Week 9 of the fantasy football season has brought more key bye weeks, giving a new element of strategy for managers to play. Hopefully, your carefully curated roster is in good shape after the devastating slew of injuries that have affected the NFL. You’re in the right place if you’re in a tough situation with your start/sit questions.
We’ve dug through the latest roster percentages to identify fantasy football players who you must either start or sit. Our two start options are currently being started in around 40% or less in leagues, whereas our two sit players are at around 70% or higher. We’re also looking at players owned in a majority of leagues.
Jakobi Meyers, WR, New England Patriots
Lost in the messy quarterback situation in New England, Jakobi Meyers is enjoying a breakout in his contract season. Turning 26 after Week 9 concludes, Meyers is on pace for a career-high in receptions and yards. He averages 5.8 receptions for 69.2 yards per game.
The rotating duo of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe hasn’t slowed Meyers’ production down too often. He’s been efficient and productive in all but Week 7, when the Patriots fell apart against Chicago in their 33-14 loss. Otherwise, Meyers has 60+ yards in four of his last five games.
MORE: Fantasy WR Start ’em Sit ’em Week 9
Meyers is far from a household name, but he’s set to be the best free agent on the market at his position in just a few months. His matchup in Week 9 is a tough one as the Colts travel to Foxborough. The Colts have one of the best defenses in the league against receivers, giving up 9.6 receptions, 116.9 yards per game, and 0.13 touchdowns.
Some of that is based on the run-heavy offenses the Colts have faced. I can’t say Meyers will be a WR1 this week, but if he’s on your roster, he has a strong Flex or WR2 argument. I want him in my lineups wherever possible.
Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
We’ve been waiting all season for a more consistent breakout from Joshua Palmer. The second-year Chargers receiver has had a golden opportunity for much of the season as Keenan Allen has missed five games with a hamstring injury, then barely played in the Chargers’ final game before their bye week in Week 8.
Allen did not participate in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, with head coach Brandon Staley saying the injury hasn’t “responded the way [they’d] hoped.” On Friday, he was declared out for Week 9.
With Palmer clearing his concussion protocol this week, he expects to play. That means he is a viable fantasy football option for managers. He had his second-best game of the season in Week 6 before an untimely concussion forced the Chargers to roll out an XFL-quality lineup of pass catchers in Week 7.
With nine catches on 12 targets for 57 yards possibly being a launch point, Palmer could break out against the Falcons’ weakened secondary in Week 9. The Falcons will be without Casey Hayward once again, and it’s unlikely we see A.J. Terrell, as he’s recovering from a hamstring injury. The Falcons are the worst defense in the NFL against wide receivers, allowing over 46 fantasy points per game.
Palmer should feast as these are ideal conditions to break out. We have Palmer as WR34 in our PFN expert fantasy rankings for PPR leagues in Week 9. He’s a stronger start option considering his ranking and can be played even as a WR2.
Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Not every roster will be able to afford to bench Leonard Fournette, but if you have two solid alternatives to Lenny, he should stay far away from your final lineup. With only 43 rushing yards and 41 receiving yards over the last two weeks combined, he’s quickly fading from the star that carried so many rosters in 2021. Very little of it is his fault.
Playing the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9 won’t help his outlook. The Buccaneers rank dead last in the NFL in rushing attempts, yards, and yards per attempt, and their offensive line is broken. Aaron Donald is surely licking his chops as he prepares for this matchup.
MORE: RB Red-Zone Attempts Entering Week 9
The Rams are above-average against backs, allowing just under 93 yards on the ground to the position and 38 receiving yards. Fournette’s biggest source of production this season has been as a receiver. But his targets have been siphoned to rookie Rachaad White over the last two weeks, with Fournette getting six in Weeks 7 and 8 compared to 24 between Weeks 4 through 6.
We never say never, but smart money says a breakout won’t happen for Fournette this week. If he’s stuck in your lineup, you have to hope he gets lucky and produces a touchdown.
Gabe Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills
Sometimes you live by the variance receiver, and sometimes, you die by the variance receiver. We knew Gabe Davis was at the top of the pyramid entering the season of playmakers who could win your weekly matchup or give you a goose egg in scoring. With three weeks under 37 yards receiving and three that total 333 yards and four touchdowns, Davis has lived up to that billing.
Coming off a dud against the Packers where Davis had two catches for 35 yards, Davis could bounce back against the Jets. But history says he won’t. Davis is averaging only 2.3 receptions for 42.8 yards in his four career games against the franchise. The majority of his production against the Jets came in Week 10 last year, totaling 105 yards on three receptions.
Of course, the Jets added stud cornerbacks since then, with Sauce Gardner headlining a massively improved unit. The Jets don’t have their cornerbacks travel since D.J. Reed is much more effective on the right side of the defense. That should help Buffalo manufacture advantageous looks, but Davis is clearly more of a luxury than a priority within this unit.
Instead of forcing jump balls to Davis, I think the Bills look for efficiency with Stefon Diggs, newly-acquired Nyheim Hines, and quick passes that mitigate the Jets’ pass rush.
For this week, take the higher or lower on Davis’ 55.5 receiving total on Underdog Fantasy for a deposit bonus of up to $100.
