Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Looking for a last-minute Deshaun Watson replacement? See who our experts like this week
With a legitimately exciting trade deadline passed, Chris Towers takes a look at our expert rankings for the week.
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Chris Towers
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10 min read
More Week 9: Waiver Wire — Trade Values — Streaming Options — Rankings — Start 'Em and Sit 'Em — Cheat Sheet — Sleepers — DFS Values
Editor's Note: All rankings updated as of Thursday at 5 p.m. EST to reflect the latest news and changes our experts have made.
Teams on bye in Week 9: Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota, New England, Pittsburgh
PPR Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DST
Note: All rankings for Standard scoring.
Quarterback Rankings
| Week 9 QB Rank |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russell Wilson SEA (vs WAS) | Russell Wilson SEA (vs WAS) | Russell Wilson SEA (vs WAS) |
| 2 | Drew Brees NO (vs TB) | Dak Prescott DAL (vs KC) | Drew Brees NO (vs TB) |
| 3 | Dak Prescott DAL (vs KC) | Drew Brees NO (vs TB) | Dak Prescott DAL (vs KC) |
| 4 | Matthew Stafford DET (at GB) | Carson Wentz PHI (vs DEN) | Matthew Stafford DET (at GB) |
| 5 | Alex Smith KC (at DAL) | Derek Carr OAK (at MIA) | Jameis Winston TB (at NO) |
| 6 | Tyrod Taylor BUF (at NYJ) | Tyrod Taylor BUF (at NYJ) | Tyrod Taylor BUF (at NYJ) |
| 7 | Derek Carr OAK (at MIA) | Alex Smith KC (at DAL) | Derek Carr OAK (at MIA) |
| 8 | Jameis Winston TB (at NO) | Matthew Stafford DET (at GB) | Alex Smith KC (at DAL) |
| 9 | Carson Wentz PHI (vs DEN) | Josh McCown NYJ (vs BUF) | Matt Ryan ATL (at CAR) |
| 10 | Cam Newton CAR (vs ATL) | Jameis Winston TB (at NO) | Marcus Mariota TEN (vs BAL) |
| 11 | Josh McCown NYJ (vs BUF) | Cam Newton CAR (vs ATL) | Cam Newton CAR (vs ATL) |
| 12 | Jared Goff LAR (at NYG) | Jared Goff LAR (at NYG) | Carson Wentz PHI (vs DEN) |
- Trade fallout ... A shaky receiving corps for Cam Newton gets even worse with the trade of Kelvin Benjamin to Buffalo. Benjamin might not be an elite receiver, but he's a loss Newton will feel, making him a risky play even if he's ranked relatively high... Tyrod Taylor obviously stands to benefit from the addition of Benjamin, but probably not in Week 9. The Bills play on a short week against the Jets, and Benjamin is no guarantee to play.
- First three out ... Jamey: Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston, Jacoby Brissett; Dave: Jameis Winston, Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins; Heath: Carson Wentz, Jacoby Brissett, Josh McCown
- Who is No. 1? We love Russell Wilson's chances of succeeding in another potential shootout against Washington, and the addition of new left tackle Duane Brown should only help his chances. But you've got to love Jamey going bold with Deshaun Watson as his No. 1 pick -- Watson proved himself to be a matchup-proof No. 1 QB in Week 8 against the Seahawks.
- Watch the injury report ... Winston may have suffered a setback with his sprained shoulder last week, so keep an eye on his recovery during the week. One thing that complicates his situation: The Bucs have been holding him out of practice until Friday the past two weeks, so we may not know his status until then.
Running Back Rankings
| Week 9 RB Rank | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel Elliott DAL (vs KC) | Ezekiel Elliott DAL (vs KC) | Ezekiel Elliott DAL (vs KC) |
| 2 | LeSean McCoy BUF (at NYJ) | Leonard Fournette JAC (vs CIN) | Kareem Hunt KC (at DAL) |
| 3 | Kareem Hunt KC (at DAL) | LeSean McCoy BUF (at NYJ) | LeSean McCoy BUF (at NYJ) |
| 4 | Todd Gurley LAR (at NYG) | Todd Gurley LAR (at NYG) | Todd Gurley LAR (at NYG) |
| 5 | Leonard Fournette JAC (vs CIN) | Mark Ingram NO (vs TB) | Leonard Fournette JAC (vs CIN) |
| 6 | Mark Ingram NO (vs TB) | Kareem Hunt KC (at DAL) | Mark Ingram NO (vs TB) |
| 7 | Aaron Jones GB (vs DET) | Adrian Peterson ARI (at SF) | Doug Martin TB (at NO) |
| 8 | Adrian Peterson ARI (at SF) | Devonta Freeman ATL (at CAR) | Devonta Freeman ATL (at CAR) |
| 9 | Doug Martin TB (at NO) | Aaron Jones GB (vs DET) | Adrian Peterson ARI (at SF) |
| 10 | Alvin Kamara NO (vs TB) | Lamar Miller HOU (vs IND) | Alvin Kamara NO (vs TB) |
| 11 | DeMarco Murray TEN (vs BAL) | Alvin Kamara NO (vs TB) | Carlos Hyde SF (vs ARI) |
| 12 | Devonta Freeman ATL (at CAR) | Alex Collins BAL (at TEN) | Aaron Jones GB (vs DET) |
| 13 | Lamar Miller HOU (vs IND) | Doug Martin TB (at NO) | Lamar Miller HOU (vs IND) |
| 14 | Alex Collins BAL (at TEN) | Carlos Hyde SF (vs ARI) | DeMarco Murray TEN (vs BAL) |
| 15 | Christian McCaffrey CAR (vs ATL) | Chris Thompson WAS (at SEA) | Alex Collins BAL (at TEN) |
| 16 | Carlos Hyde SF (vs ARI) | Joe Mixon CIN (at JAC) | Christian McCaffrey CAR (vs ATL) |
| 17 | Marlon Mack IND (at HOU) | Marlon Mack IND (at HOU) | Chris Thompson WAS (at SEA) |
| 18 | Chris Thompson WAS (at SEA) | Marshawn Lynch OAK (at MIA) | Orleans Darkwa NYG (vs LAR) |
| 19 | Orleans Darkwa NYG (vs LAR) | Tevin Coleman ATL (at CAR) | C.J. Anderson DEN (at PHI) |
| 20 | Tevin Coleman ATL (at CAR) | Matt Forte NYJ (vs BUF) | Tevin Coleman ATL (at CAR) |
| 21 | Marshawn Lynch OAK (at MIA) | Christian McCaffrey CAR (vs ATL) | Joe Mixon CIN (at JAC) |
| 22 | Joe Mixon CIN (at JAC) | DeMarco Murray TEN (vs BAL) | Ameer Abdullah DET (at GB) |
| 23 | Bilal Powell NYJ (vs BUF) | Frank Gore IND (at HOU) | Bilal Powell NYJ (vs BUF) |
| 24 | Matt Forte NYJ (vs BUF) | Kenyan Drake MIA (vs OAK) | Matt Forte NYJ (vs BUF) |
- First three out ... Jamey: Darren McFadden, Javorius Allen, Bilal Powell; Dave: Darren McFadden, C.J. Anderson, Marshawn Lynch; Heath: Tevin Coleman, Javorius Allen, Marshawn Lynch
- Welcome to your new home ... Jay Ajayi at least gets to play for a contender, but Heath and Jamey aren't high on his chances in Week 9. He's got a tough matchup against the Broncos on the way, and there's no guarantee he will be ready for a full role yet. Dave still has him in the top-15 for now, but Ajayi could fall if we hear reports he will be worked in slowly.
- Welcome to the top 24 ... Alex Collins! Forget the top 24, he's top 15 for all three of our experts coming off his breakout game. He's run well all season, and finally got the workload we've been hoping to see in Week 8. He looks like a solid No. 2 running back moving forward, though that will depend on him hanging on to the ball because fumbles have been an issue in the past.
- The best ever running back committee out of Dallas ... Alfred Morris will lead the way, Jerry Jones told reporters Tuesday. But he won't be a workhorse, by any means, as Darren McFadden and Rod Smith figure to get work. This is going to be a tough one to figure out, but Dave and Jamey both trust Morris and McFadden as borderline No. 2 backs. Heath is more skeptical of the time share, ranking Morris 28th and McFadden 32nd.
Wide Receiver Rankings
| Week 9 WR Rank | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Evans TB (at NO) | Michael Thomas NO (vs TB) | Mike Evans TB (at NO) |
| 2 | Michael Thomas NO (vs TB) | Doug Baldwin SEA (vs WAS) | Julio Jones ATL (at CAR) |
| 3 | Julio Jones ATL (at CAR) | Amari Cooper OAK (at MIA) | Michael Thomas NO (vs TB) |
| 4 | Dez Bryant DAL (vs KC) | Mike Evans TB (at NO) | Dez Bryant DAL (vs KC) |
| 5 | Tyreek Hill KC (at DAL) | Tyreek Hill KC (at DAL) | DeAndre Hopkins HOU (vs IND) |
| 6 | Doug Baldwin SEA (vs WAS) | Dez Bryant DAL (vs KC) | Tyreek Hill KC (at DAL) |
| 7 | T.Y. Hilton IND (at HOU) | Julio Jones ATL (at CAR) | Golden Tate DET (at GB) |
| 8 | Golden Tate DET (at GB) | T.Y. Hilton IND (at HOU) | Doug Baldwin SEA (vs WAS) |
| 9 | Michael Crabtree OAK (at MIA) | Michael Crabtree OAK (at MIA) | A.J. Green CIN (at JAC) |
| 10 | DeAndre Hopkins HOU (vs IND) | DeAndre Hopkins HOU (vs IND) | Michael Crabtree OAK (at MIA) |
| 11 | Marvin Jones DET (at GB) | A.J. Green CIN (at JAC) | Jarvis Landry MIA (vs OAK) |
| 12 | Larry Fitzgerald ARI (at SF) | Jarvis Landry MIA (vs OAK) | Amari Cooper OAK (at MIA) |
| 13 | Amari Cooper OAK (at MIA) | Larry Fitzgerald ARI (at SF) | T.Y. Hilton IND (at HOU) |
| 14 | Jarvis Landry MIA (vs OAK) | Golden Tate DET (at GB) | Sterling Shepard NYG (vs LAR) |
| 15 | A.J. Green CIN (at JAC) | Jordy Nelson GB (vs DET) | Demaryius Thomas DEN (at PHI) |
| 16 | Devin Funchess CAR (vs ATL) | Marvin Jones DET (at GB) | Marvin Jones DET (at GB) |
| 17 | Sterling Shepard NYG (vs LAR) | Devin Funchess CAR (vs ATL) | Ted Ginn NO (vs TB) |
| 18 | Ted Ginn NO (vs TB) | Cooper Kupp LAR (at NYG) | DeSean Jackson TB (at NO) |
| 19 | Jordy Nelson GB (vs DET) | Sterling Shepard NYG (vs LAR) | Devin Funchess CAR (vs ATL) |
| 20 | Robby Anderson NYJ (vs BUF) | Robby Anderson NYJ (vs BUF) | Jordy Nelson GB (vs DET) |
| 21 | DeVante Parker MIA (vs OAK) | Will Fuller HOU (vs IND) | Davante Adams GB (vs DET) |
| 22 | Will Fuller HOU (vs IND) | Paul Richardson SEA (vs WAS) | DeVante Parker MIA (vs OAK) |
| 23 | DeSean Jackson TB (at NO) | Emmanuel Sanders DEN (at PHI) | Paul Richardson SEA (vs WAS) |
| 24 | Sammy Watkins LAR (at NYG) | DeSean Jackson TB (at NO) | Tyler Lockett SEA (vs WAS) |
- First three out ... Jamey: Tyler Lockett, Mohamed Sanu, Desean Jackson; Dave: Desean Jackson, Ted Ginn, DeVante Parker; Heath: Paul Richardson, Robert Woods, Robby Anderson
- Buying the breakout? If there's one thing I know about Heath, it's that he's always going to be slower to react than his colleagues, so it's no surprise he isn't all-in on Will Fuller yet, ranking him 21st. Dave and Jamey, on the other hand, have him sixth and 10th this week with a great matchup on the way against the Colts. Fuller has scored in every game so far, including two games with two scores in his four appearances. However, he has just one game with more than four catches, with seven of his 13 overall going for touchdowns. He can't sustain that pace, so he'll need to become more involved in the offense overall to justify a No. 1 WR ranking.
- Welcome to your new home ... As mentioned earlier, Kelvin Benjamin may have trouble getting ready in time for Week 9, with the Bills playing Thursday against the Jets. If he is able to get up to speed in time, he would likely slot in the 20-30 range across the board.
- Welcome back? DeVante Parker has basically missed four weeks since suffering his injury in Week 5, but he is expected back in Week 8. He was enjoying a strong start, and the loss of Ajayi could force the Dolphins to air it out more. Parker has No. 1 WR upside every week, though Heath is the only one of the three with Parker inside the top 20.
Tight End Rankings
| Week 9 TE Rank | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travis Kelce KC (at DAL) | Jimmy Graham SEA (vs WAS) | Travis Kelce KC (at DAL) |
| 2 | Zach Ertz PHI (vs DEN) | Travis Kelce KC (at DAL) | Zach Ertz PHI (vs DEN) |
| 3 | Jimmy Graham SEA (vs WAS) | Zach Ertz PHI (vs DEN) | Cameron Brate TB (at NO) |
| 4 | Jack Doyle IND (at HOU) | Evan Engram NYG (vs LAR) | Jimmy Graham SEA (vs WAS) |
| 5 | Evan Engram NYG (vs LAR) | Jack Doyle IND (at HOU) | Vernon Davis WAS (at SEA) |
| 6 | Cameron Brate TB (at NO) | Cameron Brate TB (at NO) | Evan Engram NYG (vs LAR) |
| 7 | Vernon Davis WAS (at SEA) | Austin Seferian-Jenkins NYJ (vs BUF) | Jack Doyle IND (at HOU) |
| 8 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins NYJ (vs BUF) | Jared Cook OAK (at MIA) | Jared Cook OAK (at MIA) |
| 9 | Jason Witten DAL (vs KC) | Jason Witten DAL (vs KC) | Jason Witten DAL (vs KC) |
| 10 | Jared Cook OAK (at MIA) | Vernon Davis WAS (at SEA) | Delanie Walker TEN (vs BAL) |
| 11 | Delanie Walker TEN (vs BAL) | Tyler Higbee LAR (at NYG) | Austin Seferian-Jenkins NYJ (vs BUF) |
| 12 | Tyler Higbee LAR (at NYG) | Nick O'Leary BUF (at NYJ) | Benjamin Watson BAL (at TEN) |
- First three out ... Jamey: Austin Hooper, Benjamin Watson, A.J. Derby; Dave: Tyler Croft, A.J. Derby, Jonnu Smith; Heath: A.J. Derby, Tyler Croft, Jonnu Smith
- Injury replacements ... With Delanie Walker still dealing with an ankle injury, Jonnu Smith has a chance to break out. He's the Titans tight end of the future ... Vernon Davis may not be the future in Washington, but he's proved this season he still has plenty left. He'll be a starting caliber tight end as long as Jordan Reed is out.
