The fantasy football playoffs draw ever closer as Week 9 start/sit decisions loom large, and there’s no shortage of injury news to monitor.
I’m projecting Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins as if they will play through injury, but both are shaping up to be closer to doubtful. If you have either player, you need to start making backup plans.
Meanwhile, the 49ers, Jaguars, Bears and Panthers all have running back situations still up in the air.
With all that said, let’s run through the final edition of my Week 9 fantasy football tiers so we can optimize our teams for this week. And as always, a lot can change between writing on Saturday and kickoff, so be sure to check my updated rankings before making your final lineup decisions.
Fantasy Football Tiers
Fantasy QB Tiers
Tier 1
Josh Allen (@ JAX)
Lamar Jackson (vs. MIN)
Tier 2
Patrick Mahomes (vs. GB)
Jalen Hurts (vs. LAC)
Tier 3
Matthew Stafford (vs. TEN)
Tier 4
Justin Herbert (@ PHI)
Dak Prescott (vs. DEN)
Tier 5
Daniel Jones (vs. LV)
Joe Burrow (vs. CLE)
Tua Tagovailoa (vs. HOU)
Derek Carr (@ NYG)
Ryan Tannehill (@ LAR)
Tier 6
Kyler Murray (@ SF)
Kirk Cousins (@ BAL)
Carson Wentz (vs. NYJ)
Tier 7
Tyrod Taylor (@ MIA)
Ben Roethlisberger (vs. CHI)
Mac Jones (@ CAR)
Teddy Bridgewater (@ DAL)
Jordan Love (@ KC)
Jimmy Garoppolo (vs. ARI)
Tier 8
Baker Mayfield (@ CIN)
Sam Darnold (vs. NE)
Matt Ryan (@ NO)
Justin Fields (@ PIT)
Trevor Lawrence (vs. BUF)
Mike White (@ IND)
Trevor Siemian (vs. ATL)
Tier 9
Taysom Hill (vs. ATL)
Trey Lance (vs. ARI)
Fantasy RB Tiers
Tier 1
Jonathan Taylor (vs. NYJ)
Najee Harris (vs. CHI)
Alvin Kamara (vs. ATL)
Tier 2
Austin Ekeler (@ PHI)
Ezekiel Elliott (vs. DEN)
Tier 3
Dalvin Cook (@ BAL)
Darrell Henderson (vs. TEN)
Nick Chubb (@ CIN)
Aaron Jones (@ KC)
Tier 4
Joe Mixon (vs. CLE)
Tier 5
Damien Harris (@ CAR)
Michael Carter (@ IND)
Myles Gaskin (vs. HOU)
Devontae Booker (vs. LV)
Josh Jacobs (@ NYG)
Tier 6
Cordarrelle Patterson (@ NO)
Zack Moss (@ JAX)
Tier 7
Khalil Herbert (@ PIT)
Christian McCaffrey (vs. NE)
Darrel Williams (vs. GB)
James Robinson (vs. BUF)
Chase Edmonds (@ SF)
Tier 8
Elijah Mitchell (vs. ARI)
Javonte Williams (@ DAL)
Tier 9
Melvin Gordon (@ DAL)
Boston Scott (vs. LAC)
Jeremy McNichols (@ LAR)
Chuba Hubbard (vs. NE)
Tony Pollard (vs. DEN)
Mike Davis (@ NO)
Tier 10
James Conner (@ SF)
A.J. Dillon (@ KC)
Adrian Peterson (@ LAR)
Devin Singletary (@ JAX)
David Johnson (@ MIA)
Devonta Freeman (vs. MIN)
D’Ernest Johnson (@ CIN)
Salvon Ahmed (vs. HOU)
Kenyan Drake (@ NYG)
Ty Johnson (@ IND)
Nyheim Hines (vs. NYJ)
Le’Veon Bell (vs. MIN)
Tier 11
Mark Ingram (vs. ATL)
Derrick Gore (vs. GB)
Brandon Bolden (@ CAR)
Kenneth Gainwell (vs. LAC)
JaMycal Hasty (vs. ARI)
Samaje Perine (vs. CLE)
David Montgomery (@ PIT)
Sony Michel (vs. TEN)
Phillip Lindsay (@ MIA)
Ty’Son Williams (vs. MIN)
Jordan Howard (vs. LAC)
Jeffery Wilson (vs. ARI)
Carlos Hyde (vs. BUF)
Fantasy WR Tiers
Tier 1
Cooper Kupp (vs. TEN)
Tier 2
Tyreek Hill (vs. GB)
Tier 3
Stefon Diggs (@ JAX)
A.J. Brown (@ LAR)
Ja’Marr Chase (vs. CLE)
CeeDee Lamb (vs. DEN)
Justin Jefferson (@ BAL)
Tier 4
Deebo Samuel (vs. ARI)
Davante Adams (@ KC)
Tier 5
Keenan Allen (@ PHI)
Diontae Johnson (vs. CHI)
D.J. Moore (vs. NE)
Robert Woods (vs. TEN)
Amari Cooper (vs. DEN)
Jaylen Waddle (vs. HOU)
Michael Pittman Jr. (vs. NYJ)
Mike Williams (@ PHI)
Marquise Brown (vs. MIN)
Adam Thielen (@ BAL)
Tee Higgins (vs. CLE)
Tier 6
DeAndre Hopkins (@ SF)
Brandin Cooks (@ MIA)
Hunter Renfrow (@ NYG)
Tier 7
Chase Claypool (vs. CHI)
Kadarius Toney (vs. LV)
Jarvis Landry (@ CIN)
Courtland Sutton (@ DAL)
Van Jefferson (vs. TEN)
Jamison Crowder (@ IND)
Jerry Jeudy (@ DAL)
Tyler Boyd (vs. CLE)
Emmanuel Sanders (@ JAX)
Devonta Smith (vs. LAC)
Julio Jones (@ LAR)
Cole Beasley (@ JAX)
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Tier 8
Christian Kirk (@ SF)
Marvin Jones (vs. BUF)
Jakobi Meyers (@ CAR)
Zach Pascal (vs. NYJ)
Bryan Edwards (@ NYG)
Rondale Moore (@ SF)
Tier 9
Allen Robinson (@ PIT)
Tim Patrick (@ DAL)
Darnell Mooney (@ PIT)
Rashod Bateman (vs. MIN)
Kenny Golladay (vs. LV)
Marquez Callaway (vs. ATL)
Mecole Hardman (vs. GB)
Laviska Shenault (vs. BUF)
Brandon Aiyuk (vs. ARI)
Darius Slayton (vs. LV)
Nelson Agholor (@ CAR)
Jamal Agnew (vs. BUF)
Deonte Harris (vs. ATL)
Quez Watkins (vs. LAC)
Sammy Watkins (vs. MIN)
Tier 10
K.J. Osborn (@ BAL)
Nico Collins (@ MIA)
Robby Anderson (vs. NE)
Kendrick Bourne (@ CAR)
Elijah Moore (@ IND)
Tre’Quan Smith (vs. ATL)
Russell Gage (@ NO)
Cedrick Wilson (vs. DEN)
Jalen Reagor (vs. LAC)
Tajae Sharpe (@ NO)
Danny Amendola (@ MIA)
Gabriel Davis (@ JAX)
Zay Jones (@ NYG)
Denzel Mims (@ IND)
Fantasy TE Tiers
Tier 1
Travis Kelce (vs. GB)
Tier 2
Darren Waller (@ NYG)
Tier 3
Mark Andrews (vs. MIN)
Kyle Pitts (@ NO)
Mike Gesicki (vs. HOU)
Dallas Goedert (vs. LAC)
Dalton Schultz (vs. DEN)
Tier 4
Tyler Higbee (vs. TEN)
Tier 5
George Kittle (vs. ARI)
Tier 6
Pat Freiermuth (vs. CHI)
Zach Ertz (@ SF)
Tyler Conklin (@ BAL)
Dan Arnold (vs. BUF)
Albert Okwuegbunam (@ DAL)
Evan Engram (vs. LV)
Jared Cook (@ PHI)
Hunter Henry (@ CAR)
C.J. Uzomah (vs. CLE)
Tier 7
Tommy Sweeney (@ JAX)
Mo Alie-Cox (vs. NYJ)
Cole Kmet (@ PIT)
Hayden Hurst (@ NO)
David Njoku (@ CIN)
Austin Hooper (@ CIN)
Tier 8
Jonnu Smith (@ CAR)
Jordan Akins (@ MIA)
Jack Doyle (vs. NYJ)
Adam Trautman (vs. ATL)
Foster Moreau (@ NYG)
Geoff Swaim (@ LAR)
Brevin Jordan (@ MIA)
Tommy Tremble (vs. NE)
Adam Shaheen (vs. HOU)
Anthony Firkser (@ LAR)
Josiah Deguara (@ KC)
Fantasy Kicker Tiers
Tier 1
Tyler Bass (@ JAX)
Matt Gay (vs. TEN)
Justin Tucker (vs. MIN)
Greg Zuerlein (vs. DEN)
Jason Sanders (vs. HOU)
Michael Badgley (vs. NYJ)
Harrison Butker (vs. GB)
Tier 2
Evan McPherson (vs. CLE)
Daniel Carlson (@ NYG)
Dustin Hopkins (@ PHI)
Graham Gano (vs. LV)
Nick Folk (@ CAR)
Robbie Gould (vs. ARI)
Josh Lambo (vs. CHI)
Brian Johnson (vs. ATL)
Ka’imi Fairbairn (@ MIA)
Brandon McManus (@ DAL)
Jake Elliott (vs. LAC)
Tier 3
Randy Bullock (@ LAR)
Matt Prater (@ SF)
Younghoe Koo (@ NO)
Chase McLaughlin (@ CIN)
Matt Ammendola (@ IND)
Mason Crosby (@ KC)
Greg Joseph (@ BAL)
Zane Gonzalez (vs. NE)
Tier 4
Matthew Wright (vs. BUF)
Cairo Santos (@ PIT)
Fantasy Defense Tiers
Tier 1
Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CHI)
Buffalo Bills (@ JAX)
Indianapolis Colts (vs. NYJ)
Tier 2
New England Patriots (@ CAR)
Dallas Cowboys (vs. DEN)
Kansas City Chiefs (vs. GB)
New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)
Los Angeles Rams (vs. TEN)
Tier 3
Las Vegas Raiders (@ NYG)
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. CLE)
San Francisco 49ers (vs. ARI)
Miami Dolphins (vs. HOU)
Chicago Bears (@ PIT)
Baltimore Ravens (vs. MIN)
Carolina Panthers (vs. NE)
Arizona Cardinals (@ SF)
Tier 4
New York Giants (vs. LV)
Cleveland Browns (@ CIN)
Los Angeles Chargers (@ PHI)
Atlanta Falcons (@ NO)
Houston Texans (@ MIA)
Philadelphia Eagles (vs. LAC)
Minnesota Vikings (@ BAL)
Tier 5
New York Jets (@ IND)
Green Bay Packers (@ KC)
Denver Broncos (@ DAL)
Tennessee Titans (@ LAR)
Tier 6
Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. BUF)