack.

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Unit	Projected Points
1	Chiefs	12
2	Dolphins	10
3	Chargers	9
4	Jets	9
5	Saints	8
6	Seahawks	7
7	Vikings	7
8	Panthers	6
9	Cowboys	6
10	Rams	6

The Miami Dolphins don't usually make an appearance as a defense to know, but a matchup with the New York Jets looks irresistible.

For context, the Dolphins have three picks on the year, 16 sacks and have scored in double digits twice. The unit has at least looked steady over its past three outings, totaling six or more points in each.

The Jets push this over the edge.

New York allows the second-most points to opposing defenses this year in large part thanks to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He's thrown a silly 11 interceptions and taken 14 sacks, while opposing defenses have scored four touchdowns against the unit and hit double digits as many times.

Kickers

Rank	Unit	Projected Points
1	Cairo Santos	12
2	Mason Crosby	10
3	Dan Bailey	9
4	Adam Vinatieri	9
5	Wil Lutz	8
6	Steven Hauschka	7
7	Josh Lambo	7
8	Blair Walsh	6
9	Justin Tucker	6
10	Phil Dawson	6

One of the hottest players in fantasy football right now happens to play kicker.

Cairo Santos of the Chiefs has 10 or more points in each of his past two outings. Stretch it back a bit farther and he has eight or more over his past three with a minimum of two field goals made and extra-points attempted in each.

Now Santos gets to keep his streak going against the Jaguars. Those Jaguars allow the most points on average to kickers, which is what happens when the past five kickers have scored double digits against the unit.

Santos will merely be the latest in one of the year's best matchups at the position.

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.

Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.