Week Nine Positional Rankings
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.
- Week 17 Positional Rankings - January 1, 2022
- Week 16 Positional Rankings - December 23, 2021
- Week 15 Positional Rankings - December 16, 2021