With six teams on bye in Week 9, the majority of fantasy owners are likely looking toward their bench and the waiver wire for formidable fill-ins to keep their team’s competitive. As we head into the stretch run of the fantasy football season, our Week 9 fantasy sleeper picks are even more important than in previous weeks. Guys like Justin Fields, Josh Palmer, and Chase Claypool might find their way into start ’em, sit ’em debates this week, and we’re here to give our take on players you should buy low on.
Reminder: The sleeper picks below could fail miserably this week. We always take a few chances because listing a bunch of “must-starts” and pretending they’re “sleepers” doesn’t help anyone. There’s no need to start the players below over proven studs, but if your roster is full of stars, then you don’t need our help anyway. If nothing else, our sleeper picks can help you spot DFS values, as the prices of these players should be affordable.
Last week, we had a good feel for running backs, cashing in on effective performances from Antonio Gibson, D’Onta Forman, and Latavius Murray while getting also solid fantasy showings from Andy Dalton and Mike Gesicki along with the Commanders’ and Jaguars’ D/ST. We’ll look to keep it going with a fresh crop of potential surprises and breakouts.
WEEK 9 FANTASY PICKS: Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
Let’s get to it with our Week 9 sleeper picks.
Week 9 Fantasy Sleepers: Running backs
AJ Dillon, Packers at Lions (Vinnie Iyer). Dillon hasn’t had an RB2 finish since Week 1, when he was a borderline RB1. That changes in Detroit as Green Bay stays run-heavy and works to get him 12-15 key touches playing off Aaron Jones.
Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Dolphins (Nick Musial). Despite playing just 22 snaps (28-percent snap share), Herbert got a good deal of touches and was efficient (16 carries, 99 yards, one TD). While he did most of his damage during garbage time, he’s a big-play threat waiting to happen (6.5 yards per touch) and has more pop than David Montgomery. Don’t be surprised to see a similar rushing output this week against a Dolphins defense allowing the ninth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to RBs (22.2).
Dontrell Hilliard, Titans @ Chiefs (Matt Lutovsky). Hilliard turned a season-high nine touches into 95 total yards last week, and he figures to see an even bigger workload in another favorable matchup this week. The Chiefs entered Week 8 allowing the seventh-most FPPG to RBs, including the most receptions per game (8.7). Hilliard should be a solid, high-floor flex in PPR leagues and could even have some standard appeal, too.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Quarterbacks
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars vs. Raiders (Iyer). The Raiders give up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks, including rushing TDs, which bodes well for Lawrence’s passing profile as he also tends to be a better passer at home.
Justin Fields, Bears vs. Dolphins (Musial). Fields sits as the overall QB2 over the past two weeks, as his ability to aid in the rushing game boosts his fantasy floor. Miami’s defense enters Week 9 allowing the sixth-most FPPG to QBs (20.2) and had trouble limiting Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense last week. Sunday’s game has the potential for a shootout, resulting in a third-straight solid showing from Fields.
Andy Dalton, Saints vs. Ravens (Lutovsky). Despite numerous injuries to New Orleans’ receiving corps, Dalton has found his groove the past two weeks, throwing for 590 yards and six TDs. Yes, some of that production came in garbage time in Week 7 after Dalton threw two pick-sixes, but it’s clear the “Red Rifle” is going to keep gunnin’ against Baltimore’s 28th-ranked pass defense. Let’s just hope Taysom Hill doesn’t steal any short TDs.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide receivers
Darnell Mooney, Bears vs. Dolphins (Iyer). The big plays are starting to come and the long touchdown is long overdue. It comes here against a beat-up secondary playing off a Fields scramble.
Demarcus Robinson, Ravens @ Raiders (Musial). Robinson is in line for a high target share this week with Rashod Bateman (foot) already ruled out and Mark Andrews (shoulder, ankle) banged up. Robinson draws an enticing matchup against a Raiders pass defense that sports PFF’s sixth-lowest coverage grade (57.1). A five- or six-catch performance where Robinson reaches the end zone could pay off for fantasy owners in need of a viable streaming option.
Josh Palmer, Chargers @ Falcons (Lutovsky). Palmer had his ups and downs as L.A.’s de facto No. 2 wide receiver while Keenan Allen was out, but now he’ll try it again in a slightly different way with Mike Williams (ankle) out. The Falcons allow the most FPPG to wide receivers, so Palmer would’ve been in play even if he was L.A.’s No. 3 this week.
BONUS: Chase Claypool, Bears vs. Dolphins (Lutovsky). Claypool might not play a ton of snaps, but his big-play potential makes him a solid WR3/flex against Miami’s 26th-ranked pass defense. The Bears are attempting the fewest passes per game in the NFL — almost 17 fewer than Pittsburgh — so this move isn’t necessarily a positive for Claypool’s long-term value, but the rejuvenated receiver can still make an impact in this highly favorable matchup.
WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Tight ends
Robert Tonyan, Packers at Lions (Iyer). Tonyan is finding the end zone a la Gesicki this week after having a score being called back in Buffalo.
Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Bills (Musial). Conklin showed out in Week 8, hauling in six passes for 79 yards and two TDs. While the Bills have limited production from the tight end position this season, with Buffalo pegged as double-digit road favorites, Zach Wilson and the Jets’ offense is going to have to air the football out. Conklin could garner a fair share of targets for a second-straight week, so he has the chance to finish as a top-10 TE in PPR leagues.
Logan Thomas, Commanders vs. Vikings (Lutovsky). Thomas returned from a calf injury last week and promptly disappointed with zero targets. Forget him, right? Well, he played 56 percent of snaps and ran his usual number of routes. The Vikings are allowing the sixth-most FPPG to TEs, so Thomas is a sneaky sleeper this week if you’re in a bind at TE.
WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Defense
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Raiders (Iyer). This isn’t chasing the Saints’ shutout but rather believing the Raiders’ offense is quite broken at the moment when Josh Jacobs doesn’t carry it. The Jaguars have enough playmakers to keep Derek Carr cold.
Green Bay Packers @ Lions (Musial). While Green Bay’s defense most recently allowed 27 points to the Bills, they did make some second-half adjustments, giving up just three points over the final 30 minutes of play. The Packers won’t face as nearly as potent of an offense this week when they head to Detroit. A couple of turnovers and sacks on Jared Goff could make the Packers a worthwhile start.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Panthers (Lutovsky). It’s tough to find a good D/ST sleeper this week, but the Bengals have some upside at home against a shaky Panthers’ offense. Carolina yielded a pick-six last week despite an offensive explosion, and Cincinnati has done a good job holding offenses below 20 points this year (five out of eight games). The Bengals will get a couple of sacks and a takeaway or two to give them a high floor.
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