There’s nothing worse than your fantasy football week ending with multiple single-digit performances in your starting lineup. Before the week starts, seeing a high projection next to your studs and sleepers gives you optimism that this is the week you’re going to outsmart your leaguemates, but once the action ends and reality sets in, it’s not fun. Our Week 9 fantasy busts list is here to help to avoid starting potential duds by highlighting potential start ’em, sit ’em candidates like T.J. Hockenson, Isiah Pacheco, and Tom Brady.
During a 17-game regular season, even superstars can disappoint from time to time (psst, Davante Adams), but you won’t find see players among our bust picks unless we legitimately advise benching them. We highlight players on the start-sit bubble, not “must-starts” and not players only found in the deepest of leagues. With injuries and bye weeks thinning out player pools (even more so this week), you might not have enough depth to bench players on this list. You might also just completely disagree with our choices. Either way, do what you have to do to round out your lineup.
Our picks of Michael Carter, James Robinson, Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk, George Pickens, Tyler Higbee, and the Rams’ D/ST came through last week, and we’ll continue to work hard to highlight trendy players worth fading.
WEEK 9 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Start ’em, sit ’em
Our goal is to get better each week, so without further ado, here are our Week 9 bust picks.
Week 9 Fantasy Busts: Running backs
Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Vikings (Vinnie Iyer). Antonio Gibson feels like a much better play given his recent receiving usage with Taylor Heinicke and the potential negative game script.
Michael Carter, Jets vs. Bills (Sloan Piva). The Bills will surely be pinpointing rushing defense this week after Packers back Aaron Jones gashed them on the ground on Sunday Night Football. Don’t expect similar results from Carter, who has accrued just 55 rushing yards over his last 20 combined carries the past two weeks (2.75 ypc).
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Titans (Matt Lutovsky). Pacheco’s turn as Chiefs’ “starter” resulted in just eight carries and 30 percent of snaps played in Week 7. It’s anyone’s guess as to how he’ll be used after Kansas City’s bye, but it’s safe to say Clyde Edwards-Helaire (six carries, 27 percent of snaps) will still be heavily involved. Against Tennessee, who allows the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game (FPPG) to RBs, Pacheco is a risky flex in all formats.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 9 Fantasy Busts: Quarterbacks
Jared Goff, Lions vs. Packers (Iyer). He will stay cold with limited weapons minus T.J. Hockenson, and the Packers’ pass defense will be up to the task as Detroit is limited with its time on the field.
Tom Brady, Buccaneers vs. Rams (Piva). Brady’s struggles against L.A. have been well-documented since he became a Buc, and Tampa’s divisional-round loss to the eventual champs marked his third loss to them in his past three tries. Now that he’s suffering the roughest patch of his career, don’t expect things to suddenly reverse course against an Aaron Donald-led pass-rush and Jalen Ramsey-led secondary.
Matthew Stafford, Rams @ Buccaneers (Lutovsky). Stafford managed multiple TDs last week for the first time since Week 2, but he needed a rushing score and couldn’t top 200 passing yards. Now, he faces Tampa’s No. 6 defense with a gimpy Cooper Kupp (ankle). No thanks. If anything, Stafford should be closer to waiver wires than starting lineups.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 9 Fantasy Football Busts: Wide receivers
Michael Pittman Jr., Colts at Patriots (Iyer). Sam Ehlinger and a new offensive coordinator suggest they might go back to basics with the running game-heavy approach to grind away in New England.
Jakobi Meyers, Patriots vs. Colts (Piva). The Colts quietly rank in the top 10 in fewest points, total yards, air yards, and passing TDs allowed this season and can focus their efforts more on Meyers now that DeVante Parker is dealing with a knee injury.
Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Bills (Lutovsky). Wilson finally got back on track with a 100-yard showing last week, but in the three previous games, he managed just eight catches for 59 yards. The Bills allow the eighth-fewest FPPG to WRs, so Wilson will likely have to rely on garbage time to pay off in this one. That’s not a risk worth taking.
WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Week 9 Fantasy Football Busts: Tight ends
Taysom Hill, Saints vs. Ravens (Iyer). He’s not getting free for big runs against the speed of the Ravens’ linebacker corps.
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins @ Bears (Piva). The Bears may be without a bunch of household names on defense, but they sure are a lot for offenses to handle. Chicago has only allowed two tight-end TDs this season and has limited the position to 38.9 yards per game.
T.J. Hockenson, Vikings @ Commanders (Lutovsky). Whenever a player joins a team mid-week, he’s a candidate to play fewer snaps than usual. On top of that, Hockenson is going against a Commanders’ defense allowing the fourth-fewest FPPG to TEs. Johnny Mundt (27 targets this year) will also be involved, and Irv Smith Jr. (ankle) owners know how annoying he can be. Smith Jr. averaged just under five targets per game this year, while Hockenson has been seeing just over six. That slightly dims his season-long outlook, starting with this game.
WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 9 Fantasy Busts: Defenses
Miami Dolphins at Bears (Iyer). This is actually a bad matchup for them given how they can get dominated in the running game at times and Justin Fields is a problem running and passing.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Falcons (Piva). The Chargers have been one of the most surprising D/ST busts in fantasy this season, failing to register a solid game since Week 1 against the Raiders. The Falcons, meanwhile, lead the NFC South and have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to team defenses this season. There’s no reason to reach for the Bolts this week.
Los Angeles Rams @ Buccaneers (Lutovsky). L.A. is mainly living off name value at this point, as it has just one takeaway since Week 2. Tom Brady and the Bucs are prone to giving up sacks, but the Rams still have a low ceiling.
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