Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Players to start or sit in Week 9

This week, we reach the midpoint of the NFL regular season as well as the leaguewide trade deadline. The confluence underscores how important it is for teams – both real and fantasy – to decide whether they have championship potential or not.

All NFL trades will have to be completed well before Week 9 fantasy lineups need to be set, so some of the moves could have an impact going forward. But for now, let’s take a look at some players at each position fantasy managers may be on the fence about having active this week.

Here's who to start (and who to sit) in fantasy football for NFL Week 9.

Quarterbacks to Start in Week 9

Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

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Yes, Howell was awful against the Giants two weeks ago, but he posted a pair of top-7 finishes before that and was the No. 1 fantasy quarterback this past week, throwing for 397 yards and four touchdowns against the Eagles.

While Howell has been sacked a league-high 40 times, he’ll be facing a Patriots defense that doesn’t put a ton of pressure on the quarterback, ranking next-to-last in sacks through eight games – and one that gave up 324 passing yards to the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

While he ranks a disappointing 16th among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game, Prescott just turned in his most impressive outing of the season on Sunday, a 304-yard, four-touchdown effort against the Rams.

It’s possible the Cowboys used their bye week to find answers to their season-long red-zone inefficiency. Even better elixir may be facing a beleaguered Eagles secondary the Commanders’ Howell just carved up.

Quarterbacks to sit in Week 9

Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts

Minshew is coming off his worst game of the season, completing just 56% of his passes against the Browns and averaging just 5.2 yards per attempt. While he’s still a capable threat in the pocket, the game script this week against the Panthers should be heavily tilted toward the run.

Indy figures to lean on its dynamic duo of Jonathan Taylor (season-high 95 rushing yards in Week 8) and Zack Moss (66 yards, TD) in facing a Carolina defense that’s allowing the third-most yards per game on the ground.

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A little extra time to recover from a sore knee will certainly help Mayfield after Thursday’s loss to the Bills. Now, if the Bucs could just find a running game …

This week, Baker and the boys travel to Houston. While the Texans do give up plenty of yards through the air, they match up well against the Buccaneers’ greatest strength on offense: their wide receivers. Houston’s secondary yields the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts, so Mayfield is less likely to get the big play down the field and may have to resort to dinking and dunking to his running backs or TE Cade Otton.

Running backs to start in Week 9

Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns

Hunt led Browns' running backs in snaps and touches in Week 8 for the first time this season. He also scored a rushing touchdown for the third consecutive game as he’s seemingly moved to the front of the team’s three-headed backfield.

Jerome Ford may still be feeling the effects of an ankle injury he suffered two weeks ago, which could lead to a big day for Hunt against the Cardinals, a team that’s allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to running backs and third-most rushing touchdowns this season.  

Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams

Keep an eye on the status of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s thumb. After exiting early in last week’s blowout loss, he could be less than 100% at Green Bay. If that’s the case, Henderson should see more touches, both in the running game and in the short passing game. He showed some nice receiving skills on Sunday with three catches for 54 yards. Meanwhile, the Packers give up the third-most fantasy points to running backs and the second-most receptions.

Running backs to sit in Week 9

Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

Along those same lines, fantasy managers might be tempted to lean on Mattison this week with quarterback Kirk Cousins’ season-ending Achilles injury potentially leading to a heavier-than-normal workload. However, that’s probably not a good idea against the Falcons, who have yet to allow a running back to score on the ground this season and who have allowed the fewest receptions per game to the position. Backup Cam Akers has cut into Mattison’s workload the past two weeks and even vultured a red-zone TD against Green Bay.

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

It may be time to admit Jones may not be completely right all season. He hasn’t rushed for more than 35 yards or scored a touchdown since injuring his hamstring in Week 1. And backfield mate A.J. Dillon has played more snaps in every single game this season.

The Cowboys’ Prescott just showed the Rams can be beaten through the air, so look for QB Jordan Love to mirror the 41 passes-to-17 rushes split the Packers offense had last week.

Wide receivers to start in Week 9

Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

You always want a piece of the NFL’s best offense. Waddle had to leave Miami’s Week 7 game early with a back injury, and despite being limited in practice all week, he caught seven of his 12 targets Sunday vs. New England for a team-high 121 yards and a touchdown.

As long as his back doesn’t act up on the long flight to Germany, Waddle will be a great start with so much attention focused on fellow wideout Tyreek Hill facing off against his former Chiefs teammates for the first time.

Demario Douglas, New England Patriots

From the waiver wire to the starting lineup? Hear me out on this one. The Pats' receiving corps has been decimated by injuries this season, the latest blow coming Sunday when top wideout Kendrick Bourne suffered a torn ACL.

Enter the rookie sixth-round pick from Liberty. Douglas led the team in snaps and targets, and caught a season-high five passes. With veteran Devante Parker still in the concussion protocol, Douglas is in line to be the Patriots’ No. 1 receiver against an extremely porous Commanders secondary.

Wide receivers to sit in Week 9

D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears

Moore is the No. 5 fantasy wide receiver this season, but a major reason is his 230-yard, three-touchdown explosion in Week 5. In the three games since rookie QB Tyson Bagent has taken over an injured Justin Fields, Moore hasn’t topped 55 receiving yards.

This week, he’ll have to go up against the Saints and four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who has yet to allow a touchdown reception this season.

George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers

Though the Steelers have had their troubles on offense, Pickens has been a top-20 fantasy wide receiver with a penchant for making the big play. His chances of continuing that run of success diminish with QB Kenny Pickett questionable with a rib injury that knocked him out of Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars.

It doesn’t help that the Steelers have a short week before Thursday night’s game against the Titans, who give up the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

Tight ends to start in Week 9

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

Rookie tight ends rarely make an immediate impact on the stat sheet, but Detroit’s Sam LaPorta is giving that theory a severe test this season. Kincaid might soon be doing the same, especially with veteran Dawson Knox on injured reserve.

In the Bills’ first game without Knox, the rookie from Utah caught five passes for 65 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Up next is a date with the Bengals, who are one of the worst defenses in the league at covering tight ends – as the 49ers’ George Kittle (9 catches, 149 yards) proved last week.

Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

Hill has caused so much fantasy angst for stealing goal-line carries and running gadget plays on a seemingly random basis. But as bye weeks test fantasy teams’ depth, especially at tight end, Hill has at last morphed into (gulp) a reliable starter.

He’s put up double-digit fantasy points the past three weeks, and he ran for a pair of touchdowns Sunday against the Colts. With the 2-6 Bears up next, it’s finally time to embrace the wackiness.

Tight end to sit in Week 9

Darren Waller, New York Giants

Waller only caught one pass for 4 yards vs. the Jets before reaggravating a hamstring injury – and he still ended up being the team’s leading receiver. Fortunately for the Giants, QB Daniel Jones – who missed the last three games with a neck injury − has been cleared for contact and will likely return to the starting lineup against the Raiders. However, Waller‘s hamstring could continue to be a problem going forward.