Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings with Each Position's Flex and PPR Projections

Fantasy managers are heading into a pivotal Week 9 slate that could determine where they stand for the all-important playoff push. While maintaining playoff positioning is hard enough, trying to chase one with a losing record is extremely challenging.

In other words, now is not the time to make mistakes with those lineup decisions.

Here, you'll find updated point-per-reception (PPR) rankings and a brief overview for all three flex positions. As a reminder, the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on bye this week.

Running Back

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants

Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears

There are no real surprises at the top of the running back rankings this week. Indianapolis Colts standout Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL with an average of 27.1 points per week in PPR leagues, and he's unlikely to disappoint against a middling Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Christian McCaffrey and Kahmyr Gibbs should also maintain their pace as top high-volume backs this week.

Managers looking for a matchup-based sleeper play should be high on Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai. He and the Bears are set to visit the Cincinnati Bengals, who have surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. With Roschon Johnson and D'Andre Swift both out, Monangai is likely to lead the backfield.

Monangai is available in over 60 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

The Los Angeles Rams represent a poor matchup for Alvin Kamara, who is a viable flex option based on volume alone. Managers with other options should consider him, though, he's hard to sit in a week with several good backs on bye.

Zonovan Knight is another solid waiver-wire target to consider, given his matchup with the Dallas Cowboys—who have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. Knight is rostered in 55 percent of ESPN leagues but only 45 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/John Froschauer

Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
2. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
5. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
6. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
7. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
8. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
9. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
10. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
11. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
12. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
13. DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
14. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
15. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
16. Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
17. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
18. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
19. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
20. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
21. Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
22. Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants
23. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
24. Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
25. Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
26. Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
27. Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
28. Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
29. Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
30. Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba ranks third among receivers with an average of 22.1 fantasy points per week. He has a good chance to surpass that average this week against a Washington Commanders team that has surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts.

While Smith-Njigba looks like the most "can't-miss" play of the week, Puka Nacua might be the most important. He ranks second with an average of 23.1 fantasy points per week—and first among receivers with three or more starts—and he's ready to make his return.

Nacua missed Week 7 with an ankle injury, and the Rams were on bye in Week 8. Now, he'll be back to face the New Orleans Saints.

"It feels like it's been too long for sure, but it felt great to be back out there," Nacua said after practicing on Thursday, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop.

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice leads the league in fantasy points per game, though he's only made two starts this season. He'll make his third in a potential track meet with the Buffalo Bills and is again a top-tier start.

Managers looking for a waiver-wire pickup should target Kayshon Boutte. The New England Patriots' rising star has a tough matchup with the Atlanta Falcons but has averaged 12 fantasy points per week. He's also still available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Tight End

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.,File

Raiders TE Brock Bowers

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
2. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
3. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
4. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
5. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
6. Oronde Gradsden II, Los Angeles Chargers
7. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
8. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
9. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
10. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
11. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
12. Theo Johnson, New York Giants

The usual suspects top the TE rankings this week, as Trey McBride, Tyler Warren and Tucker Kraft are all must-starts. The big news this week, though, is that Las Vegas Raiders star Brock Bowers is set to return from his knee injury.

"He's back," Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said, per ESPN's Ryan McFadden.

Managers can thrust Bowers back into their starting lineups, but they should temper expectations a bit. He hasn't played since Week 4, and he's averaged a good-not-great 10.9 fantasy points per week this season.

The Raiders played Bowers through the early stages of his injury, so we'll see how much of a factor that was. He'll face a middle-of-the-road Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has surrendered the 14th-most fantasy points to opposing TEs.

The Cincinnati Bengals have surrendered the most fantasy points to tight ends, which makes Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland a decent sleeper play this week. Loveland has yet to flourish in Chicago's offense, but with Cole Kmet nursing a back injury, he may get his chance in Week 9.

Loveland is available in over 70 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.