Week 9 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet for Deep Sleepers Who Could Emerge

Week 9 will kick off with a Thursday night matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. While it's looking like star Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will return for the opener, many fantasy stars will be out of action this week.

Players like Malik Nabers, Tyreek Hill, James Conner and Cam Skattebo are on injured reserve, of course. The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also on bye.

Fortunately, managers looking for short- or long-term help have some intriguing sleeper options to consider this week. Before we dive into the top sleepers and waiver-wire targets of Week 9, though, let's review the top point-per-reception (PPR) flex plays.

Flex Top 40, Week 9

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor

1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
4. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
5. De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
6. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
8. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
9. CeeDee Lamb, WR Dallas Cowboys
10. BIjan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
11. Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
12. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
13. Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys
14. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
15. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
16. Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
17. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
18. Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
19. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
20. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
21. Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams
22. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
23. Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
24. D'Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears
25. DK Metcalf, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
26. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
27. George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
28. Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
29. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
30. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
31. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
32. Jaylen Warren RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
33. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
34. Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
35. Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers
36. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
37. Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants
38. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
39. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
40. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

*PPR scoring

Sleeper Cheat Sheet, Week 9

AP Photo/Matt Freed

Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers

Quarterback

1. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
3. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
5. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

Running Back

1. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
2. Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
4. Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
5. Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Wide Receiver

1. Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
2. Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos
3. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
4. Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans
5. Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Tight End

1. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
2. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
3. AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks
4. Theo Johnson, New York Giants
5. Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers

Deep Sleeper: Zonovan Knight, RB, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Tyrone Tracy Jr. should be the top wire target at running back this week, since he's likely to be the New York Giants' starter following Skattebo's injury. The Arizona Cardinals largely leaned on Zonovan Knight the last time they took the field with Conner out for the year and Trey Benson also sidelined.

Knight logged three receptions and tallied 64 scrimmage yards against the Green Bay Packers in Week 7. If he's again the backfield leader, he should have a much more productive day on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys have surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

While Knight may not have the sort of outing that J.K. Dobbins (121 yards) or RJ Harvey (3 TDs) had against Dallas last week, he's a solid sleeper play this week. He's still available in over 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Deep Sleeper: Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Last Sunday night, Green Bay Packers wideout Christian Watson made his return from last season's torn ACL. While Jordan Love leaned heavily on tight end Tucker Kraft against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was also quick to work Watson back into the game plan.

Watson finished Week 8 with four receptions and 85 receiving yards.

This week's matchup with the Carolina Panthers isn't ideal. Carolina has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and isn't likely to keep the Packers passing throughout the contest—the Panthers offense isn't going to turn things into a track meet.

However, Watson is worth a flier in deeper leagues because of the volume he's likely to see. He's still available in over 80 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.