Welcome to the first of two six-team bye weeks this season. The Giants, Cowboys, 49ers, Broncos, Browns, and Steelers are off, so it’s no surprise that the Week 9 rankings are a bit thinner than usual. As such, a reliable set of weekly fantasy projections is absolutely crucial. After all, the more expert opinions, analysis, and stats you can take in, the more it will sharpen your Week 9 start ‘em, sit ‘em decisions.
To show we believe in the “more is better” approach to fantasy football research, we’re happy to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning weekly rankings and projections. We’ll also highlight players at each position who stand out in our rankings compared to theirs so you get multiple perspectives on a few of the biggest start-or-sit headaches. To see Draft Sharks’ exclusive Week 9 3D floor-to-ceiling projections, become a Draft Sharks member today at the link below!
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Week 9 Fantasy Football Projections, Rankings from Draft Sharks
Week 9 fantasy QB projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Matthew Stafford, Rams @ Buccaneers (SN Ranking: 14 | DS Ranking: 21)
Call us gluttons for punishment, but we just can’t completely quit Stafford. Draft Sharks has clearly had enough, but we still see Stafford as a fringe starter as long as he has Cooper Kupp, Tyler Higbee, Allen Robinson II, and now Van Jefferson. Tampa’s defense has been struggling, so we still like Stafford’s floor despite the less-than-stellar results this year (just two multi-TD games). Draft Sharks is removing Stafford’s name value and just looking at the stats, which is always a smart move.
SN’s WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 9 fantasy RB projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Michael Carter, Jets vs. Bills (SN PPR Ranking: 30 | DS Ranking: 21)
Carter played 56 percent of snaps and saw two more carries and six more targets last week than James Robinson, but it’s certainly possible — perhaps even likely — that Robinson plays more this week. Either way, we simply don’t trust Carter against the Bills’ fourth-ranked run defense. Draft Sharks clearly thinks he can pad his PPR stats with some receptions, likely in garbage time, but we still see him more as a low-ceiling flex this week.
Spotlight Player: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Titans (SN PPR Ranking: 31 | DS Ranking: 26)
We’re not that much different than Draft Sharks on Edwards-Helaire, but we wanted to highlight him because he’s such a tough running back to handicap. Perhaps we should have highlighted “starter” Isiah Pacheco, who we have at No. 29 and Draft Sharks has at 35, but either way, it’s clear both backs have similar outlooks as flexes. Draft Sharks is a little higher on CEH, probably because of his pass-catching upside, but we’re leery about both Chiefs’ backs in this tough matchup. Usage will always be a concern, especially after CEH played just 27 percent of snaps in Kansas City’s last game.
SN’s WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 9 fantasy WR projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Demarcus Robinson, Ravens @ Saints (SN PPR Ranking: 37 | DS Ranking: 52)
Robinson doesn’t have much of a track record this year (15 catches, 25 targets), so our relatively lofty ranking is based almost entirely on his last game (six catches, eight targets, 64 yards) and the favorable matchup (Saints allow fifth-most fantasy points per game to WRs). Rashod Bateman (foot) will be out again, and TE Mark Andrews (shoulder, knee) is also banged up. Robinson should see six-plus targets, and that’s enough to get him in the WR3/flex territory for us. Draft Sharks is a little leerier, which makes sense given the Ravens’ low-volume passing attack.
Spotlight Player: K.J. Osborn, Vikings @ Commanders (SN PPR Ranking: 55 | DS Ranking: 37)
Osborn has seen five targets in each of the past three games, but he’s turned that into just 10 catches for 67 yards and a TD. Washington allows the seventh-most FPPG to WRs, so this is a good spot, but as long as both Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson are healthy, we see Osborn as merely a TD-or-bust desperation play.
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Week 9 fantasy TE projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Robert Tonyan, Packers @ Lions (SN PPR Ranking: 11 | DS Ranking: 7)
We like Tonyan as a starter in 12-team leagues, primarily due to matchup (Detroit is allowing the fifth-most FPPG to TEs) and his fairly steady targets, but there are still reasons to doubt him as an elite performer. He has just one game this season with more than 37 receiving yards, and he’s only scored once. If Allen Lazard (shoulder) is back, that also complicates his workload after a season-high 74 percent of snaps last week while Lazard was out. Again, Tonyan has upside, but check all of your options before slotting him into your lineup.
Week 9 fantasy defense projections, rankings
Spotlight Player: Miami Dolphins @ Bears (SN Rankings: 13 | DS Ranking: 5)
We felt like we were overdoing it by putting the Dolphins at 13, so we’re not quite sure how Draft Sharks got them all the way up to No. 5 in its projections. The Bears are giving up the seventh-most FPPG to D/STs, so it is a good matchup, but the Dolphins simply haven’t delivered on all their preseason promise this year. They’ve forced a turnover in just three games this year (seven total) and have allowed 24 or more offensive points in four of their past five games. In a shallow week, it’s not unreasonable to start Miami in 12-team leagues, but don’t bank on the ‘Phins for guaranteed production.
