Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Projections to Love and Matchups to Exploit
Week 9 kicked off with Thursday's game between the Houston Texans and New York Jets. This leaves 14 contests on the schedule with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers on bye.
As fantasy managers turn the page on Halloween and look ahead to the looming playoffs, the margin for error is shrinking. Fantasy championships won't be won or lost in early November, but postseason spots can.
Here, you'll find a look at our favorite plays for Week 9, along with box-score projections for the matchups we love most.
All rankings and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
Quarterback
1 of 4
1. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
3. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
4. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
5. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
8. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
9. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
10. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Matchup to Exploit: Jalen Hurts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Philadelphia Eagles got wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith back after their Week 5 bye, and their offense has been clicking ever since. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been one of the biggest beneficiaries, and his fantasy stock has seen a massive boost.
Against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8, for example, Hurts racked up 236 passing yards, one passing touchdown, 37 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. With five rushing touchdowns over the past two weeks, Hurts is a must-start in almost any matchup.
Managers, though, can exploit a very favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Only the Kansas City Chiefs have surrendered more fantasy points to opposing QBs than Jacksonville.
Playing at home and with a mostly full complement of skill players—tight end Dallas Goedert has missed time with a hamstring injury—Hurts is poised to shine again.
Projection: 268 passing yards, 2 TDs, 48 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Running Back
2 of 4
1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
3. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
4. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
5. Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
6. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
7. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
8. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
9. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
10. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
Matchup to Exploit: Bijan Robinson vs. Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has been a top fantasy option in most weeks. He's a terrific dual threat who generally provides a high PPR floor. However, Atlanta's committee approach to its backfield has led to the occasional disappointment.
In Weeks 4 and 5, Robinson failed to reach 80 scrimmage yards or find the end zone.
Overall, though, the arrival of quarterback Kirk Cousins has helped unlock Robinson as an elite offensive playmaker.
"We had the quarterback change and just a lot of new pieces added to the team," Robinson said, per CBS Sports' Garrett Podell. "It's been very good for us."
Robinson should have another strong week with the spiraling Dallas Cowboys coming to town. Dallas has been banged-up on defense and hasn't played particularly well on that side of the ball when healthy.
Only the Carolina Panthers have allowed more fantasy points to opposing RBs than the Cowboys.
Projection: 77 rushing yards, 6 receptions, 41 receiving yards, 1 TD
Wide Receiver
3 of 4
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
2. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
4. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
5. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
6. Malik Nabers, New York Giants
7. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
8. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
9. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
10. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Matchup to Exploit: Ladd McConkey at Cleveland Browns
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey falls outside of our top 10, but we have to highlight the rookie's Week 9 matchup. McConkey has been a bit up-and-down this season, but he was Justin Herbert's go-to target in Week 8.
The Georgia product finished with six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. That marked McConkey's third game with a touchdown this season and his first with more than 100 receiving yards.
McConkey should remain L.A.'s top receiver, as Quentin Johnston is still dealing with an ankle injury that has sidelined him since Week 5. He's been limited in practice this week and probably won't be at 100 percent if he plays at all.
The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, have struggled against opposing receivers this season. They've allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the position and lost star corner Denzel Ward to a concussion in Week 8.
Projection: 5 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
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Tight End
4 of 4
1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
4. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
6. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
8. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
9. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
10. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Matchup to Exploit: Cade Otton at Kansas City Chiefs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has spent most of the last two seasons as a low-end fantasy option with matchup-specific fill-in value. With Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle, out for season) unavailable in Week 8, however, he was a fantasy star.
Serving as Baker Mayfield's go-to receiver, Otton finished Week 8 with nine catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns. He caught eight passes for 100 yards the previous game, one in which Evans and Godwin were both injured.
There's little reason to believe that Otton's production will suddenly dip in Week 9. The Buccaneers need someone to catch passes, and the Kansas City Chiefs have been gashed repeatedly by tight ends this season.
It's worth noting that Kansas City has faced the likes of Isaiah Likely, Kyle Pitts, George Kittle and Brock Bowers this season, which skews the points-against metric a bit. However, only the Panthers have allowed more fantasy points to the position in 2024.
Projection: 7 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD
*Fantasy scoring information via FantasyPros.
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