Thursday night's Titans-Steelers game wasn't the prettiest, but most of the key fantasy football contributors (minus George Pickens) came through with decent games. If you're facing Diontae Johnson, Najee Harris, or Derrick Henry, you're looking at a (manageable) deficit heading into Week 9's Sunday action.
The byes are back in a big way (Lions, 49ers, Jaguars, and Broncos), but the key "questionable" players are kept to a minimum. We pretty much know that Joe Mixon, Puka Nacua, and Josh Downs are going to suit up (and Kyler Murray won't), so Matthew Stafford is the biggest question mark. Unfortunately, several key players have already been ruled OUT, including Justin Fields, Emari Demercado, Dameon Pierce, Drake London, Darren Waller, and Curtis Samuel, but QBs Deshaun Watson and Daniel Jones are both set to return.
We'll be here to help all morning, reacting to injury news, monitoring the active/inactive lists for any surprises, watching the weather, and providing start 'em, sit 'em advice based on all the latest developments.
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Fantasy football live news for NFL Week 9
Live updates will begin at 9 a.m. ET.
Injury updates for NFL Week 9
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Matthew Stafford (thumb) is "unlikely to start" on Sunday against Green Bay, but a final decision won't be made until after pre-game warmups. Brett Rypien is expected to start, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Josh Downs (knee) is "tracking to play" vs. Carolina. A final decision will be made after pre-game warmups.
Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz reported late Saturday night that Michael Wilson (shoulder) is not expected to play vs. Cleveland. Rondale Moore figures to benefit the most, but it's tough to trust any Cardinals' pass-catchers with Clayton Tune under center against one of the NFL's top defenses.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that DJ Chark (elbow) is expected to play against Indianapolis. Despite a decent matchup, Chark is only an option in the deepest of leagues.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Puka Nacua (knee) is expected to play Green Bay. Start him as you usually would, but lower your expectations with Brett Rypien expected to start.
UPDATE (8:30 a.m. ET): NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported early Sunday morning that Cowboys' OT Tyron Smith (neck) is expected to play against the Eagles. That would be a big boost for Dallas' running games.
UPDATE (11:17 a.m. ET): ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that Brett Rypien will start for the Rams and Matthew Stafford will be inactive.
OFFICIAL NOTABLE EARLY ACTIVES (11:35 a.m. ET): Puka Nacua
OFFICIAL NOTABLE EARLY INACTIVES (11:35 a.m. ET): Matthew Stafford, Emari Demercado, Dameon Pierce, DeVante Parker, Curtis Samuel, Michael Wilson, Drake London, Justin Fields
WEEK 9 INJURY UPDATES: QBs | WRs | Mixon
Playing time updates for NFL Week 9
With Dameon Pierce (ankle) out, Devin Singletary should start and see the majority of RB touches for Houston. Mike Boone will also be involved, but Singletary has legit flex value against Tampa. The Bucs have been one of the best fantasy defenses against RBs (tied for fourth-fewest FPPG allowed), so it's tough to get too excited about Singletary, but he's worth starting in 12-team leagues.
No Emari Demercado (toe) means Keaontay Ingram should handle the bulk of the RB touches for Arizona. Going against Cleveland's seventh-ranked run defense with Clayton Tune under center will limit Ingram, but he can be a volume-based flex in deep leagues. Tony Jones Jr. will also get some touches.
Rookie Quentin Johnston could be headed for a breakout game with Josh Palmer (knee) out. Johnston had a season-high five catches for 50 yards last week, and he'll be relied on more this week. The matchup against the Jets isn't ideal, but there's some boom-or-bust flex upside with Johnston.
Daniel Bellinger is a viable streaming candidate this week against the Raiders (and next week against the Cowboys). Darren Waller (hamstring) is out at least four games, so Bellinger should see steady targets from Daniel Jones.
Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have lower floors with Brett Rypien under center, but both are still must-starts in 12-team leagues.
No Curtis Samuel (toe) should result in more targets for Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and maybe even Logan Thomas, but Jamison Crowder is another sneaky option in deep leagues/DFS who could benefit from Samuel being out.
With Kendrick Bourne (knee) on IR and DeVante Parker (concussion) out this week, look for Demario Douglas and JuJu Smith-Schuster to see more targets. Douglas has been the much more active receiver over the past two games, but Smith-Schuster scored last week. Both have flex value against Washington's leaky pass defense.
Weather updates for NFL Week 9
For a full breakdown of all of the Week 9 weather worries, click here.
You're not going to find a better weather forecast for the first weekend in November than this one. No precipitation, very mild winds, temps close to at least 50 degrees everywhere -- what more could you ask for? It helps that there are five games indoors (including the Dolphins-Chiefs in German), and we're somehow dodging bad weather in Green Bay, Cleveland, and elsewhere in the Midwest and Northeast. Enjoy the weather break!
Who should I start in fantasy football today?
Advice based on 12-team, half-point PPR leagues
The recommendations below are from Vinnie Iyer's Week 9 start 'em, sit 'em column.
Must-starts
QB: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. MIA in Frankfurt), Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (vs. KC in Frankfurt), Jalen Hurts, Eagles (vs. DAL), Joe Burrow, Bengals (vs. BUF), Josh Allen, Bills (at CIN), Lamar Jackson, Ravens (vs. SEA), Justin Herbert, Chargers (at NYJ)
RB: Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. CHI), Saquon Barkley, Giants (at LV), Jonathan Taylor, Colts (at CAR), Breece Hall, Jets (vs. LAC), Austin Ekeler, Chargers (at NYJ), Josh Jacobs, Raiders (vs. NYG), Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. MIN), Derrick Henry, Titans (at PIT), Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (vs. KC in Frankfurt), Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. BUF), Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (vs. MIA in Frankfurt), D'Andre Swift, Eagles (vs. DAL), Kenneth Walker, Seahawks (at BAL), Tony Pollard, Cowboys (at PHI), James Cook, Bills (at CIN), Gus Edwards, Ravens (vs. SEA)
WR: Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs. KC in Frankfurt), A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. DAL), Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. BUF), CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (at PHI), Stefon Diggs, Bills (at CIN), Chris Olave, Saints (vs. CHI), Adam Thielen, Panthers (vs. IND), Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. LAC), Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. CHI), Mike Evans, Buccaneers (at HOU), Cooper Kupp, Rams (at GB), Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. KC in Frankfurt), DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. DAL), Davante Adams, Raiders (vs. NYG), Puka Nacua, Rams (at GB), DJ Moore, Bears (at NO), Nico Collins, Texans (vs. TB), Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs. SEA), Michael Pittman Jr, Colts (at CAR), DeAndre Hopkins, Titans (at PIT), DK Metcalf, Seahawks (at BAL), Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. PHI), Tee Higgins, Bengals (vs. BUF), Gabe Davis, Bills (at CIN), Amari Cooper, Browns (vs. ARI), Diontae Johnson, Steelers (vs. TEN)
TE: Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. MIA in Frankfurt), Mark Andrews, Ravens (vs. SEA), T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (at ATL), Taysom Hill, Saints (vs. CHI), Dalton Kincaid, Bills (at CIN), Dallas Goedert, Eagles (vs, DAL)
D/ST: Browns (vs. ARI), Steelers (vs. TEN), Saints (vs. CHI), Ravens (vs. SEA), Chargers (at NYJ), Falcons (vs. MIN), Packers (vs. LAR)
Smart sits
QB: Baker Mayfield (at HOU), Daniel Jones (at LV), Geno Smith (at BAL), Jordan Love (vs. LAR), Deshaun Watson (vs. ARI)
RB: Alexander Mattison (at ATL), D'Onta Foreman (at NO), Keaontay Ingram (at CLE), Jerome Ford (vs. ARI), Royce Freeman (vs. GB)
WR: Marquise Brown (at CLE), Michael Thomas (vs. CHI), Christian Watson (vs. LAR), Romeo Doubs (vs. LAR), Tank Dell (vs. TB), Brandin Cooks (at PHI)
TE: Luke Musgrave (vs. LAR), Michael Mayer (vs. NYG), Cole Kmet (at NO), Hunter Henry (vs. WAS)
D/ST: Eagles (vs. DAL), Cowboys (at PHI), Jets (vs. LAC), Bills (at CIN), Commanders (at Patriots)
Read more coverage from Sporting News' team of fantasy football experts, including Week 9 rankings for PPR and standard formats, sleepers, busts, DFS picks, and other projections below.
WEEK 9 FANTASY ADVICE: Sleepers | Busts
WEEK 9 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
WEEK 9 TOOLS: RotoBaller "Who To Start?" tool | Draft Sharks' Week 9 projections
Fantasy football rankings Week 9
Below are Sporting News' updated fantasy football rankings for Week 9. Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring.
Quarterback
Rank Player
1 Josh Allen, Bills @ Bengals
2 Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
3 Lamar Jackson, Ravens vs. Seahawks
4 Jalen Hurts, Eagles vs. Cowboys
5 Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins vs. Chiefs
6 Dak Prescott, Cowboys @ Eagles
7 Joe Burrow, Bengals vs. Bills
8 Justin Herbert, Chargers @ Jets
9 Derek Carr, Saints vs. Bears
10 Sam Howell, Commanders @ Patriots
Running back
Rank Player
1 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Jets
2 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Chiefs
3 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Bears
4 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Ravens
5 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Chargers
6 Bijan Robinson, Falcons vs. Vikings
7 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Giants
8 D'Andre Swift, Eagles vs. Cowboys
9 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Eagles
10 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Raiders
11 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Panthers
12 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
13 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Steelers
14 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Commanders
15 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Colts
16 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Seahawks
17 James Cook, Bills @ Bengals
18 Darrell Henderson, Rams @ Packers
19 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Bills
20 Zack Moss, Colts @ Panthers
Wide receiver
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 CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys @ Eagles
6 Davante Adams, Raiders vs. Giants
7 Keenan Allen, Chargers @ Jets
8 Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Packers
9 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins vs. Chiefs
10 Adam Thielen, Panthers vs. Colts
11 Mike Evans, Buccaneers @ Texans
12 George Pickens, Steelers vs. Titans
13 Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Chargers
14 Chris Olave, Saints vs. Bears
15 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts @ Panthers
16 Jordan Addison, Vikings @ Falcons
17 Puka Nacua, Rams @ Packers
18 DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. Cowboys
19 Jakobi Meyers, Raiders vs. Giants
20 Amari Cooper, Browns vs. Cardinals
21 DeAndre Hopkins, Titans @ Steelers
22 DJ Moore, Bears @ Saints
23 Terry McLaurin, Commanders @ Patriots
24 DK Metcalf, Seahawks @ Ravens
25 Diontae Johnson, Steelers vs. Titans
Tight end
Rank Player
1 Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
2 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings @ Falcons
3 Dalton Kincaid, Bills @ Bengals
4 Mark Andrews, Ravens vs. Seahawks
5 Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Cowboys
6 Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Vikings
7 Jake Ferguson, Cowboys @ Eagles
8 Dalton Schultz, Texans vs. Buccaneers
9 Taysom Hill, Saints vs. Bears
10 Luke Musgrave, Packers vs. Rams
Defense/Special teams
Rank Player
1 Cleveland Browns vs. Cardinals
2 New Orleans Saints vs. Bears
3 New England Patriots vs. Commanders
4 New York Jets vs. Chargers
5 Indianapolis Colts @ Panthers
6 Baltimore Ravens vs. Seahawks
7 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Titans
8 Seattle Seahawks @ Ravens
9 Los Angeles Chargers @ Jets
10 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cowboys
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
RBs | WRs | TEs | Kickers
