The NFL Week 9 Start/Sit guide for 2026 focuses on the lineup decisions that are actually difficult. Automatic fantasy starters are left alone so the attention stays on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends sitting near the start-or-bench line.
Malik Willis and Jonah Coleman headline this week’s starts, while Tetairoa McMillan, J.K. Dobbins and Baltimore’s uncertain quarterback situation create more difficult decisions. Pittsburgh and Tennessee are also on bye, increasing the importance of finding reliable replacements.
Jump to Week 9 Start/Sit Advice
NFL Week 9 Start/Sit Quick Summary
| Player | Position | Opponent | Call | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Willis | QB | vs. Detroit | START | Rushing upside plus one of the most favorable quarterback matchups of Week 9. |
| Sam Darnold | QB | vs. Arizona | START | Arizona has been one of the most favorable defenses for opposing quarterbacks. |
| Geno Smith | QB | at Kansas City | SIT | Difficult road matchup and limited Week 9 streaming appeal. |
| Baltimore QBs | QB | vs. Jacksonville | SIT | Lamar Jackson is out and the remaining quarterback room carries injury uncertainty. |
| Chase Brown | RB | at Atlanta | START | Strong snap share and receiving role keep him firmly in RB2 territory. |
| Jonah Coleman | RB | at Carolina | START | Emerging as Denver’s lead back with a favorable matchup. |
| J.K. Dobbins | RB | at Carolina | SIT | Coleman’s expanding role has reduced Dobbins’ workload. |
| Ashton Jeanty | RB | at San Francisco | SIT / FLEX | Only two carries in Week 8 create major workload uncertainty. |
| Malik Washington | WR | vs. Detroit | START / FLEX | Steady target involvement and a favorable passing environment. |
| Antonio Williams | WR | vs. Los Angeles Rams | START / FLEX | Led Washington receivers in snaps, routes and targets in Week 8. |
| Tetairoa McMillan | WR | vs. Denver | SIT | Difficult matchup against one of the league’s better wide-receiver defenses. |
| Zay Flowers | WR | vs. Jacksonville | CAUTION | Baltimore’s quarterback injuries lower the passing-game floor. |
| Greg Dulcich | TE | vs. Detroit | START | Detroit has been extremely favorable to opposing tight ends. |
| Dallas Goedert | TE | vs. New York Giants | START | Viable TE1/streaming option in a manageable matchup. |
| Dalton Kincaid | TE | at Minnesota | SIT | Minnesota has been one of the toughest defenses against tight ends. |
| Mark Andrews | TE | vs. Jacksonville | SIT | Reduced target confidence combined with Baltimore’s quarterback uncertainty. |
Week 9 Quarterback Start/Sit
START Malik Willis – Dolphins vs. Lions
Willis is one of the best Week 9 streaming quarterbacks.
He has averaged around 20.8 fantasy points per game over his last three contests and has added meaningful fantasy value with his legs.
Willis has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his last two games while also carrying consistent rushing upside.
Detroit has been one of the most favorable defenses for fantasy quarterbacks this season, making this the type of matchup where Willis’ floor and ceiling both rise.
Week 9 call: Start as a QB1 streamer in 12-team leagues.
START Sam Darnold – Seahawks vs. Cardinals
Darnold did not have a dominant Monday night performance against Chicago, but he still threw two touchdown passes and now gets a much more attractive Week 9 matchup.
Arizona has allowed strong fantasy production to opposing quarterbacks, giving Darnold a realistic opportunity to produce a useful QB1 streaming score.
The presence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba gives Darnold one of the most productive receivers in football, and Seattle should have opportunities to attack through the air.
Week 9 call: Start for managers streaming the position or replacing a quarterback on bye.
SIT Geno Smith – Jets at Chiefs
Smith is difficult to trust as a one-quarterback league starter in Kansas City.
The Jets have several interesting fantasy weapons, but the matchup does not provide enough upside to justify choosing Smith over stronger Week 9 streaming options such as Willis or Darnold.
Managers in Superflex leagues may still need to use him, but his ceiling is less attractive in standard one-quarterback formats.
Week 9 call: Sit in one-QB leagues if a viable streamer is available.
SIT Baltimore Ravens Quarterbacks vs. Jaguars
Baltimore’s quarterback room is one of the biggest Week 9 situations to avoid.
Lamar Jackson is out with a right-thumb injury. Tyler Huntley has been dealing with a toe injury, while Joe Fagnano has also appeared on the injury report with an ankle issue.
The Ravens play Thursday night, leaving very little recovery time after Sunday’s loss to Buffalo.
Week 9 call: Avoid Baltimore quarterbacks in normal one-QB fantasy leagues.
Week 9 Running Back Start/Sit
START Chase Brown – Bengals at Falcons
Brown has not always delivered the fantasy production managers expected, but his underlying role remains strong.
He continues to play a large percentage of Cincinnati’s offensive snaps and remains involved in both the running and passing games.
Brown’s receiving involvement is particularly valuable in PPR formats, and Atlanta does not present a matchup that should force him onto fantasy benches.
Week 9 call: Start as an RB2, with additional value in PPR leagues.
START Jonah Coleman – Broncos at Panthers
Coleman’s role changed significantly in Week 8.
He handled 15 touches for 104 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown against Kansas City while playing roughly two-thirds of Denver’s offensive snaps.
Coleman also earned meaningful work in the passing game, which gives him a stronger fantasy floor than a touchdown-dependent early-down back.
Carolina provides another favorable matchup for opposing running backs.
Week 9 call: Start as an RB2 or strong flex.
SIT J.K. Dobbins – Broncos at Panthers
The matchup itself is attractive, but Dobbins’ role has become the bigger problem.
Coleman’s emergence has reduced Dobbins’ opportunities, and current Week 9 rankings place Dobbins well outside the preferred RB2 range.
Starting a secondary back simply because the opponent is favorable can be dangerous when the lead role has clearly shifted.
Week 9 call: Sit outside of deeper leagues.
SIT / FLEX Ashton Jeanty – Raiders at 49ers
Jeanty remains one of the most difficult Week 9 decisions.
He received only two rushing attempts against the Jets in Week 8 while Mike Washington Jr. handled 25 carries.
Jeanty’s receiving involvement saved his fantasy day, as he caught three passes for 64 yards, but the rushing workload creates a significantly lower floor.
His talent keeps him in consideration as a flex, particularly in PPR formats, but managers with safer RB2 options do not need to force him into the lineup.
Week 9 call: Sit in shallow leagues; flex consideration in PPR.
Week 9 Wide Receiver Start/Sit
START / FLEX Malik Washington – Dolphins vs. Lions
Washington continues to earn dependable involvement in Miami’s offense.
He caught five passes for 40 yards and a touchdown in Week 8 and has remained consistently involved as a receiver.
Detroit has surrendered substantial passing production, and the same matchup that makes Willis an appealing quarterback stream also creates opportunities for Miami’s pass catchers.
Washington does not need to be treated as a locked-in WR2, but the combination of targets and matchup gives him legitimate flex value.
Week 9 call: Start as a WR3 or flex in PPR formats.
START / FLEX Antonio Williams – Commanders vs. Rams
Williams’ role continues to expand in Washington.
He caught five passes for 54 yards in Week 8 and led the Commanders’ receivers in snaps, routes and targets in their first game without Terry McLaurin.
The Rams matchup is not enough to make Williams a must-start, but his involvement gives him enough volume to remain in the WR3 and flex conversation.
Week 9 call: Start as a flex in deeper PPR leagues.
SIT Tetairoa McMillan – Panthers vs. Broncos
McMillan has the talent to win almost any matchup, but Week 9 presents one of the more difficult situations for a fantasy receiver.
He has been held below 60 receiving yards in consecutive games and now faces a Denver defense that has been among the toughest units for opposing wide receivers.
McMillan also spends relatively little time in the slot, increasing the likelihood of difficult coverage on the outside.
Managers in deep leagues may not have a realistic alternative, but expectations should be reduced.
Week 9 call: Sit when a comparable WR3 option with a better matchup is available.
CAUTION Zay Flowers – Ravens vs. Jaguars
Flowers remains too talented to become an automatic bench player, but Baltimore’s quarterback situation changes his Week 9 outlook.
He failed to score a fantasy point in Baltimore’s first extended action without its top quarterbacks in Week 8.
The Ravens are preparing for a Thursday game without Lamar Jackson, while Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano have both dealt with injuries.
Week 9 call: Treat Flowers as a volatile WR3 rather than a locked-in start.
Week 9 Tight End Start/Sit
START Greg Dulcich – Dolphins vs. Lions
Dulcich is one of the better Week 9 tight end streaming options.
He has received at least five targets in four consecutive games, giving him a usable receiving floor at a volatile position.
The matchup is the main attraction. Detroit has allowed heavy fantasy production to opposing tight ends, creating a strong opportunity for Dulcich to outperform his normal range.
Week 9 call: Start as a TE1 streamer.
START Dallas Goedert – Eagles vs. Giants
Goedert remains a reasonable option in a week where many fantasy managers are searching for stability at tight end.
His projected volume keeps him around the TE1/TE2 border, and the matchup with the Giants is manageable enough to use him over lower-volume streaming options.
Week 9 call: Start in 12-team leagues where the alternative is a touchdown-dependent streamer.
SIT Dalton Kincaid – Bills at Vikings
Kincaid is coming off a strong Week 8 performance, but the Week 9 matchup is considerably more difficult.
Minnesota has been one of the league’s toughest defenses against fantasy tight ends and has consistently kept the position from producing big weekly scores.
Managers with another top-12 option can consider avoiding the matchup rather than chasing last week’s points.
Week 9 call: Sit when a comparable TE1 option is available.
SIT Mark Andrews – Ravens vs. Jaguars
Andrews carries the same quarterback concerns affecting the rest of Baltimore’s passing game.
His recent target production has not been strong enough to overcome the uncertainty under center, and current Week 9 rankings place him outside the preferred fantasy TE1 range.
Week 9 call: Sit unless the waiver wire offers very few alternatives.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Lineup Strategy
Do Not Chase Last Week’s Touchdowns
One strong box score should not automatically turn a player into a Week 9 start.
Workload, targets, routes and snap share are generally more useful when deciding whether last week’s fantasy production can repeat.
Jonah Coleman’s Role Matters More Than His Touchdown
Coleman is appealing because Denver increased his overall workload, not simply because he scored against Kansas City.
The combination of carries, receiving involvement and snap share gives him a more sustainable route to fantasy points.
Malik Willis Is More Than a Matchup Play
Detroit’s defense makes Willis particularly attractive, but his rushing production also provides fantasy points when the passing game is inconsistent.
That dual-threat ability gives him a higher weekly ceiling than many traditional streaming quarterbacks.
Be Careful With Baltimore’s Passing Game
Lamar Jackson’s absence affects more than the quarterback position.
Flowers and Andrews both carry additional risk until Baltimore establishes a stable replacement quarterback and shows that the passing offense can continue producing at a useful fantasy level.
Check Thursday Night Players Early
Jacksonville and Baltimore open Week 9 on Thursday night. Any player from that game needs to be handled before the rest of the weekend injury reports are complete.
Avoid placing a Thursday player in the flex spot. Use a positional slot instead so the flex remains available for Sunday lineup changes.
NFL Week 9 Start/Sit FAQs
Should I start Malik Willis in Week 9?
Yes. Willis is one of the strongest streaming quarterbacks for Week 9 because of his rushing upside and favorable matchup against Detroit.
Should I start Sam Darnold against Arizona?
Darnold is a reasonable Week 9 streaming option. Arizona has allowed significant fantasy production to quarterbacks, and Seattle has an elite receiving option in Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Should I start Jonah Coleman in Week 9?
Yes. Coleman has moved into a larger role in Denver’s backfield and draws a favorable matchup against Carolina. He can be started as an RB2 or flex.
Should I start J.K. Dobbins in Week 9?
Dobbins is better left on the bench in most leagues. Jonah Coleman has taken over a larger share of Denver’s backfield opportunities.
Should I start Ashton Jeanty in Week 9?
Jeanty is a risky flex after receiving only two carries in Week 8. His receiving role keeps him usable in PPR formats, but safer RB2 options should be preferred.
Should I start Malik Washington in Week 9?
Washington can be used as a WR3 or flex in PPR leagues. He has maintained steady receiving involvement and gets a favorable matchup against Detroit.
Should I start Tetairoa McMillan against Denver?
McMillan is a difficult Week 9 start because Denver has been one of the tougher defenses for fantasy wide receivers. Managers with another strong WR3 option can consider sitting him.
Should I start Zay Flowers in Week 9?
Flowers should be treated as a volatile WR3 because Baltimore’s quarterback situation is uncertain. His talent keeps him playable, but his floor is lower without Lamar Jackson.
Should I start Greg Dulcich in Week 9?
Yes. Dulcich is a useful tight end streamer against a Detroit defense that has allowed substantial fantasy production to the position.
Should I start Dalton Kincaid in Week 9?
Kincaid has a difficult matchup against Minnesota. Managers with another dependable TE1 option can consider leaving him on the bench.
Which NFL teams are on bye in Week 9?
Pittsburgh and Tennessee are on bye in Week 9.
Is Lamar Jackson playing in Week 9?
No. Jackson is out with a right-thumb injury and will not play against Jacksonville.
