Fantasy QB Rankings Week 9: Who to start, sit at quarterback in fantasy football

Week 9 marks the halfway point of the NFL regular season (and past the halfway point of the fantasy football regular season), so we have some strong matchup numbers to help inform our start ’em, sit ’em decisions. Must-start fantasy studs like Joe Burrow (vs. Browns) and Jalen Hurts (vs. Chargers) have emerged, while some guys have fallen to mere matchup-based sleepers. Of course, there are still your classic matchup-based streamers that we expected to be just that in the preseason. We’re here to sort it all out with the help of our Week 9 fantasy QB rankings.

Derek Carr (@ Eagles) and Lamar Jackson (vs. Vikings) are back in action after byes, but we sacrifice Tom Brady. Taylor Heinicke, Jared Goff, and Geno Smith are off the table, too, though only owners in two-QB/superflex leagues will likely notice they’re missing. Even more important in two-QB/superflex (and possibly single-QB) leagues is the potential return of Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) off the IR. He has a highly favorable matchup against Miami, putting him squarely in the streamer conversation.

WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Tua Tagovailoa (vs. Texans), Carson Wentz (vs. Jets), Teddy Bridgewater (@ Cowboys), and Taysom Hill (vs. Falcons), assuming he’s cleared from the concussion protocol, join Taylor as the top streaming options. Tagovailoa and Wentz have shown they can get it done when the matchup is right. The only problem for Wentz could be the lack of a competitive game against the Jets, but considering they’ve pulled off big upsets against Tennessee and Cincinnati this year, we’re not counting them out against Indy. Bridgewater has been up and down, and Hill hasn’t played much recently — and hasn’t played much QB at all this year. However, we know the type of high-floor, dual-threat upside he has when he’s under center, and against the Falcons, he’s in good position for nice overall numbers.

WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

On the flip side, Matt Ryan (@ Saints), Ryan Tannehill (@ Rams), and Sam Darnold (vs. Patriots) have all produced in some weeks, but the defenses in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and New England tend to shut down fringe starters. Tannehill has the exact opposite situation of a guy like Wentz, though. If this Titans-Rams game is a back-and-forth shootout, he surely could succeed. We just see better options on the board.

Hurts and Jackson figure to have tough matchups, as Los Angeles and Minnesota are top-10 defensive units against QBs. They take a slight bump in the rankings, but we know their activity on the ground means their floor and ceiling remain high.

Losing Brady definitely hurts his owners, but there are plenty of pivots that can help you get through the week. Quarterback remains deep, so find your one-week streamer, hope for a few touchdowns, and ride Brady the rest of the way after Week 9. 

Note: We’ll be updating these QB rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy QB Rankings Week 9: Who to start at quarterback

Rankings are based on standard, four-point passing TD formats.