We’re hurtling into Week 9 weekend action in the NFL, and we have a return to the byes. We lose the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers to byes, and if any team needed a rest, it’s the 49ers. The injuries have been brutal for the defending NFC champs.
We won’t have any overseas games this week, but — spoiler alert — we have another one next week.
We have four divisional games on the schedule this week, and the good news is that the weather should be rather nice all across the NFL. However, in one of the more anticipated divisional games between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, the forecast calls for inclement weather. We’ll get temperatures in the low 50s with a 90% chance of rain with winds whipping up at 12-16 mph.
With QB Jordan Love nursing a groin injury, it might be in the team’s best interest in not risk having their franchise quarterback from aggravating his injury on a slippery field, perhaps costing him additional time. If he is out, that affects the fantasy value of the team’s receivers, while perhaps boosting the value of RB Josh Jacobs.
In Week 9, we’ll see another wideout make a team debut, as the Baltimore Ravens traded for WR Diontae Johnson, freeing him from the disaster that is the Carolina Panthers.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 9:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens: Don’t be afraid to start Nix on the road against the Ravens defense. Yes, the Baltimore defense is likely going to be angry after losing on the road against the hapless Cleveland Browns. But, this is a unit which allowed the Browns to score 29 points. Cleveland had scored 18 or fewer points in its previous seven games this season, and QB Jameis Winston went over 300 yards. Nix has been playing well, and he should be able to find plenty of wide-open spaces to generate a healthy amount of yards and fantasy points.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals: No, seriously. Williams is a good start against the Cardinals. The Cardinals allow the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Williams didn’t do anything in last week’s loss at Washington. After the embarrassment of the Hail Mary defeat, expect this Chicago team to come out with some fire in the desert. Arizona can be very giving defensively, and it’s a good spot for a bounce-back game for the Bears.
Sit ‘Em
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears: On the flip side, Murray and the Cardinals have an uphill climb against an angry Bears defense. The only reason Washington Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels went over 300 yards last week against Chicago was the big Hail Mary play at the end. In fact, that was his only touchdown strike against the Bears, too. Chicago allows the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing signal callers. Look for Chicago to lock it down against Murray and the Arizona passing game.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills: It wouldn’t be surprising for Tua to have flashbacks and be a little tentative against the Bills this weekend. His latest concussion came in the first matchup with Buffalo on Thursday Night Football back in Week 2. Prior to his injury, he was just 17 of 25 for 145 yards, one touchdown, and three picks against Buffalo. He returned to the lineup last week against the Arizona Cardinals, completing a season-high 73.7% of his passes for 234 yards, one touchdown, and just one sack. The Bills allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing passers, so it could be another slow go for Tua and the Miami offense.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills: While Tua is expected to struggle in the passing game, Achane should flourish against a Buffalo Bills rush defense that allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing backs. Achane could still get his fair share of catches as a safety valve when his quarterback is under pressure, too. Those little short grabs add up for PPR fantasy managers. With an actual NFL-caliber QB back under center last week, Achane flirted with 100 rushing yards. He had 96 rushing yards on 22 carries in Week 2 against Buffalo, while adding seven grabs for 69 yards and a score.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers: Expect Kamara to go off on the Panthers. The passing attack has been in shambles since QB Derek Carr went down to an oblique injury, and receivers have been falling like flies. The one constant in the Saints offense is Kamara. He’ll face a Carolina rush defense that allows the most fantasy points of any unit. He had 83 rushing yards and a score in the Week 1 rout of the Panthers in NOLA, and he has six rushing touchdowns and seven scores through eight games. It should be another big day for Kamara in Week 9.
Sit ‘Em
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Chargers: Eventually, Chubb is going to get the engine revved up, and get back to form. It won’t be this weekend against the Bolts, however. The Chargers allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing runners. This defense ranks in the top 10 in most defensive categories, and it leads the NFL with just 13.0 points per game allowed. After a surprisingly effective offensive game last week against Baltimore, look for Chubb and the Cleveland offense to take a step back.
Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: The weather conditions are expected to be rather ugly at Lambeau Field, with a light to moderate rain for most of the afternoon. QB Jordan Love is questionable with a groin injury, and if the team elects to sit him out, an offense led by QB Malik Willis, coupled with the ugly weather, could make the Packers rather one-dimensional on offense. The Lions might decide to stack the box, daring Willis to pass. That’s bad news for Jacobs, who also is questionable. Detroit allows the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs, anyway, so this is a poor matchup regardless.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings: It’s hard to believe in 2024, but there were fantasy managers praying head coach Shane Steichen would call on QB Joe Flacco to start. That’s how bad QB Anthony Richardson has been. Pittman jelled nicely with the 39-year-old veteran, catching his only two touchdowns of the season in Weeks 6 and 7 from Flacco. Last week was rock-bottom for Pittman; he had just one grab for 16 yards despite six targets as Richardson misfired on 22 of his 32 pass attempts. With Flacco under center, Pittman should have a lot more catches, and a much better chance of finding the end zone, especially against a Vikings defense that allows the most fantasy points to opposing wideouts.
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Eagles’ passing attack should be very good in Week 9 against a Jaguars team allowing 271.1 passing yards per game, ranking 31st in the NFL. Jacksonville allows the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, too, so it should be a banner day for Smith and his partner WR A.J. Brown. Smith has hit 64 or more receiving yards in five of his six games, but he has yet to record triple digits. Don’t be surprised if he goes over 100 yards in Week 9, and he finds the end zone at least once.
Sit ‘Em
Diontae Johnson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos: The Ravens traded for Johnson this week, and there are a few things working against him. One, the Ravens have Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman already familiar with QB Lamar Jackson and the offense. Two, the Broncos defense is legit against the pass. Johnson might see a few plays designed to get him into the fold, but they’re likely to be short to intermediate routes just to get his feet wet. Don’t expect Johnson to come in and be WR1 like he was in Carolina. Eventually, this will to Baltimore will be a good move for Johnson, just not this week.
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers: FAAB budgets were dented this past week as Tillman shined for seven receptions, 99 yards, and two touchdowns against the Ravens last week. In the past two games, he had 15 receptions for 180 yards with 21 targets. That’s all well and good, and, yes, Tillman is certainly trending up in all fantasy formats. But, the Chargers throw a blanket on everyone, and LA has given up just 838 yards and five touchdowns to opposing wide receivers, allowing the fewest fantasy points in the NFL.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Remember earlier in the season when it was a legitimate question whether you should bench Kelce in fantasy? Those days are in the rear-view mirror. He had season highs with 10 receptions and 90 yards last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he produced his first touchdown. He has seven or more receptions in three of the past four games should have another strong showing against a Bucs defense that has been dinged for the sixth-most fantasy points by opposing tight ends.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs: Otton has emerged as the top receiving option in the Tampa Bay offense since WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down to serious injuries. Otton carved up the Atlanta defense last week for nine receptions, 81 yards, and two scores, and he had 10 targets for the second consecutive game. Now, he faces a Kansas City defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
Sit ‘Em
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans: Henry has had a couple of solid fantasy lines this season, but facing the Titans does him no favors. Tennessee allows the fifth-fewest points to opposing tight ends and just an average of 33.3 yards per game to the position through seven outings. While QB Drake Maye isn’t yet ruled out for Week 9 due to a concussion, the specter of a Jacoby Brissett-led offense for New England also works against Henry’s potential.
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: Kraft has emerged as a solid fantasy option most weeks, but he faces an uphill climb in Week 9. In addition to the weather forecast being rather murky, meaning perhaps more of a ground-based attack, Kraft could see a downgrade at the quarterback position if Jordan Love (knee, questionable) cannot start. Kraft doesn’t have nearly the same familiarity with Willis, and he would be more of a TE2 if the backup officially gets the starting nod.
