Six teams are on bye this week, resulting in an extensive shuffle to the Week 9 fantasy WR PPR rankings. The top of our rankings look pretty familiar, but it might be a bit jarring to see Tee Higgins (vs. Panthers in Week 9) in the top five and Chris Olave (vs. Ravens) in the top 10. More important, though, is further down the list where the sleepers and potential waiver-wire streamers live.
With the Browns, Steelers, Giants, 49ers, Broncos, and Cowboys on bye, we're down at least six sure starters and several other WR3/flex types. We also have some key injuries (more on them later) that are further thinning out our rankings and forcing us to dig deep.
Because of the lack of depth, a few guys who are usually on the start-or-sit bubble, like Adam Thielen (@ Commanders in Week 9) and Robert Woods (@ Chiefs), are virtual must-starts thanks to favorable matchups. Moreover, plenty of other bubble guys, like Josh Palmer (@ Falcons), Devin Duvernay (@ Saints), Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardman (vs. Titans), Romeo Doubs (@ Lions), Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool (vs. Dolphins), and Zay Jones (vs. Raiders), are in great spots against defenses in the top 10 in fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to WRs. Palmer, Duvernay, and Doubs should all see more targets than usual with Mike Williams (ankle), Rashod Bateman (foot), and Allen Lazard (shoulder) hurting, which raises their floors in PPR leagues.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Cooper Kupp (ankle), Michael Thomas (foot), Ja'Marr Chase (hip), and Jahan Dotson (hamstring) are more injuries we need to monitor. Chase and Thomas are almost certainly out, while Dotson (vs. Vikings) will be a boom-or-bust flex even if he's active. Fortunately, one potential sleeper might be returning from injury, as Treylon Burks (foot) is eligible to come off the IR this week. With a favorable matchup against Kansas City, Burks can go right into fantasy lineups.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
If you're in a deep league, you could also consider Demarcus Robinson (@ Saints), DeAndre Carter (@ Falcons), K.J. Osborn (@ Commanders), Marvin Jones Jr. (vs. Raiders), Kadarius Toney (vs. Titans), Tre'Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway (vs. Ravens), Sammy Watkins (@ Lions), Dante Pettis (vs. Dolphins), and even Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (@ Chiefs) if Burks is out. Robinson is your "safest" PPR play (assuming Bateman is out), but both Jones Jr. and Watkins could see a fair number of targets, too. Obviously, you don't want to be starting any of these players (with the possible exception of Robinson), but you might have to. At least they have highly favorable matchups.
WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
There aren't many WRs you "have" to avoid this week. Guys like Jakobi Meyers (vs. Colts), Michael Pittman Jr. (@ Patriots), and D.J. Moore (@ Bengals) get steady targets, so they have solid floors in PPR leagues. Maybe you keep Garrett Wilson (vs. Bills), Parris Campbell and Alec Pierce (vs. Colts), Hunter Renfrow (@ Jaguars), and Isaiah McKenzie (@ Jets) on your bench because of their tough matchups and general inconsistencies, but none are completely off-limits.
WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Targets are key in a week like this, especially in PPR leagues. If you're a big underdog, you might opt for a boom-or-bust big-play guy and hope for a long TD, but if you're projected to be in a close matchup, playing it safe isn't a bad idea.
WEEK 9 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Note: We'll be updating these WR PPR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes.
Week 9 fantasy WR PPR rankings
These rankings are for full-point PPR leagues
Rank Player
1 Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Buccaneers
2 Justin Jefferson, Vikings @ Commanders
3 Davante Adams, Raiders @ Jaguars
4 Tee Higgins, Bengals vs. Panthers
5 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Bears
6 A.J. Brown, Eagles @ Texans
7 Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Jets
8 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins @ Bears
9 Chris Olave, Saints vs. Ravens
10 DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
11 Mike Evans, Buccaneers vs. Rams
12 Christian Kirk, Jaguars vs. Raiders
13 Tyler Lockett, Seahawks @ Cardinals
14 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions vs. Packers
15 Tyler Boyd, Bengals vs. Panthers
16 Chris Godwin, Buccaneers vs. Rams
17 JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs vs. Titans
18 Allen Lazard, Packers @ Lions
19 Joshua Palmer, Chargers @ Falcons
20 Gabriel Davis, Bills @ Jets
21 Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. Vikings
22 DK Metcalf, Seahawks @ Cardinals
23 Jakobi Meyers, Patriots vs. Colts
24 Curtis Samuel, Commanders vs. Vikings
25 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts @ Patriots
26 Adam Thielen, Vikings @ Commanders
27 D.J. Moore, Panthers @ Bengals
28 DeVonta Smith, Eagles @ Texans
29 Zay Jones, Jaguars vs. Raiders
30 Robert Woods, Titans @ Chiefs
31 Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Lions
32 DeAndre Carter, Chargers @ Falcons
33 Darnell Mooney, Bears vs. Dolphins
34 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Titans
35 Devin Duvernay, Ravens @ Saints
36 Rondale Moore, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
37 Demarcus Robinson, Ravens @ Saints
38 Drake London, Falcons vs. Chargers
39 Allen Robinson II, Rams @ Buccaneers
40 Hunter Renfrow, Raiders @ Jaguars
41 Parris Campbell, Colts @ Patriots
42 Chase Claypool, Bears vs. Dolphins
43 Mecole Hardman, Chiefs vs. Titans
44 Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Bills
45 Alec Pierce, Colts @ Patriots
46 Mack Hollins, Raiders @ Jaguars
47 Tre'Quan Smith, Saints vs. Ravens
48 Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans @ Chiefs
49 Kalif Raymond, Lions vs. Packers
50 Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers @ Bengals
51 Isaiah McKenzie, Bills @ Jets
52 Marvin Jones Jr., Jaguars vs. Raiders
53 Chris Moore, Texans vs. Eagles
54 Phillip Dorsett, Texans vs. Eagles
55 K.J. Osborn, Vikings @ Commanders
56 Julio Jones, Buccaneers vs. Rams
57 Marquez Callaway, Saints vs. Ravens
58 Kadarius Toney, Chiefs vs. Titans
59 Dante Pettis, Bears vs. Dolphins
60 Sammy Watkins, Packers @ Lions
61 Van Jefferson, Rams @ Buccaneers
62 Velus Jones Jr., Bears vs. Dolphins
63 Robbie Anderson, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
64 Damiere Byrd, Falcons vs. Chargers
65 Olamide Zaccheaus, Falcons vs. Chargers
66 Trent Sherfield, Dolphins @ Bears
67 Quez Watkins, Eagles @ Texans
68 A.J. Green, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
69 Tyquan Thornton, Patriots vs. Colts
70 Elijah Moore, Jets vs. Bills
Week 9 WR PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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