Week 9 Start or Sit

Start 'em Kyler Murray (ARI, QB)
Kyler Murray is nursing a foot injury and missed Arizona's last two games before the Week 8 bye; his Week 9 status at Dallas is uncertain but he's expected to try to play, with Jacoby Brissett lined up to start if he can't. If Murray suits up, he draws a favorable matchup against a Cowboys pass defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks (28.7 per game). After topping 20 fantasy points just twice in five games, Murray has top-10 upside in Week 9 given that every opposing QB has scored at least 23 points against Dallas this season.
UPDATE Murray is Questionable and may not play. Jacoby Brissett would get the start if Murray is inactive.

Start 'em Matthew Stafford (LAR, QB)
Fresh off their bye, Matthew Stafford and the Rams head into Week 9 to take on the Saints. Stafford exploded for five TDs in London against Jacksonville and owns a 17:2 TD–INT on the season, and he's posted at least 31.5 fantasy points in three of his last four games (the lone down outing came in Week 6 at Baltimore when Puka Nacua suffered an ankle injury). Nacua, who missed the most recent game, is expected to be available, but even if he isn't, New Orleans has allowed 14 passing touchdowns (tied for sixth-most), so Stafford looks poised for another big performance.

Start 'em Tyrone Tracy (NYG, RB)
With rookie Cam Skattebo lost for the season to a severe ankle injury, Tyrone Tracy will step back in as the Giants' starting running back. Tracy returned from his own layoff to score in Week 7 and gained 39 yards in relief of Skattebo versus the Eagles, and now draws a San Francisco run defense that has been only middling this year (about 107.9 rushing yards allowed per game, 15th in the league). Still, Tracy's modest 3.5 yards per carry makes him a risky Week 9 fantasy play - more of a No. 2 option than a reliable RB1 - though his recent late-season scoring suggests he can produce useful weekly points.

Start 'em Travis Etienne (JAC, RB)
Travis Etienne enters Week 9 coming off a three-game slump before the Jaguars' bye, but facing a Raiders run defense that has allowed eight rushing TDs in seven games could spark a bounce-back. He's Jacksonville's clear No. 1 and, after being limited to nine touches in a blowout loss, should see his usual 15+ touches if the 4-3 Jags get a lead at home. His three-down role and early-season production (multiple 16.9+ PPR outings) - the recent poor games came against elite run defenses - make him a dependable RB2 option this week against a Las Vegas unit that's regularly surrendered solid RB fantasy outings.

Start 'em Michael Pittman (IND, WR)
Michael Pittman has found the end zone in six of Indianapolis' first eight games and leads the team with 56 targets (7.0 per game), making him a clear red-zone focal point. He's averaging nearly 16 fantasy points per game and has posted back-to-back 20+ point outings, and he draws a Week 9 matchup with a Pittsburgh secondary that has surrendered six receiving TDs in its last two games and ranks near the top in points allowed to perimeter wideouts (fifth-most to wideouts, third-most to perimeter receivers). That outlook makes Pittman a solid high-end WR2 option.

Start 'em Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI, WR)
Marvin Harrison Jr. is set to lead Arizona's receiving group in Week 9 at Dallas. He totaled just two catches on six targets in Week 7, but both went for 20+ yards, and five of his eight receptions over the last three games have been long plays - a promising sign against a Cowboys secondary that has yielded 28 receptions of 20+ yards this year. Despite not topping 60 yards in his last two outings and missing double digits in four of six, Harrison draws a favorable matchup against a pass defense that has been especially vulnerable to perimeter receivers, giving him a strong shot to bounce back.

Start 'em Kyle Pitts (ATL, TE)
Kyle Pitts should remain a primary target for Atlanta in Week 9 at New England. He led the Falcons in Week 8 with nine catches for 59 yards and has now posted his fourth 50+-yard game, sitting at 39 catches for 344 yards and a score on the season. Pitts has been heavily involved lately (16 catches on 19 targets across his last two games) and has posted 13+ fantasy points three times in the past four weeks. That recent usage pairs well with a Patriots defense that has struggled against tight ends - including allowing 10 catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns to Cleveland's TEs last week - so he's worth keeping active this week.

Start 'em Oronde Gadsden (LAC, TE)
Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden, a fifth-round pick, has quietly become one of 2025's biggest surprises after taking over the Chargers' starting job with three straight strong outings (19 catches, 309 yards, 2 TDs on 22 targets). While Justin Herbert's targets are shared with Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston, Gadsden's ability to create mismatches has turned him into a legitimate big-play threat. Week 9's matchup against a Titans defense that ranks ninth in PPR points allowed to tight ends (and recently held Tyler Warren in check) is a tougher assignment, but his 59.9 fantasy points over the past three weeks - second most among TEs - keeps him in TE1 consideration.

Start 'em Los Angeles Chargers (LAC, DEF)
The Titans have been a gold mine for fantasy defenses, and the Chargers draw them this week. Tennessee has surrendered more sacks than any other team and its offense has turned the ball over 13 times in eight games. They also rank last in both scoring and total net yards, so this matchup should give the Chargers' fantasy production a nice boost.

Start 'em Jason Myers (SEA, K)
Jason Myers has been uncharacteristically shaky this season but gets a favorable chance to rebound in Week 9 against Washington. He missed his fourth field goal in the most recent game (one attempt was blocked) but is still 13-for-17 on the year - a 76% clip that would be his lowest since 2021. Despite the hiccups, Myers has averaged roughly 10 fantasy points per game and been held under eight just once in seven outings, and the Commanders have surrendered 8.0 fantasy points per game to kickers (tied for 10th-most), making him a viable pickup in leagues where he's available.

Sit 'em Bo Nix (DEN, QB)
Bo Nix has hit his stride earlier than last year, totaling eight touchdowns (six passing, two rushing) with just one turnover over the past two games and piling up 75.6 fantasy points - including a Week 8 31.8-point Start of the Week performance. Those outings came against two of the NFL's weaker defenses, though, and Week 9 is a tougher assignment: Houston has allowed the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, with only Baker Mayfield and Mac Jones topping 15.6 points against them. With Nix on the road facing that unit, he's best viewed as a Superflex or two-quarterback league option rather than a single-QB start.

Sit 'em C.J. Stroud (HOU, QB)
C.J. Stroud has been inconsistent in 2025 and draws a tough Week 9 matchup against a Broncos secondary that has allowed just eight passing TDs in eight games and recently blanked Dak Prescott. Stroud has logged fewer than 230 yards and no more than one TD in four of seven starts and has tossed multiple touchdowns in only three games, despite a season-high 318 yards and 25.7 fantasy points in Week 8. With Nico Collins listed questionable but expected to return and Patrick Surtain II likely out, Denver's pass rush still limits Stroud's upside; only three quarterbacks have cleared 16.6 fantasy points against them this year. He's a start mainly in Superflex or two-QB formats, and I'd expect him to finish under 20 fantasy points.

Sit 'em Tony Pollard (TEN, RB)
Tony Pollard has been limited to 12 touches in each of Tennessee's last three games and is clearly sharing work with Tyjae Spears, who also logged 12 touches in Week 8. Pollard's early-season production came while Spears was sidelined, but with the Titans' offense sputtering both backs are little more than flex plays. That likely won't change in Week 9 against the Chargers, who've surrendered several rushing TDs but recently bottled up Minnesota's run game for just 34 yards. Spears actually played more snaps than Pollard in Indianapolis, and with Pollard posting 6.7 PPR points or fewer in two of his last three outings, Spears is the preferred flier - a trade for Pollard would probably be the best way to salvage his fantasy value.

Sit 'em Alvin Kamara (NO, RB)
Alvin Kamara will try to rebound in Week 9 against the Rams after a season‑low outing in Week 8 (six carries for 21 yards, plus two catches for 24). With Kendre Miller sidelined he should command New Orleans' backfield, but the Saints' sputtering offense and lack of a clear QB1 temper expectations. Los Angeles has been stingy against running backs - among the fewest fantasy points allowed and still yet to concede a RB rushing touchdown - and Kamara has just one score all year and has produced 9.5 PPR points or fewer in three of his last four games, making him more of a flex option than a must-start.

Sit 'em Stefon Diggs (NE, WR)
Stefon Diggs enters Week 9 as New England's top receiver, but his fantasy profile is erratic: he's shown upside with two 100-yard games and a Week 8 touchdown, yet also has four outings of 32 yards or fewer and has scored under 14 fantasy points in three straight. With the Patriots spreading limited targets around, Diggs carries high-end WR2 ceiling but a shaky, flex-level floor, and a matchup with a stingy Falcons secondary (top-10 against opposing receivers) doesn't do much to improve his outlook - don't feel forced to insert him into lineups.

Sit 'em Courtland Sutton (DEN, WR)
Courtland Sutton remains the Broncos' primary downfield threat despite a drop in targets from 2024. Over eight games he's posted a 37-536-3 line on 56 targets from Bo Nix, with only two outings of double-digit looks; his reduced role reflects Denver's renewed focus on the run and the emergence of Troy Franklin, who has just two fewer targets. Both receivers face a tough Week 9 assignment against a Texans secondary that ranks fourth in PPR points allowed to wide receivers. Sutton has reached at least 65 receiving yards in five of his last six games and will be active in most lineups with four teams on bye, but temper expectations - Houston has yielded only three touchdowns to perimeter receivers and just two opponents have topped 12.9 fantasy points against them.

Sit 'em Evan Engram (DEN, TE)
Evan Engram offers a reliable baseline in the Broncos' offense but little upside. He's caught at least four passes in five straight games yet hasn't topped 42 receiving yards in any, sitting at 26 catches for 215 yards and one TD on 37 targets through seven games - a pace that projects to roughly 50 catches and 500 yards if he stays healthy. That steady floor (four+ catches and 30+ yards in four straight, and 9.2+ fantasy points in three of his last four) will be useful, but Week 9 brings a tough test: the Texans are among the stingiest defenses versus tight ends, and only George Kittle has cleared 12.1 PPR against them this year.

Sit 'em Dalton Kincaid (BUF, TE)
Dalton Kincaid will need to be closer to full strength to be of use for Buffalo in Week 9 against Kansas City. He was a late inactive in Week 6 and saw just a 22% snap share after the bye, totaling one catch for 23 yards and a season-low performance (3.3 fantasy points), with only 14 snaps and 13 routes - possibly related to an oblique issue. With the Chiefs limiting tight ends all year (only two 50-yard games and one TD allowed, about 7.8 PPR per game), Kincaid likely won't be a reliable option unless his role jumps back toward a 50% snap share despite his early-season upside.

Sit 'em Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT, DEF)
Even with plenty of talent, Pittsburgh's defense is one of the less appealing fantasy plays against a tough offense - and that's true this week with Daniel Jones and the Colts in town. Indianapolis' line has allowed just nine sacks, and opposing defenses have forced only four takeaways all season, so I'd sit the Steelers this weekend.

Sit 'em Harrison Butker (KC, K)
Harrison Butker has been a casualty of Kansas City's offensive efficiency: with Patrick Mahomes reeling off elite passing numbers, Butker has attempted just two field goals in the last four games (making both) and gone 15-for-16 on extra points - a steady floor but a capped ceiling while Mahomes is hot. He's 12-for-15 on field-goal attempts this season but hasn't scored more than seven fantasy points in any of his last four outings. Week 9 against a Bills defense that allows 20.9 points per game and is tied for sixth in points allowed to kickers could turn into a big night if it becomes a shootout, though Buffalo has limited kickers' fantasy output this year, with only two scoring more than nine points and four held to six or fewer.