Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Position-by-Position Breakdown

Sunday’s NFL action made for one of the most entertaining weeks of the season for fantasy football owners, but Week 9 looks to be shaping up as an even wilder schedule of games.

With injuries already taking their toll on fantasy teams and franchises like Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay and Tennessee on bye this week, it’s more important than ever to check the latest rankings and start the best player available.

Here is a position-by-position fantasy breakdown heading into Week 9. When in doubt, start the higher-ranked player on each list.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Peyton Manning, DEN	25 Points
2	Drew Brees, NO	24 Points
3	Andrew Luck, IND	23 Points
4	Tom Brady, NE	22 Points
5	Nick Foles, PHI	21 Points
6	Philip Rivers, SD	19 Points
7	Colin Kaepernick, SF	18 Points
8	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	17 Points
9	Cam Newton, CAR	16 Points
10	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	15 Points
11	Eli Manning, NYG	14 Points
12	Blake Bortles, JAC	14 Points
13	Alex Smith, KC	13 Points
14	Carson Palmer, ARI	12 Points
15	Russell Wilson, SEA	12 Points

Finding the right quarterback in Week 9 is imperative to your success heading toward the fantasy playoffs, and one viable option this week is Eli Manning of the New York Giants as he squares off with the defensive unit of the Indianapolis Colts.

While Manning struggled against Philadelphia in Week 6, he has thrown at least two touchdowns and at least 200 yards in five of seven games this season. After watching Indianapolis allow 522 passing yards to Pittsburgh, fantasy owners must be intrigued by the matchup.

When asked about the recent success of New York’s passing attack, Manning spoke to Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post about what is working:

"

We’ve done some good things in the passing game. We’ve got a high completion percentage and the interceptions are way down. We’ve got to find some ways to push the ball down the field and hit some big plays, but I feel good about where we are in the offense. I feel like we’re doing some good things. I feel like we can definitely build off of what we’ve done and get hot in the second half of the season.

"

New York is coming off a bye in Week 8 and Manning should be well-rested and already developing a game plan to take advantage of the Colts’ lackluster secondary. Despite a season-ending injury to No. 1 receiver Victor Cruz, the Giants have found success throwing the ball.

With the combination of wide receivers Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham on the outside and tight end Larry Donnell blossoming into a star over the middle of the field, Manning should have a huge statistical day in Week 9 and help lead fantasy owners to victory.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projection
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	22 Points
2	LeSean McCoy, PHI	22 Points
3	Jamaal Charles, KC	20 Points
4	Arian Foster, HOU	18 Points
5	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	18 Points
6	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	17 Points
7	Ronnie Hillman, DEN	16 Points
8	Giovani Bernard, CIN	16 Points
9	Andre Ellington, ARI	15 Points
10	Branden Oliver, SD	15 Points
11	Frank Gore, SF	15 Points
12	Ahmad Bradshaw, IND	14 Points
13	Shane Vereen, NE	13 Points
14	Justin Forsett, BAL	13 Points
15	Chris Ivory, NYJ	12 Points
16	Denard Robinson, JAC	11 Points
17	Ben Tate, CLE	11 Points
18	Lamar Miller, MIA	11 Points
19	Alfred Morris, WAS	10 Points
20	Jerick McKinnon, MIN	10 Points
21	Jonas Gray, NE	9 Points
22	Mark Ingram, NO	9 Points
23	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	8 Points
24	Darren McFadden, OAK	8 Points
25	Doug Martin, TB	7 Points

One of the running backs slowly making his way into the conversation as an RB2 for fantasy owners has been Denver Broncos standout Ronnie Hillman.

With starter Montee Ball still nursing a groin injury, Hillman ran the ball for 109 yards and added another 29 yards through the air in Week 8. While he was unable to score a touchdown, he was given the workload needed to be a viable fantasy starter in Week 9 against New England.

The Patriots gave up 168 all-purpose yards to Chicago’s Matt Forte last Sunday and have been susceptible against the run. New England is ranked 25th in the NFL against the rush and have allowed 129.6 yards per game.

Fantasy owners with Hillman must start him in every league, regardless of format.

Another running back option for the flex position in Week 9 is Jacksonville Jaguars star Denard Robinson. The Jaguars are using Robinson as a traditional running back, but the speedy player offers so much versatility.

In his two weeks as the team’s primary running back, Robinson has amassed 245 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. While a matchup against Cincinnati will be tough, fantasy owners should ride with Robinson after back-to-back 100-plus yard days.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	22 Points
2	Dez Bryant, DAL	22 Points
3	Antonio Brown, PIT	20 Points
4	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	20 Points
5	T.Y. Hilton, IND	19 Points
6	Keenan Allen, SD	18 Points
7	Andre Johnson, HOU	18 Points
8	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	17 Points
9	Vincent Jackson, TB	17 Points
10	Mike Wallace, MIA	16 Points
11	Steve Smith, BAL	16 Points
12	Brandin Cooks, NO	15 Points
13	A.J. Green, CIN	15 Points
14	Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN	14 Points
15	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	14 Points
16	Brandon LaFell, NE	14 Points
17	Julian Edelman, NE	13 Points
18	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	12 Points
19	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	12 Points
20	Michael Floyd, ARI	11 Points
21	Odell Beckham, NYG	10 Points
22	Doug Baldwin, SEA	10 Points
23	DeSean Jackson, WAS	9 Points
24	Martavis Bryant, PIT	8 Points
25	Rueben Randle, NYG	8 Points
26	Percy Harvin, NYJ	8 Points
27	Dwayne Bowe, KC	7 Points
28	Torrey Smith, BAL	6 Points
29	Pierre Garcon, WAS	6 Points
30	Reggie Wayne, IND	5 Points
31	Mohamed Sanu, CIN	5 Points
32	Michael Crabtree, SF	5 Points
33	James Jones, OAK	5 Points
34	Mike Evans, TB	5 Points
35	Eric Decker, NYJ	5 Points

It’s been a long time coming, but Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson finally had a big day for his fantasy owners. While six receptions for 86 yards and zero touchdowns doesn’t look like an impressive stat line, it was Patterson’s biggest day of the year and a promising sign for the future.

Patterson did suffer a foot injury during the game, according to Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, but his matchup against the Washington Redskins should have fantasy owners taking the educated risk and starting him as a flex.

If you have been burnt by Patterson too many times this season and don’t want to make the same mistake again, New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell would be a viable flex option in Week 9 as well.

After racking up an impressive 11 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, LaFell looks to be Tom Brady’s top target down the field. With New England likely getting involved in a shootout against Denver, fantasy owners should look for Brady to target LaFell early and often.

It will be tough to match the numbers he amassed last week, but LaFell should be picked up off the waiver wire if available and started as a flex in all standard-scoring leagues.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	18 Points
2	Julius Thomas, DEN	18 Points
3	Jimmy Graham, NO	14 Points
4	Antonio Gates, SD	14 Points
5	Martellus Bennett, CHI	13 Points
6	Greg Olsen, CAR	12 Points
7	Dwayne Allen, IND	12 Points
8	Larry Donnell, NYG	11 Points
9	Jordan Cameron, CLE	10 Points
10	Jason Witten, DAL	10 Points
11	Vernon Davis, SF	9 Points
12	Travis Kelce, KC	8 Points

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is one of the most physically dominant players in the NFL, and fantasy owners who took the educated risk drafting him despite his injuries last season have been rewarded.

In Week 8, Gronkowski caught nine passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns. He now has seven touchdowns in eight games and has been targeted at least nine times in each of the last four games.

With quarterback Tom Brady taking the talk of New England’s demise and turning it into on-field success, Gronkowski and his fantasy owners have been the biggest beneficiaries. The Patriots square off against Denver in Week 9, and the potential shootout should result in another big game for Gronk.

Team Defenses

Rank	Team	Opponent	Projection
1	Seattle Seahawks	Oakland	16 Points
2	Cleveland Browns	Tampa Bay	16 Points
3	Cincinnati Bengals	Jacksonville	14 Points
4	San Francisco 49ers	St. Louis	14 Points
5	Philadelphia Eagles	Houston	14 Points
6	Arizona Cardinals	Dallas	12 Points
7	Kansas City Chiefs	New York Jets	12 Points
8	San Diego Chargers	Miami	12 Points
9	Baltimore Ravens	Pittsburgh	10 Points
10	Washington Redskins	Minnesota	10 Points
11	St. Louis Rams	San Francisco	10 Points
12	Minnesota Vikings	Washington	8 Points

The Cincinnati Bengals defense was regarded as one of the best in the league coming into this season, but the unit has struggled recently, allowing 131 points over the four weeks since the team’s bye.

Cincinnati’s defense looked much better against Baltimore in Week 8, but the ultimate remedy for the defensive issues is a matchup this Sunday against Jacksonville. The Jaguars turn the ball over early and often, and fantasy owners with the Bengals defense will benefit from rookie quarterback Blake Bortles’ struggles.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	14 Points
2	Justin Tucker, BAL	14 Points
3	Cody Parkey, PHI	13 Points
4	Chandler Catanzaro, ARI	12 Points
5	Phil Dawson, SF	12 Points
6	Cairo Santos, KC	11 Points
7	Dan Bailey, DAL	10 Points
8	Shaun Suisham, PIT	9 Points
9	Nick Novak, SD	8 Points
10	Nick Folk, NYJ	7 Points
11	Adam Vinatieri, IND	6 Points
12	Brandon McManus, DEN	6 Points

One of the most entertaining kickers in the NFL is Baltimore Ravens third-year star Justin Tucker. With a youthful exuberance and unwavering reliability, Tucker has kicked his way into our fantasy hearts.

Tucker has made 18 of his 21 field-goal attempts this season (including two 50-plus yard kicks in Week 8) and has made all 21 of his extra points. With a matchup against Pittsburgh on the schedule, there will be ample opportunities for Baltimore to get into field-goal range.

Start Tucker with confidence.

*Stats via NFL.com.