Which under-the-radar players might be able to give your fantasy team a lift? Which chalky players might not be as safe as they seem? Our featured analysts name some potential sleepers and underachievers along with start/sit advice for Week 9.

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Fantasy Football Week 9 Start/Sit Advice

Q. Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start and why do you think he has upside this week?

Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN)

“I think Derrick Henry not being traded deflated some on Tyjae Spears, but he could have a big week. The Steelers give up the 12th-most points to running backs and just got torched by Travis Etienne. While both Henry and Spears are dealing with injuries, it sounds like Spears is closer to healthy. Thursday games are weird, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Spears handle a larger workload and find the endzone.”
– Ryan Weisse (Club Fantasy FFL)

David Njoku (TE – CLE)

“David Njoku is the pick for me. He had a slow start to the season but seems to be getting healthier and more involved lately. Over the last two weeks, Njoku has seen 17 targets, catching 9 of them for 131 yards and a score on his way to 28.10 PPR points. He should stay involved and the Browns have a nice 23-point implied team total.”
– Robert Norton (Last Word On Sports)

“The tight end landscape can be desolate at times and finding a player on a hot streak could be the difference between making the playoffs or the toilet bowl. That is why David Njoku is a sneaky player to pick up and/or start. After a slow start he is coming off two games with 50+ yds and scored his first touchdown last week during his best performance of the season (4/77/TD). Plus, he is playing Arizona this week! He is primed to be a top 8 tight end in week 9 giving you that slim advantage all owners need this time of year!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF)

“Khalil Shakir had the best game of his career in Week 8, catching all six targets for 92 receiving yards, totaling 12.2 half-point PPR fantasy points. Furthermore, he was the WR24 last week despite Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis each having nine receptions for at least 70 receiving yards. The second-year wide receiver will continue to see more snaps and targets with Dawson Knox on injured reserve. More importantly, Shakir runs 77.9% of his routes from the slot (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals have the third-highest target rate to slot wide receivers this season (37.1%). With multiple fantasy star wide receivers on a bye in Week 9, Shakir is an appealing flex option.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

“Khalil Shakir’s role is steadily growing in the Buffalo offense. In the wake of Dawson Knox’s injury, the team made a sharp turn toward the three-receiver offense they ran successfully under Brian Daboll. Shakir responded with career highs of six receptions and 92 yards. In a potential shootout environment against Cincinnati, he is a great sleeper candidate.”
– Jeff Bell (Footballguys)

Jerick McKinnon (RB – KC)

“This is gonna be a terrible answer to this question, but this feels like a Jerick McKinnon week. It should be a high-scoring game, and Pacheco has struggled a bit of late. I can see a game script where McKinnon gets a few more chances in the rush game and also in the red zone. Terrible feely type answer from me…but I belive it’s a McKinnon week.”
– Ken Zalis (FantasyPros)

Trey McBride (TE – ARI)

“Trey McBride is my Sleeper pick for Week 9. In Week 8 against a tough Ravens defense, he got 14 targets and turned that into 10 receptions for 95 receiving yards and a touchdown. Look for McBride to turn a career-high performance into an official sophomore breakout in Week 9, where he will establish himself as a weekly must-start tight end moving forward.”
– Aaron St Denis (The League Winners)

Hunter Henry (TE – NE)

“In a week where Evan Engram, George Kittle, and Sam LaPorta, are all out on bye, the tight end position is even more scarce than normal. Enter Hunter Henry, who could be an intriguing play this week for the Patriots as they host the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have allowed 4 touchdowns in their past 4 games to the tight end position, allowing more than 80 yards to the position in 2 of those 4. Henry has not done much since starting the year with touchdowns in two consecutive games, but if there was a week for Henry to right the ship this could be it.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

“Washington traded two of their star pass rushers, Chase Young and Montez Sweat, at the trade deadline. Both the Patriots’ and Commanders’ defenses are a shell of what they were to start the season. This could turn into a shootout, and with WR DeVante Parker iffy in the concussion protocol, Hunter Henry could be the undisputed top option for the Pats in the red zone. After the top TEs, the TE position is a total crapshoot, so I’m rolling the dice here with Henry. Come on Hunter, Ringo needs a new pair of shoes!”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR – KC)

“My pick for a sleeper outside the top 100 is Marquez Valdes-Scantling. I like this game for all involved. It’s going to have fireworks and lead changes throughout. I think it’s the perfect game to slide Valdes-Scantling in and see if he reels in a deep TD.”
– Justin Herrera (TSS Fantasy)

Jonathan Mingo (WR – CAR)

“Mingo set a career-high with 62 receiving yards in Week 8. He had four catches — the second-most of his career — on five targets, as he finished second on the team to Adam Thielen in all categories. This week, the Panthers’ offense faces a Colts’ defense that just allowed 350 passing yards to the Saints last week. Though Chuba Hubbard could exploit a defense allowing 124 yards per game on the ground, the Panthers haven’t had much of a rushing offense to speak of. Therefore, I expect lots of receiving opportunities for Mingo, a player that looks like he’s finally hitting his stride.”
– Phil Wood (Bet On Phil Wood)

“Jonathan Mingo’s rookie season has been quiet so far — he’s still without a touchdown and has yet to break 70 yards receiving in a game — but his ceiling is only getting higher. The Carolina Panthers have the second-most passing attempts per game but rank 24th in yards per game. Something isn’t translating, but that gives Mingo an opportunity to grow with his offense. We’re already seeing that in his improvement in catch percentage over the last three games — 73.3 percent — compared to the first three — 42.1 percent. His matchup against the Indianapolis Colts — which has allowed the most points-per-game in the league and has been dominated through the air — is solid, and he is currently second on the roster in targets.”
– Mario Mergola (Sporfolio)

“Jonathan Mingo is my sleeper start of the week. Mingo is trending up in pretty much all stats. Carolina just had their first win of the season and they have a favorable WR matchup this week vs Indianapolis. I expect the rookie to be more involved and to take away more and more targets from Adam Thielen and DJ Chark Jr. Mingo already has a higher TGT% and REC% than Chark, but Mingo has not been able to make into the end zone yet. Plug him into your flex as a bit of a dart throw if you are willing to take a chance on him finally landing in the end zone.”
– Brian Barker (Barker’s Fantasy Football Analysis)

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Q. Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?

Aaron Jones (RB – GB)

“It is becoming increasingly hard to trust Aaron Jones since his injury and return. He has just 22 touches and 14 fantasy points in his last two games. Now he faces a Rams defense that gives up the 5th-fewest points to running backs. They held Tony Pollard under 10 fantasy points last week, and it feels like Jones is in store for a similar performance.”
– Ryan Weisse (Club Fantasy FFL)

“I’m going to keep riding the Aaron Jones is a sit ship until he gives me a reason to say he isn’t a sit. Personally, I do not understand why we in the industry keep ranking him so highly every week, only for him to be a dud. He is banged up, the Green Bay offense stinks, and he is in a committee with AJ Dillon. Now, Jones gets to face a Rams defensive front that has only allowed four scores to running backs this year and has only allowed ONE running back to go for 100 yards against them. That guy’s name, in case you were wondering, was Christian McCaffrey. Bench Aaron Jones, and make plans for him to get comfy on your benches until he is able to show that he can contribute.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

“I expect Aaron Jones to be a disappointment this week vs a LAR team that is looking to bounce back after a terrible performance last week. This GB backfield is a bit of a mess, and Jones has been a disappointment ever since his injury that kept him out of week 2. He has been plagued with injuries this season and popped up again this week on the injury report with a hamstring injury. He has only played 36% SNP% Week 7 and 51% SNP% Week 8, with a dismal combined 64 Rush YDS over the same span. Don’t expect much from Jones this week, and don’t be worried about playing a better option.”
– Brian Barker (Barker’s Fantasy Football Analysis)

Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS)

“It’s shocking that Brian Robinson Jr. currently sits at 32nd overall. The Washington Commanders can’t run the ball very well, and Robinson has been losing work lately. After carrying the ball 19 and 18 times in Weeks 1 and 2, He only has 34 carries over the last four weeks combined. Robinson has also only scored double-digit fantasy points just twice in his past six games, none of them topping 13.60.”
– Robert Norton (Last Word On Sports)

“Brian Robinson Jr. at 33 kind of seems like the answer. He had an amazing week against Denver and has essentially flopped ever since, but we still kind of just remember him being good at the beginning of the year. This week against the Patriots, I don’t think it gets much easier, with Bill most likely scheming up how to get Howell to throw the ball 50 times. I expect Robinson Jr will let you down in Week 9.”
– Justin Herrera (TSS Fantasy)

Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)

“Tony Pollard has struggled lately. Over the past five weeks, the former Memphis star is the RB34, averaging only 8.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game and 3.5 yards per rushing attempt. Fantasy players should buy low on Pollard, as his schedule becomes fantasy-friendly starting in Week 10. However, he will struggle again in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFC East leaders have held running backs to only 12 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They have also allowed the sixth-lowest yards after contact per rushing attempt (per Fantasy Points Data).”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

“Trivia Question…In the seven games Tony Pollard has played this year, how many of those did he rush for over 100 yards? Answer…one. Folks, it’s Week 9. And now Dallas goes on the road against the defending NFC Champion Eagles and their stalwart defensive line, which features Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis, and rookie Jalen Carter. Philadelphia might be the City of Brotherly Love, but it’s not the City of Fantasy Love for Mark Ringo when it comes to RBs playing the Eagles. Yo Adrian….don’t start Tony Pollard this week! -Ringo Balboa”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)

“Chuba Hubbard is an easy fade for me. Bad matchup vs Indy (holding opposing RB’s to under 4 yards a carry) plus, do we really expect Miles Sanders only to get one touch this week? I do not. ”
– Ken Zalis (FantasyPros)

Alexander Mattison (RB – MIN)

“Alexander Mattison is my bust for Week 9. In 2023 he has only one game in which he has averaged more than five yards per carry and the Viking’s lead back has been massively inefficient. Over the past two games, he has begun to split carries with newcomer Cam Akers and seems to be on the edge of losing his job. Add in a Week 9 matchup with the Falcons who are the third-worst matchups for running backs and are holding them to only 13.8 fantasy points per game and I want nothing to do with him this week.”
– Aaron St Denis (The League Winners)

Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC)

“Austin Ekeler is one of the greatest fantasy assets of the past few years, helping fantasy owners dominate with his catching and touchdown prowess. This year, he started strong in Miami before getting hurt and, since then, hasn’t eclipsed 45 yards rushing. He is still a great player, which was shown last week when he finally dominated as a receiver (against Chicago), but he is going to be facing a stout Jets defense that will hone in on the top running back. He is currently the #9 ranked player in .5 PPR on FantasyPros and, with the tough matchup, could disappoint this week.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

Jerome Ford (RB – CLE)

“Jerome Ford sits right on the edge of qualification, ranking 40th. He has a plus matchup against Arizona, but the Browns offense has shifted hard toward involving three running backs. Ford has been boom or bust since Nick Chubb left the lineup, with three RB1 games and three games outside of RB2 status. Hopefully, he is healthy and can return to the boom production, but Pierre Strong has produced when given the opportunity, and the team trusts Kareem Hunt. He is a bust candidate.”
– Jeff Bell (Footballguys)

DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)

“Smith hauled in seven for 99 and one touchdown in the Eagles’ 38-31 win over the Washington Commanders. The performance broke Smith’s streak of three consecutive games under 50 yards receiving. Smith only has three games with more than 50 yards this season, and that number may not change as Jalen Hurts struggles with the Cowboys’ pass rush for the majority of this game. The Cowboys have the fourth-best pass defense in all of football, so Smith is a stay-away for me this week.”
– Phil Wood (Bet On Phil Wood)

Rachaad White (RB – TB)

“While we often give a boost to running backs who can serve as pass-catchers, there must be some hesitation when a team simply cannot move the ball on the ground. Rachaad White and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been completely ineffective via the rushing attack, and they will now face a Houston Texans defense that hasn’t allowed 100 rushing yards to a team since October 1st. If we want to look for White, again, to carry the bulk of his fantasy value via his receiving skills, we should also note that Houston has given up just five passing touchdowns all year — the fewest in the league.”
– Mario Mergola (Sporfolio)

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