Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Play or Bench Tips for Fantasy Football Managers

Week 9 will open with Thursday night's matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars. It will culminate with a Monday night showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings. In between will be a 13-game Sunday slate that will test the nerves of many a fantasy football manager.

This season has been wildly unpredictable in the world of fantasy, and things are unlikely to change in Week 9. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans are on bye, but injuries continue to impact most teams.

Here, you'll find some start/sit recommendations for second-tier starters based on recent performances, projected roles, individual matchups, and point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Matthew Stafford

Top Plays

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
4. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Start: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams still aren't looking like the Super Bowl favorites they were touted as heading into the season. However, they have won two in a row and have seen their offense chug along without Davante Adams.

The play of quarterback Matthew Stafford has helped to put L.A. back in the playoff picture, and it should allow the Rams to thrive against the Washington Commanders this week.

Washington has actually been fairly solid against the run this season. However, it has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Other Week 9 starts at QB:

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Sit: Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has been a strong streamer for most of this season. However, his offensive line is banged-up and becoming more of a liability by the week.

As a result, Young has tallied just 18.8 fantasy points over the past two weeks combined.

Things won't get any easier this week against a potent Denver Broncos pass rush. The Broncos have been fairly average against QBs in fantasy (14th-most points allowed), but it's impossible to trust Carolina's O-line here.

Other Week 9 sits:

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Geno Smith, New York Jets

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

Running Back

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Rhamondre Stevenson

Top Plays

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
3. Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
5. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Start: Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are coming off a surprisingly tough win over the rival Miami Dolphins. The game required a second-half comeback, which limited running back Rhamondre Stevenson—though he still finished with 12 fantasy points.

Stevenson should have a much bigger game this week against the visiting Green Bay Packers. Keeping the Packers offense off the field will be a priority, and Stevenson should get a ton of work with TreVeyon Henderson battling an ankle sprain.

The Packers have surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs this season.

Other Week 9 starts:

Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

Sit: Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins

While the Patriots fell behind early in Miami, they did a solid job of limiting budding star back Ollie Gordon II. The Dolphins' new starter rushed for just 69 yards and 3.6 yards per carry.

This week, Miami is likely to test a suspect Detroit Lions pass defense early and often. That doesn't bode well for Gordon, who has just six receptions in seven games.

The Lions have surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs. Gordon should see the bench this week, along with the following backs:

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Melissa Tamez

Matthew Golden

Top Plays

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. Malik Nabers, New England Patriots

Start: Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers will face a pretty solid overall New England Patriots defense this week. However, Green Bay's ground game continues to be stuck in neutral. No. 1 wideout Christian Watson is also dealing with a broken rib and is likely to draw the attention of New England's secondary—which has been average in terms of fantasy limitations.

The Patriots have surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

All of this lays the foundation for a potentially huge day by budding star Matthew Golden, who is coming off a 20.9-point outing.

Other Week 9 starts at WR:

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

Mike Evans, San Francisco 49ers

Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars

Sit: Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers

Panthers receiver Jalen Coker has cooled off considerably in recent weeks. He has failed to reach double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four games and has fallen short of five points in two of those contests.

Carolina's issues along the offensive line won't help Coker against a solid Broncos secondary this week.

The Panthers should lean heavily on their ground game, limiting Coker's ability to generate big plays or record a high volume of targets. Denver has surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs.

Other Week 9 sits:

D.J. Moore, Buffalo Bills

Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

Tight End

AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

T.J. Hockenson

Top Plays

1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
3. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
4. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
5. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

Start: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Quarterback Kyler Murray has not experienced the career renaissance with the Minnesota Vikings that many expected. He has, however, developed a strong rapport with tight end T.J. Hockenson, especially recently.

Hockenson has topped 13 fantasy points in each of his last two outings, and he should reach double digits again this week. The Buffalo Bills have been average against opposing TEs (11 points per game allowed), but they also have an offense that can put up points in bunches.

Even with an elite defense, the Vikings may have to chase points via the pass this week. That puts Hockenson firmly in must-start territory.

Other TEs to trust in Week 9:

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins

Sit: Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

While the Bills may find ways to cut through Minnesota's defense on Monday night, they're unlikely to do it with tight end Dalton Kincaid. The Vikings have a terrific group of safeties and linebackers that have regularly shut down opposing tight ends.

No team has surrendered fewer fantasy points (5.5 per game) to opposing tight ends this season.

Sitting Kincaid will be difficult after last week's 18.6-point outing. Managers with other options at TE, though, should take them.

Other Week 9 sits:

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.