Fantasy Football Rankings Week 9 Sleepers Predictions Starts Seats

Fantasy Football Rankings Week 9: Sleepers, Predictions, Starts, Seats | Chuba Hubbard, Jahan Dotson and more – The Athletic

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The byes are back and unfortunately many injured people too. There will be more changes in the Week 9 fantasy football rankings than we’ve seen recently. We saw Will Levis, Dalton Kincaid and Trey McBride impressed, but also the need for plenty of sleepers and game preview tidbits to break up the ranks. Plus, there’s some Disney fun this week!

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WEEK 9 FANTASY FOOTBALL PREVIEW

**BYE: DEN, DET, JAX, SF**

NOTE: You’ll see quite a bit of “Since Week 4” and that’s because it’s good to look at current performance compared to last year with defenses etc as things can change with in-season adjustments. For example, the Broncos were clearly the worst defense to start with, but as of Week 4, they’ve been in the middle of the pack – not great, but much better than they started.

Titans at Steelers, TNF (8:15 p.m.)

  • Since Week 4, the Titans’ run defense has been more vulnerable, as evidenced by 4.6 YPC allowed – the eighth highest.
  • The Titans force a turnover on just 6.8% of opposing drives – the Rams are second lowest at 7.1%.
  • The Steelers allowed their highest YPRR since Week 4 at 1.83 (vs. HOU, BAL, LAR, JAX), while the Commanders and Panthers had the second-highest at 1.79.
  • Joey Porter Jr. is now the highest-rated corner in man coverage. He plays primarily on the left side (86%), with DeAndre Hopkins playing there 44% of the time and on the right side 34% of the time.

Dolphins at the Chiefs, 9:30 a.m., Germany

  • The Dolphins were dominant in explosive play percentage in Week 5 with 18.8% – the closest were the 49ers at 13.2% – but had just an 11.8% mark in their last three games (vs. CAR, PHI , NE).
  • Rashee Rice leads the Chiefs’ second-most wideout routes, just behind Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but he still hasn’t completed 65.0% of routes or 19.0% of targets and has just one game with more than 12.0% the air courts.
  • Jalen Ramsey served as the top cornerback on his return, which should help Rashee Rice since he plays primarily in the slot while MVS and Justin Watson spend most of their time outside (and on the right side).

Vikings at Falcons, 1 p.m

  • Only the Raiders backups and Browns trio have a higher OffTGT percentage than Joshua Dobbs (16.2%). But Dobbs has a higher deep throw percentage than Kirk Cousins ​​(11.3 to 8.0) with a similar first read percentage (65.0 to 68.2).
  • Trey McBride and Marquise Brown lead the Cardinals in FirstRead% since Week 5 (28.6 and 27.4), while TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison are tied since Justin Jefferson’s injury (26.7 and 24.8).
  • With the Joshua Dobbs trade, Hockenson retains his value, while Addison remains relatively the same with a little more volatility, and KJ Osborn could suffer a slight setback if Dobbs looks a little further down the line for Brandon Powell or just goes with Hockenson and Addison.
  • What’s worth noting for this week (and possibly longer if Hall impresses) is that Jaren Hall is an athletic quarterback and short-to-intermediate thrower – a good placement – with deep-ball and sideline throwing issues. I would look for a more conservative approach this week that shouldn’t do much damage to receiving options, but should discount the overall yardage and scoring benefits.

Cardinals at Browns, 1 p.m

  • The Browns allow the fewest pass chances in YPG at 163.3, and Clayton Tune has placement and anticipation concerns. It’s a week to think about benching the Cardinals until Kyler Murray (hopefully) returns next week.
  • Since Week 4, the Cardinals are allowing the highest Comp% Over Expectation (CPOE) at 9.2% – the Panthers are second at 9.0%, the Steelers are third at 6.7% and the Cowboys are -6, 6% lowest.
  • Despite an injury, Jerome Ford played in Week 8 and scored seven of his 10 touches in the fourth quarter, helping close out the game by going 7 of 35.
  • Without Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper has a 26.0 TmTGT% but is just 13-235-0 on 33 targets. David Njoku is the second most used option with 22.0% and a line of 28-18-201-1.

Rams at Packers, 1 p.m

  • Darrell Henderson has handled 61.8% of the ball contacts in the last two weeks, while Royce Freeman has managed 38.2%.
  • Henderson is the only one of the two with targets and receptions (5-4-59), despite running 24 routes to Freeman’s 23.
  • Since Cooper Kupp’s return, Puka Nacua still has 32.5 TmTGT% (Kupp 33.3%) with a production line of 37-22-294-1 compared to Kupp’s 38-21-316-1.
  • Since Week 3, Jordan Love has the second lowest Comp% (58.2 – PJ Walker 49.5%), fifth lowest YD/ATT (6.0), sixth lowest TD/INT (0.6), and ninth highest OffTGT% ( 13.2). .

Commanders at Patriots, 1 p.m

  • Since Week 4, the Commanders (vs. PHI, CHI, ATL, NYG, PHI) have allowed the most passing maneuvers in the YPG with 301.2 – the Chargers are second with 291.5.
  • The Patriots have the lowest missed tackles forced rate at 0.08 and the second highest run stuffed rate at 53.2% (since Week 4 – vs. DAL, NO, LV, BUF, MIA), with the Bears at 58 .0% to be in first place (but only 22nd). MTF% at 0.23 – they also traded for Montez Sweat).
  • JC Jackson is the seventh-worst corner in man coverage (min. 100 coverage snaps), which bodes well for Terry McLaurin and possibly Jahan Dotson.
  • Rhamondre Stevenson hasn’t had more than 10 carries since Week 4 (at DAL) and has four games with 6.7 or fewer fantasy points and zero above 15.5 – he only had five games with 6.7 or fewer last year (in the first two weeks at that). and seven exceeded the 15.5 mark.

Bears at Saints, 1 p.m

  • The Saints run the second-most plays/G (70.0), followed by the Browns (71.7).
  • While the Bears rank first in Stuff%, they also rank 10th in rush defense (DVOA), but 30th overall and 30th in pass defense (DVOA).
  • In Roschon Johnson’s first game back, he had 38.9 RBTouch% to D’Onta Foreman’s 55.6 in the first three quarters. The Bears gave Darrynton Evans a lot of work in the fourth quarter/final period. Johnson had 10 passing snaps, including nine for Foreman. The split could be even narrower this week.

Seahawks at Ravens, 1 p.m

  • The Ravens allow just 9.7% of drives to end in a touchdown – the Jets have the second lowest rate at 12.8% and the Panthers allow the highest rate at 30.8%.
  • The Ravens are first in overall defensive DVOA and pass defense DVOA and fifth in rush defense DVOA.
  • Kenneth Walker was 3-for-47 rushing in the first quarter and six rushing snaps to one for Zach Charbonnet, who had seven passing snaps to five for Walker. After that, Walker and Charbonnet each had six touches and five rush snaps, including 18 pass snaps for Charbonnet and eight for Walker. There were concerns about Walker’s calf injury during the week, so no overreaction…yet…but Charbonnet was able to force Walker’s touches for 30-40% of the share.

Buccaneers at Texans, 1 p.m

  • The Buccaneers rank as the sixth-toughest EPA tight ends of the year and the fourth-toughest since Week 4, with TJ Hockenson, Cole Kmet, Dallas Goedert, both Falcons (Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith) and every tight end not named Dalton Kincaid on 4.7 points or less.
  • Opponents’ offenses resulted in turnovers 18.9% of the time against the Bucs, a league high, and the Steelers are second at 18.3%.
  • Since Week 3, the Buccaneers are one of five teams (LAC, MIN, NYG, PIT) without a single game reaching the over – that’s five games for LAC, PIT, TB and six games for MIN, NYG.

Colts at Panthers, 4:05 p.m

  • Since Week 4, Colts games have combined for the highest point total at 58.0 PPG, ahead of the Dolphins at 54.8, and are allowing the most opponent PPG at 31.8.
  • Additionally, the Colts are the only team to have the advantage four times (out of five) in their games. Six teams are tied on three out of five points (ARI, CHI, DET, MIE, SF, WSH).
  • The Colts also allow the most opponent plays/G (69.5), with the Jets second (68.9, tied with the Seahawks), and they have the lowest rush defense DVOA (Cardinals’ second-lowest).

Giants at Raiders, 4:25 p.m

  • The Giants are allowing 4.8 YPC and a league-high 5.2 since Week 4 – they traded away Leonard Williams.
  • Since Week 4 (vs. SEA, MIA, BUF, WSH, NYJ), the Giants have the third-hardest pass EPA.
  • The Giants have two corners ranked in the bottom 25 in coverage rating (Adoree Jackson and Tre Hawkins), with Deonte Banks ranking 43rd (minimum 100 coverage snaps), giving Davante Adams a chance to bounce back .
  • As of Week 4, Josh Jacobs is third in RBTouch% (84.8), third in TmTGT% (17.7) and 12th in FPPG among running backs.

Cowboys at Eagles, 4:25 p.m

  • The Eagles defense has the fourth-lowest run success rate against both man and zone blocking concepts. The Browns are the only other team strong against both – second against zone, third against man.
  • The Eagles also rank first in rush defense DVOA (Titans second).
  • Since Week 4, Tony Pollard is just 33rd in FPPG (8.5) despite a 63.2 RBTouch% (16th) and 12.7 TmTGT% (12th).
  • DeVonta Smith posted his fourth double-digit fantasy score in Week 8 with four games under 7.0 points. Last year he had five games with a total score of 7.0 or lower.

Bills at Bengals, SNF (8:20 p.m.)

  • The Bengals had a league-worst explosive rate of 5.4 percent entering Week 6, but increased to 8.7 percent in the final two games.
  • In the last three games – with Joe Burrow seemingly getting back to 100% – Ja’Marr Chase is at 39.6 TmTGT%, while Tee Higgins is at 39.6 TmTGT% in the four games in which he was fully healthy (Weeks 1-3, 8). , 23.0% had.
  • The Bills have only allowed five double-digit wideout scores, with no receiver over 14.4 (Davante Adams) and never more than one in a game.
  • Three of James Cook’s last four games have yielded 7.8 fantasy points or fewer, with only 8-7-77 receiving points (after 14-11-115 in the first four).

Chargers at Jets, MNF (8:15 p.m.)

  • No team allows more passing yards per game than the Chargers with 297.4 – the Jaguars are second with 263.5.
  • The Jets allow the fifth fewest at 184.4, are considered the second fewest at 164.3, with the Giants being the worst at 155.1.
  • The Jets also have the lowest YPRR allowed since Week 4 at 1.06, tied with the Ravens.
  • The Jets also let YPG have the sixth-most receiving running backs, while the Chargers have had double-digit running back scoring in every game.

WEEK 9 FANTASY FOOTBALL SLEEPERS

These are sleeper (DuckTales and Darkwing Duck style – Woo-oo is worthy of risk in most leagues, and Dangerous is when you need a Hail Mary). You will not 100% imitate my ranking. This is about aiming for the upside and it often comes with a higher level of risk – to put it simply, they are upside plays that you might consider over a firm bottom option.

Woo-oo worthy

  • QB: Bryce Young, CAR
  • RB: Darrell Henderson, LAR; Jerome Ford, C.L.E
  • WR: Rashee Rice, KC; Tank Dell, HOU
  • TE: Jake Ferguson, DAL

Let’s get dangerous

  • QB: Derek Carr, No
  • RB: Kareem Hunt, CLE; Zack Moss, IND
  • WR: Demario Douglas, NE; Jonathan Mingo, CAR
  • TE: Luke Musgrave, UK

WEEK 9: BUY LOW, SELL HIGH

Let’s switch to a BEST/WORST playoff schedule outlook, as we’re at the point where “buy lows” and “sell highs” are hard to find due to manager knowledge and limited options.

Best playoff schedules

  • QB: Kyler Murray, ARI; Geno Smith, SEA
  • RB: Bijan Robinson, ATL; Austin Ekeler, LAC; Jerome Ford, C.L.E
  • WR: DK Metcalf/Tyler Lockett, SEA; George Pickens/Diontae Johnson, PIT; Marquise Brown/Michael Wilson, ARI

Worst playoff schedules

  • QB: Tua Tagovailoa, MIA; Trevor Lawrence, JAX
  • RB: Saquon Barkley, NYG; Dameon Pierce/Devin Singletary, HOU; Javonte Williams, DEN
  • WR: Jaylen Waddle, MIA; Amari Cooper, CLE; Jaguars

FUN WITH RANKINGS!

Nicole and I saw the Aladdin musical on Saturday night, and that was after we had already found a rock version of the best Disney movie song of all time…see below. So this week is exactly that. The best Disney animated movie songs of all time. I chose “animated” because as soon as you step outside of that realm you’ll find out if “Star Wars” is really Disney… Also, I would have to find a place for the theme of “Pirates of the Caribbean” since it’s just one of the best ever!

Best Disney Movie Songs

ALL-TIME CHAMPION: DuckTales – DuckTales: Yes, it even counts since it was a movie in 1990 (Treasure of the Lost Lamp – check it out, it’s great!). This is the best song ever! But you already knew that.

  • “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” – Mulan: The catchiest song of all time not called DuckTales. Oh, and this rock version is great.
  • “A Whole New World” – Aladdin: I went back and forth with the first two, but I preferred the more upbeat/poppy song. If you were advocating for this classic reimagined by numerous artists, I wouldn’t complain.
  • “Friend Like Me” – Aladdin: The Aladdin soundtrack is the best of all time, as proven by four songs in the top 15! Robin Williams did it so perfectly that anyone who does a remake is far behind.
  • “I 2 I” – A Silly Movie: What other Disney song do you think can easily be described as badass? You could put this song on a 90s hip-hop station and no one would think twice about it.
  • “Hakuna Matata” – The Lion King: It means “No Worries!”…and means you’ll be singing along every time.
  • “Prince Ali” – Aladdin: Just another fun song from Aladdin, including the amusing interludes.
  • “Under the Sea” – The Little Mermaid: Sebastian and his Jamaican accent make this song.
  • “I can’t wait to be king” – The Lion King: Underrated. Something about this song is just catchy.
  • “One Jump Ahead” – Aladdin: The film that begins should not be overlooked. It’s a fun song because Aladdin talks to us and himself at the same time.
  • “Kiss the Girl” – The Little Mermaid: “Don’t be shy!” You know you like this song.
  • “Let it Go” – Frozen: Forget the fact that we’ve listened to it non-stop for over a year, it’s a damn good song.
  • “How Far I’ll Go” – Moana: Maybe it’s because I enjoy watching my niece sing the chorus every time, or I’m just a rockstar and enjoy (almost) everything he does . I like this song!
  • “The Essentials” – The Jungle Book: A return to an old classic. Had to have one or two in here.
  • “Be Our Guest” – Beauty and the Beast: Another classic, and I’m sure people will argue it should be higher.
  • “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Toy Story: As a song itself, it feels out of place compared to the others, but it’s just as iconic as the first Toy Story and its animation.

    • Award: ““Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, “Circle of Life”, “You’ll Be in My Heart”, “Part of Your World” – essentially the Disney ballads and all pretty good, just not in the range of my favorites, that I could listen to multiple times… over and over again if it’s in my top 5.

    WEEK 9 FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS

    🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These may differ from my rankings and mine Ranks are the order in which I would start players outside of additional context, such as “Need the highest upside potential, even if it’s risky.” Also based on 4 point TDs for QB, 6 point break and half PPR

    Download link added on Thursday

    WEEK 9 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS

    🚨 HEADS UP 🚨

    • Unfortunately, there is still no perfect widget. I know many see this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop etc if possible, or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, for scrolling to work properly .
    • ECR = “Expert” consensus ranking (which not everyone updates regularly, so use with caution).
    • Will be updated regularly. Please find out about the blocking of the lineups.

    (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)