Week 9 of the fantasy football season has arrived and yet another four-team bye week will create some tough lineup decisions for fantasy owners who are desperate to win and stay in the playoff race. The Eagles, Rams, Browns, and Bengals are all idle, so owners won't have the likes of Joe Burrow, Carson Wentz, Kareem Hunt, Darrell Henderson, Jarvis Landry, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Dallas Goedert, Austin Hooper, and more at their disposal. With injuries taking their toll and depth being tested across fantasy leagues (especially at the RB position), owners are going to have to peruse our Week 9 fantasy rankings to find some worthwhile sleepers, like emerging Bills back Zack Moss and the recently reinstated Antonio Brown.
Fantasy owners will surely question whether Brown is worth starting in his first game in over a year, but with Chris Godwin (finger) questionable and Tom Brady having a rapport with Brown, he's certainly worth considering. So are other solid receivers like Jerry Jeudy (@ Falcons) and Darnell Mooney (@ Titans) as they get more involved in the passing offenses of their respective teams. The same can be said of young RBs Moss (vs. Seahawks) and Damien Harris (@ Jets).
WEEK 9 FANTASY: Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Our sleepers last week had a rough go of it. Those involved in the Browns-Raiders game (Derek Carr, Baker Mayfield, Rashard Higgins) all fell victim to awful weather that made it difficult to move the ball. Beyond that, Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt, Le'Veon Bell didn't play enough to make a big impact against the Jets, and Greg Ward couldn't find the end zone against a porous Cowboys defense.
We did still have some hits, with Leonard Fournette and Dalton Schultz mostly panning out, but in Week 9, we'll look to do better identifying sleepers as we did in previous weeks.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Week 9 Fantasy Sleepers: Running backs
Zack Moss, Bills vs. Seahawks (Jacob Camenker). Moss and Devin Singletary as still splitting touches, but it appears that Moss has officially solidified himself as the goal-line back after rushing for two TDs against the Patriots. The Seahawks have been good against RBs this season, but they have allowed five TDs on the ground. If Moss sees another 15-plus touches and gets goal-line opportunities as he did against the Patriots, he should pay off as a solid RB2.
Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Lions (Vinnie Iyer). Detroit got crushed by multiple Colts backs last week, and it would make sense for Minnesota to ease Dalvin Cook's workload a little and use more of Mattison in what could turn into a blowout.
Damien Harris, Patriots @ Jets (Matt Lutovsky). It never feels good recommending a Patriots back, but Harris has averaged 12.3 carries, 69.8 rushing yards, and scored two total TDs in his four games this year. Perhaps more significant, he’s averaged at least 5.8 yards per carry in three games. The Jets are actually decent against the run (4.1 yards per carry, 116.1 yards per game), but the Pats should lean on Harris and give him plenty of opportunities to continue this breakout.
WEEK 9 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Quarterbacks
Drew Lock, Broncos @ Falcons (Camenker). No team has allowed more passing yardage (2,590) or passing TDs (20) to QBs this season than the Falcons. While their defense is coming off a good performance against Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers, that game came on a short week and in difficult weather (rain/wind). This game will take place indoors in Atlanta. Drew Lock, coming off a 248-yard, three-TD game against the Chargers, should have a chance to rack up solid numbers against a weak Falcons secondary and can be trusted as a streamer and low-budget DFS play.
Matthew Stafford, Lions at Vikings (Iyer). If he gets cleared from the COVID-19 list before Sunday, he should be chucking plenty even without Kenny Golladay (hip) against an awful secondary with limited pressure. If not, deeper leaguers can consider backup Chase Daniel with potential high fill-in volume.
Derek Carr, Raiders @ Chargers (Lutovsky). In the five games prior to Week 8’s windfest in Cleveland, Carr averaged 297.4 passing yards and 2.4 TDs. Expect him to get back on track in ideal conditions in SoFi Stadium against a Chargers defense that’s allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks and just lost stud CB Desmond King.
WEEK 9 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide receivers
Darnell Mooney, Bears @ Titans (Camenker). After endless missed connections between Nick Foles and Mooney, they finally were able to hook up on a 50-yard pass last week against the Saints. Mooney also caught a short TD to put together a really good game as a whole. Now, Mooney and Foles will look to keep their streak going. Luckily, the Titans have allowed the sixth-most FPPG to WRs on the year, so Mooney, who is averaging 6.4 targets per game in his past five outings, will have a chance to catch another long ball.
Jerry Jeudy, Broncos at Falcons (Iyer). He was rather active with Drew Lock playing well in the comeback against the Chargers, and he will be revved up to keep up the Alabama wide receiver tradition strong opposite the equal alliterative Julio Jones.
Antonio Brown, Buccaneers vs. Saints (Lutovsky). It’s anyone’s guess as to how many snaps Brown will play in his first game since Week 2 of last year. It might depend on whether Chris Godwin (finger) is active, but either way, we expect Brown to get loose for some long gains against a Saints defense allowing the ninth-most FPPG to WRs. Brown already has somewhat of a rapport with Tom Brady, and he’s reportedly in great shape, so start him with confidence.
MORE WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Tight ends
Jared Cook, Saints @ Buccaneers (Camenker). Cook has scored in three consecutive games and is taking on a Buccaneers defense that has allowed 50 yards or a TD to a TE in three of their past four games. Cook had a team-high 80 yards against the Bucs in Week 1, so if he can repeat that success and continue his scoring streak, he could end up being a top-10 play this week.
Evan Engram, Giants at Washington (Iyer). It’s hard to throw outside against Washington with its pressure and cornerbacks, so Engram, who had two catches for 30 yards in the first meeting, will build on his good game from Week 8.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Broncos @ Falcons (Lutovsky). Albert O already has five red-zone targets despite playing in just three games this season. He caught his first score last week and had a seven-catch, 60-yard outing the week before. The 6-5 rookie is the perfect complement to Noah Fant, and both can have value this week against a Falcons defense allowing the most FPPG to TEs.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Week 9 Fantasy Sleepers: Defenses
Green Bay Packers @ 49ers (Camenker). The Packers defense just got gashed by the Vikings on the ground, but they will have a much easier matchup in Week 9. The 49ers are going to be without Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Tevin Coleman, and Deebo Samuel on offense. The Packers should be able to make Nick Mullens uncomfortable on a short week and force the QB into some prime-time turnovers.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Dolphins (Iyer). Tua Tagovailoa won’t be playing from ahead this week and can be pressured into big mistakes in his second rookie start.
Houston Texans @ Jaguars (Lutovsky). Jake Luton? Yes, the sixth-round rookie didn’t turn the ball over much at Oregon State, but even the Texans defense should be able to apply enough pressure to cause some mistakes. Jacksonville ranks tied for sixth with 23 sacks allowed, so the floor is high for Houston this week.
