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Fantasy Football Week 9 CERTAIN Sit’ Em Start ‘Em
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- Fantasy Football Week 9 CERTAIN Sit’ Em Start ‘Em
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Sue Levine, Editor
Fantasy football is in full swing heading into NFL Week 9, and it is officially time for some managers to make a playoff push. This article will help you make the right decisions and take you to the promised land, also known as the fantasy football playoffs. Last week, we went over four players who managers needed to start for NFL Week 8: Geno Smith, Rhamondre Stevenson, Michael Wilson, and Colston Loveland. All of them exceeded their projections and helped managers around the fantasy football world win their Week 8 matchups. Here are four more players who will have big weeks, along with four players who are better off on your bench in NFL Week 9.
All projections are based on Sleeper's standard PPR fantasy format.
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Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit 'Em, Start 'Em – Quarterback
Start 'Em: Drew Lock / Week 9 Projection – 18.51 FPTS vs. Arizona Cardinals
On Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks announced that Sam Darnold will miss Week 9 against the Cardinals with a quad injury. For the Seahawks, it's next man up, and their backup situation is pretty strong with Drew Lock, whom we've already gotten a taste of this season when Darnold suffered an injury earlier in the season.
When Lock took over the offense in Week 1, he showed some grit and real poise in the season opener against the New England Patriots, going on to win the game. In Week 2, when Lock got his only start, it came in Arizona, where he produced 21.40 fantasy football points and showed that vintage Drew Lock swag we saw back in his Denver days.
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With how this Arizona defense has played this season, allowing just over 220 passing yards per game along with 2.25 passing touchdowns per game, we know this Seattle offense will try to take advantage of that secondary, especially in the red zone throughout Sunday's game. With Lock already seeing and torching this defense once, the quarterback is a comfortable start in deeper leagues or Superflex leagues in Darnold's absence.
Sep 20, 2026; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) looks to throw in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Sit 'Em: Patrick Mahomes / Week 9 Projection – 21.32 FPTS vs. New York Jets
The Chiefs host the New York Jets on Sunday in a huge bounce-back spot after suffering a brutal late-game loss to division rival Denver in a game that the Chiefs had full control of throughout the second half. The Jets should be a much easier opponent for this Kansas City team, and that's what's scary about starting Mahomes in your fantasy football lineup. An early lead could lead to a larger Kenneth Walker role, with the Chiefs riding the running back to control the game after collapsing late against Denver. That type of game script could lead to a flat fantasy football performance from Mahomes.
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The Jets ' pass defense has really held it down for the most part, giving up under 200 passing yards per game. They are allowing just 194 yards through the air per game and fewer than two passing touchdowns per game. Although Mahomes is a great talent and one of the best quarterbacks we have ever seen, this projection seems a little high and misleading. If you have another option on your bench or the waiver wire with a better matchup, benching Mahomes and going with a different quarterback is a better decision. It could give you a better chance to win your fantasy football matchup by providing more upside in Week 9.
Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit 'Em, Start 'Em – Running Back
Start 'Em: Jonah Coleman / Week 9 Projection – 13.88 FPTS @ Carolina Panthers
Denver Broncos running back J onah Coleman had a true breakout game against the Chiefs on Sunday. Denver had high hopes for the rookie running back, but once Coleman hit the IR after suffering an early-season ankle injury, the hype was put on pause. In the running back's second game back, he scored 20.40 fantasy football points on 11 carries and four receptions, producing 104 all-purpose yards and finding his way into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
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With second-year running back Harvey being placed on IR last week, this Broncos backfield will have to lean on the rookie more and more. Taking on the Panthers should be another good opportunity for the running back to have a big week, as Carolina's defense gives up 140 rushing yards per game and has allowed 12 rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs in seven games so far this season. Coleman is a must-start at this point in fantasy football and should go over his 13.88 projection in Week 9.
Nov 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah (91) makes a tackle on Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman (20) during the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Sit 'Em: Josh Jacobs / Week 9 Projection – 14.90 FPTS @ New England Patriots
Josh Jacobs has been a huge asset to this Green Bay offense since returning to the team in Week 7, producing a ton of fantasy football points and finding his way into the end zone three times in just two games. With all that being said, this is a nightmare matchup for any running back who has to go into New England and try to produce at a high level.
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This Patriots defense has only allowed six rushing touchdowns all year and has kept opposing running backs in check on the receiving side of things as well. Jacobs feels like a boom-or-bust start this week, one that is dependent on scoring a touchdown, which is going to be tough to do against the Patriots. New England should hold Jacobs in check and force Jordan Love to throw the football, which has a much better chance of working and has been very successful for the Packers offense this season. Jacobs will be less involved this week compared to previous weeks against this solid Patriots defense. Sit the Packers running back with confidence, and thank me later.
Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit 'Em, Start 'Em – Wide Receiver
Start 'Em: Ladd McConkey / Week 9 Projection – 12.08 FPTS vs. Houston Texans
The Chargers are the only team in the NFL that is winless heading into Week 9, and they feel somewhat due for a win. This week, LA takes on the Houston Texans , a team that flipped identities during the offseason, having to lean more on its offense rather than its defense, which was one of the best units in the NFL last season. So far this season, the Texans' defense has held the run in check but can't seem to get off the field on late downs because their pass defense continues to get picked apart.
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This feels like a great spot not only for Herbert and the Chargers' passing game to get going but also for Ladd McConkey to have a breakout game and get going in the right direction for fantasy football managers who have a share of the Georgia alum. Although Ladd has been frustrating for managers so far this year, the wideout should have a solid fantasy football performance in Week 9 with a good matchup and is a comfortable flex option.
Sep 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) catches a pass for 19 yards during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Former Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Sit 'Em: DJ Moore / Week 9 Projection – 12.95 FPTS @ Minnesota Vikings
DJ Moore finally participated in a full game in Week 8 for the Bills last Sunday, taking on the Baltimore Ravens in a matchup that wasn't as entertaining as all of us NFL fans wanted it to be. Nonetheless, the Buffalo Bills had a strong performance, including wideout DJ Moore , who was overall pretty involved and found his way into the end zone in the fourth quarter. Although Moore had a strong performance in his first game back, Week 9 is going to be a tough task not only for the wideout but for the entire Bills offense as they take on the best defense in the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings.
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With the Vikings' defense allowing only four receiving touchdowns to wide receivers all year, which is just a jaw-dropping stat, Moore doesn't feel like a safe start whatsoever. This prime-time matchup just screams Josh Allen and James Cook legacy games on the ground. With how often this Vikings defense brings the blitz, we can expect Allen and Cook to get to the second level a few times and gash this defense on the ground. Moore's involvement could be generally low, and his fantasy football performance could be very touchdown-dependent, which is never what you want to bet on as a fantasy football manager.
Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit 'Em, Start 'Em – Tight End
Start 'Em: Kyle Pitts / Week 9 Projection – 9.47 FPTS vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Falcons' offense put up a big ol' goose egg in Week 8 as they took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a monsoon game. This game was a nightmare for the Atlanta Falcons, one that the offense as a whole probably scratched from its memory as soon as it ended. Tight end Kyle Pitts had scored in three straight games leading up to the Tampa game and should have made it four if Penix could have hit Pitts in stride as the tight end was streaking down the field wide open during the first half of Sunday's game.
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This Sunday, Atlanta travels overseas to take on a Bengals team that had a roller-coaster 43-36 win over the Titans in Week 8. This is a big bounce-back spot for the Falcons' offense and the Bengals' defense. Atlanta will get the passing game trending in the right direction like it was before last weekend. Expect all the Falcons' skill players to have a big week, including tight end Kyle Pitts. With a good matchup, Pitts should definitely hit or go over his 9.47 projection this weekend in Madrid.
Sit 'Em: Michael Mayer / Week 9 Projection – 8.1 FPTS @ San Francisco 49ers
Fantasy football managers have fallen in love with the TE2 in Las Vegas , Michael Mayer. Yes, Brock Bowers is the best tight end in the NFL and one of the best we have ever seen, but his counterpart, Mayer, has had a great season himself, coming in at tight end 12 through eight weeks of fantasy football. This Sunday, the Raiders have a tough matchup, though, taking on a 49ers defense that has been really solid against the tight end position.
With Bowers having a massive role, Jeanty's routes run climbing every week, and Tre Tucker being the downfield threat, these opportunities for Mayer should get thinner and thinner. That, combined with a tough matchup against a stout San Francisco defense, makes Mayer feel like an extremely sketchy start for fantasy football managers. There are better streaming options on waivers in most leagues, and it might be time to drop Mayer, as he has already peaked in fantasy football relevancy.
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The Last Word
Last week, I helped fantasy football managers make sure they had the right guys in their lineups, and this week, you can expect more of the same. All of these sit and start decisions are based on matchups, recent trends, and a little bit of a gut feeling coming from someone who has a great feel for fantasy football.
It's crunch time for fantasy football, and that means working the waivers, looking for trades, and making sure you have the right guy in your lineup, along with the right guys on your bench when the upside isn't there for a certain matchup.
Good luck to all of you! Keep coming back to LWOS for all your fantasy football advice throughout the season!
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