Start 'Em, Sit 'Em quarterbacks: Week 9 fantasy football

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em quarterbacks: Week 9 fantasy football

Admin October 31, 2024

Bye weeks are back for Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season, as both the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers will get a midseason rest. That will remove Brock Purdy and the resurgent Russell Wilson from the Week 9 fantasy quarterback rankings while will create a need for some streaming options at quarterback.

NFL quarterbacks remain fairly healthy, at least relative to some of the other position groups out there. Jordan Love (groin) is dealing with his second notable injury of the season, but outside of that and the potential return of Derek Carr, there won’t be too many shake-ups at the position from Week 8 to 9.

The breadth of quarterback options league-wide will give fantasy football owners plenty of potential-packed signal-callers to consider for their lineups. Choosing the right one won’t be easy, but targeting high-volume passers in favorable matchups where they need to throw a lot is typically the best strategy when assessing bye-week fill-ins and streamers.

Here’s a breakdown of the quarterbacks to trust and fade in Week 9 of the fantasy football season.

Fantasy football start ’em: Week 9 QBs

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Mahomes’ fantasy owners have been waiting to fire him up in a favorable spot all season long. That comes on “Monday Night Football” against a Buccaneers team that is surrendering the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and has allowed at least four passing touchdowns in three of its last four games. Expect Mahomes to feast, especially as he develops more chemistry with DeAndre Hopkins.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (at Seattle Seahawks)

Stafford has played two games this season with both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua at his disposal. He is averaging 298 passing yards and 2.5 touchdowns per game in those contests. The Seahawks rank middle-of-the-pack against quarterbacks this season, but they have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in four of their last five games. Stafford may be the best and most readily available streaming option for Purdy owners, so feel free to plug him in this week.

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (at Baltimore Ravens)

Nix is fresh off a four-touchdown outing against the Carolina Panthers. He can be trusted again in this spot, as the Ravens are one of three NFL teams to allow 17 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season. Nix will likely have to throw a lot, given Baltimore’s strong run defense, and could add some scrambling yardage to raise his floor. He has at least 25 rushing yards in five of his eight starts this year, so treat him as a strong streamer or a DFS sleeper.

Derek Carr or Jake Haener, New Orleans Saints (at Carolina Panthers)

Trusting the Saints amid their six-game losing streak may not sound appealing, but it’s important to remember what they did in Week 1 against the Panthers. Carr threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns in that contest in a 47-10 romp over their divisional rivals.

If Carr returns to action, he could post similar numbers and establish himself as a top-10 fantasy quarterback for the week. If not, Haener should start over Spencer Rattler, the struggling rookie, and the second-year distributor could end up being a great SuperFlex play or DFS sleeper. The Panthers have allowed 17 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season, so this looks like a great matchup.

Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 9 QBs

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Chicago Bears)

Sitting a quarterback with a high rushing floor may seem odd, but Murray has run for 19 or fewer yards in three of his last five games. The Bears are allowing just 11 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, second-fewest in the NFL, and just did a good job limiting Jayden Daniels before the rookie’s improbable Hail Mary at the end of regulation. Murray could still work his way into QB1 territory, but his ceiling is much lower than usual against a quality defense.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (vs. Buffalo Bills)

Tagovailoa has made eight regular-season starts against the Bills during his career. He has a record of 1-7 in those contests and has completed just 61.9 percent of his passes for an average of just under 200 yards per game with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Buffalo limited Tagovailoa to 145 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions in Week 2, so don’t expect Tua to get revenge in this matchup.

Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

Smith struggled in his first game of the 2024 NFL season without DK Metcalf (knee). The Seahawks quarterback failed to throw a touchdown for the first time all season and couldn’t consistently move Seattle’s offense down the field. The Rams rank middle-of-the-road against quarterbacks, but Smith is still just a low-upside play if Metcalf can’t return to action ahead of Seattle’s Week 10 bye.

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’ems, Week 9

Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:

→ Kickers are people, too: Here are some of the most clutch kickers to have on your fantasy team in Week 9.

→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 9 with start ’em, sit ’em advice for wideouts.

→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start and who to sit in Week 9.

→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here’s who you should start and sit in Week 9.

→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent’s offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 9.