Scott Engel is in his 11th season as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 10-time nominee, including being a finalist for the 2020 FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year Award, which he won previously. Scott was the No. 1 most accurate fantasy football draft ranker at tight end and No. 6 at running back on fantasypros.com in 2021. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis at The Game Day including additional lineup and roster tips for fantasy football Week 9.
This won't be an easy week for fantasy football players to roll out an ideal lineup. In fantasy football Week 9, six teams are on byes. We help you tackle the challenges of putting together the right mix of starters to boost your chances of earning a victory. Analysis leans to Points Per Reception formats.
Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 9
-Start Khalil Herbert. He is coming on strong recently in an improving Bears offense. Herbert has 161 rushing yards and two TDs from scrimmage in his past two games, making the most of his snap counts, which remain below 45 percent. Every time Herbert touches the ball, he seems to be a threat to come through with a potential splash play. Over the last four weeks, Miami ranks 26th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs.
-Start Raheem Mostert. The Bears allow the third-most rushing yards to opposing RBs, and Mostert should still get a healthy workload this week. Miami acquired Jeff Wilson from San Francisco on Tuesday, but Mostert will still be in line for a good number of rushing attempts while Wilson settles in with his new team.
-Start Antonio Gibson. Washington has reeled off three straight wins and Gibson seems to be rejuvenated while working in a time share with Brian Robinson. Not being asked to carry the primary workload alone has sparked Gibson to be very efficient. He had 59 yards on 10 carries in Week 6 and Gibson caught all of his seven targets for 58 yards in Week 7. He has caught TD passes in two consecutive games. Gibson is a good fantasy streaming option for Week 9.
-Start AJ Dillon. The Packers will likely rely heavily on their RBs vs. Detroit. The matchup is a good one for RBs and Green Bay should be focused on winning the time of possession battle and keeping the Lions offense off the field as much as possible. Detroit averages an NFL-high 35.8 points per game at home. The Lions have allowed an NFL-high 11 rushing TDs to RBs, and rank 27th in rushing yards allowed to the position.
-Trade for Dameon Pierce. The Texans rookie is RB14 in fantasy points scored so far this season, yet many fantasy players still seem uncertain on whether to consider him as a regular starter. Pierce has scored 14-plus fantasy points in five consecutive games and you should to try to acquire him now, before he reels off more solid outings and his asking price in fantasy trades rises even more.
-Trade for Josh Jacobs. The Raiders RB had a run of three consecutive 100-yard games with at least one TD snapped in Week 8, so now is a good time to see if you can acquire Jacobs. He rushed for six TDs during that three-game stretch and he also caught five passes in three straight games from Weeks 3 through 5. Expect Jacobs to bounce back this week vs. the Jaguars, who are 27th in FFPG allowed to RBs.
-Add Chase Edmonds if he is available on waivers, or consider trading for him. The Broncos are on a bye week, yet Edmonds may benefit from being traded to Denver, so acquire him now. He has a chance to carve out a significant role at least as part of a time share at RB. The Broncos did need to bolster their running game after losing Javonte Williams to a knee injury, and a change of scenery might elevate Edmonds' fantasy outlook.
-Add Isiah Pacheco. Some fantasy players may have cut Pacheco when he was on a bye in Week 8. He has averaged 4.9 yards per carry this season, and you can never have enough roster depth at the RB position. Pacheco should continue to get enough work to remain deserving of a spot on your roster.
-Add Deon Jackson. He performed well when the Colts needed him to play a larger role in the backfield recently. If you have Jonathan Taylor on your team as an RB1, Jackson is an essential fantasy insurance add. In two consecutive October games. Jackson totaled 212 yards from scrimmage with 14 receptions (10 in one game) and a rushing TD.
-Add DeeJay Dallas and/or Travis Homer if you roster Kenneth Walker III. It is always good to be aware of what players can step forward for quality production when needed. Walker is playing at a fantasy star level right now, yet the Seahawks have two other RBs who would be viable fantasy options whenever they might be asked to play an expanded role. Both Dallas and Homer could become worthy of fantasy consideration at any time. Dallas had two rushing TDs in each of his first two NFL seasons and he is a prime fantasy insurance add for those who are looking to have a strong fantasy hold on the Seattle RB situation. Homer averaged 7.5 yards per carry in the 2022 preseason and he is next up for fantasy roster depth.
Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 9
-Start JuJu Smith-Schuster. In his last two games, he has 12 receptions for 237 yards and two TDs. The Titans rank 27th in FFPG allowed to WRs.
-Start Darnell Mooney. Miami ranks 25th in receiving yardage allowed to WRs, and as previously indicated, the Chicago offense has started to show much more life in recent weeks.
-Start Romeo Doubs. When Aaron Rodgers does go to the air, Doubs is one of his top potential downfield targets. The Green Bay rookie had a 19-yard TD reception at Buffalo in Week 8, and he has three TD receptions in his last six games while having been targeted seven-plus times during that span. The Lions rank 28th in FFPG allowed to WRs.
-Start Adam Thielen as a fill-in WR or flex play. Washington ranks 28th in receiving yardage allowed to WRs, and Thielen can post respectable numbers while continuing to be a legitimate TD threat for Week 9. He has seven-plus targets in six consecutive games and Thielen should be in the main mix of the Minnesota passing game this week.
-Trade for Davante Adams. He had 320 receiving yards in a three-game span before Week 8 and Adams will frequently continue to display that standout form during the remainder of the fantasy season.
-Trade for CeeDee Lamb. Many fantasy leaguers are more willing to trade players away when they are on bye weeks. That can be a mistake when focusing just on the short term, so take advantage of it. Lamb does not have a 100-yard game yet this season and it's an ideal time to acquire him before his numbers can start to take off more with a healthy Dak Prescott in the weeks ahead.
-Trade for Garrett Wilson. The very promising Jets rookie caught six of his seven targets for 115 yards in Week 8. Expect him to deliver more impressive performances in the weeks ahead as Wilson truly emerges as a top playmaker for the Jets.
-Add Josh Palmer, and you can start him right away as a fantasy WR3 or flex player. The Falcons allow the most FFPG to WRs, and Palmer will be targeted often by Justin Herbert while Mike Williams is out with an ankle injury. Palmer had nine receptions on 12 targets in his last game played.
-Add Devin Duvernay. He has to play a bigger role in the Baltimore offense while Rashod Bateman (foot) is out. He had receiving three TDs in his first three games this year, and Duvernay rushed for his first TD of the year while totaling 74 yards from scrimmage in Week 8. You can also consider starting him this week, as the Saints are 24th in FFPG allowed to WRs. Duvernay has some big-play potential, and he will also be utilized as an occasional runner.
-Add Van Jefferson. He did not have a reception in his season debut in Week 8, but Jefferson should start to flash his upside more soon. He averaged 16 yards per reception last season, and Jefferson is a top deep threat for the Rams. He will resurface for streaming fantasy consideration over the next game or two.
Quarterbacks And Tight Ends
-Start Geno Smith. He ranks as fantasy QB7 this season and Smith scored 19.0 Fantasy Points in Week 9 against a sturdy Giants defense. The Cardinals rank 28th in FFPG allowed to QBs and you can expect Smith to deliver a solid fantasy outing in Week 9.
-Start Justin Fields. He is primary reason why the Chicago offense has started to take on a new and potent look recently. He has ranked as the No. 2 QB in fantasy football over the last four weeks, scoring 17-plus points in every game during that span. Miami ranks 26th in FFPG allowed to QBs.
-Start Kirk Cousins. The Vikings' offense gets more ammo with the acquisition of T.J. Hockenson, and his presence in the passing game will open things up more for Cousins even in the tight end's first game with Minnesota.
-Start Will Dissly. The Cardinals have allowed the most FFPG to TEs this year. They have also allowed an NFL-high seven TD receptions to the position. Dissly has three TD receptions this season and he is a good bet to catch his fourth scoring pass of the 2022 campaign in Week 9.
-Start Evan Engram. He has been the fifth-highest scoring fantasy TE over the past four weeks. Engram was targeted six-plus times in every game during that span. The Raiders rank 30th in FFPG allowed to TEs.
-Trade for or add Greg Dulcich. Some fantasy players may cut Dulciich because he is on a bye in Week 9, and that is a mistake move I have already observed this week. He has scored 11-plus Fantasy Points in three consecutive games and Dulcich is emerging as a fantasy TE1 who should be acquired via free agent pickup or in a deal.
For more fantasy football analysis from Scott Engel, visit The Game Day for his weekly sleepers and additional waiver recommendations.
