Fantasy Football Week 9: Preview and Predictions

Week 9 of fantasy football is just days away with the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. This article will preview that game, and the rest of Week 9’s games, and make some bold predictions as well.

Cincinnati’s quarterback Andy Dalton sits in the top five this week. His impressive play this season continues, and he has been a top-flight fantasy option throughout the year. There’s no reason to believe that changes on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin continues to creep up the rankings, and he’s now ranked No. 6 among running backs heading into Week 9.

With Ben Roethlisberger back for the Steelers, Antonio Brown is back near the top of the rankings. He sits at No. 2 this week among all wideouts.

Additionally, tight end Ben Watson has done enough over the past two weeks to earn a spot in the top 10 for Week 9. He has become one of Drew Brees’ favorite targets.

This is just a taste of the previews of each position. This slideshow will check in on every position entering Week 9 and will also provide several bold predictions.

QBs: Eli Manning Set for Another Monster Week

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Eli Manning

Tom Brady is now ingrained as the top fantasy quarterback this season, but there are plenty of moving parts behind him. Drew Brees slides up to No. 2 this week in part because of his big Week 8 and in part because of a decent matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Ben Roethlisberger is back in the top 10 as well, but Andrew Luck is barely holding on to his spot in the top 10. Luck is scoring just enough garbage-time points to remain a QB1 play, however.

Eli Manning has one of the best matchups of the week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he finds himself ranked No. 6 this week as a result.

Week 9’s Top 10 QBs

1. Tom Brady (vs. WAS)
2. Drew Brees (vs. TEN)
3. Philip Rivers (vs. CHI)
4. Aaron Rodgers (at CAR)
5. Andy Dalton (vs. CLE)
6. Eli Manning (at TB)
7. Cam Newton (vs. GB)
8. Ben Roethlisberger (vs. OAK)
9. Matt Ryan (at SF)
10. Andrew Luck (vs. DEN)

Breakout QB of the Week: Eli Manning, New York Giants 

In truth, Eli Manning had his breakout game in Week 8—it’s difficult to top a six-touchdown game—but he should follow that up with an impressive encore in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

According to ESPN.com, the Buccaneers have given up the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season. After holding quarterbacks to fewer than 260 passing yards in each of their first four games of the season, the Bucs have given up more than 300 yards to each of the past three quarterbacks they’ve faced—and that includes subpar players such as Blake Bortles and Kirk Cousins. Put Manning in your lineups this week with confidence.

QB Bust of the Week: Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Speaking of Bortles, he’s a leading bust candidate heading into Week 9. He’ll be playing against the New York Jets, who have given up the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks in 2015, per ESPN.com.

And while the Jets were just torched by Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (four touchdowns), they have held every other quarterback they’ve played this season to two or fewer scores (and even kept Tom Brady out of the end zone for three-and-a-half quarters).

RBs: Jeremy Hill Is Back in the Top 10

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Jeremy Hill

Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill has had an up-and-down season (with more downs than ups), but he has at least 15 carries in each of the past two weeks. That’s encouraging, given that he had 12 or fewer carries from Weeks 2-5. Find out why Hill is back in the top 10 this week below.

Also in the top 10: Dion Lewis of the New England Patriots, who came back from injury in style in Week 8. As long as Lewis remains a key part of New England’s passing game, he’ll be a tail-end RB1 option, even in standard leagues.

Week 9’s Top 10 RBs

1. Devonta Freeman (at SF)
2. Todd Gurley (at MIN)
3. Mark Ingram (vs. TEN)
4. Chris Ivory (vs. JAC)
5. Adrian Peterson (vs. STL)
6. Doug Martin (vs. NYG)
7. Lamar Miller (at BUF)
8. Dion Lewis (vs. WAS)
9. Jeremy Hill (vs. CLE)
10. Latavius Murray (at PIT)

Breakout RB of the Week: Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

Jeremy Hill has a respectable five rushing touchdowns this season, but that’s a misleading stat: He has scored those touchdowns in just two games. He also hasn’t rushed for more than 65 yards in any game this season.

So why is he considered the breakout of the week? Because the matchup calls for it.

Hill will face the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football, a team that has given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs so far this season, per ESPN.com. The Browns are the only team to have given up more than 1,000 rushing yards to running backs so far this season as well.

While we’re at it, let’s chalk Giovani Bernard as a breakout candidate as well.

RB Bust of the Week: Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers

Eddie Lacy found the end zone in Week 8—notching his first touchdown since Week 1 in the process—but he still faces an uphill battle in terms of fantasy impact. Lacy carried the ball only 11 times in Week 8 and now has fewer than 15 carries in five of seven games.

Lacy has gone for fewer than 50 yards in five of seven games as well, and he has only scored double-digit fantasy points in one game (Week 1).

The Panthers are a middle-of-the-road team when it comes to facing running backs this season, per ESPN.com, but Lacy is considered a “bust” this week because people may think he’s back on track after scoring—but it’s not that simple. While the touchdown is obviously encouraging, Lacy remains far from a lock.

WRs: Antonio Brown Rises Again

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Antonio Brown

Pittsburgh Steelers star wideout Antonio Brown went through a rough patch earlier this season when Ben Roethlisberger missed time because of injury, forcing Brown to play with Michael Vick and Landry Jones. Brown got back on track in Week 8, catching his first touchdown since Roethlisberger had been injured. He sits at No. 2 on this week’s list, just behind Julio Jones (and just like the start of the season).

Oakland Raiders wideout Amari Cooper continues to impress, and he has also moved into the top 10. Also in the top 10 this week: Dez Bryant, who has been notably absent due to an injury. Bryant was more of a decoy in Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks, but he could be unleashed in Week 9 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Week 9’s Top 10 WRs

1. Julio Jones (at SF)
2. Antonio Brown (vs. OAK)
3. Odell Beckham (at TB)
4. A.J. Green (vs. CLE)
5. Julian Edelman (vs. WAS)
6. Brandon Marshall (vs. JAC)
7. Demaryius Thomas (at IND)
8. Alshon Jeffery (at SD)
9. Dez Bryant (vs. PHI)
10. Amari Cooper (at PIT)

Breakout WR of the Week: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Second-year wideout Mike Evans is no longer a safe bet as a WR1—or even as a WR2—but his ceiling is as high as anyone’s. Look for him to get close to that ceiling in Week 9 against the New York Giants, who just gave up seven passing touchdowns to Drew Brees in Week 8.

According to ESPN.com, wide receivers have scored the fifth-most fantasy points per game when playing against the Saints.

WR Bust of the Week: James Jones, Green Bay Packers

James Jones struggled in Week 8, but then again, so did the entire Green Bay Packers offense, so let’s not read too much into it.

However, there are some other troubling signs for Jones: He now has just five receptions over his past three games combined, and while two of those catches went for a touchdown, that means that virtually all of his fantasy value has been derived from touchdowns. That’s not sustainable.

In Week 9, Jones will face the Carolina Panthers, who are one of the five toughest teams for wideouts to play against this season from a fantasy perspective, according to ESPN.com.

TEs: Charles Clay a Tail-End TE1 This Week

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Charles Clay

Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay has been quiet in recent weeks, but a number of factors indicate he’s set for a big Week 9. There’s more on him below.

Ben Watson has secured a spot in the top 10 this week, as he now has a touchdown in three of the past four games. He has also registered more than 125 yards in two of his past three outings.

Week 9’s Top 10 TEs

1. Rob Gronkowski (vs. WAS)
2. Tyler Eifert (vs. CLE)
3. Greg Olsen (vs. GB)
4. Antonio Gates (vs. CHI)
5. Gary Barnidge (at CIN)
6. Martellus Bennett (at SD)
7. Jordan Reed (at NE)
8. Delanie Walker (at NO)
9. Charles Clay (vs. MIA)
10. Ben Watson (vs. TEN)

Breakout TE of the Week: Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills

Charles Clay’s best game of the season came in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins (his former team), and there’s no reason to think he won’t be leaned on again in Week 9 when the Bills take on the Dolphins again—especially with Tyrod Taylor back under center.

The Miami Dolphins were also just torched by tight end Rob Gronkowski in Week 8, giving up more than 100 yards and a score. Think of Clay as a tail-end TE1 this week.

TE Bust of the Week: Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener caught his second touchdown of the season in Week 8—and put together his second-best game of the season in the process—but he’ll fall back to reality in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, who have only given up 26 receptions and two touchdowns to tight ends all season long.

Fleener is looking at another three-catch, 35-yard day without a score.

Kickers: Blair Walsh a Lock in Week 9

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Blair Walsh

Not much has changed at the top of the kicker rankings, but some of the names toward the bottom—including Robbie Gould and Blair Walsh—continue to shuffle around.

Week 9’s Top 10 Ks 

1. Stephen Gostkowski (vs. WAS)
2. Brandon McManus (at IND)
3. Mason Crosby (at CAR)
4. Matt Bryant (at SF)
5. Josh Brown (at TB)
6. Adam Vinatieri (vs. DEN)
7. Blair Walsh (vs. STL)
8. Josh Lambo (vs. CHI)
9. Dan Bailey (vs. PHI)
10. Robbie Gould (at SD)

Breakout K of the Week: Blair Walsh, Minnesota Vikings

Blair Walsh will square off against the St. Louis Rams in Week 9. The Rams are one of only five teams to have given up double-digit field goal attempts from within 40 yards this season, per ESPN.com. Walsh is a lock for at least a pair of field goals, and he could notch as many as four if the Vikings offense sputters in the red zone.

K Bust of the Week: Dustin Hopkins, Washington Redskins 

It’s rarely a good idea to start a kicker against the New England Patriots this season. According to ESPN.com, kickers are scoring the second-fewest fantasy points per game against the Patriots.

Defense and Special Teams: Fire Up the Falcons D/ST in Week 9

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The Atlanta Falcons jump to the top of the D/ST rankings this week thanks to their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. News broke late Monday night—initially from Kyle McLong of Bay Area Sports Guy—that the 49ers would be benching Colin Kaepernick in favor of Blaine Gabbert.

While Kap has been somewhat of a turnover machine this season, there’s not much faith in Gabbert either. This is one of the best D/ST matchups of the week.

Week 9’s Top 10 D/STs

1. Atlanta Falcons (at SF)
2. New England Patriots (vs. WAS)
3. New York Jets (vs. JAC)
4. St. Louis Rams (at MIN)
5. Denver Broncos (at IND)
6. New York Giants (at TB)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. CLE)
8. Minnesota Vikings (vs. STL)
9. Buffalo Bills (vs. MIA)
10. San Diego Chargers (vs. CHI)

Breakout D/ST of the Week: Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons will be facing the Blaine Gabbert-led San Francisco 49ers. The Falcons were unable to force rookie quarterback Jameis Winston into making a mistake in Week 8, but Winston has actually had three straight games without a turnover now. Gabbert, on the other hand, will be good for at least two interceptions and a handful of sacks.

D/ST Bust of the Week: Cleveland Browns 

The Cleveland Browns will be playing on Thursday Night Football against one of the best offenses in the league in the Cincinnati Bengals. According to ESPN.com, D/ST units have scored the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game when facing the Bengals this season (only 3.4 points per game).

Bold Predictions: DeMarco Murray Goes off Against the Cowboys

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

DeMarco Murray

Below are five bold predictions for Week 9 of the fantasy football season.

• Kirk Cousins throws for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns. Cousins will be playing against the New England Patriots, who have given up an average of more than 300 passing yards per game and just under two scores per game over the last three weeks. Of course, most of that damage comes in garbage time, but it doesn’t matter when the points are scored in fantasy. Speaking of the Redskins…

• DeSean Jackson goes for more than 100 yards and scores. According to the Washington Post, Washington Redskins wideout DeSean Jackson is ready to play in Week 9 against the New England Patriots. Look for the Patriots to focus on stopping tight end Jordan Reed—opening the door for Jackson to have a big game.

• DeMarco Murray scores two touchdowns. He’ll be playing against his former team in the Dallas Cowboys, who have given up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs so far this season, according to ESPN.com. While Murray was held to just two yards on 13 carries matchup with the Cowboys (in Week 2), look for him to find the end zone a couple of times in Week 9.

• Devonta Freeman goes for over 150 rushing yards, scores three touchdowns. Week 9 has the makings of a huge week for Freeman, as his Atlanta Falcons take on the San Francisco 49ers, who have given up the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season, per ESPN.com. And with Blaine Gabbert now under center for the 49ers, Freeman could be looking at a few extra scoring opportunities because of turnovers.

• Austin Seferian-Jenkins scores two touchdowns in his return to action. This bold prediction rests on the assumption that Seferian-Jenkins does indeed play, but if he does play, he has a strong matchup. His Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be playing against the New York Giants, who have given up the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends so far this season, per ESPN.com.

The rankings provided throughout this article are the author's own preliminary Week 9 rankings. His rankings are updated throughout the week at FantasyPros.com.