Week Nine Positional Rankings

Michael Zingone

This past Tuesday had the potential to shake up the (NFL) world as we knew it, but ultimately Trade Deadline Day left fantasy managers with very little to digest in regards to player movement. With the possibility of the trade deadline (if you have one) approaching in your dynasty league, it’s critical to ensure that your quest for a championship via trades is met with the preparation on a weekly basis for start/sit decisions.

One of the most challenging aspects of providing this article each week is the possibility of COVID delays. Hence, I will assume that – as of this writing – all games will be played. That way, I can provide the most information possible for you in case these games do wind up occurring.

In this series, I’ll give you my top 30 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 60 wide receivers, and 30 tight ends each week to help you with your start/sit decisions in your leagues. To generate this list each and every week, I examine team trends, Vegas over/unders, implied points, pace of play, among various other factors to build a projection for each player and subsequently adjust rankings for upside and more detailed matchup specifics.

Among the rankings, there will surely be some that surprise you or that you may disagree with. At the end of each position section, I’ll give you my thoughts on some players that perhaps are ranked higher/lower than you might expect and insights as to why they are a good/bad play this week. Ultimately, these rankings should help your start/sit dilemmas and ensure you have the requisite resources to make an informed decision.

Without further ado, let’s dive into week nine’s positional rankings!

Quarterback

Pos Player Matchup Rank
QB Patrick Mahomes II CAR 1
QB Russell Wilson @BUF 2
QB Deshaun Watson @JAC 3
QB Josh Allen SEA 4
QB Kyler Murray MIA 5
QB Justin Herbert LV 6
QB Tom Brady NO 7
QB Ryan Tannehill CHI 8
QB Ben Roethlisberger @DAL 9
QB Lamar Jackson @IND 10
QB Cam Newton @NYJ 11
QB Matt Ryan DEN 12
QB Derek Carr @LAC 13
QB Drew Brees @TB 14
QB Matthew Stafford @MIN 15
QB Drew Lock @ATL 16
QB Kirk Cousins DET 17
QB Teddy Bridgewater @KC 18
QB Daniel Jones @WAS 19
QB Philip Rivers BAL 20
QB Tua Tagovailoa @ARI 21
QB Nick Foles @TEN 22
QB Kyle Allen NYG 23
QB Jake Luton HOU 24
QB Sam Darnold NE 25
QB Cooper Rush PIT 26

Start ‘em: Deshaun Watson, QB HOU

While he had a difficult start to the season, Watson has truly turned it around against his recent string of relatively lackluster opponents. Over his last three games, Watson has scored at least 24 fantasy points including a stellar 32-point performance against the Tennessee Titans.

Coming off a week eight bye, Watson and the Texans are 6.5 point favorites against the Jacksonville Jaguars with an implied team total of 28.25 points. The Jaguars are unsurprisingly one of the worst teams in the league against opposing quarterbacks, and Watson should take advantage of an outstanding matchup. Start him over every quarterback not named Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson in week nine.

Sit ‘em: Teddy Bridgewater, QB CAR

Bridgewater at times this season has performed like a QB1 in fantasy football. Overall, however, the veteran quarterback has settled into mid-QB2 territory and is mostly just an option in superflex leagues. While the Panthers are likely to get star running back Christian McCaffrey back for week nine – and Bridgewater should certainly benefit – this is an overall matchup to avoid for Bridgewater managers in dynasty leagues.

The Panthers have an implied team total of just 20.75 points on the week and are big 10.5 point underdogs. The Chiefs have additionally been one of the best defenses against opposing signal-callers this season, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game. Bridgewater ultimately doesn’t carry the upside fantasy managers should be looking for at the quarterback position in week nine.

If you’re desperate: Drew Lock, QB DEN

Coming off easily his best game of the 2020 season, second-year quarterback Lock is another desperation option for fantasy managers in week nine. He and the Broncos face the (in)famous Falcons defense in a game where the Broncos have an implied team total of 22.5 points. While not a great implied total line, this is one of the best totals the Broncos have had this season.

The Falcons defense is of course (if you’ve been following this series) always a good play for opposing quarterbacks, as they have allowed the most fantasy points per game in the league to the position. Lock is a mid-range QB2 on the week and has the matchup upside to be a QB1 if things break right.

Running Back

RB Dalvin Cook DET 1
RB Alvin Kamara @TB 2
RB Derrick Henry CHI 3
RB Christian McCaffrey @KC 4
RB James Conner @DAL 5
RB James Robinson HOU 6
RB Josh Jacobs @LAC 7
RB Chase Edmonds MIA 8
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire CAR 9
RB David Montgomery @TEN 10
RB David Johnson @JAC 11
RB Antonio Gibson NYG 12
RB Todd Gurley II DEN 13
RB Justin Jackson LV 14
RB D’Andre Swift @MIN 15
RB Tony Pollard PIT 16
RB Leonard Fournette NO 17
RB Damien Harris @NYJ 18
RB Melvin Gordon III @ATL 19
RB Jonathan Taylor BAL 20
RB Zack Moss SEA 21
RB Phillip Lindsay @ATL 22
RB DeeJay Dallas @BUF 23
RB Le’Veon Bell CAR 24
RB Gus Edwards @IND 25
RB Ronald Jones II NO 26
RB J.K. Dobbins @IND 27
RB Devin Singletary SEA 28
RB Joshua Kelley LV 29
RB Wayne Gallman @WAS 30
RB Lamical Perine NE 31
RB James White @NYJ 32
RB Adrian Peterson @MIN 33
RB J.D. McKissic NYG 34
RB Nyheim Hines BAL 35
RB Jordan Wilkins BAL 36
RB Latavius Murray @TB 37
RB Jordan Howard @ARI 38
RB Mike Davis @KC 39
RB Frank Gore NE 40
RB Alexander Mattison DET 41
RB Brian Hill DEN 42
RB Benny Snell Jr. @DAL 43
RB Duke Johnson Jr. @JAC 44
RB Kerryon Johnson @MIN 45
RB Eno Benjamin MIA 46
RB Alfred Morris @WAS 47
RB Rex Burkhead @NYJ 48
RB Jeremy McNichols CHI 49
RB Patrick Laird @ARI 50
RB Travis Homer @BUF 51
RB Jalen Richard @LAC 52
RB Devontae Booker @LAC 53
RB Anthony McFarland Jr. @DAL 54

Start ‘em: Chase Edmonds, RB ARI

One of the two Cardinals running backs finally has the backfield to himself on Sunday, as Edmonds will be the focal point at the running back position with teammate Kenyan Drake sidelined. Edmonds has historically been the main pass-catching back in Arizona, which bodes well for this fantasy outlook as the lead back.

Edmonds projects to see at least 15 touches in week nine in a high-powered Arizona offense that has an implied team total of 27 points against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have allowed the tenth-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season, so they’re also a good matchup for Edmonds to thrive in. Ultimately, there aren’t very many other backs who rank higher than Edmonds in week nine. Start him everywhere you have him.

Sit ‘em: Jonathan Taylor, RB IND

Despite coming in at RB20 this week in the rankings, Taylor is a risky start in week nine. Understandably, most dynasty managers are playing the presumed top three rookie pick, but temper expectations for the rookie in week nine. The Colts play a stout Ravens defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, Taylor is nursing an ankle injury, and he lost significant workload to Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines in week eight.

Taylor is still seeing good work in the passing game, and he ranks highly in yards per route run at the running back position: a good sign of his efficiency. However, with multiple negative forces pushing him down the rankings, he’s no more than a low-floor RB2 in week nine. He’s best viewed as a flex play.

If you’re desperate: Damien Harris, RB NE

A talented second-year running back out of Alabama, Harris has showcased solid efficiency on the ground so far in the 2020 season. In every game where he has received at least ten carries, Harris has run for at least 5.8 yards per carry. While fantasy managers certainly expect more than two season-long receptions for Harris, his overall efficiency in the New England offense has been promising.

In week nine, Harris and the Patriots get the lowly New York Jets, who are bottom-third in the league in fantasy points allowed to running backs this season. The Patriots overall are solid ten-point favorites on the week and have an implied team total of 25.5 points. While his limited receiving work ultimately caps his upside, Harris should be a fine RB2 option for Monday Night Football.

Wide Receiver

Pos Player Matchup Rank
WR DeAndre Hopkins MIA 1
WR Julio Jones DEN 2
WR Stefon Diggs SEA 3
WR Tyreek Hill CAR 4
WR D.K. Metcalf @BUF 5
WR Adam Thielen DET 6
WR A.J. Brown CHI 7
WR Terry McLaurin NYG 8
WR Tyler Lockett @BUF 9
WR Keenan Allen LV 10
WR Will Fuller V @JAC 11
WR Mike Evans NO 12
WR Allen Robinson II @TEN 13
WR Robby Anderson @KC 14
WR Justin Jefferson DET 15
WR Michael Thomas @TB 16
WR Brandin Cooks @JAC 17
WR D.J. Moore @KC 18
WR Marvin Jones Jr. @MIN 19
WR Amari Cooper PIT 20
WR Corey Davis CHI 21
WR Chase Claypool @DAL 22
WR Mike Williams LV 23
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster @DAL 24
WR D.J. Chark Jr. HOU 25
WR Jerry Jeudy @ATL 26
WR DeVante Parker @ARI 27
WR Antonio Brown NO 28
WR Diontae Johnson @DAL 29
WR Marquise Brown @IND 30
WR Darius Slayton @WAS 31
WR John Brown SEA 32
WR Mecole Hardman CAR 33
WR Christian Kirk MIA 34
WR Cole Beasley SEA 35
WR Sterling Shepard @WAS 36
WR CeeDee Lamb PIT 37
WR Henry Ruggs III @LAC 38
WR Laviska Shenault Jr. HOU 39
WR Curtis Samuel @KC 40
WR Jakobi Meyers @NYJ 41
WR Preston Williams @ARI 42
WR Randall Cobb @JAC 43
WR Denzel Mims NE 44
WR Michael Gallup PIT 45
WR Keelan Cole Sr. HOU 46
WR Emmanuel Sanders @TB 47
WR Darnell Mooney @TEN 48
WR Russell Gage DEN 49
WR Zach Pascal BAL 50
WR Scotty Miller NO 51
WR Tim Patrick @ATL 52
WR KJ Hamler @ATL 53
WR Demarcus Robinson CAR 54
WR Danny Amendola @MIN 55
WR Tre’Quan Smith @TB 56
WR Marcus Johnson BAL 57
WR James Washington @DAL 58

Start ‘em: Marvin Jones, WR DET

After a very slow start to the season where dynasty managers were wondering if they should cut bait with the 30-year old Jones, the veteran has put together two solid fantasy performances in back-to-back weeks. Jones has seen at least five targets in each of Detroit’s last three games. With teammate Kenny Golladay out this week, Jones will take over as the lead receiver in this Lions offense.

The Lions play the Vikings this week and have an implied team total of 24.5 points. Perhaps more importantly, however, is that the Vikings rank second-worst in the NFL in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing wide receivers. As the alpha in the Lions offense, Jones should be started across most leagues in week nine. He is a safe, high floor play with good upside.

Sit ‘em: Tre’Quan Smith, WR NO

Smith has performed admirably over the last few weeks leading the charge as the primary wide receiver in the Saints passing game with Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders sidelined. Over the last two weeks, Smith has corralled nine passes for 97 yards: solid production overall. However, with Thomas and Sanders both expected to be back in week nine, Smith will revert to WR3 status for the Saints and likely fall off the fantasy radar.

The Buccaneers – the Saints week nine opponent – have allowed just the eighth fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Ultimately, even if you’re desperate for production at wide receiver this week, you can likely find a better option than Smith.

If you’re desperate: Jerry Jeudy, WR DEN

Naturally, with his quarterback Drew Lock making his way to the desperation play section above, Jeudy finds himself in a similar position for week nine. After getting a career-high ten targets in week eight, Jeudy looks to be shaping his role into the clear alpha of this Broncos offense. With all the immediate success of other rookie wide receivers – Tee Higgins, Justin Jefferson, Ceedee Lamb, among others – Jeudy’s relative lack of production has seen him fall off in comparison.

However, with a prime week nine matchup against a Falcons defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers on tap, Jeudy should be a fine flex option with good upside.

Tight End

Pos Player Matchup Rank
TE Travis Kelce CAR 1
TE Darren Waller @LAC 2
TE T.J. Hockenson @MIN 3
TE Noah Fant @ATL 4
TE Rob Gronkowski NO 5
TE Mark Andrews @IND 6
TE Hunter Henry LV 7
TE Jared Cook @TB 8
TE Hayden Hurst DEN 9
TE Mike Gesicki @ARI 10
TE Jonnu Smith CHI 11
TE Evan Engram @WAS 12
TE Eric Ebron @DAL 13
TE Jimmy Graham @TEN 14
TE Logan Thomas NYG 15
TE Trey Burton BAL 16
TE Greg Olsen @BUF 17
TE Dalton Schultz PIT 18
TE Jordan Akins @JAC 19
TE Irv Smith Jr. DET 20
TE Albert Okwuegbunam @ATL 21
TE Darren Fells @JAC 22
TE Jack Doyle BAL 23
TE Ian Thomas @KC 24
TE Will Dissly @BUF 25
TE Mo Alie-Cox BAL 26

Start ‘em: Rob Gronkowski, TE TB

Gronk took a few weeks to get back to his past-self form, but he truly looks like the fantasy difference-maker we once saw in New England. In five of the last six games, Gronk has managed at least 48 yards or a touchdown, culminating in at least eight fantasy points in each of those five games.

While we are not quite sure what this Tampa Bay offense will look like with Antonio Brown in the mix, we can expect Gronk to continue his success at least through this week, as the New Orleans Saints have allowed the fourth-most points per game to opposing tight ends. Start Gronk as usual as a top-five TE option.

Sit ‘em: Dalton Shultz, TE DAL

Shultz stepped in for the injured Blake Jarwin early on in 2020 and has been a solid fantasy contributor for dynasty managers who picked him up from waivers. However, with a huge question mark at the quarterback position heading into week nine and a very difficult matchup, Shultz can safely stay on your bench.

The Cowboys have just a 14.5 implied team total for week nine, which is honestly the lowest I can remember all season. It’s pretty sad how far the once potent Cowboys offense has fallen without Dak Prescott. The Steelers have allowed just 4.9 fantasy points per game to tight ends in 2020. Keep away from most Cowboys in week nine, but in particular, bench Shultz for higher upside options.

If you’re desperate: Eric Ebron, TE PIT

Ebron is coming off of back-to-back solid performances of six catches for 50 yards and four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. While still a bit of a volatile option, Ebron’s upside is clear in a good Pittsburgh offense. In week nine, the Steelers play a reeling Cowboys team and are massive 15 point favorites with an implied team total of 29.5 points.

While Ebron should find success in a blowout win, he is a somewhat risky option. The Cowboys are awful and defending both the run and opposing wide receivers, ranking bottom five in the league against each. It’s likely that the Steelers rely upon James Conner and their trio of wide receivers heavily in this game, leaving Ebron left as a lower option. That said, he’s still a borderline TE1 option for desperate fantasy managers.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! If you’re wondering about a player I didn’t dive into detail about, feel free to reach out to me @FFzinger on Twitter. Best of luck this week, and I’ll be back next week to give week ten’s positional rankings.

michael zingone
Latest posts by Michael Zingone (see all)