Week 9 Fantasy Rankings 2021

Welcome to our weekly fantasy rankings! We’ve updated the format to give you more of the relevant information, in a faster format. Here we review each position grouping for the week, outline possible starters and streamers, and give you the low-down to make your fantasy life easier.

With that, let’s dive in!

Quarterback

Start of the week

Lamar Jackson — at home against the Vikings — should feast against a defense that is bottom-twelve in the league and now will also be without defensive end Danielle Hunter for the season. The Vikings should be able to score enough themselves to make this a relatively high-scoring game, which further elevates Jackson this week.

Sneaky start of the week

Taysom Hill, who was a QB1 in every game he started in 2020, will step in to replace the injured Jameis Winston this week (assuming Hill passes the concussion protocol this week). The opponent is the Atlanta Falcons, the team who Hill had his two highest scoring fantasy weeks last year, throwing for 465 yards and two scores with another 132 rushing yards and two more touchdowns in the two games against Atlanta in 2020.

Sit of the week

Trevor Lawrence. Buffalo is best in the NFL at allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs per game, which is impressive considering all the big leads they’ve jumped out to this season. Lawrence and the Jags are doing all they can to flounder just above “dumpster fire” status, but now James Robinson is hurt, and while that could mean more passing volume for Lawrence, I think I want to see a solid performance out of him before I trust him in my lineups.

Running Back

Start of the week

Jonathan Taylor has topped 100 total yards in five consecutive weeks, and he’s scored seven touchdowns during that time. The offensive line is getting healthy again, and it’s not a coincidence to see Taylor coming on in recent weeks. The Jets are currently the 28th-ranked overall defense and 30th-ranked scoring defense. They’ve also given up the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league (12). Game script should be on Taylor and the Colts’ side as well. The only buzz kill regarding Taylor this week is that he plays on Thursday.

Sneaky start of the week

Boston Scott is a nice play this week. He led the Eagles’ running backs in snaps last week (45 percent), taking 12 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Obviously, the Eagles enjoyed the most positive of positive game scripts last week, but I think Scott can find some production this week. The Chargers have given up the second-most rushing yards in the league and are allowing a league-worst 5.1 yards per carry.

Sit of the week

Mike Davis. He hasn’t hit double-digit carries since Week 5 as he continues to lose work to Patterson. Davis is sporting just a 3.44 yards-per-carry number on the season and has scored just one rushing touchdown this season. New Orleans has allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL so far, and they haven’t given up a 100-yard rusher since 2017.

Wide Receiver

Start of the week

I really like Cooper Kupp this week against the Titans and their bottom-third defense. If you haven’t been paying attention, Kupp has been a target-monster. Last week was Kupp’s least-targeted week so far this season; he still had nine targets. The loss of Derrick Henry should prompt Tennessee to pass more this week, opening up the possibility that this game is something of a shootout. Lots of pass attempts for the Rams equals lots of catches for Kupp.

Sneaky start of the week

Russell Gage against the Saints. This game should be plenty pass-heavy as New Orleans really shines against the run. Obviously the big story is that Calvin Ridley will miss this game, and Gage looks to benefit from those vacated targets. Both Gage and Tajae Sharpe played the same number of snaps and ran the same number of routes last week, so it remains to be seen which of them steps up in Ridley’s absence. I think it will be Gage.

Sit of the week

Marquez Callaway of the Saints. Taysom Hill stepping in at quarterback (if he is fully back from his concussion) does not exactly instill a great deal of confidence in his pass catchers if you’re a fantasy manager. Hill averaged just 208.5 passing yards in his four starts last season, and he had twice as many rushing scores (8) as passing scores last year. I don’t expect there to be a lot of passing volume to the Saints receivers in this one. This should be the Alvin Kamara Show on Sunday.

Tight End

Start of the week

Mark Andrews. The idea of the Vikings’ linebackers trying to contend with the threat of Lamar Jackson leaving the pocket — something the Vikings defense has struggled to defend for their entire history under Mike Zimmer — AND trying to keep Andrews covered over the middle seems a bit far-fetched for this Vikings defense to achieve, especially with Danielle Hunter out for the season now.

Sneaky start of the week

Albert Okwuebumam for Denver is a good option this week. Noah Fant is on the COVID-19 reserve list, and if he cannot play on Sunday, Albert O and his freakish athleticism will have a chance to be on full display. The Cowboys are giving up the tenth-most fantasy points to tight ends in the league.

Sit of the week

George Kittle (or Ross Dwelley) of the Niners can both remain on your bench this week against the Cardinals. Kittle was still limited at practice on Wednesday, and reportedly, the Niners are not expecting Kittle to be 100 percent even if he can play on Sunday. The Cardinals are currently allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in the league.

Additional Information

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Andrew Scherber

Your typical know-nothing wannabe who never played American football growing up, Andrew grew up playing the REAL football, dreaming of being the next Ronaldo (the Brazilian one).

One fateful day in 1998, Andrew was introduced to one, Randy Moss, who would almost singlehandedly vault American football to the forefront of a young twelve-year-old’s flimsy attention span.

Twenty-some years later, Andrew, now a father, coach and rabid Tottenham supporter, still loves both footballs.