It may be hard to believe, but this edition of my Week 9 Rankings means there are just five weeks left in the regular season. That means that the playoff push is here and it is time to start getting strategic. First of all, if you are sitting with 6 or more wins right now, you are in a good place. But, you should still be looking to improve your roster. What you should do is find some teams that are falling out of the race. Any team that has three wins or fewer is in jeopardy of quickly being eliminated, meaning that they can not simply sit around idly while their best players are on bye. Hopefully, you can find the Julio Jones, Cooper Kupp, or Michael Thomas owner in that group, but those players may have too many wins.
Other targets include Calvin Ridley, Gerald Everett, Devonta Freeman, Tyler Boyd, etc, that you should be looking to acquire for 75 cents on the dollar. You still have to give up a useful piece and I understand it hurts your chances this week. But again, if you have six wins or more, you are in a good spot to make the playoffs and should be more concerned with your lineup come Weeks 13 on, rather than your lineup in Week 9. Another player who you can look to acquire for cheap right now is David Johnson. It hurts not having him this week, but you will be happy come the fantasy playoffs.
On the contrary, if you are sitting with three wins or fewer and have any of those players on the bye, it’s time to start wheeling and dealing. Yeah, it sucks you may have to take a player for a little less than full value, but if you suffer your sixth loss or more this week, having those players won’t matter much. Now, I am not saying to gut your team just to survive another week. But, if you can trade say Alvin Kamara for say a Chris Carson or Leonard Fournette, that move helps keep you alive and doesn’t deplete your roster if you go on a run and make the playoffs. If you execute this strategy, try to target players that have already had their bye. The lone caveat is to not do this in keeper or dynasty leagues, as more comes into play than just this season.
For help getting ready for NFL Week 9, check out our Waiver Wire Recommendations and FAAB Guide.
Now onto the Week 9 rankings!
- If you are thinking of starting any Cardinals on Thursday… don’t. The 49ers defense has shut down everyone that has crossed their path. They are in the top three fewest fantasy points allowed to every position. They have absolutely dominated QBs over the last month. The only running back to have any success against them was Christian McCaffrey. The one option I am okay using is Christian Kirk. But Kyler Murray, Kenyan Drake, and even Larry Fitzgerald? I am trying to get on the bench.
- Tyler Lockett should be in store for a big week this week. He and Russell Wilson are one if, if not the most efficient combo in the NFL. Yet the lone issue has been the lack of passing attempts, leading to fewer targets for Lockett. Well, that could change, at least for a week, against the Bucs. The Bucs have been very tough against the run, but have been torched by receivers this season, especially in the slot, allowing the fifth-most fantasy PPG to slot receivers. Lockett is the Seahawks primary slot receiver and, if the Bucs are able to limit Chris Carson, it should lead to more throws in Lockett’s direction.
- I like a Bills running back this week… but it is not the one getting the hype. I think this is a Frank Gore week. Last week we saw Devin Singletary play 67 percent of the snaps to Gore’s 29, but that was largely because the bills were down multiple scores for most of the game. Singletary is the better pass catcher of the two. In the games that both have played, Gore has out-touched Singletary 25-to-5 when the Bills are leading. They will likely be leading against the Redskins.
- This feels like a trap game for Miles Sanders. He was awesome in Week 8, but he only played 16 percent of snaps and had six touches aka one more than Boston Scott. I also fully think the Eagles will allow Jordan Howard to stick it ot his old team. The Bears have been hurt by pass-catching backs, keeping Sanders in the flex discussion, but Howard is the play here.
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Week 9 Rankings for PPR, Half-PPR, and Standard
For a look at how the rankings break down at each position, please check out Mick Ciallela’s Week 9 Rankings and Scott Engel’s Rest of Season Rankings.
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