Week 9 Fantasy WR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts at wide receiver

Matt Lutovsky

Week 9 Fantasy WR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts at wide receiver image

We feel like Charlie Brown with Lucy and the football every week when we put together our fantasy WR rankings. We keep initially including a bunch of key guys (Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin, Jamison Crowder, Emmanuel Sanders, etc.), only to take them out heading into the weekend. Yes, it's been a tough year for wide receiver injuries, but we have good news (for some) heading into Week 9: Antonio Brown is back.

We say "for some" because if you own the up-and-down Mike Evans or the oft-injured Godwin, Brown's presence figures to only make things more complicated. Fortunately, Tampa has a favorable passing matchup this week against New Orleans, so all three (depending on who's active) are in play. 

WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Now, back to the bad news: Several big-name wide receivers have tough matchups, and while that ultimately doesn't affect the start/sit statuses of studs like Davante Adams (@ 49ers), DeAndre Hopkins (vs. Dolphins), A.J. Brown (@ Bears), D.J. Moore (@ Chiefs), or Robby Anderson (@ Chiefs), it's never something you want to see when you set your lineup. Marquise Brown (@ Colts), Christian Kirk (vs. Dolphins), Emmanuel Sanders (@ Buccaneers), Brandon Aiyuk (vs. Packers), and Darius Slayton/Sterling Shepard (@ Washington) are borderline starters who might fall out of your lineup this week, though Aiyuk is likely a safe play with Deebo Samuel (hamstring) still hurting. (Update: Aiyuk has been placed on the COVID list and won't play in Week 9.)

WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

As always, there are plenty of sleepers who can take their places. Tim Patrick (if healthy) and Jerry Jeudy (@ Falcons), Cole Beasley and John Brown (vs. Seahawks), Mike Williams (vs. Raiders), Chase Claypool (@ Cowboys), Marvin Jones (@ Vikings), Russell Gage (vs. Broncos), and Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb (@ Jaguars) all look good, and the Jaguars WRs (vs. Texans) would also be in good spots if not for the uncertainty surrounding their QB situation. 

WEEK 9 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKingsFanDuel

Going deeper, Allen Lazard (@ 49ers) figures to return this week, but given the matchup, he's not a great play. A couple of last week's big performers, Curtis Samuel (@ Chiefs), Corey Davis (vs. Bears), and Mecole Hardman (vs. Panthers), have tough matchups on paper, though matchups rarely matter for the big-play Hardman. If you want to take a boom-or-bust shot on him, you can. 

WEEK 9 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

Note: Check back all week leading up to kickoff, as we'll continue to update our WR rankings based on the latest news and injuries. 

MORE WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best valuesLineup Builder

Week 9 Fantasy WR Rankings (Standard)

These rankings are for non-PPR leagues.

WEEK 9 FANTASY: Sleepers | BustsStart 'em, sit 'em

Rank Player
1 DK Metcalf, SEA @ BUF
2 Adam Thielen, MIN vs. DET
3 Davante Adams, GB @ SF
4 Stefon Diggs, BUF vs. SEA
5 Keenan Allen, LAC vs. LV
6 Tyreek Hill, KC vs. CAR
7 Julio Jones, ATL vs. DEN
8 DeAndre Hopkins, ARI vs. MIA
9 Allen Robinson, CHI @ TEN
10 Tyler Lockett, SEA @ BUF
11 Chris Godwin, TB @ NO
12 Michael Thomas, NO @ TB
13 Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. NYG
14 Diontae Johnson, PIT @ DAL
15 JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT @ DAL
16 Mike Evans, TB vs. NO
17 Justin Jefferson, MIN vs. DET
18 Robby Anderson, CAR @ KC
19 A.J. Brown, TEN vs. CHI
20 Will Fuller V, HOU @ JAX
21 Marvin Jones, DET @ MIN
22 Mike Williams, LAC vs. LV
23 Tim Patrick, DEN @ ATL
24 Cole Beasley, BUF vs. SEA
25 DJ Chark, JAX vs. HOU
26 D.J. Moore, CAR @ KC
27 Antonio Brown, TB vs. NO
28 Amari Cooper, DAL vs. PIT
29 Chase Claypool, PIT @ DAL
30 Jerry Jeudy, DEN @ ATL
31 CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. PIT
32 Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. NE
33 DeVante Parker, MIA @ ARI
34 Brandin Cooks, HOU @ JAX
35 John Brown, BUF vs. SEA
36 Christian Kirk, ARI vs. MIA
37 Marquise Brown, BAL @ IND
38 Emmanuel Sanders, NO @ TB
39 Darius Slayton, NYG @ WAS
40 Darnell Mooney, CHI @ TEN
41 Sterling Shepard, NYG @ WAS
42 Nelson Agholor, LV @ LAC
43 Russell Gage, ATL vs. DEN
44 Henry Ruggs III, LV @ LAC
45 Corey Davis, TEN vs. CHI
46 N'Keal Harry, NE @ NYJ
47 Marvin Hall, DET @ MIN
48 Laviska Shenault Jr., JAX vs. HOU
49 Randall Cobb, HOU @ JAX
50 Trent Taylor, SF vs. GB
51 Michael Gallup, DAL vs. PIT
52 Keelan Cole, JAX vs. HOU
53 Danny Amendola, DET @ MIN
54 Breshad Perriman, NYJ vs. NE
55 Curtis Samuel, CAR @ KC
56 David Moore, SEA @ BUF
57 Mecole Hardman, KC vs. CAR
58 Preston Williams, MIA @ ARI
59 Larry Fitzgerald, ARI vs. MIA
60 Denzel Mims, NYJ vs. NE
61 Jakobi Meyers, NE @ NYJ
62 Richie James, SF vs. GB
63 Michael Pittman Jr., IND vs. BAL
64 Olamide Zaccheaus, ATL vs. DEN
65 Scotty Miller, TB vs. NO
66 James Washington, PIT @ DAL
67 Zach Pascal, IND vs. BAL
68 Steven Sims, WAS vs. NYG
69 Tre'Quan Smith, NO @ TB
70 Hunter Renfrow, LV @ LAC
71 Marquez Callaway, NO @ TB
72 Damiere Byrd, NE @ NYJ
73 Anthony Miller, CHI @ TEN
74 Jalen Guyton, LAC vs. LV
75 KJ Hamler, DEN @ ATL
76 Demarcus Robinson, KC vs. CAR
77 Gabriel Davis, BUF vs. SEA
78 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB @ SF
79 Bryan Edwards, LV vs. BUF
80 Andy Isabella, ARI vs. MIA
81 Miles Boykin, BAL @ IND
82 Willie Snead, BAL @ IND
83 Jeff Smith, NYJ vs. NE

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.