Our initial Week 9 fantasy WR PPR rankings appear stacked through at least the starter's tier -- but that's because we're assuming some injured players will return (Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin, Jamison Crowder, Tim Patrick, Emmanuel Sanders) and we won't have any new injuries pop up. That's probably wishful thinking on both counts, especially with Kenny Golladay, Calvin Ridley, and T.Y. Hilton among the wide receivers who exited early last week, but let us have a moment of optimism at the beginning of the week please. (Update: Golladay has already been ruled out for Week 9.)
The byes take away Eagles, Rams, Browns, and Bengals receivers, which certainly limits depth but leaves most of the top tier untouched (apologies to Tyler Boyd, Travis Fulgham, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods). Ideally, the newly healthy players (which also potentially includes Allen Lazard and Sammy Watkins) and return of Antonio Brown will help make up for their absences.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
As good as the rankings look through about the top 36 or so, their drop-off is just as striking. Matchups are mostly to blame, as guys like Marquise Brown (@ Colts), Christian Kirk (vs. Dolphins), Emmanuel Sanders (@ Buccaneers), Darius Slayton (@ Washington), and whoever starts for the Colts (vs. Ravens) are all in tough spots. Given that all see inconsistent targets on a week-to-week basis, it's tough to count on them in PPR leagues, though undoubtedly at least a few will be in lineups.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Of course, whenever there are bad matchups, there are also good ones. Tim Patrick and Jerry Jeudy (@ Falcons) both jump into the top 36 this week, and John Brown (vs. Seahawks) isn't far behind. Mike Williams (vs. Raiders), Chase Claypool (@ Cowboys), Marvin Jones (@ Vikings), and Brandin Cooks (@ Jaguars) are all in play despite being known primarily as "big-play guys." Given their matchups, the odds of a big play or two are higher than usual this week, so even if they catch just a handful of passes, they could easily produce starting-caliber number with their yards and touchdowns.
WEEK 9 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Some high-target, low-floor PPR specials this week include Darnell Mooney (@ Titans), N'Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers (@ Jets), Randall Cobb (@ Jaguars), Laviska Shenault (vs. Texans), Curtis Samuel (@ Chiefs), and Russell Gage (vs. Broncos). You could also make a case for Sterling Shepard (@ Washington) and Corey Davis (vs. Bears) to fall into this category because of their tough matchups, but Shepard especially seems like a "safe" play after posting at least six catches in each of his three full games this year.
WEEK 9 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Note: Check back all week leading up to kickoff, as we'll continue to update our WR PPR rankings based on the latest news and injuries.
MORE WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Week 9 Fantasy WR PPR Rankings
These rankings are for full-point PPR leagues
WEEK 9 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | DK Metcalf, SEA @ BUF |
| 2 | Davante Adams, GB @ SF |
| 3 | Adam Thielen, MIN vs. DET |
| 4 | Keenan Allen, LAC vs. LV |
| 5 | Stefon Diggs, BUF vs. SEA |
| 6 | Julio Jones, ATL vs. DEN |
| 7 | DeAndre Hopkins, ARI vs. MIA |
| 8 | Allen Robinson, CHI @ TEN |
| 9 | Michael Thomas, NO @ TB |
| 10 | Tyreek Hill, KC vs. CAR |
| 11 | Tyler Lockett, SEA @ BUF |
| 12 | Chris Godwin, TB @ NO |
| 13 | Diontae Johnson, PIT @ DAL |
| 14 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT @ DAL |
| 15 | Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. NYG |
| 16 | Justin Jefferson, MIN vs. DET |
| 17 | Robby Anderson, CAR @ KC |
| 18 | Mike Evans, TB vs. NO |
| 19 | A.J. Brown, TEN vs. CHI |
| 20 | Will Fuller V, HOU @ JAX |
| 21 | Cole Beasley, BUF vs. SEA |
| 22 | DJ Chark, JAX vs. HOU |
| 23 | Tim Patrick, DEN @ ATL |
| 24 | D.J. Moore, CAR @ KC |
| 25 | Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. NE |
| 26 | CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. PIT |
| 27 | Marvin Jones, DET @ MIN |
| 28 | Mike Williams, LAC vs. LV |
| 29 | Antonio Brown, TB vs. NO |
| 30 | Amari Cooper, DAL vs. PIT |
| 31 | Chase Claypool, PIT @ DAL |
| 32 | Jerry Jeudy, DEN @ ATL |
| 33 | DeVante Parker, MIA @ ARI |
| 34 | Sterling Shepard, NYG @ WAS |
| 35 | Christian Kirk, ARI vs. MIA |
| 36 | Emmanuel Sanders, NO @ TB |
| 37 | Brandin Cooks, HOU @ JAX |
| 38 | John Brown, BUF vs. SEA |
| 39 | Russell Gage, ATL vs. DEN |
| 40 | Marquise Brown, BAL @ IND |
| 41 | Darnell Mooney, CHI @ TEN |
| 42 | Darius Slayton, NYG @ WAS |
| 43 | Randall Cobb, HOU @ JAX |
| 44 | N'Keal Harry, NE @ NYJ |
| 45 | Trent Taylor, SF vs. GB |
| 46 | Nelson Agholor, LV @ LAC |
| 47 | Henry Ruggs III, LV @ LAC |
| 48 | Corey Davis, TEN vs. CHI |
| 49 | Laviska Shenault Jr., JAX vs. HOU |
| 50 | Danny Amendola, DET @ MIN |
| 51 | Marvin Hall, DET @ MIN |
| 52 | Curtis Samuel, CAR @ KC |
| 53 | Jakobi Meyers, NE @ NYJ |
| 54 | Michael Gallup, DAL vs. PIT |
| 55 | Keelan Cole, JAX vs. HOU |
| 56 | Richie James, SF vs. GB |
| 57 | Breshad Perriman, NYJ vs. NE |
| 58 | Larry Fitzgerald, ARI vs. MIA |
| 59 | David Moore, SEA @ BUF |
| 60 | Mecole Hardman, KC vs. CAR |
| 61 | Preston Williams, MIA @ ARI |
| 62 | Denzel Mims, NYJ vs. NE |
| 63 | Olamide Zaccheaus, ATL vs. DEN |
| 64 | Scotty Miller, TB vs. NO |
| 65 | Damiere Byrd, NE @ NYJ |
| 66 | Michael Pittman Jr., IND vs. BAL |
| 67 | James Washington, PIT @ DAL |
| 68 | Steven Sims, WAS vs. NYG |
| 69 | Hunter Renfrow, LV @ LAC |
| 70 | Marquez Callaway, NO @ TB |
| 71 | Zach Pascal, IND vs. BAL |
| 72 | KJ Hamler, DEN @ ATL |
| 73 | Tre'Quan Smith, NO @ TB |
| 74 | Anthony Miller, CHI @ TEN |
| 75 | Demarcus Robinson, KC vs. CAR |
| 76 | Jalen Guyton, LAC vs. LV |
| 77 | Gabriel Davis, BUF vs. SEA |
| 78 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB @ SF |
| 79 | Bryan Edwards, LV vs. BUF |
| 80 | Andy Isabella, ARI vs. MIA |
| 81 | Miles Boykin, BAL @ IND |
| 82 | Willie Snead, BAL @ IND |
| 83 | Jeff Smith, NYJ vs. NE |