Week 9 is BYEMAGEDDON with six teams on bye this week. Good luck!
This is the Fantasy Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 9 of the 2022 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FN. Rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.
Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Jonathan Taylor, Travis Kelce, or Cooper Kupp. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.
Start 'em Aaron Rodgers (GB, QB)We listed Aaron Rodgers as a sit last week, and as expected, he struggled against the Bills on Sunday night. He's averaged just 14 fantasy points this season, but that could change Sunday when the Packers visit Ford Field to take on the Lions who have been incredibly generous to opposing signal callers including 29 points to Tua last week and 31 points to Geno Smith in Week 4. This may be one of the few times where Rodgers can be considered a fantasy QB1.
vs 
3rd Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Kirk Cousins (MIN, QB)We'll see what kind of impact T.J. Hockenson can make in his first week as a Viking. There's no shortage of offensive weapons here. Cousins has thrown for multiple touchdowns over his last two games and should be able to do the same against Washington.
vs 
11th Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Geno Smith (SEA, QB)Over the last two weeks, the Cardinals have allowed an average of 25 fantasy points to QBs. Arizona held Geno Smith to no passing touchdowns when they faced each other in Week 6, but we anticipate Smith being able to rebound in this one. The matchup is beatable as the Cardinals have surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to the position.
vs 
4th Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Travis Etienne (JAC, RB)This may be the last week that we consider putting Travis Etienne on the start list - not because of talent or matchup but rather because he should be considered an RB1 going forward. The James Robinson trade made Etienne the workhorse in this backfield and cemented his status as the best offensive weapon on the team (yes - Kirk is great, but Etienne will be much more involved). After putting up 25 points last week against a tough Denver defense, let's see what he can do against a much softer Raiders defense.
vs 
5th Most Pts to RB
Start 'em Raheem Mostert (MIA, RB)What a great matchup for Raheem Mostert this week. After surrendering 23.8 points to Rhamondre Stevenson last week, the Bears will likely struggle to contain Mostert as well. It doesn't help them that they traded away Roquan Smith to the Ravens and that Chicago is giving up the 5th-most rushing yards per game to opposing backs. He's a solid RB2 this week.
vs 
7th Most Pts to RB
Start 'em David Montgomery (CHI, RB)While David Montgomery is losing work to Khalil Herbert, he's still getting enough of the workload to remain relevant. In fact, he's seen three straight games of 15 touches. Unfortunately, he's only seen the endzone once in that time. That could change against the Dolphins who rank inside the Top 10 for fantasy points allowed to the position. He's not likely to produce a big day, but double-digits should be expected.
vs 
10th Most Pts to RB
Start 'em Tee Higgins (CIN, WR)With Ja'Marr Chase out, Higgins was the focus for the Browns defense last week. Fortunately, he'll have a much nicer matchup this week against the Panthers who have given up the 11th-most receiving yards in the league and rank among the most favorable fantasy defenses.
vs 
10th Most Pts to WR
Start 'em Keenan Allen (LAC, WR)Did you know that Keenan Allen is the 129th-best fantasy WR this season? Limited by a hamstring injury, Allen has basically fallen off fantasy radars. With the Chargers coming off their bye, Mike Williams injured, and assuming he suits up, you couldn't ask for a better matchup as nobody gives up more points to the WR position than the Falcons.
UPDATE: Keenan Allen will be inactive. Josh Palmer should see a significant uptick in targets and can be started in all formats.
vs 
Most pts to WR
Start 'em Chris Olave (NO, WR)Chris Olave has seen 21 targets over the last two games. With Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry missing time, Olave has remained a fixture in the Saints' passing game. The Ravens have a good defense overall, but they do give up a ton of points to receivers this year including a combined 31 points to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin last week.
vs 
4th Most Pts to WR
Start 'em Kyle Pitts (ATL, TE)It's as if the Falcons suddenly realized that they had Kyle Pitts on their team. After being held out of the endzone for the first five games of the year, he's managed to score a touchdown in two of his last three games. It's not exactly a great matchup here, but after his 5-80-1 statline last week, we're going to ride the hot hand.
vs 
14th Most Pts to TE
Start 'em Evan Engram (JAC, TE)Looking for a streaming TE during Byemageddon? Look no further than Evan Engram who seems to have finally caught on with Trevor Lawrence. He caught his first touchdown of the season last week and now gets to face a Raiders secondary allowing the third-most points to the position.
vs
3rd Most Pts to TE
Start 'em Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB, DEF)Nobody gives up more fantasy points to Defense/Special Teams than the Rams. Assuming they put a ton of pressure on Matthew Stafford, he's liable to cough the ball up or throw a pick. The Bucs haven't been the strongest fantasy play in quite a while, but this is a matchup too good to ignore.
vs 
Most pts to DEF
Start 'em Younghoe Koo (ATL, K)The 6th-best fantasy kicker is ranked 6th this week on Fantasy Nerds. Younghoe Koo has kicked multiple field goals in half of his games this year. He's averaging 8.5 points per game and has delivered double digits in four of his games this season. Add in a great matchup and you can leave Koo in your lineup.
vs
4th Most Pts to K
Sit 'em Derek Carr (LV, QB)Last week was simply awful for Derek Carr and company. While we certainly don't anticipate a repeat of that mess, we're not ready to plug him in 1-QB leagues either. Jacksonville has the ability to shut down good quarterbacks including limiting Justin Herbert to 12 points and Jalen Hurts to 16.
vs 
15th Most Pts to QB
Sit 'em Matthew Stafford (LAR, QB)This one really depends upon which version of the Tampa Bay defense shows up. Stafford is coming off just his second game of the year without throwing a pick though he only threw for 187 yards. Only two QBs have put up at least 20 fantasy points against the Bucs this year - Patrick Mahomes & Lamar Jackson. Stafford is not in the same company as those QBs.
vs 
13th Most Pts to QB
Sit 'em Mac Jones (NE, QB)We expect Mac Jones under center for this one, but coming off a disappointing fantasy day last week (just 11.7 points), keep your expectations low. Jones simply doesn't need to throw much with an effective ground game. For Jones to be effective in fantasy, he'll need to deliver through the air, but he's never thrown multiple scores in any game this season and we don't expect that in Week 9.
vs 
13th Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em James Robinson (NYJ, RB)After seeing just 5 carries in his Jets debut, James Robinson will likely climb atop the depth chart at some point this season but it's not going to happen this week. Even if he could garner a higher percentage of the workload, a matchup with the Bills is simply awful. Stash Robinson on the bench for now.
vs 
7th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em Kenyan Drake (BAL, RB)Kenyan Drake has looked good in two of his last three games finding the endzone in both Weeks 6 and 8. The Ravens backfield remains in flux and the potential return of Gus the Bus Edwards could limit Drake's usage. The Saints are very tough to run against. Just ask Josh Jacobs, Christian McCaffrey, and Dalvin Cook who all scored 13 points or less.
vs 
8th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em Cam Akers (LAR, RB)This one is more about Cam Akers' longevity with the team. He's clearly not excited to be there and his request to be traded was denied. What kind of volume will he even see going forward? There may be better days ahead for Akers but limited usage and a brutal matchup (Bucs give up the 5th-fewest fantasy points) mean that he's likely to be found on plenty of league waiver wires.
vs
5th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em Drake London (ATL, WR)Even in plus matchups, Drake London has failed to deliver double digit fantasy points in his last five games. The hot start that we saw from him this season has faded. He hasn't managed to haul in more than four catches in a single game since Week 2. The Chargers are a great matchup for him, but without Mariota making a concerted effort to get London more involved, he's nothing more than a WR3/Flex option this week.
vs
11th Most Pts to WR
Sit 'em Chase Claypool (CHI, WR)It's his first week in a Chicago offense that hasn't thrown much this season. It's tough to get excited until we see what kind of role he's going to play. When Claypool faced the Dolphins back in Week 7, he delivered fantasy owners a whopping 9 points. There will be bigger days ahead for him, but that may be the ceiling this week.
vs
11th Most Pts to WR
Sit 'em Hunter Renfrow (LV, WR)Hunter Renfrow used to be PPR gold, but 2022 and a new offensive look in Las Vegas has left fantasy owners pinching pennies. Renfrow is averaging just 6.5 fantasy points and only has one game where he managed to put up 10 points (10.8 in Week 2 against the Cardinals). A middle of the pack Jacksonville defense will likely contain him just like every other team has all season. He's not even a Flex option this week.
vs
15th Most Pts to WR
Sit 'em Hunter Henry (NE, TE)It wasn't that long ago that the Patriots used their tight ends effectively in the passing game. Those days are obviously long gone as most of their work is done on the ground now. After seeing a season-high 7 targets in Week 6, Henry has seen just three total in the following games. Lack of usage even against a middle of the pack defense renders Henry virtually un-rosterable any more.
vs
12th Most Pts to TE
Sit 'em Cole Kmet (CHI, TE)We finally got to see Cole Kmet in the endzone last week, but even that wasn't enough to get him into double digit fantasy points. With the addition of Chase Claypool to the receiving corp, Kmet's usage (already low) is likely to remain stagnant in this offense. With a great matchup and such potential, it's disappointing to see his fantasy production so low.
vs
5th Most Pts to TE
Sit 'em Tennessee Titans (TEN, DEF)The Tennessee Titans were fantastic the last two weeks limiting the Colts and Texans. You'll need to stream another defense in Week 9 though as a rested Chiefs' offense is going to be ridiculously difficult to keep up with.
vs 
Feweset Pts to DEF
Sit 'em Greg Zuerlein (NYJ, K)Greg Zuerlein has been a Top 10 kicker this season, but you'll need to look elsewhere for Week 9. The Bills have not been kind to kickers this year. With the exception of Justin Tucker and Harrison Butker (two of the best), no kicker has managed to put up more than six points all year.
vs
3rd Fewest Pts to K
