Fantasy Football Start/Sit for Week 9: Streaming Options & More

Unless otherwise noted, references to 'fantasy points' are based on PPR scoring with 25/10 yards per point and 4/6 points for TDs. Start % comes from Yahoo, as of Wednesday night / Thursday morning.

Start/Upgrade 👍

Quarterbacks 👍

• Jared Goff (vs. MIN) — 35% started

Start Over — Caleb Williams (at CIN), Matthew Stafford (vs. NO), Jordan Love (vs. CAR)

The Vikings won't be as bad all year as what we saw the past two weeks, but it does seem their defense is much better at beating the snot out of bad QBs than it is at limiting the damage done by good ones. It's no secret that teams like to counter Brian Flores' "exotic" blitzes with heavy personnel, which for the Lions has meant more snaps for No. 2 TE Brock Wright and fewer snaps for the No. 3 receiver in matchups with Minnesota. Goff didn't post gaudy numbers in the two meetings last year, but he completed more than 80 percent of his passes while leading the Lions to 31 points in each contest. The big fantasy line should be ahead this Sunday, in a spot where Dan Campbell may not take his foot off the pedal.

• Other Good Matchups: Jaxson Dart (vs. SF), Trevor Lawrence (at LV), Sam Darnold (at WAS)

Running Backs 👍

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• Travis Etienne (at LV) — 45% started

Start Over — J.K. Dobbins (at HOU), Kareem Hunt (at BUF), Jacory Croskey-Merritt (vs. SEA)

A lot of people are hoping to see more Bhayshul Tuten after a Week 8 bye, with Etienne unable to maintain his early momentum once the calendar turned to October and the matchups turned sour (KC, SEA, LAR). The Week 9 matchup should allow Etienne to get back on track even if Tuten also gets more than a handful of touches, facing a Raiders defense that opened the week with DE Maxx Crosby (knee) and DT Adam Butler (back) absent from practice. Pete Carroll said he expects both Crosby and Butler to play, but it's a good matchup for Etienne and the Jaguars even if Crosby and Butler suit up.

• Kareem Hunt (at BUF) — 28% started

Start Over — Tony Pollard (vs. LAC), Kenneth Walker (at WAS), Aaron Jones (at DET), Woody Marks (vs. DEN)

Buffalo's struggles defending the run have been overblown, and the Chiefs would probably lean heavily on Patrick Mahomes' right arm even if that weren't the case. Hunt isn't likely to average much more than four yards per tote, but he's a strong Week 9 fantasy play nonetheless, with potential for 40-plus snaps and goal-line carries in a game with a 52.5 over/under. Hunt's anytime-TD odds are around +115 at most books, putting him in low-end RB2 range with guys like Tyrone Tracy and Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Personally, I have no hesitation starting Hunt as an RB2.

• Other Good Matchups: Kimani Vidal (at TEN), D'Andre Swift & Kyle Monangai (at CIN), Chase Brown & Samaje Perine (vs. CHI), Tyrone Tracy (vs. SF), David Montgomery (vs. MIN), Bam Knight (at DAL), Emanuel Wilson (vs. CAR)

Wide Receivers 👍

• Jauan Jennings (at NYG) — 38% started

Start Over — Rashid Shaheed (at LAR), Romeo Doubs (vs. CAR), Keenan Allen (at TEN)

If Jennings can't get it done here, it's just not going to happen for him in 2025. He's been a full practice participant since the end of Week 7 — a sign that his cracked ribs are improving — and his 14 targets over the past two games are tied with Christian McCaffrey for most on the team. Meanwhile, Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) still aren't practicing, which sets up Jennings as the No. 1 receiver against a banged-up Giants secondary. It's also a good spot for Wan'Dale Robinson on the other side of this game, as he'll likely run a lot of his routes across from struggling rookie cornerback Upton Stout (shoulder), without the threat of LB Fred Warner (IR - ankle) lingering over the middle.

• Alec Pierce (at PIT) — 11% started

Start Over — Troy Franklin (at HOU), Keon Coleman (vs. KC), Cooper Kupp (at WAS), Darnell Mooney (at NE)

This may seem like only a deep-league or DFS play at first glance, but I actually have a couple of decent squads in 12-team leagues where Pierce is a reasonable start/stream this week. He's averaging 5.3 targets and 64.3 yards per game, up from 4.3 targets and 51.5 yards last season, but he still doesn't have a touchdown (after scoring on seven of 37 receptions in 2024). Touchdown or not, Pierce should make a couple of big plays downfield against a Pittsburgh defense that's giving up the fourth-most PPR points (38.7) to wide receivers. 

• Other Good Matchups: Marvin Harrison (vs. DAL), Brian Thomas & Travis Hunter (at LV), Wan'Dale Robinson (at SF), Quentin Johnston (at TEN)

Tight Ends 👍

• Jake Ferguson (vs. ARZ) — 73% started

Start Over — Kyle Pitts (at NE), Mark Andrews (at MIA), Hunter Henry (vs. ATL)

It's no surprise that Ferguson's target share has dropped since CeeDee Lamb returned, but it was still odd to see the TE finish without a catch this past Sunday in Denver, drawing just one target on 23 routes. The good news is that you don't need a dominant target share to have fantasy value in the Dallas offense, especially with the benefit of TE eligibility. Ferguson could probably get by as a functional fantasy starter with 15 percent of the Dallas passing game, and there's a decent chance he settles in closer to 18 percent anyway. He should bounce back strong in Week 9 against an Arizona defense that's allowing 16.2 PPR points per game (sixth most) to tight ends.

• Other Good Matchups: Tyler Warren (at PIT), Mark Andrews (at MIA), Jonnu Smith (vs. IND), Cole Kmet (at CIN), 

Sit/Downgrade 👎

Quarterbacks 👎

• Bo Nix (at HOU) — 65% started

Start Instead — Drake Maye (vs. ATL), Daniel Jones (at PIT), Justin Herbert (at TEN)

As good as he's been for fantasy, Nix has largely done his damage against some of the worst defenses in the league, producing his top three scores against the Bengals, Giants and Cowboys — all in the bottom five for fantasy points allowed to QBs. He hadn't been playing especially well in real life until the past five quarters, repeatedly relying on late-game heroics or a bail out from Denver's defense. Maybe he genuinely turned a corner during that wild fourth quarter against the Giants in Week 7, or maybe he'll be exposed now that he's facing a much tougher defense. This Broncos-Texans matchup has the lowest over/under (39.5) of Week 9, with both defenses firmly in the best-in-the-league discussion.

• Other Tough Matchups: Bryce Young (at GB), Tyler Shough (at LAR), C.J. Stroud (vs. DEN), Cam Ward (vs. LAC)

Running Backs 👎

• Rico Dowdle (at GB) — 50% started

Start Instead — David Montgomery (vs. MIN), Travis Etienne (at LV), Tyrone Tracy (vs. SF)

It sounds like Dowdle will take over a larger share of Carolina's backfield this week, and there's no question he's looked fantastic this year, showing a second level of improvement after his age-26 breakout in 2024. My concern for Week 9 is that any workload gains will be handed right back in efficiency losses, with Dowdle no longer benefitting from the blocking advantage that allowed him to average 4.6 YPC or better in each of the past four games*.

Carolina's offensive line has been the strength of an otherwise miserable team, but the unit may just be another weakness this Sunday after losing three starters to injuries -- RG Brady Christensen (IR - Achilles), RT Taylor Moton (knee) and C Cade Mays (ankle) -- during last week's loss to Buffalo. None of the three practiced Wednesday, with Christensen already ruled out for the season. That's a lot for any offense to deal with, especially ahead of a road game against one of the top defenses in the NFC. The Packers rank fifth or better in PPR points, YPC and rushing yards per game allowed to running backs.

*All against defenses in the Bottom 8 for rushing yards allowed and Bottom 12 for YPC.

• Alvin Kamara (at LAR) — 69% started

Start Instead — Tyrone Tracy, David Montgomery, Travis Etienne, Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Kamara has done just enough to keep his spot in most fantasy lineups, but he isn't actually helping, with his two best fantasy scores coming back in Weeks 1-2 and each subsequent game featuring no more than 13.6 PPR points. This is the week to bench him if you haven't already, with the Saints playing on the road as two-TD underdogs against a Rams defense that's limiting RBs to 16.2 PPR points (2nd) and 3.83 YPC (7th). Coming out of a Week 8 bye, the Rams have all their starters practicing on both sides of the ball.

• Other Tough Matchups: J.K. Dobbins & RJ Harvey (at HOU), Jordan Mason (at DET), Nick Chubb (vs. DEN), Chuba Hubbard (at GB), Tyler Allgeier (at NE)

Wide Receivers 👎

• Courtland Sutton (at HOU) — 74% started

Start Instead —  Chris Olave (at LAR), Marvin Harrison (at DAL), Deebo Samuel (vs. SEA)

A road game at Houston is arguably the worst possible matchup for a wide receiver, facing a defense with elite edge rushers and nearly-as-talented cornerbacks. The Texans have limited opposing WRs to 26.5 PPR points per game (4th) and 7.42 YPT (10th), with Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba being the only ones to score 13-plus PPR points so far. Emeka Egbuka (12.9 PPR), Zay Flowers (12.7), Mike Evans (10.6), Davante Adams (9.1) and Brian Thomas (7.7) headline the list of WRs that have failed to put up big numbers against Houston this season. 

• Rashid Shaheed (at LAR) — 53% started

Start Instead — Jordan Addison (at DET), Wan'Dale Robinson (vs. SF), Travis Hunter (at LV)

Shaheed (hip) is practicing this week after leaving Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay in the fourth quarter. There's even some thought he'll be featured, in one last push to drum up trade interest, but one could also argue it the other way around: the Saints will be cautious and try to keep Shaheed healthy. Whatever the plan, Shaheed will have other factors working against him, starting with the familiar problem of poor QB play. Even if Tyler Shough ends up surprising people eventually (a dubious proposition), he's unlikely to have much success against a top-10 defense in his first NFL start.

• Other Tough Matchups: Chris Olave (at LAR), Drake London (at NE), Xavier Worthy (at BUF), Troy Franklin (at HOU), Chimere Dike (vs. LAC)

Tight Ends 👎

• Juwan Johnson (at LAR) — 17% started

Start Instead — Theo Johnson (vs. SF), Jonnu Smith (vs. IND)

Johnson rebounded from a three-game slump with solid showings the past two weeks, but he's now dealing with a QB change and a tough defense, potentially limiting him to not much more than dump-off targets. I'd rather start someone with a slightly lower volume projection but more potential for big plays and touchdowns, like New York's Theo Johnson or Pittsburgh's Jonnu Smith. Even AJ Barner, averaging just 3.2 targets per game, is arguably a better choice than Johnson in standard-scoring formats.

• Other Tough Matchups: Evan Engram (at HOU), Dalton Schultz (vs. DEN)

Streaming Picks

For Shallow Leagues (Under 60 Percent Rostered)

QB Trevor Lawrence (at LV)

QB Sam Darnold (at WAS)

RB Bam Knight (at DAL)

RB Kareem Hunt (at BUF)

WR Cooper Kupp (at WAS)

WR Tre Tucker (vs. JAX)

WR Darnell Mooney (at NE)

TE Evan Engram (at HOU)

TE Dalton Schultz (vs. DEN)

K Jake Bates (vs. MIN)

K Tyler Loop (at MIA)

K Michael Badgley (at PIT)

D/ST Rams (vs. NO)

D/ST Lions (vs. MIN)

For Medium-depth Leagues (Under 35 Percent Rostered)

QB Geno Smith (vs. JAX)

RB Kyle Monangai (at CIN)

RB Brashard Smith (at BUF)

WR Alec Pierce (at PIT)

WR Darius Slayton (vs. SF)

WR Christian Watson (vs. CAR)

WRs Elic Ayomanor & Chimere Dike (vs. LAC)

TE Juwan Johnson (at LAR)

TE Theo Johnson (vs. SF)

TE Colston Loveland (at CIN)

TE Jonnu Smith (vs. IND)

K Matt Prater (vs. KC)

D/ST Ravens (at MIA)

For Deep Leagues (Under 15 Percent Rostered)

QB Mac Jones (at NYG)

QB Jake Browning (vs. CHI)

RB Ollie Gordon (vs. BAL)

RB Blake Corum (vs. NO)

RB Emanuel Wilson (vs. CAR)

RB Jeremy McNichols (vs. SEA)

WR Calvin Austin (vs. IND)

WR Jalen Coker (at GB)

WR Tory Horton (at WAS)

WR Parker Washington (at LV)

TE AJ Barner (at WAS)

TE Noah Fant (vs. CHI)

K Joshua Karty (vs. NO)

K Cam Little (at LV)

D/ST Jaguars (at LV)