Welcome to the heart of the fantasy football season! Week 9 is crucial for securing a playoff spot, and navigating injuries and unfavorable matchups is the key to victory. We’re cutting through the noise to give you the clear-cut decisions: who to start with confidence, which sneaky sleepers could win your week, and which big-name players you absolutely need to bench to avoid a disaster.
Start ‘em
Quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders): Facing a Seattle Seahawks defense that ranks 23rd against the pass and struggles with rushing quarterbacks gives Daniels a solid floor and high ceiling.
Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys): Expect a bounce-back performance against an Arizona Cardinals team whose offense should keep the game competitive, forcing Dak to throw heavily, especially in a prime-time slot.
Jaxson Dart (New York Giants): Despite a recent dip in rushing, Dart has been a top-tier fantasy QB since Week 4, and his ability to score with his legs remains a huge fantasy asset.
Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams): Stafford is in a recent hot streak, scoring over 25 fantasy points per game in three of his last four, and continues to have a great connection with his top receiving options.
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions): Goff faces a Vikings defense that has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in several games this season, setting him up for a potential high-volume day.
Running Backs
Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears): With both D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson ruled out, Monangai is expected to see a full workload against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has been the most generous to fantasy running backs in 2025.
Kimani Vidal (Los Angeles Chargers): Coming off a solid performance and with the Chargers’ backfield still dealing with injuries, Vidal should continue to be the primary early-down back.
TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots): Henderson is poised for a true breakout with Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined, facing an Atlanta Falcons defense that is generous to versatile, pass-catching running backs.
Tyrone Tracy (New York Giants): Taking over the lead back role following a significant injury to Cam Skattebo, Tracy’s strong pass-catching ability makes him a valuable starter in PPR formats.
Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs): Hunt steps into a great spot as the likely lead back with Isiah Pacheco expected to be out, getting a strong matchup against a Buffalo Bills defense struggling against the run.
Wide Receivers
Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs): Since returning from suspension, Rice has commanded elite-level targets and touchdown production, making him a must-start WR1 despite a tough matchup.
Deebo Samuel (Washington Commanders): With Terry McLaurin ruled out for the game, Samuel should command a massive target share against a Seattle secondary that has allowed a high number of wide receiver touchdowns.
Drake London (Atlanta Falcons): Fully healthy and coming off the injury report, London gets a favorable matchup against a New England Patriots defense ranked 25th against fantasy wide receivers.
Marvin Harrison (Arizona Cardinals): Harrison is primed for a big game due to his downfield and man-coverage prowess, which aligns perfectly with the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary utilization.
Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars): Thomas Jr. is set up for a strong performance against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that has struggled against perimeter wide receivers and utilizes a favorable two-high coverage scheme.
Tight Ends
Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions): Despite some recent inconsistency, LaPorta remains an integral part of the potent Lions offense and has a favorable matchup against the Vikings.
Oronde Gadsden II (Los Angeles Chargers): As a top-12 fantasy tight end since entering the lineup, Gadsden is a high-upside option who has established himself as a primary target in the Chargers’ passing game.
Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders): With a solid four touchdowns on the season and Terry McLaurin out, Ertz should see increased red-zone opportunity against a Seahawks defense that is bottom-10 against the position.
Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears): Loveland is a viable streamer this week as he is taking on the Cincinnati Bengals, who have conceded multiple strong performances to opposing tight ends this year.
Noah Fant (Cincinnati Bengals): Fant has been a consistent target for the Bengals and faces a Chicago Bears defense that has allowed a high number of passing touchdowns this season.
Sit ‘em
Quarterbacks
Drake Maye (New England Patriots): Maye has been red hot so it’s awfully hard to bench him now but he faces a solid Atlanta Falcons defense, which caps his upside.
Bo Nix (Denver Broncos): Despite a few hot weeks, his volume and ceiling may be limited in a tough matchup against a Houston Texans defense that excels at generating pressure.
C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans): Stroud is generally a low-end QB2 who has struggled with inconsistency this season, and the stout Denver Broncos pass defense will likely limit his efficiency.
J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings): Returning from injury, McCarthy faces a difficult road matchup against a Detroit Lions defense that is getting healthy in the secondary and generating a high pressure rate.
Aaron Rodgers (Pittsburgh Steelers): Rodgers faces a red hot Colts team with a stout defense that caps his upside.
Running Backs
Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders): The Raiders’ poor offensive line and constant negative game scripts severely limit Jeanty’s rushing volume and efficiency, especially against a tough Jacksonville Jaguars defense.
Jaylen Warren (Pittsburgh Steelers): Despite his high efficiency, Warren remains a frustratingly inconsistent option and faces a tough defense this week.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders): Croskey-Merritt has had his ups and downs and faces a tough Seattle Seahawks defense that has been strong against opposing runners.
J.K. Dobbins (Denver Broncos): Dobbins is a non-factor in the passing game and faces a Houston Texans run defense that has been one of the stoutest in the league since Week 4.
Rico Dowdle (Carolina Panthers): With Chuba Hubbard back and cutting into his touches, Dowdle faces a difficult Green Bay Packers run defense that has allowed very few fantasy points to running backs.
Wide Receivers
Nico Collins (Houston Texans): A difficult matchup against a talented Denver secondary make Collins a risky start.
George Pickens (Dallas Cowboys): Pickens has had two weeks as a Top 5 WR, but otherwise has been a low-end WR2 or 3 in four of the past six weeks and faces an Arizona Cardinals secondary that can limit downfield passing.
Stefon Diggs (New England Patriots): The Patriots face a tough matchup against the Falcons this week which could mean tough sledding for Diggs.
Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints): A change at quarterback to the unproven Tyler Shough, combined with a tough pass rush from the Los Angeles Rams, creates a volatile situation for Olave.
Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos): While talented, Sutton’s ceiling is often limited by a lower-volume passing attack, and a strong Texans secondary makes his week 9 outlook concerning.
Tight Ends
Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills): While talented, Kincaid’s volume and red-zone usage have been inconsistent, and he faces a Kansas City Chiefs defense that is one of the toughest against tight ends.
Theo Johnson (New York Giants): Despite finding the end zone, Johnson’s role is not fully solidified, and he remains a risky, touchdown-dependent play.
Hunter Henry (New England Patriots): Henry is averaging very few targets per game and faces an Atlanta Falcons defense that has shut down opposing tight ends all season.
Evan Engram (Denver Broncos): Engram’s production has been capped by the Broncos’ offense, and he is a low-floor option in a middling matchup.
Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints): Johnson has zero touchdowns since Week 2 and his minimal target volume makes him a difficult start, especially with a backup QB.
