As we roll into Week 9, making the right start 'em sit 'em moves is crucial to your hopes of moving up the regular season standings as the fantasy football playoffs loom. That's especially true at wide receiver, where a decent chunk of the player pool is gone this week thanks to six byes, which shakes up our Week 9 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues.
On top of six teams being on bye (Steelers, Browns, Cowboys, 49ers, Giants, Broncos), injuries continue to mount. Michael Thomas (foot), Allen Lazard (shoulder), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), and Ja’Marr Chase (hip) were the most notable pass-catchers to miss Week 8. Additionally, Rashod Bateman (foot) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) went down mid-game, forcing their respective fantasy owners to monitor the practice reports closely this week.
Bench stashes and waiver-wire streamers are going to be more important than ever this week. Middling options like Robert Woods (@ Chiefs) and Adam Thielen (@ Commanders) are virtual must-starts, and you can't really pivot away from steady target-getters like Jakobi Meyers (vs. Colts), D.J. Moore (@ Bengals), and Michael Pittman Jr. (@ Patriots) despite tough opponents.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fortunately, there are quite a few fill-ins based on matchups. Josh Palmer (@ Falcons), who will be resuming his role as L.A.'s No. 2 receiver with Mike Williams (ankle) out, is an optimal choice against a Falcons' defense allowing the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to WRs, but Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Mecole Hardman (vs. Titans), Devin Duvernay (@ Saints), Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool (vs. Dolphins), Zay Jones (vs. Raiders), and Romeo Doubs (@ Lions) are all available in at least 45 percent of Yahoo leagues and could be difference-makers this week.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
One other potential sleeper to watch in Week 9 is Treylon Burks (@ Chiefs), who's eligible to come off the IR this week. Burks has been battling a sore foot, but if he's back, he's in a good spot and could make an immediate impact.
WEEK 9 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
If deeper leagues, you could try DeAndre Carter (@ Falcons), Marvin Jones Jr. (vs. Raiders), Kadarius Toney (vs. Titans), Demarcus Robinson (@ Saints), Sammy Watkins (@ Lions), Tre'Quan Smith (vs. Ravens), Dante Pettis (vs. Dolphins), K.J. Osborn (@ Commanders), and even Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (@ Chiefs) if Burks is out. All of these receivers are the definition of "boom-or-bust," but in weeks like this, you have to take some chances.
WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
As alluded to above, there aren't many "must-sits" given the depleted depth, but guys like Garrett Wilson (vs. Bills), Alec Pierce and Parris Campbell (@ Patriots), Isaiah McKenzie (@ Jets), and Hunter Renfrow (@ Jaguars) haven't been inspiring much confidence lately anyway. In tough matchups, you don't need to risk it with them, though Wilson will be tough to sit after he put up 100-plus yards on the Pats last week.
WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Ultimately, this is the type of week where you can't be overly choosy. If a receiver is getting "sure" targets, then he's a potential starter. Fortunately, "it only takes one" for a WR to produce, so hope for a TD and regroup with a fuller depth chart next week.
Note: We'll be updating these WR rankings as needed throughout the week, so check back for the latest changes.
Week 9 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues
These rankings are for standard, non-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 A.J. Brown, Eagles @ Texans
6 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Bears
7 Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Jets
8 Chris Olave, Saints vs. Ravens
9 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins @ Bears
10 Mike Evans, Buccaneers vs. Rams
11 DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
12 Christian Kirk, Jaguars vs. Raiders
13 Tyler Lockett, Seahawks @ Cardinals
14 Tyler Boyd, Bengals vs. Panthers
15 JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs vs. Titans
16 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions vs. Packers
17 Allen Lazard, Packers @ Lions
18 Chris Godwin, Buccaneers vs. Rams
19 Gabriel Davis, Bills @ Jets
20 Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs. Vikings
21 DK Metcalf, Seahawks @ Cardinals
22 Joshua Palmer, Chargers @ Falcons
23 Adam Thielen, Vikings @ Commanders
24 Curtis Samuel, Commanders vs. Vikings
25 D.J. Moore, Panthers @ Bengals
26 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts @ Patriots
27 Jakobi Meyers, Patriots vs. Colts
28 DeVonta Smith, Eagles @ Texans
29 Robert Woods, Titans @ Chiefs
30 Zay Jones, Jaguars vs. Raiders
31 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Titans
32 Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Lions
33 DeAndre Carter, Chargers @ Falcons
34 Darnell Mooney, Bears vs. Dolphins
35 Devin Duvernay, Ravens @ Saints
36 Rondale Moore, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
37 Drake London, Falcons vs. Chargers
38 Allen Robinson II, Rams @ Buccaneers
39 Demarcus Robinson, Ravens @ Saints
40 Parris Campbell, Colts @ Patriots
41 Mecole Hardman, Chiefs vs. Titans
42 Chase Claypool, Bears vs. Dolphins.
43 Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Bills
44 Hunter Renfrow, Raiders @ Jaguars
45 Alec Pierce, Colts @ Patriots
46 Tre'Quan Smith, Saints vs. Ravens
47 Kalif Raymond, Lions vs. Packers
48 Isaiah McKenzie, Bills @ Jets
49 Marvin Jones Jr., Jaguars vs. Raiders
50 Mack Hollins, Raiders @ Jaguars
51 Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers @ Bengals
52 Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans @ Chiefs
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 Kadarius Toney, Chiefs vs. Titans
58 Marquez Callaway, Saints vs. Ravens
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 Trent Sherfield, Dolphins @ Bears
66 Quez Watkins, Eagles @ Texans
67 Olamide Zaccheaus, Falcons vs. Chargers
68 A.J. Green, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
69 Tyquan Thornton, Patriots vs. Colts
70 Elijah Moore, Jets vs. Bills
Week 9 WR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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