Fantasy Football WR Rankings Week 9: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver

Nick Musial

Fantasy Football WR Rankings Week 9: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver image

Several of the league's most prominent wide receivers helped fantasy football owners end last week in the win column, as CeeDee Lamb, DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Brown, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tyreek Hill showed out in a crucial week. While the position's biggest names don't always end the week atop the fantasy scoring leaders, it was a nice change to see some of the position's most talented players get theirs. 

As we near the home stretch of the fantasy football regular season, our Week 9 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues attempt to help keep your lineup competitive in a week that sees numerous fantasy-relevant WRs on bye and a few more on the injury report.

Let's break down fantasy's deepest position and help you find some sleepers and potential streamers if your lineup needs an upgrade.

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Which WRs are on bye in Week 9?

As mentioned, a handful of starting-caliber WRs are idle in Week 9, most notably Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton, and Jerry Jeudy.

WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Thankfully, we don't have too many WR injuries to deal with, and despite four teams on bye, fantasy owners should have ample replacement options to pivot toward.

WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Who are the best fantasy WRs in Week 9?

After a "down" performance in the Dolphins' Week 7 loss to the Eagles, Tyreek Hill (vs. Chiefs in Week 9) rebounded with another 100-yard, one-TD effort in Week 8. He'll now face his former squad in what should be a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair in Germany.

A.J. Brown (vs. Cowboys) was unguardable in the Eagles' come-from-behind victory over the Commanders, totaling 125-plus receiving yards for a sixth-straight game. Stefon Diggs (@ Bengals) and Ja'Marr Chase (vs. Bills) go head-to-head on Sunday night, and both WRs should see plenty of work in a potential high-scoring affair in prime time.

Although Davante Adams (vs. Giants) hasn't produced at the level his fantasy owners expected, he's still seeing a heavy dosage of targets and could translate those into a vintage performance. Ditto for Cooper Kupp (@ Packers), who should be able to consistently create separation against an underperforming Packers' coverage unit.

The Eagles will try to do everything in their power to contain CeeDee Lamb (@ Eagles), but Lamb's amid his best stretch of the season, logging over 115 yards in each of the Cowboys' past two games.

WEEK 9 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start 'em, sit 'em

Who are the best fantasy WR sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 9?

This week's must-have waiver wire adds include Rashid Shaheed (vs. Bears), Jahan Dotson (@ Patriots), Brandin Cooks (@ Eagles), and Jayden Reed (vs. Rams). 

Shaheed's big-play ability makes him an enticing play in standard scoring formats, as his strong rapport with QB Derek Carr resulted in the second-year wideout averaging over 20 yards per catch. He's routinely a boom-or-bust play, but against a lackluster Bears' coverage unit, a "boom" type of fantasy day could be in store.

While Dotson is more appealing in PPR formats, he's seen at least eight targets in back-to-back games, and his high snap share means we shouldn't see too hefty of a deviation in the coming weeks. 

Cooks is hitting his stride within the Cowboys offense, and like Shaheed, his ability to stretch defenses vertically gives him plenty of appeal in standard formats.

With the Packers consistently in negative game scripts, Reed's emerged as a trusted option of Jordan Love's. An appealing matchup against a Rams defense that just got shredded by the Cowboys makes him a viable flex play in 12-team formats.

In deeper leagues, Allen Lazard (vs. Chargers), Tank Dell and Noah Brown (vs. Buccaneers), Treylon Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (@ Steelers), and JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas (vs. Commanders) have sleeper appeal in matchups against defenses that entered Week 8 ranking in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points allowed to WRs.

WEEK 9 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks

Who are the biggest potential WR busts in Week 9?

We have a tough time trusting Marquise Brown and Michael Wilson (@ Browns), Christian Watson (vs. Rams), and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (@ Ravens) this week.

Brown and Wilson draw a sound Browns secondary, and despite finding a groove against the Ravens in garbage time last week, it will be a struggle for the Josh Dobbs-led Cardinals to score 17-plus in Week 9.

Watson's been a non-factor for the Packers all season, and with Green Bay's offense failing to operate at an efficient clip, we're leaving Watson on our bench for the time being. 

Smith-Njigba was one of Seattle's heroes in Seattle's come-from-behind victory over the Browns, but outside of his game-winning nine-yard TD catch, he was clearly behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in the pecking order.

What are the biggest WR injuries in Week 9?

We've avoided an onslaught of wide receiver injuries this week, as just four wide receivers -- Drake London (groin), Kendrick Bourne (knee), DeVante Parker (head), and Curtis Samuel (toe) -- left their respective games with injuries in Week 8.

We've taken all four WRs out of our initial Week 9 rankings but will closely monitor their team's Week 9 injury reports to get a feel for their playing statuses.

Deebo Samuel (shoulder), Robert Woods (foot), and Zay Jones (knee) were ruled OUT before kickoff. It was reported last week that Woods will miss two to three weeks, so don't expect him to suit up this Sunday. Samuel and Jones are both on bye this week, so let's hope they're ready for Week 10.

As usual, we'll update these standard WR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy WR Rankings Week 9: Who to start, sit at wide receiver

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring

Rank    Player
1    Tyreek Hill, Dolphins vs. Chiefs
2    A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. Cowboys
3    Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Bengals
4    Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals vs. Bills
5    Davante Adams, Raiders vs. Giants
6    CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys @ Eagles
7    Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins vs. Chiefs
8    Keenan Allen, Chargers @ Jets
9    Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Packers
10    Mike Evans, Buccaneers @ Texans
11    Adam Thielen, Panthers vs. Colts
12    George Pickens, Steelers vs. Titans
13    Chris Olave, Saints vs. Bears
14    DJ Moore, Bears @ Saints
15    DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. Cowboys
16    Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Chargers
17    Jordan Addison, Vikings @ Falcons
18    DeAndre Hopkins, Titans @ Steelers
19    Jakobi Meyers, Raiders vs. Giants
20    DK Metcalf, Seahawks @ Ravens
21    Puka Nacua, Rams @ Packers
22    Amari Cooper, Browns vs. Cardinals
23    Terry McLaurin, Commanders @ Patriots
24    Michael Pittman Jr., Colts @ Panthers
25    Tee Higgins, Bengals vs. Bills
26    Diontae Johnson, Steelers vs. Titans
27    Gabe Davis, Bills @ Bengals
28    Chris Godwin, Buccaneers @ Texans
29    Marquise Brown, Cardinals @ Browns
30    Romeo Doubs, Packers vs. Rams
31    Zay Flowers, Ravens vs. Seahawks
32    Josh Downs, Colts @ Panthers
33    K.J. Osborn, Vikings @ Falcons
34    Tyler Lockett, Seahawks @ Ravens
35    Nico Collins, Texans vs. Buccaneers
36    Michael Thomas, Saints vs. Bears
37    Rashee Rice, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
38    Rashid Shaheed, Saints vs. Bears
39    Christian Watson, Packers vs. Rams
40    Jahan Dotson, Commanders @ Patriots
41    Quentin Johnston, Chargers @ Jets
42    Jayden Reed, Packers vs. Rams
43    Tyler Boyd, Bengals vs. Bills
44    JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots vs. Commanders
45    Treylon Burks, Titans @ Steelers
46    Tank Dell, Texans vs. Buccaneers
47    Brandin Cooks, Cowboys @ Eagles
48    Darnell Mooney, Bears @ Saints
49    Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks @ Ravens
50    Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants @ Raiders
51    Van Jefferson, Falcons vs. Vikings
52    Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens vs. Seahawks
53    DJ Chark, Panthers vs. Colts
54    Elijah Moore, Browns vs. Cardinals
55    Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
56    Demario Douglas, Patriots vs. Commanders
57    Rondale Moore, Cardinals @ Browns
58    Cedrick Wilson, Dolphins vs. Chiefs
59    Michael Gallup, Cowboys @ Eagles
60    Jonathan Mingo, Panthers vs. Colts
61    Derius Davis, Chargers @ Jets
62    Allen Lazard, Jets vs. Chargers
63    Jake Bobo, Seahawks @ Ravens
64    Alec Pierce, Colts @ Panthers
65    Khalil Shakir, Bills @ Bengals
66    Brandon Powell, Vikings @ Falcons
67    Tutu Atwell, Rams @ Packers
68    Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans vs. Falcons
69    Jalen Reagor, Patriots vs. Commanders
70    Jalin Hyatt, Giants @ Raiders
71    Skyy Moore, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
72    Darius Slayton, Giants @ Raiders
73    Jamison Crowder, Commanders @ Patriots

Week 9 WR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week

We're proud to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning projections and rankings every week. To see Draft Sharks' Week 9 3D floor-to-ceiling projections for wide receivers -- plus get access to all of Draft Sharks' industry-leading tools -- become a Draft Sharks' member today at the link below!

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Nick Musial

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Nick Musial is a Content Producer at The Sporting News. He recently joined the team after studying sport management and journalism at the University of Kansas. Nick’s an avid sports bettor who’s always looking for value.