Week 9 Fantasy Rankings & Tiers
Fantasy QB Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Josh Allen (@ NYJ)
Tier 2
Jalen Hurts (@ HOU)
Patrick Mahomes (vs. TEN)
Lamar Jackson (@ NO)
Kyler Murray (vs. SEA)
Tier 3
Justin Herbert (@ ATL)
Tier 4
Joe Burrow (vs. CAR)
Tua Tagovailoa (@ CHI)
Tier 5
Tom Brady (vs. LAR)
Geno Smith (@ ARI)
Kirk Cousins (@ WAS)
Aaron Rodgers (@ DET)
Justin Fields (vs. MIA)
Derek Carr (@ JAX)
Tier 6
Trevor Lawrence (vs. LV)
Marcus Mariota (vs. LAC)
Tier 7
Jared Goff (vs. GB)
Taylor Heinicke (vs. MIN)
Andy Dalton (vs. BAL)
Matthew Stafford (@ TB)
Mac Jones (vs. IND)
Tier 8
Sam Ehlinger (@ NE)
Tier 9
Zach Wilson (vs. BUF)
P.J. Walker (@ CIN)
Ryan Tannehill (@ KC)
Davis Mills (vs. PHI)
Kirk Cousins has a juicy matchup this week in what is a #RevengeGame for him as he faces a pass-funnel Washington defense that ranks second in DVOA against the run and 28th against the pass. He lost his top TE Irv Smith to an ankle injury that will keep him out for 8-10 weeks, but the Vikings pulled off a trade to get T.J. Hockenson, who’s an upgrade over Smith.
Meanwhile, the Packers predictably did nothing to improve their WR room before the trade deadline, leaving Aaron Rodgers to continue working with the subpar and often-injured group he has. However, he faces the league’s worst defense this week in the Lions. While Rodgers might not throw for a ton of yards (he has yet to top 260 yards this season), he’s a good bet to throw for 2+ touchdowns, something he has done in six of eight games this season. He’s able to sneak in as a low-end QB1 this week as a result.
Justin Fields finds himself on the QB1/2 cusp this week thanks to six teams having a bye week, and thanks to the Bears finally doing things that boost his fantasy value. Not only have the Bears been calling more designed run plays for Fields, which has led him to rush for 60+ yards in three straight games, but they have also traded for Chase Claypool in order to give Fields a significant upgrade at WR. Claypool may not play a huge role in his first week with the team, but it could signal the Bears want to throw a bit more in the second half of the season.
The needle is pointing up for Fields this week and the rest of the season. He’s my top streaming option this week against a Dolphins defense that has struggled against dual-threat QBs this season.
Trevor Lawrence has a mouthwatering matchup against the Raiders this week. While it may be tempting to view him as a QB1 option in a bye-heavy week, I still think of him as a mid-range QB2 option. He has only thrown for two total TDs in the last four games, and he hasn’t been tapping into his rushing upside enough to make up for the lack of passing production. Lawrence has only thrown for 300+ yards once this season, so it’s difficult to trust him even in plus matchups right now.
Besides, the Jaguars’ offense runs through Travis Etienne right now, who has been playing out of his mind lately. The Jaguars landing Calvin Ridley was very good news for Lawrence’s 2023 value and we could see him truly breakout in Year 3.
Sam Ehlinger flopped in his NFL debut. He did not tap into his rushing ability as much as I would have liked, rushing only six times for 15 yards. He has a brutal matchup this week against the Patriots. I’m sure Bill Belichick will find ways to frustrate him by having last week’s film to pick apart his game. Ehlinger may need a few games to hit his stride and I’m eyeing next week’s matchup against the Raiders we see him have a breakout game (for fantasy purposes).
Fantasy RB Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Austin Ekeler (@ ATL)
Tier 2
Travis Etienne (vs. LV)
Josh Jacobs (@ JAX)
Alvin Kamara (vs. BAL)
Derrick Henry (@ KC)
Aaron Jones (@ DET)
Tier 3
Joe Mixon (vs. CAR)
Dalvin Cook (@ WAS)
Tier 4
Kenneth Walker (@ ARI)
Jonathan Taylor (@ NE)
Tier 5
Dameon Pierce (vs. PHI)
Leonard Fournette (vs. LAR)
Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. IND)
Raheem Mostert (@ CHI)
Miles Sanders (@ HOU)
Tier 6
D’Andre Swift (vs. GB)
Devin Singletary (@ NYJ)
Tier 7
D’Onta Foreman (@ CIN)
Damien Harris (vs. IND)
David Montgomery (vs. MIA)
Jamaal Williams (vs. GB)
Tier 8
James Conner (vs. SEA)
A.J. Dillon (@ DET)
Tier 9
Antonio Gibson (vs. MIN)
Michael Carter (vs. BUF)
Khalil Herbert (vs. MIA)
Gus Edwards (@ NO)
Eno Benjamin (vs. SEA)
Isiah Pacheco (vs. TEN)
Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. LAC)
Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. MIN)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. TEN)
Tyler Allgeier (vs. LAC)
Tier 10
Kenyan Drake (@ NO)
Caleb Huntley (vs. LAC)
Darrell Henderson (@ TB)
Rachaad White (vs. LAR)
Dontrell Hilliard (@ KC)
Tier 11
James Cook (@ NYJ)
Chuba Hubbard (@ CIN)
Jerick McKinnon (vs. TEN)
James Robinson (vs. BUF)
J.D. McKissic (vs. MIN)
Sony Michel (@ ATL)
JaMycal Hasty (vs. LV)
Kenneth Gainwell (@ HOU)
Tier 12
Samaje Perine (vs. CAR)
Boston Scott (@ HOU)
Rex Burkhead (vs. PHI)
Ronnie Rivers (@ TB)
Alexander Mattison (@ WAS)
Jeffery Wilson (@ CHI)
Justice Hill (@ NO)
Darrel Williams (vs. SEA)
Deon Jackson (@ NE)
Dwayne Washington (vs. BAL)
Travis Homer (@ ARI)
Tier 13
Craig Reynolds (vs. GB)
Malcolm Brown (@ TB)
Kyren Williams (@ TB)
The trade deadline mostly impacted the RB position, so I’ll use this time to go over the backfields that were involved in trades
Dolphins
The Dolphins traded away Chase Edmonds to the Broncos, while also trading for Jeff Wilson from the 49ers. Wilson is already familiar with Mike McDaniel’s run scheme since it’s identical to the one used by the 49ers. He should be able to step into the No. 2 role right away.
I don’t anticipate Wilson to eat into Raheem Mostert’s role too much and still view Mostert as a solid RB2. He has a plus matchup with the Bears this week and gets to face two of the worst run defenses in the league the following two games in the Browns and Texans. I do think that Wilson could take over as the Dolphins’ goal-line back, which has no real impact on Mostert since he has zero rushing TDs on two rush attempts inside the 5-yard line, although that’s never been his game anyway.
This was good news for Wilson’s fantasy value as he was droppable after the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey, and with Elijah Mitchell nearing a return. He is now Mostert’s clear handcuff, meaning he’s an injury away (behind an injury prone player) of becoming a RB2/3. He may be able to carve out a role as a touchdown-dependent RB3/Flex option even when Mostert is healthy.
Bills
James Cook was the top pass-catching back of the 2022 draft class, but he hasn’t been able to eat into Devin Singletary’s passing-down role as much as I expected this season. Instead, he has become a garbage time specialist whenever the Bills blow the other team out, which has been nearly a weekly occurrence.
However, with the Bills trading for Nyheim Hines, it seems like the Bills do want a pass-catching specialist to take at least some of that work off Singletary’s plate. It’s devastating news for Singletary’s fantasy value since the Bills don’t run enough for him to be involved in a two- or three-way committee and be able to produce consistent RB3/Flex value. Plus, the Bills need to be involved in close games to really maximize Singletary’s value.
Therefore, the Bills being so good is going to hurt Singletary down the stretch and likely still provide James Cook with garbage-time reps. I still think Cook is the only other Bills back worth rostering.
Colts
The Colts essentially swapped Hines for Zack Moss, who profiles much more as Jonathan Taylor’s backup, while Deon Jackson profiles as Nyheim Hines backup. Therefore, Deon Jackson could see an uptick in touches following Hines departure.
I don’t think it’ll be enough in this current Colts offense to consider Jackson as playable in most formats. In the event of a Jonathan Taylor injury, I would lean toward Deon Jackson being the more valuable backup. He has already shined when asked to step up this season and would be in the RB3/Flex discussion if Taylor misses more time.
Broncos
The Broncos decided to bring in Chase Edmonds into their ever-evolving RB room following the Javonte Williams season-ending injury. One of Melvin Gordon, Latavius Murray or Chase Edmonds could emerge as an every-week RB2/3 play, but these are typically the backfields I like to avoid.
There is a path for Edmonds to become an every-week RB3/Flex option without needing Gordon or Murray to get injured, but most likely he will need one of those backs to miss time in order to possibly be considered a safer RB3/Flex option. In Miami, he was just a Mostert injury away from that sort of upside.
Fantasy WR Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Tyreek Hill (@ CHI)
Tier 2
Justin Jefferson (@ WAS)
Stefon Diggs (@ NYJ)
Tier 3
DeAndre Hopkins (vs. SEA)
Cooper Kupp (@ TB)
Tier 4
Tee Higgins (vs. CAR)
Davante Adams (@ JAX)
A.J. Brown (@ HOU)
Jaylen Waddle (@ CHI)
Amon-Ra St. Brown (vs. GB)
Tier 5
Chris Godwin (vs. LAR)
Tier 6
Mike Evans (vs. LAR)
D.J. Moore (@ CIN)
D.K. Metcalf (@ ARI)
Keenan Allen (@ ATL)
Tyler Boyd (vs. CAR)
Tier 7
JuJu Smith-Schuster (vs. TEN)
Terry McLaurin (vs. MIN)
Curtis Samuel (vs. MIN)
Tyler Lockett (@ ARI)
Gabriel Davis (@ NYJ)
Christian Kirk (vs. LV)
DeVonta Smith (@ HOU)
Michael Pittman Jr. (@ NE)
Adam Thielen (@ WAS)
Chris Olave (vs. BAL)
Tier 8
Rondale Moore (vs. SEA)
Josh Palmer (@ ATL)
Brandin Cooks (vs. PHI)
Jakobi Meyers (vs. IND)
Romeo Doubs (@ DET)
Allen Lazard (@ DET)
Darnell Mooney (vs. MIA)
Robert Woods (@ KC)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (vs. TEN)
Drake London (vs. LAC)
Tier 9
Josh Reynolds (vs. GB)
Kalif Raymond (vs. GB)
Zay Jones (vs. LV)
Allen Robinson (@ TB)
Alec Pierce (@ NE)
Hunter Renfrow (@ JAX)
DeAndre Carter (@ ATL)
Garrett Wilson (vs. BUF)
Devin Duvernay (@ NO)
K.J. Osborn (@ WAS)
Tier 10
Michael Thomas (vs. BAL)
Marvin Jones (vs. LV)
Sammy Watkins (@ DET)
Olamide Zaccheaus (vs. LAC)
Mack Hollins (@ JAX)
Terrace Marshall (@ CIN)
Phillip Dorsett (vs. PHI)
Corey Davis (vs. BUF)
Van Jefferson (@ TB)
Mecole Hardman (vs. TEN)
Isaiah McKenzie (@ NYJ)
Kendrick Bourne (vs. IND)
Mike Thomas (vs. CAR)
Tier 11
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (@ KC)
Tyquan Thornton (vs. IND)
Jarvis Landry (vs. BAL)
Parris Campbell (@ NE)
Nelson Agholor (vs. IND)
Demarcus Robinson (@ NO)
Julio Jones (vs. LAR)
Trent Sherfield (@ CHI)
James Proche (@ NO)
Cam Sims (vs. MIN)
Russell Gage (vs. LAR)
DeAndre Hopkins rewarded his fantasy managers who were willing to eat donuts from Weeks 1-6 by going off for 10/103/0 and 12/159/1 in his first two games back. One of the things that could be fueling this outburst is Kliff Kingsbury finally moving him around the formation, as he has lined up in the slot 25% of the time this year, compared to just 15% last year. He’s a matchup nightmare in the slot and it allows the Cardinals to move him around to avoid the opposing team’s top corner. He is a top-five option heading into Week 9.
P.J. Walker has saved D.J. Moore’s season and fantasy managers better hope that he’s able to hang on to the starting job for the remainder of the season. He has targeted Moore on 36% of his routes run the past two weeks, and even connected with him on a pass that traveled 67.6 yards in the air, the longest recorded competition distance since NextGenStats started tracking in 2016:
PJ Walker's Hail Mary TD pass to D.J. Moore traveled 67.6 yards in the air, the longest completion by air distance in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016).
🔹 Completion Probability: 11.5%#CARvsATL | Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/FaXEOxkLhQ
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 30, 2022
Moore is a high-end WR2 option against a Bengals secondary that has been decimated by injuries heading into Week 9.
D.K. Metcalf is turning into the revised Aesop’s Fable of “The Boy Who Was Carted Off,” as it looked like he was going to be out an extended period of time due to a knee injury, only to look like himself the following week, posting a 6/55/1 line and I would imagine was on most people’s bench last week. Fire up the stud wide out as a high-end WR2 option this week.
Don’t be too concerned with Chris Olave’s early week rank as I’m (probably foolishly) projecting Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Adam Trautman to return to action this week. If we get word that either Thomas and/or Landry will miss Week 9, Olave’s rank will shoot up.
Romeo Doubs made one of the best catches of the season on Sunday Night Football:
ROMEO. DOUBS. 😤
(via @packers)pic.twitter.com/SSfg03MhTe
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 31, 2022
Aaron Rodgers threw the ball where only Doubs could catch it and he adjusted perfectly to haul it in. Allen Lazard seems likely to return to action this week, but I’m still projecting Doubs slightly ahead of him. We could see a true breakout game from Doubs against a pathetic Lions’ defense.
It has been frustrating to see Drake London get held back by the Falcons extreme run-heavy approach, but we have to view the talented rookie more as a low-end WR3 option until the Falcons offense approach changes drastically.
Kalif Raymond has quietly become a very consistent option in deeper leagues as he has managed to either catch 5+ balls and/or clear 75 receiving yards in three straight games. Following the T.J. Hockenson trade, Raymond could pick up an extra target or two as a result. He’s on the WR3/4 cusp this week due to his strong play and due to six teams on bye this week.
Terrace Marshall has also benefited from the Panthers opting to go with Walker under center as he is coming off a career-best (4/87/0) performance last week. It’s too early to write off the talented second-year receiver who was drafted in the second round for a reason. He was commanding targets at LSU when playing alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. We have to forgive him for having a bit of a slow start to his career considering he’s had Sam Darnold, Cam Newton and Baker Mayfield throwing him passes for most of his first two seasons. He’s averaging a 95% route participation since the Robbie Anderson trade and he makes for a sneaky WR5 play in deeper leagues this week and in DFS.
Fantasy TE Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Travis Kelce (vs. TEN)
Tier 2
Mark Andrews (@ NO)
Tier 3
Dallas Goedert (@ HOU)
Tier 4
Zach Ertz (vs. SEA)
Kyle Pitts (vs. LAC)
Taysom Hill (vs. BAL)
Hayden Hurst (vs. CAR)
Gerald Everett (@ ATL)
Tyler Higbee (@ TB)
Tier 5
Robert Tonyan Jr. (@ DET)
Evan Engram (vs. LV)
Darren Waller (@ JAX)
Tier 6
Dawson Knox (@ NYJ)
Tyler Conklin (vs. BUF)
Mike Gesicki (@ CHI)
Cameron Brate (vs. LAR)
Tier 7
Noah Fant (@ ARI)
Will Dissly (@ ARI)
Hunter Henry (vs. IND)
Juwan Johnson (vs. BAL)
Tier 8
Brock Wright (vs. GB)
Cole Kmet (vs. MIA)
T.J. Hockenson (@ WAS)
Isaiah Likely (@ NO)
Logan Thomas (vs. MIN)
Foster Moreau (@ JAX)
Johnny Mundt (@ WAS)
Jonnu Smith (vs. IND)
Tier 9
Brevin Jordan (vs. PHI)
Chigoziem Okonkwo (@ KC)
Tommy Tremble (@ CIN)
Austin Hooper (@ KC)
Jordan Akins (vs. PHI)
Cade Otton (vs. LAR)
O.J. Howard (vs. PHI)
Mark Andrews seems to have escaped a serious injury to his shoulder, but there’s still a chance he’s held out this week considering the Ravens have a bye next week. They may want him to be 100% heading into Week 11. If the Ravens do end up holding out Andrews, Isaiah Likely would be a borderline top 3 option. No, that is not a typo, as when I ran my initial projections with Andrews out, Likely ended up as the No. 2 TE in my rankings! Therefore, if Andrews is ruled out, run to the waiver wire to add Likely. With Rashod Bateman out as well, Likely would “likely” be a target monster this week.
Early in the season, I was hinting that Hayden Hurst was a tight end to keep an eye on because he would offer mid-range TE1 value if one of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins or Tyler Boyd was ever to miss time. With Chase now expected to miss 4-6 games, we should be viewing Hurst as a top-10 option until he returns.
Tyler Higbee has been battling through injuries and given the Rams’ offensive-line woes has been asked to stay in and block more. He’s posted back-to-back duds as a result, but with six teams on a bye this week, he should still be viewed as a low-end TE1.
It’s still unclear as to if/when Darren Waller will be able to return from his hamstring injury. We will have to monitor his practice reports closely, but I think we may want to leave him on the bench until he gets through a game fully healthy. We have to remember that while Waller broke onto the scene just a few years ago, he was a bit of a late bloomer. He turned 30 earlier this season and is already in the decline phase of his career and these injuries tend to linger a bit longer than a player in their prime.
Tier 7 is where all the action is. Brock Wright will likely become the lead TE for the Lions following the T.J. Hockenson trade. However, expect most of those left over targets to go to the receivers, plus, James Mitchell will likely see quite a bit of playing time as well. Hockenson will probably get eased into action with his new team, so I would leave him on the bench for this week (unless we get word he will play over 70% of the snaps or something).
Likely and Foster Moreau will shoot up my ranks if their team’s starting TE is ruled out for Week 9. Johnny Mundt’s final rank will depend on how many snaps we are expecting T.J. Hockenson to play. We should have a much better idea later in the week.