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Week 9 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preview

Top Fantasy QBs for Week 9

Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons

Dak Prescott, Cowboys

Prescott has fed CeeDee Lamb 31 targets over the past two weeks. It’s a good plan – but the QB still hasn’t posted difference-making fantasy totals since Week 5. Note that Brandin Cooks (knee) isn’t eligible to return until Week 10. At least for Sunday, Prescott draws a fine indoor matchup against an Atlanta defense ranked 24th in pass defense DVOA.

Kirk Cousins, Falcons

Cousins has flashed a high ceiling, scoring 30+ fantasy points in two games. The same extreme is true of his floor, though, with two games of 12 or fewer FPs. The good news for this week: Dallas could remain without EDGE Micah Parsons. The Cowboys are also allowing a big 8.2 YPA.

Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Jackson is dealing with a back and knee injury but should be close to 100% for this matchup. He hasn’t had a week lower than QB13 this season, so the floor and ceiling both remain high. But, the Broncos have been top five against fantasy QBs. They just haven’t seen anyone of Jackson’s quality yet. 

Bo Nix, Broncos

Nix was a surprise QB2 in scoring last week and has been a top ten fantasy QB in three of his last four games. This is not the Ravens defense of old, giving up the most passing fantasy points allowed per game in the NFL. Nix is a low end QB1 whose rushing gives him upside this week.

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen, Bills

There’s no reason to move away from Allen as a high-end QB1. He’s accounted for 2+ TDs in three straight, while Buffalo enters the Miami matchup implied for 27.5 points – second most on the slate.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

Tua’s hit 20 fantasy points only once in his career vs. Buffalo. Plus, the Bills enter playing excellent defense. They’re top-10 in EPA per pass, YPA allowed, and pass defense DVOA. Treat Tua as a QB2.

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

Derek Carr, Saints

Carr appears set to play for the first time since Week 5. But he also remained limited in practice by the oblique injury. That adds risk to a QB who has yet to reach 250 passing yards in a game this season and came up short of 170 in two of his past three outings. There’s obvious upside to the matchup with Carolina. But Carr’s tough to like outside of 2-QB and superflex leagues. We’re betting the Saints will lean run.

Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow, Bengals

Burrow struggled last week without Tee Higgins and he likely will be without him again. Thankfully, the matchup is much better with the Raiders in the middle of the pack against fantasy QBs. With the Bengals being big favorites, Burrow should come through for a QB1 performance.

Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns

Jameis Winston, Browns

We got Good Jameis last week in a big 334-yard, three-TD outing against a struggling, banged-up Ravens pass defense. That makes him an enticing option for Week 9 fantasy lineups. Just remember that Winston has been a volatile player throughout his career. And Sunday's matchup is tougher against the Chargers' 16th-ranked QB defense.

Justin Herbert, Chargers

After going run-heavy early this season, the Chargers have passed on 60.5% of their neutral snaps over the last three weeks. That's the sixth-highest rate in the league. That's helped Herbert to QB22, QB15, and QB10 finishes. He gets a middling Browns pass defense on Sunday that ranks 21st in DVOA and 17th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Herbert doesn't quite reach QB1 status in our Week 9 rankings, but he's a nice play in 2-QB and superflex leagues.

Washington Commanders at New York Giants

Jayden Daniels, Commanders

Daniels overcame a rib injury last week to throw for a season-high 326 yards against a tough Bears defense. He managed just a QB18 finish back in the Week 2 meeting with the Giants, but you can blame a lack of TDs. Daniels went an efficient 23-for-29 passing (79.3%) plus 44 rushing yards in that one. There’s some sack risk here, if your format takes away QB points for that. The Giants lead the league in that category and got to Daniels five times in Week 2. That remains his season-high for sacks taken, though. And the rookie has averaged just two per game across his other six full outings.

Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray, Cardinals

Murray threw for 307 yards and two TDs last week in an accurate showing at Miami. The Bears defense will give some problems as a top five unit against fantasy QBs, but Murray’s legs still supply QB1 upside.

Caleb Williams, Bears

Williams struggled last week against the Commanders, coming off the bye. He did run for 41 yards, but he made poor decisions under pressure. With the Cardinals defense not being a heavy sack unit, Williams could be a solid high-end QB2 this week.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts, Eagles

Fantasy’s No. 3 QB in points per game meets fantasy’s No. 1 defense for yielding points to QBs. The Jaguars are adding 71.5% to QB scoring on the year, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed. The next most-friendly QB defense (Carolina) is adding 35.1%.

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars

Lawrence has been solid lately, including his second 300-yard game of the season last week and 2 TD passes in four of his past five games. But he’s also still averaging just 229.4 yards per game for the season and gets an Eagles defense that has toughened up. Philly allowed just 234 yards and 1 TD passing to Joe Burrow in Cincinnati last week and sit as the eighth-toughest QB defense by adjusted fantasy points allowed.

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Jared Goff, Lions

Goff is a spectacular 34 of 40 over his past two games. He's hit 2+ passing TDs in five straight. The Green Bay matchup is neutral, while the shootout upside here will take a hit if Jordan Love (groin) sits out.

Malik Willis, Packers

Jordan Love (strained groin) might come down to a game-time decision. Willis hit 14 and 27 fantasy points in his two starts this season.

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

Geno Smith, Seahawks

Smith struggled without DK Metcalf and may be without him again this week, so the concern remains. The Rams haven’t given up a QB1 performance in four weeks, but they are susceptible to big plays. There is major downside, but Smith has QB1 upside if Metcalf returns.

Matthew Stafford, Rams

With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp back last week, Stafford was a QB1. The Seahawks defense is bottom five against fantasy QBs over the past five weeks, so it could be an explosive game for Stafford. Now we'll see if Nacua can overcome his latest knee injury and suit up in Seattle.

Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold, Vikings

Darnold ranks 15th among QBs in total fantasy points despite sitting 24th in attempts. Volume could be a problem for him again on Sunday night against a run-funnel Colts defense. But Darnold should remain efficient against a Colts pass defense ranked 26th in DVOA and allowing 7.6 yards per pass attempt.

Joe Flacco, Colts

Flacco finished QB4 and QB18 in his two starts earlier this season. He gets a Vikings defense on Sunday night that ranks 18th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Minnesota has struggled lately, allowing 298 passing yards and 3.0 TDs per game over the last four. Flacco would be a shaky play in 1-QB leagues but is a nice option in 2-QB and superflex.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

Mayfield will be without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and he might be without Sterling Shepard (hamstring) as well. K.C. slots eighth in pass defense DVOA; 13th in PFF’s coverage grades. They’ve also surrendered only nine passing TDs in seven games.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Mahomes played one of his best games of the season in Week 8. Now, we should see new acquisition DeAndre Hopkins take on a larger role against Tampa Bay. The matchup is strong here, with Tampa Bay slotting fourth-worst vs. QBs, per our strength of schedule tool.

Week 9 Start Em Sit Em

Join Matt Schauf and Jared Smola as they run through some key questions ahead of Week 9:

Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15 years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). His work has been featured on The Mercury News, Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.