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Week 9 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Preview

Top Fantasy WRs for Week 9

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys

Lamb’s racked up a league-leading 31 targets over the past two weeks. He should have plenty of time to generate separation vs. Atlanta, as they enter with the league’s lowest pressure rate.

Drake London, Falcons

London faces the Cowboys with top CB Trevon Diggs battling a calf injury. The young WR also hits the weekend with 8+ targets in five of his past six outings.

Darnell Mooney, Falcons

Mooney's excellent season continued last week with 5-92-1 at Tampa Bay. Now, he draws an underwhelming Dallas pass D that sits 27th in PFF’s coverage grades.

Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens

Zay Flowers, Ravens

Flowers light has dimmed a bit with the Diontae Johnson trade, and the Ravens just aren’t passing enough for Flowers to be reliable. He has three games with four or less targets, and has been inconsistent week to week in terms of gameplan. With Diontae still getting up to steam, Flowers has WR2 upside if the game requires a bit more passing.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Sutton had his best game of the season last week, catching eight passes for 100 yards. He is growing chemistry with Bo Nix. The Ravens could get some of their secondary back from injury, but they are still one of the worst defenses against the top WR on the other team. Sutton is a high-end WR3 with upside to repeat last week’s performance if the Broncos get down early. 

Rashod Bateman, Ravens

Bateman has become the deep threat for the Ravens and is the clear WR2 until Diontae Johnson gets up to speed. He has big play upside as a WR4 this week.

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins

Hill was just OK in Tua Tagovailoa's Week 8 return (6 catches, 72 yards on a 25% target share). Despite the down season – plus a tough Bills defense – Hill remains a no-doubt WR1.

Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins

On the year, Waddle’s caught 4+ passes in all but one game. However, he managed just a 17% target share in Tua Tagovailoa’s Week 8 return. Game script should dictate plenty of second-half passing vs. Buffalo, though. Miami is installed as a six-point road underdog. 

Khalil Shakir, Bills

In two games with Amari Cooper, Shakir's racked up 17 targets, 16 catches, and 172 yards. The Dolphins have proven to be one of the toughest matchups vs. WRs, allowing only 15.9 WR PPR points per game. Still, Shakir’s relative consistency keeps him firmly in WR3 range.

Amari Cooper, Bills

Cooper popped up on the injury report with a wrist injury, but there’s been no indication that it’s serious. He’s yet to play a full-time role with the Bills, although that possibility remains against Miami. Cooper remains in the WR3 mix.

Keon Coleman, Bills

Coleman’s role has increased in recent weeks, leading to back to back target shares of 23%. That stretch has turned up 9 catches, 195 yards, and 1 TD. Note that he's drawn 18% of Buffalo's red zone targets; 33.3% of their targets inside the ten, per PFR. His scoring appeal sticks around against Miami.

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

Chris Olave, Saints

Olave returned last Sunday from a Week 6 concussion to garner 33.3% target share, 36.4% reception share, and 38.1% of the Saints’ total passing yards. This week finds the offense losing a couple more contributors – WR Bub Means and RB Kendre Miller – while getting QB Derek Carr back from a three-game oblique injury. Throw in a matchup with the hapless Panthers, and Olave presents as attractive a Week 9 ceiling as just about any WR.

Adam Thielen, Panthers

Carolina’s rolling with QB Bryce Young for a second straight start. He and Thielen connected for a lot of receptions last season, and this week’s Diontae Johnson trade leaves room for plenty of targets. But this is a different coaching staff from last year. And Thielen’s coming off a five-game hamstring injury that continued to limit his practice time this week. He’s no lock to lead Jalen Coker and/or Xavier Legette in receiving this week.

Jalen Coker, Panthers

With Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen out last week, Coker ranked second among Panthers in routes and targets, and delivered a 4-78-1 receiving line. He showed big-play potential in college, with 18.2 and 17.6 yards per catch his final two seasons at Holy Cross. But Coker’s in a crowded WR situation that should return Thielen this weekend. And QB Bryce Young already got benched once this season. The combo is tough to bet on above the deepest levels.

Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

Without Tee Higgins, Chase had 11 targets last week and found the end zone. His target share will continue to be massive and he has a WR1 overall ceiling against the Raiders. They haven’t faced a WR of Chase’s caliber yet this year.

Jakobi Meyers, Raiders

Meyers is the de facto top WR for the Raiders, which will result in plenty of targets if they get down early. He caught six of seven targets last week for 52 yards and a TD. With the high target share and a need to pass against a weak Bengals secondary, Meyers is a WR2 who could go off this week.

Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns

Ladd McConkey, Chargers

McConkey has averaged a whopping 4.18 yards per route against man coverage this season. That's second-best behind only Justin Jefferson. McConkey gets a Browns defense on Sunday that plays man coverage at the third-highest rate in the league. Consider the rookie a WR3 with upside in Week 9 fantasy lineups.

Cedric Tillman, Browns

Tillman ranks top four among WRs in targets, air yards, expected PPR points, and actual PPR points over the last two weeks. That makes him tough to bench, even in a tough Week 9 matchup vs. the Chargers' seventh-ranked QB defense.

Jerry Jeudy, Browns

Jeudy ranked third among Browns WRs in targets and fantasy points last week. But he ran a route on every single pass play and drew a solid 19.5% target share. If QB Jameis Winston continues to play anywhere close to as well as he did last week, Jeudy will have some nice fantasy outings. Sunday's matchup is difficult, though, against the Chargers' seventh-ranked WR defense.

Elijah Moore, Browns

Moore came to life with the rest of the Browns' passing game last week, posting a season-best 8-85-0 line. He continued to play very little in two-WR sets, though, which meant a 77% route rate. He's at a 76% route rate on the season. That gives him a lower weekly floor than Cedric Tillman and even Jerry Jeudy.

Quentin Johnston, Chargers

Johnston looks set to return from his ankle injury for Sunday's game vs. the Browns. He averaged just 4.5 targets, 2.8 catches, and 36 yards over the first four games of the season, although he scored three times. Johnston has a chance to be a fantasy factor with the Chargers throwing more lately, but he'd be a desperation Week 9 fantasy start.

Washington Commanders at New York Giants

Malik Nabers, Giants

Nabers posted meh fantasy numbers the past two weeks – since his return from the concussion – but he has racked up 21 targets in a pair of difficult matchups. He continues to lead the league in target share for the season and sits tied with Cooper Kupp for most expected PPR points per game among WRs. Nabers had his breakout game (10-127-1 on 18 targets) in the Week 2 meeting with Washington.

Terry McLaurin, Commanders

McLaurin has caught 5+ passes in three straight games after reaching that number just tice over the first five weeks. That included a 6-98 line on just 6 targets in a game where Jayden Daniels left early – and then a 5-125 in Daniels’ return. The Giants enter this round ranked just 29th in coverage DVOA vs. No. 1 WRs.

Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants

Last week marked just the second time this season that Robinson fell short of 8 targets. He has caught 5+ passes in six straight contests and seven of eight for the season. But Robinson also hasn’t exceeded 50 yards in a game since Week 4. Malik Nabers’ return lowers the target ceiling. That combined with Robinson’s short-range game in a weak offense make him a low-upside play but decent WR4 in PPR.

Darius Slayton, Giants

Slayton’s downfield style and wafer-armed QB make him a volatile fantasy option. QB Daniel Jones took just 1 sack in the first meeting with Washington but has endured 11 over the past two weeks. If he can get protection, there’s upside to Slayton. Washington has improved on defense but still ranks just 24th in total DVOA and 20th against the pass.

Noah Brown, Commanders

All Brown needs is another hail mary. That 52-yard TD last week would have stood as his third-best yardage game this season. The game did mark his fifth with 3+ receptions among six appearances with the Commanders. But Brown has only reached 4 catches once and hadn’t reached 60 yards in a game before last Sunday.

New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

Calvin Ridley, Titans

Ridley erupted for a 15-target, 10-catch day in Week 8. A major blowout helped, but Ridley's target ceiling also figures to rise with DeAndre Hopkins in Kansas City. He remains a volume-based fantasy play vs. New England.

Demario Douglas, Patriots

We’ll see if Drake Maye can pass the concussion protocol ahead of Sunday. Even if he does, Douglas is best viewed as a deep-league PPR FLEX. He’s totaled 26 yards over the past two weeks.

Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals

Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals

Harrison Jr. caught six passes for 111 yards and a TD last week, finally finding his place in the offense. Utilizing the middle of the field has helped Harrison get open, but the Bears are a tough pass defense. He is a low end WR2 this week.

D.J. Moore, Bears

Moore only had four targets last week with the Bears offense turning back into a pumpkin. Arizona has been poor against outside WRs, so this could be a good spot for Moore to get it back. He is a low end WR2 at best though.

Keenan Allen, Bears 

Allen only caught two passes last week following up his two TD game before the bye. He has’t cleared 41 yards receiving yet this season, so Allen is a WR4 this week with a low ceiling. 

Rome Odunze, Bears

Odunze has the ceiling, but he’s only cracked the top-40 fantasy WRs once this season for a given week. He is getting on the field, but this likely won’t be the breakout game. He is a WR4 this week.

Michael Wilson, Cardinals

Wilson had six targets last week and caught another TD, but his shallow routes won’t do much week to week. WR5 this week.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles

A.J. Brown, Eagles

Brown ceded top-scorer status among Philly WRs to DeVonta Smith last week for the first time in their four shared games this year. He still managed a 5-84 line on just 6 targets, though. Jacksonville heads into this weekend as the top scoring matchup for WRs and QBs by wide margins.

DeVonta Smith, Eagles

We’re still learning just how much passing volume to expect from the Eagles. Last Sunday marked just the fourth game this season in with both Smith and A.J. Brown played. Smith has seen 7+ targets in two of those; 4 or fewer in the other two. This week’s matchup finds a Jacksonville defense allowing the league’s largest WR scoring boost. That makes it pretty easy to bet on this guy.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars

Thomas managed limited practices Wednesday and Thursday despite leaving last week’s game with a seemingly worrisome chest injury. He’ll face a Philly defense that’s been tough overall but also ranks just 31st in coverage DVOA vs. No. 1 WRs. The rookie clearly holds that role now that Christian Kirk’s done for the season (and was already easily outproducing Kirk anyway).

Gabe Davis, Jaguars

Davis is iffy enough at full health. Throw in a shoulder injury that has limited his practice time this week, and you should be trying not to start him. Davis has topped 3 receptions just once all season.

Parker Washington, Jaguars

Washington’s tough to project ahead of Davis because of:

1. His significantly shorter aDOT
2. The fact that Davis will play ahead of him in 2-WR sets

But Washington might have a higher reception ceiling than his teammate this week, especially with Davis nursing a shoulder injury. Washington could become a helpful short-range outlet if Trevor Lawrence faces more pressure against a heavy home favorite that tallied 14 sacks over the past three games.

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions

St. Brown is riding a five-game scoring streak. Note that Jameson Williams will remain out against Green Bay.

Jayden Reed, Packers

Reed's tallied his two lowest target shares over the past two weeks (13% and 12%). Now, he’ll need to overcome another hurdle if Jordan Love (groin) can’t suit up vs. Detroit. The Lions supply a favorable matchup.

Romeo Doubs, Packers

Doubs tallied 4 catches for 80 yards in two early-season games with Malik Willis. There's a chance he's forced to start again due to Jordan Love's groin injury. That would drop Doubs to just a deep-league FLEX, despite a positive matchup.

Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks

Puka Nacua, Rams

Nacua hurt his knee at practice this week, but he appears good to go as the top WR for the Rams again. He had seven catches for 106 yards, despite only running a route on 65% of dropbacks. Nacua is a clear WR1 with how the Rams used him

D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks

If Metcalf plays this week, it is a welcome addition after the Seahawks issues on offense. The Rams defense is one of the worst against WRs out wide, which is where Metcalf typically plays. It’s a great match-up if he is healthy, flirting with being a WR1 this week.

Cooper Kupp, Rams

Kupp still logged eight targets with Puka Nacua also bac in the lineup, and he found the end zone as well. If the Rams are behind or have to keep pace, then Kupp could be an easy PPR target for a ton of short catches. He is a borderline WR1 this week.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

JSN still was average with Metcalf out catching six of seven targets for 69 yards. With Metcalf, things get even worse as those targets will likely decline. JSN has talent, but we haven’t seen much use. He is a low-end WR3 this week.

Tyler Lockett, Seahawks

Lockett caught all of one pass for 9 yards and that was with Metcalf out for the game. He needs a TD to be relevant and has been downgraded to more of a WR4 at this point.

Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson, Vikings

Jefferson has finished as a top-12 PPR WR in five of seven games this season and has yet to finish lower than 22nd. Next up is a Colts defense sitting 24th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs.

Josh Downs, Colts

No one is happier to see QB Joe Flacco back than Downs. In Flacco's two starts earlier this season, Downs totaled 21 targets, 16 catches, 135 yards, and 1 TD. He ranked sixth among WRs in expected PPR points per game and 14th in actual points per game over those two weeks. Downs gets a Vikings defense on Sunday night that ranks 30th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. Minnesota has particularly struggled against the slot, which is where Downs runs most of his routes.

Michael Pittman, Colts

Pittman didn't post huge numbers in QB Joe Flacco's two starts earlier this season: 13 targets, eight catches, 72 yards, and two TDs. But Flacco is a big upgrade over QB Anthony Richardson for Pittman's fantasy value. The Colts averaged 41 pass attempts and 269 passing yards in Flacco's two starts vs. 26.7 attempts and 175 yards in the other six games. Pittman gets a plus matchup on Sunday night against the Vikings' 30th-ranked WR defense.

Jordan Addison, Vikings

Addison has averaged just 4.8 targets over his last four games and will now be contending with the return of TE T.J. Hockenson. Addison gets the Colts' 24th-ranked WR defense on Sunday night but can't be considered more than a volatile WR4.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs

DeAndre Hopkins, Chiefs

In his Chiefs debut, Hopkins tied for third on the team in snaps. He ran only two from the slot, but HC Andy Reid has indicated a larger (and more diverse) role going forward. He’s fine to trust as a WR3 against a struggling Tampa Bay secondary.

Xavier Worthy, Chiefs

Worthy's role has spiked in recent weeks. His two highest figures in targets per route run and target share have surfaced in back to back weeks. It makes sense, as injuries have ruined Kansas City’s WR depth. Worthy’s big-play upside is worth chasing as a WR3 against the Bucs.

Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers

Sterling Shepard may miss Monday’s game with a hamstring injury. Regardless, McMillan draws a tough matchup vs. a Chiefs unit limiting WRs to only 108 yards per game. 

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.