Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Week 9 lineup advice from Justin Boone
Justin Boone supplies a weekly take a look at undervalued fantasy gamers to think about beginning this week and potential busts you may need to depart in your bench.
For the remainder of your lineup choices, seek the advice of his Week 9 rankings.
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(*9*)Starts
Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
at Colts
It’s nearly stunning that Prescott is the QB11 in fantasy factors per sport this 12 months, contemplating he went a month and not using a multi-touchdown sport at one level. Fortunately, he is discovered the tip zone at the least twice in every of the previous two weeks.
Now, Prescott faces a Colts staff that is circling the drain earlier than a possible selloff on the commerce deadline. In its first sport after dealing Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, Indy was dismantled 42-7 by the Jaguars. The Cowboys are 4.5-point favorites on the highway with the third-highest implied level complete on the week.
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Though Dak hasn’t been probably the most dependable fantasy choice this season, you can begin him confidently as a top-five QB versus the Colts.
Other QBs to begin:
Malik Willis vs. Lions – With the Dolphins’ younger receiving corps getting wholesome, Willis has been heating up these days as a strong fantasy streamer who gives a excessive ground and excessive ceiling. This is setting as much as be a possible ceiling sport for him, in opposition to a Detroit protection giving up probably the most fantasy factors to QBs, together with a number of TDs in each outing.
C.J. Stroud at Chargers – Stroud has quietly had a really strong season and, with the Texans’ struggles within the run sport, you’ll be able to count on the staff to proceed counting on his arm. The 25-year-old is tied for the fifth most fantasy factors amongst quarterbacks during the last 5 weeks. Coming off the bye, Stroud ought to get a lift from Marvin Harrison Jr. getting extra comfy within the offense and Tank Dell seeing an increase in snaps.
Chase Brown, RB, Bengals
at Falcons
Brown solely completed because the RB20 in an ideal matchup with the Titans final week, however that may have been a top-12 fantasy again if his 20-yard landing catch wasn’t nullified by a penalty.
The excellent news is that Brown continues to dominate the Bengals backfield, enjoying nearly 70% of the snaps final week and turning them into 20 touches, 101 scrimmage yards and eight catches.
He additionally will get one other optimistic matchup with the Falcons protection that is the fourth-easiest matchup for fantasy operating backs. Atlanta has allowed seven touchdowns to RBs over its final three video games and simply received decimated for over 300 speeding yards by the Buccaneers backs in Week 8.
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I do know it has been irritating at occasions having Brown in your lineup; simply do not hand over now. Bigger days are inside attain. If you might be planning to promote him, you will need to wait till after this sport to get probably the most worth.
Other RBs to begin:
Jonah Coleman at Panthers – Coleman returned from IR and instantly took management of the Broncos backfield, enjoying 58% of the snaps during the last two weeks and racking up 173 scrimmage yards, six receptions and a landing. Now, he will get a Panthers protection that is allowing the second-most fantasy factors to his place. The rookie is a top-15 fantasy RB choice this week.
Blake Corum at Commanders – Over the final month, the Rams offense has leaned on their backfield extra with Davante Adams hitting IR. That resulted in each backs averaging top-15 fantasy stats, with Corum at RB13 and Kyren Williams at RB15. Don’t be misled; Williams continues to be the lead again and Corum hasn’t performed over 50% of the snaps in any sport. However, he is getting loads of alternative, which ought to proceed as 5.5-point favorites over the Commanders.
Tyler Allgeier at Seahawks – While I hate the matchup, it is unattainable to argue with the setup for Allgeier. Jeremiyah Love is on IR and Bam Knight is in concussion protocol. That leaves Allgeier because the final man standing in Arizona’s RB room. Though you’ll be able to’t count on one other 191-yard, five-catch, two-touchdown efficiency (as a result of he isn’t enjoying the Cowboys protection), Allgeier can nonetheless be began as a volume-based, low-end RB2.
Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
vs. Bills
Jefferson is not a reputation that makes it to the Start part fairly often as a result of he is such a proficient participant that fantasy managers do not want a reminder. However, given the state of the quarterback play in Minnesota, beginning Jefferson wasn’t as apparent because it had been previously.
The veteran wideout has been held to receiving-yard totals of 55, 32, 44 and 33 in 4 of his final 5 outings and Kyler Murray wasn’t discovering his rhythm in Kevin O’Connell’s scheme.
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Murray’s new hamstring harm gave the teaching workers an opportunity to make a change they usually jumped on it, naming Carson Wentz the starter for Monday’s matchup with the Bills. With Buffalo’s protection nonetheless being a piece in progress, Wentz and firm ought to be capable of get the Vikings’ passing sport again on observe.
That’s nice information for Jefferson, who has averaged 6.4 receptions and 89.1 receiving yards through the seven video games the place Wentz has performed at the least 80% of the snaps during the last two seasons. That contains an 8-92-2 stat line from the opener this 12 months.
This transfer pushed Jefferson again into the top-10 fantasy WRs and within the dialog for a spot within the top-five for so long as Wentz is beneath middle.
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Other WRs to begin:
Rashee Rice vs. Jets – For all of the issues about Rice earlier than the season, he is really carried out effectively in each outing. Rice has at the least 83 yards or a landing in all 4 of his wholesome appearances, together with a 7-53-1 stat line in his first sport again final week, regardless of solely enjoying 56% of the snaps. That quantity ought to rise in a positive spot in opposition to a Jets protection that performs a whole lot of single-high protection, which Rice excels in opposition to.
Rome Odunze vs. Buccaneers – Odunze is twentieth in receiving yards, however 53rd in fantasy factors scored amongst wideouts. The discrepancy exists attributable to an absence of touchdowns, with Odunze not discovering the tip zone but this season. Fortunately, the offense has been regaining its type with Caleb Williams again and Odunze has posted two of his greatest outings this season in current weeks, with 69 yards in opposition to the Patriots and 87 yards versus the Seahawks. Next up is a Bucs protection that is allowed 5 completely different WRs to high 85 yards within the final month.
Ryan Flournoy at Colts – I initially had George Pickens on this spot, however with the star WR being dominated out with shoulder and hamstring accidents, we’re turning to Flournoy. He’s a low-end WR2 in a positive matchup with the Colts.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions
at Dolphins
Through the primary 5 weeks, LaPorta was a top-five fantasy tight finish in opposition to one of many simpler schedules at his place. Then got here a bye, adopted by back-to-back matchups in opposition to the 2 hardest defenses in opposition to his place: the Packers and Vikings.
That led conspiracy theorists to invest that the staff was punishing LaPorta for his feedback about being annoyed with contract extension talks with the group. I’m guessing the diploma of issue being turned up on him had extra to do with it.
Thankfully, a softer matchup has arrived with the Dolphins protection giving up the third-most fantasy factors to tight ends. The Lions are additionally tied for the fourth-highest implied level complete on the slate. This all factors to a bounce-back week for LaPorta, which is why he is again in my high 5.
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Other TEs to begin:
Kyle Pitts Sr. vs. Bengals – After three straight top-12 TE finishes, Pitts lastly got here again right down to earth with simply two catches for six yards in a wet loss to the Bucs final week. Now, he fits up for a possible shootout in Spain in opposition to a Bengals protection that is the ninth-most beneficiant unit to tight ends.
Mike Gesicki at Falcons – You may begin the opposite tight finish in that sport, with Gesicki having an ideal probability to increase his landing streak versus Atlanta. The veteran has scored a landing in six of his seven outings and at the moment sits because the TE6 in fantasy factors per sport. You may do worse than streaming him in a sport that has the very best projected level complete at 52.5.
Sits
Bryce Young, QB, Panthers
vs. Broncos
It looks like the distant previous now, however Young was the QB4 general in fantasy factors per sport via the primary six weeks, partly due to a straightforward early-season schedule. Life comes at you quick, although and a slew of accidents on the offensive line have fully modified the outlook for this offense. It would not assist that their final two opponents have been a lot harder, the Buccaneers and Packers, resulting in a check that Young finally failed.
Coming off his two lowest fantasy outputs of the season, Young now has one other troublesome problem forward with the Broncos protection that received again Patrick Surtain II final week. There can be higher days forward, together with the Saints matchup in Week 10, however for now, Young wants to go to your bench.
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Other QBs to sit down:
Geno Smith at Chiefs – Kansas City’s protection is permitting the sixth-fewest fantasy factors to quarterbacks and tends to be much more stout at house. Meanwhile, the Jets can be with out their high receiver Garrett Wilson, who’s in concussion protocol. This is not the spot to play Smith.
Baker Mayfield at Bears – At some level, Mayfield will start throwing once more and this could possibly be the week, since he is dealing with a high-scoring Bears offense. But forgive me if I’m not keen on beginning a quarterback who hasn’t topped 13 fantasy factors in a sport this season and has solely tried 14 passes during the last two weeks.
Rachaad White, RB, Commanders
vs. Rams
White got here via in Week 8 due to a landing, however his utilization (13 touches, 47% snap share) was disappointing given the matchup with the Eagles and the truth that Jacory Croskey-Merritt is on IR.
The state of affairs is not getting higher this week in opposition to a Rams protection that is his hardest opponent but. Not solely are they permitting the seventh-fewest fantasy factors to operating backs, however Myles Garrett is predicted again for the sport.
This all factors to a dangerous setup for White, who will seemingly want one other landing to avoid wasting his fantasy day once more.
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Other RBs to sit down:
Zach Charbonnet vs. Cardinals – The Seahawks are 8.5-point favorites, so the potential for a goal-line carry is at all times there. However, it is powerful to get overly enthusiastic about Charbonnet, who managed simply 29 yards on 9 touches whereas enjoying 37% of the snaps in his season debut. Rookie Jadarian Price displayed way more juice through the sport and may earn extra touches transferring ahead, whereas Charbonnet stays in a supporting function.
Omarion Hampton vs. Texans – Coming off the bye, Hampton performed a season-low 29.5% of the snaps. The sophomore again has solely topped 56 scrimmage yards as soon as this season. Like many of the operating backs on this part, he is purely a TD-or-bust RB3.
Jordan Mason vs. Bills – Mason returned to the lineup in Week 7 with a 64% snap share and 15 carries for 68 yards. Unfortunately, only one week later, these numbers dropped to twenty-eight% of the snaps and simply eight carries for 20 yards. While the matchup with the Bills is a optimistic one, it is exhausting to belief Mason till we see extra from him and the Vikings offense as a complete.
Michael Wilson, WR, Cardinals
at Seahawks
Wilson lastly rediscovered his ceiling with an eight-catch, 111-yard, one-touchdown efficiency, nevertheless it took a really pleasant matchup with the Cowboys to get there.
Wilson additionally completed the feat whereas enjoying via two damaged ribs, one thing that can proceed to be a problem this week.
It’s additionally value remembering that Wilson was held to 55 yards or much less in three straight video games earlier than that springboard encounter with Dallas. The Seahawks protection, which is giving up the fewest fantasy factors to wideouts, will not be the identical sort of pushover. That makes Wilson a unstable WR3.
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Other WRs to sit down:
Jalen Coker vs. Broncos – The points on the offensive line and the troublesome matchup with the Broncos protection are greater than sufficient motive to keep away from Coker this week. He’s solely managed three catches over his final two outings.
Chris Godwin Jr. at Bears – Godwin hasn’t topped 50 receiving yards in a sport this season and hasn’t reached 40 yards in his final six appearances. Injuries have merely sapped his effectiveness, and given his age, it is seemingly his greatest days are behind him.
Xavier Worthy vs. Jets – Worthy has been held to 25 yards or much less in 5 of his seven video games this season. He’s additionally solely discovered the tip zone as soon as all 12 months, making him a really shaky flex choice at greatest.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills
at Vikings
Kincaid’s greatest performances have coincided with DJ Moore being within the lineup, which provides you hope that he can get again to being a top-10 fantasy tight finish the remainder of the way in which. Unfortunately, this week’s matchup is with the Vikings protection, which is the largest risk to tight ends by far this season.
Minnesota is permitting simply 5.5 fantasy factors per sport, with the second-place Packers coming in at 7.0 fppg. The Vikings additionally have not allowed a landing to a decent finish and we have but to see them hand over greater than 65 yards to a participant on the place. Even should you look again to final 12 months, Brian Flores’ crew was the eighth-worst opponent for tight ends. If Kincaid comes via this week, will probably be an outlier primarily based on what we have seen from this protection in 2026.
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Other TEs to sit down:
Chig Okonkwo vs. Rams – After back-to-back 60-plus-yard video games, Okonkwo managed simply two catches for 32 yards in a harder matchup with the Eagles final week. The Rams are the seventh most troublesome opponent for fantasy tight ends, so I would not get my hopes up right here.
Tyler Higbee at Commanders – Higbee has been held to 22 yards, 14 yards and 14 yards over his final three outings.