Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 30 players to start or sit in Week 9

Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season has already brought with it plenty of chaos, as several teams are making notable moves at the quarterback position.

A microcosm of the league's greater movement can be seen with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens lost Lamar Jackson

and Tyler Huntley to long-term injuries and will start undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano on "Thursday Night Football." However, they are also planning to trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett over the weekend, so their quarterback room is in flux.

The same is true with the Seattle Seahawks, where Drew Lock will replace an injured Sam Darnold, and with the Cleveland Browns, where Shedeur Sanders may start with Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol. And that's not to mention the Philadelphia

Eagles' decision to bench Tanner McKee to see what they have in the potential-packed Joe Milton.

That swath of quarterback changes will leave many fantasy managers with difficult start 'em, sit 'em decisions. Those quandaries will also exist at other positions like running back, where fantasy footballers will have to decide whether to trust Ashton Jeanty or Tyler Allgeier, among others.

Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines 30 players to start or sit.

Fantasy football players to start in Week 8

Quarterbacks

• Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins (vs. Detroit Lions)

Willis is starting to round into form for the Dolphins and has scored multiple touchdowns in three consecutive games. During that span, he has averaged 37.7 rushing yards per game, which will raise his floor in most matchups. The Lions have allowed the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season, so Willis should be positioned to have a strong showing in what figures to be a favorable, high-scoring matchup.

• Drew Lock, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

The Cardinals are one of just three NFL teams to allow 18 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season, along with the Lions and the Las Vegas Raiders. Unsurprisingly, Arizona has allowed a league-high 29.8 fantasy points per game to the position because of that, so Lock should be positioned for a nice outing in which he could toss multiple touchdowns.

• Joe Milton, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. New York Giants)

If you're looking for a fun dart throw, Milton could be worth considering. He's set to start in place of Tanner McKee and has the cannon arm and elite athleticism needed to blossom into a fantasy asset. The Giants have allowed the seventh-most FPPG to quarterbacks, so Milton has a chance to emerge as a decent streamer.

Running backs

• Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (at New Orleans Saints)

Judkins has been boom-or-bust as a touchdown-dependent fantasy option, but he should be poised for a good outing against the Saints. New Orleans has allowed the most FPPG to running backs this season, including a league-high 11 rushing touchdowns to the position. With that in mind, Judkins should be able to find his way into the end zone.

• Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos (at Carolina Panthers)

Coleman took on a lion's share of Denver's backfield touches in Week 9, posting 104 total yards and a touchdown on 15 touches (11 carries, four receptions). The rookie should continue in that role and has a great matchup against a Panthers defense that has allowed the second-most FPPG to running backs this season.

• Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals (at Seattle Seahawks)

Seattle is a tough matchup for any running back, but Allgeier figures to get great volume with Jeremiyah Love (ankle) on IR and Bam Knight dealing with a concussion. That could be enough to make him a touchdown-dependent flex play after he popped off for 191 total yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys.

• Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

Price and Zach Charbonnet split carries for the Seahawks against the Bears. Neither was particularly effective but each gets a much easier matchup in Week 9 against a Cardinals defense that has been middle-of-the-pack against running backs this season. Price has some explosiveness, so don't be surprised if this is his breakout game.

Wide receiver

• Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins (vs. Detroit Lions)

As mentioned, the Lions have been weak against the pass this year. If we're recommending to start Willis, then Douglas should get a nod too, as the rookie has notched six receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns in two games since returning from an early-season ankle injury.

• Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Houston Texans)

Trusting McConkey may seem risky, given that Justin Herbert has struggled under pressure this season. That said, the Texans are allowing the second-most FPPG to receivers this season and McConkey is fresh off a four-catch, 86-yard outing that was one of his best of the season. He should be in line for a solid showing against the Texans.

• Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

Could this be a showcase game for Downs ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline? It sure feels like it. Dallas has allowed the fifth-most FPPG to receivers this season, and the Colts may be eager to boost Downs' trade value by targeting him early and often in this spot.

• Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (at Baltimore Ravens)

The same is true of Thomas, who could be traded as he sees his role shrink in Jacksonville. He caught a touchdown last week and could be in line for ample playing time if the Jaguars can build a big lead against a Joe Fagnano-led Ravens team on "Thursday Night Football."

Tight end

• Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (at Atlanta Falcons)

Gesicki has scored in five consecutive games and six of the seven he has played this season. Joe Burrow has thrown 13 touchdown passes over his last three games, so Gesicki should continue to have high touchdown upside regardless of his opponent.

• Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins (vs. Detroit Lions)

Dulcich has posted at least four catches and 37 yards in four of his last five games. Now, he gets to face a Lions defense that is allowing the most receptions (61), receiving yards (684) and receiving touchdowns (11) to tight ends this season. He could emerge as a surprise top-10 tight end this week.

Defense/special teams

• Jacksonville Jaguars (at Baltimore Ravens)

The Jaguars are playing the Ravens on a short week. Baltimore is expected to start third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano, an undrafted rookie, after injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards and an interception while being sacked three times against the Bills. The Jaguars should pressure him into numerous mistakes while their top-ranked run defense should be able to bottle up Derrick Henry.

• Detroit Lions (at Miami Dolphins)

The Lions will likely give up some yardage and points to the Dolphins, but they should also generate plenty of sacks. Detroit has 24 sacks this season, third-most in the NFL, while Malik Willis has been sacked 21 times through seven starts.

Fantasy football players to sit in Week 8

Quarterbacks

• Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (vs. Denver Broncos)

Young has regressed over the last two weeks after a torrid start to the season, completing just 54.4% of his passes for 372 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions during Carolina's two-game losing skid. The main issue? Young has been pressured a lot in those contests, and he has just a 64 passer rating when pressured compared to 106.3 when kept clean, per Pro Football Focus. The Broncos rank fourth in pressure rate league-wide, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, so they should be able to limit Young in this favorable spot.

• Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (at Carolina Panthers)

The Panthers have a banged-up secondary, but it still won't be easy to justify starting Nix. The Broncos quarterback has looked better recently, throwing for exactly 222 yards in back-to-back games and scoring twice in each. Still, the Panthers are typically more susceptible against the run, so Nix has a lower ceiling than most streaming options this week.

• Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

Normally, the quarterback playing the Cowboys is a solid streaming option. However, with Jones facing down the potential for a benching and having failed to throw multiple touchdown passes in a game this season, it's best to steer clear of him.

Running backs

• Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders (at San Francisco 49ers)

Can you really trust Jeanty after the Raiders gave him just two carries against the Jets while giving Mike Washington Jr. a whopping 25? Jeanty will remain productive as a receiver, but his uncertain between-the-tackles workload makes it hard to trust the former first-round pick, especially against a 49ers defense allowing just 3.6 yards per carry to running backs this season. It's better to wait and see whether Jeanty's decrease in carries was punishment for trash-talking the Jets before Week 8 or a sign of what's to come in Klint Kubiak's running back rotation.

• Breece Hall, New York Jets (at Kansas City Chiefs)

Hall seems likely to return from a nagging quad injury this week, but he gets a tough matchup against a Chiefs defense that has largely bottled up opposing running backs this season. Hall may also be splitting carries with Braelon Allen, who has thrived in his stead, so this doesn't seem like an ideal spot to trust him.

• Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (at Buffalo Bills)

We'll do two for the price of one here. The Vikings have a bottom-six rushing offense this season in terms of EPA per play, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. Jones and Mason are also stuck in a frustrating time share, so neither seems like a particularly viable play against a Bills defense that has allowed just 97.4 rushing yards per game this season.

Wide receivers

• Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (at Seattle Seahawks)

Wilson finally had a breakout game for the first time since Marvin Harrison Jr. was traded, generating eight catches for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys. He'll have a much tougher matchup against a Seahawks team that has been excellent against receivers this year, especially after Wilson suffered a couple of broken ribs on his touchdown catch.

• Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets (at Kansas City Chiefs)

Mitchell just logged seven catches for 142 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders in Week 8. He gets a much tougher matchup in Week 9 against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the second-fewest FPPG to receivers this season. Add in that Omar Cooper Jr. could also siphon targets from him and Mitchell may be a hit-or-miss play each week even if Garrett Wilson (concussion) is unable to play.

• Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (vs. Denver Broncos)

The Broncos get a lot of pressure, so Young won't have much time to throw in that matchup. That could limit Coker's deep-ball upside, and while he could rack up yards after the catch, it's hard to trust him to do so against a quality defense.

• Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (at Minnesota Vikings)

Shakir started well in the Bills' win over the Ravens but did little outside the first drive. DJ Moore seems likely to continue getting most of the attention from Josh Allen, so don't be surprised if Shakir struggles against a Vikings defense that has allowed the third-fewest FPPG to receivers this season.

Tight end

• Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (at Minnesota Vikings)

Kincaid scored a touchdown last week for the first time since Week 2, but he will be hard-pressed to repeat that feat against the Vikings. Minnesota has yet to allow a receiving touchdown to tight ends this season, so Kincaid figures to be limited.

• T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Buffalo Bills)

The Bills have only allowed one touchdown to tight ends this season. It also isn't clear whether Kyler Murray (hamstring) will play in this contest, so Hockenson might have a lower ceiling in this matchup than most.

Defense/special teams

• Minnesota Vikings (vs. Buffalo Bills)

No NFL team has allowed fewer points per game than the Vikings (13.3). No NFL team has scored more points per game than the Bills (33.3). Something will give in this matchup, but if there's one quarterback that's built to beat Brian Flores' pressure-happy scheme, it's Josh Allen.

• San Francisco 49ers (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

The 49ers are favored to beat the Raiders, but this could end up being a shootout given how Kirk Cousins and Co. have been playing. Las Vegas is averaging 27.6 points per game, so even if Nick Bosa returns, this is still a low-floor spot for San Francisco.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 30 players to start or sit in Week 9