We feel like Charlie Brown with Lucy and the football every week when we put together our fantasy WR rankings. We keep initially including a bunch of key guys (Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin, Jamison Crowder, Emmanuel Sanders, etc.), only to take them out heading into the weekend. Yes, it's been a tough year for wide receiver injuries, but we have good news (for some) heading into Week 9: Antonio Brown is back.
We say "for some" because if you own the up-and-down Mike Evans or the oft-injured Godwin, Brown's presence figures to only make things more complicated. Fortunately, Tampa has a favorable passing matchup this week against New Orleans, so all three (depending on who's active) are in play.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Now, back to the bad news: Several big-name wide receivers have tough matchups, and while that ultimately doesn't affect the start/sit statuses of studs like Davante Adams (@ 49ers), DeAndre Hopkins (vs. Dolphins), A.J. Brown (@ Bears), D.J. Moore (@ Chiefs), or Robby Anderson (@ Chiefs), it's never something you want to see when you set your lineup. Marquise Brown (@ Colts), Christian Kirk (vs. Dolphins), Emmanuel Sanders (@ Buccaneers), Brandon Aiyuk (vs. Packers), and Darius Slayton/Sterling Shepard (@ Washington) are borderline starters who might fall out of your lineup this week, though Aiyuk is likely a safe play with Deebo Samuel (hamstring) still hurting. (Update: Aiyuk has been placed on the COVID list and won't play in Week 9.)
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
As always, there are plenty of sleepers who can take their places. Tim Patrick (if healthy) and Jerry Jeudy (@ Falcons), Cole Beasley and John Brown (vs. Seahawks), Mike Williams (vs. Raiders), Chase Claypool (@ Cowboys), Marvin Jones (@ Vikings), Russell Gage (vs. Broncos), and Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb (@ Jaguars) all look good, and the Jaguars WRs (vs. Texans) would also be in good spots if not for the uncertainty surrounding their QB situation.
WEEK 9 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Going deeper, Allen Lazard (@ 49ers) figures to return this week, but given the matchup, he's not a great play. A couple of last week's big performers, Curtis Samuel (@ Chiefs), Corey Davis (vs. Bears), and Mecole Hardman (vs. Panthers), have tough matchups on paper, though matchups rarely matter for the big-play Hardman. If you want to take a boom-or-bust shot on him, you can.
WEEK 9 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Note: Check back all week leading up to kickoff, as we'll continue to update our WR rankings based on the latest news and injuries.
MORE WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Week 9 Fantasy WR Rankings (Standard)
These rankings are for non-PPR leagues.
WEEK 9 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | DK Metcalf, SEA @ BUF |
| 2 | Adam Thielen, MIN vs. DET |
| 3 | Davante Adams, GB @ SF |
| 4 | Stefon Diggs, BUF vs. SEA |
| 5 | Keenan Allen, LAC vs. LV |
| 6 | Tyreek Hill, KC vs. CAR |
| 7 | Julio Jones, ATL vs. DEN |
| 8 | DeAndre Hopkins, ARI vs. MIA |
| 9 | Allen Robinson, CHI @ TEN |
| 10 | Tyler Lockett, SEA @ BUF |
| 11 | Chris Godwin, TB @ NO |
| 12 | Michael Thomas, NO @ TB |
| 13 | Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. NYG |
| 14 | Diontae Johnson, PIT @ DAL |
| 15 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT @ DAL |
| 16 | Mike Evans, TB vs. NO |
| 17 | Justin Jefferson, MIN vs. DET |
| 18 | Robby Anderson, CAR @ KC |
| 19 | A.J. Brown, TEN vs. CHI |
| 20 | Will Fuller V, HOU @ JAX |
| 21 | Marvin Jones, DET @ MIN |
| 22 | Mike Williams, LAC vs. LV |
| 23 | Tim Patrick, DEN @ ATL |
| 24 | Cole Beasley, BUF vs. SEA |
| 25 | DJ Chark, JAX vs. HOU |
| 26 | D.J. Moore, CAR @ KC |
| 27 | Antonio Brown, TB vs. NO |
| 28 | Amari Cooper, DAL vs. PIT |
| 29 | Chase Claypool, PIT @ DAL |
| 30 | Jerry Jeudy, DEN @ ATL |
| 31 | CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. PIT |
| 32 | Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. NE |
| 33 | DeVante Parker, MIA @ ARI |
| 34 | Brandin Cooks, HOU @ JAX |
| 35 | John Brown, BUF vs. SEA |
| 36 | Christian Kirk, ARI vs. MIA |
| 37 | Marquise Brown, BAL @ IND |
| 38 | Emmanuel Sanders, NO @ TB |
| 39 | Darius Slayton, NYG @ WAS |
| 40 | Darnell Mooney, CHI @ TEN |
| 41 | Sterling Shepard, NYG @ WAS |
| 42 | Nelson Agholor, LV @ LAC |
| 43 | Russell Gage, ATL vs. DEN |
| 44 | Henry Ruggs III, LV @ LAC |
| 45 | Corey Davis, TEN vs. CHI |
| 46 | N'Keal Harry, NE @ NYJ |
| 47 | Marvin Hall, DET @ MIN |
| 48 | Laviska Shenault Jr., JAX vs. HOU |
| 49 | Randall Cobb, HOU @ JAX |
| 50 | Trent Taylor, SF vs. GB |
| 51 | Michael Gallup, DAL vs. PIT |
| 52 | Keelan Cole, JAX vs. HOU |
| 53 | Danny Amendola, DET @ MIN |
| 54 | Breshad Perriman, NYJ vs. NE |
| 55 | Curtis Samuel, CAR @ KC |
| 56 | David Moore, SEA @ BUF |
| 57 | Mecole Hardman, KC vs. CAR |
| 58 | Preston Williams, MIA @ ARI |
| 59 | Larry Fitzgerald, ARI vs. MIA |
| 60 | Denzel Mims, NYJ vs. NE |
| 61 | Jakobi Meyers, NE @ NYJ |
| 62 | Richie James, SF vs. GB |
| 63 | Michael Pittman Jr., IND vs. BAL |
| 64 | Olamide Zaccheaus, ATL vs. DEN |
| 65 | Scotty Miller, TB vs. NO |
| 66 | James Washington, PIT @ DAL |
| 67 | Zach Pascal, IND vs. BAL |
| 68 | Steven Sims, WAS vs. NYG |
| 69 | Tre'Quan Smith, NO @ TB |
| 70 | Hunter Renfrow, LV @ LAC |
| 71 | Marquez Callaway, NO @ TB |
| 72 | Damiere Byrd, NE @ NYJ |
| 73 | Anthony Miller, CHI @ TEN |
| 74 | Jalen Guyton, LAC vs. LV |
| 75 | KJ Hamler, DEN @ ATL |
| 76 | Demarcus Robinson, KC vs. CAR |
| 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 |