The NFL season is in full swing, and it’s time to set your lineups for Week 9 of the fantasy football season. The 49ers and Steelers are on a bye in Week 9, meaning Deebo Samuel and George Pickens are unavailable to fantasy managers. Additionally, there are many injuries to keep track of, including Brian Thomas Jr., Stefon Diggs, DK Metcalf, Tee Higgins, and Diontae Johnson. Below are the wide receiver rankings, tiers, and analysis for Week 9.
Wide Receivers Rankings for Week 9 Fantasy Football
Tier 1: Alpha Wide Receivers
1. Justin Jefferson
2. CeeDee Lamb
3. Ja’Marr Chase
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown
5. Malik Nabers
6. A.J. Brown
7. Tyreek Hill
Lamb finally had the monster day fantasy managers were expecting when they took him in the early first round of fantasy drafts. He caught 13 of 17 targets for 146 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with 39.6 fantasy points as the highest scorer of the week out of all positions. Lamb should be able to continue this success against the Falcons next week, who are in the top ten for most fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers.
Hill had his best game since Week 1, putting up 13.2 fantasy points with six catches for 72 yards. The Dolphins offense clearly benefited from Tua Tagovailoa’s return, which bodes well for Hill’s fantasy outlook. While Week 9 brings a challenging matchup against the Bills, Hill’s chemistry with Tua places him back in the alpha tier of wide receiver rankings, making him a strong start despite the tough opponent.
Tier 2: Low-End WR1s to High-End WR2s
8. Puka Nacua
9. Cooper Kupp
10. Drake London
11. Brian Thomas Jr**
12. DK Metcalf**
13. Jayden Reed
Both Nacua and Kupp made their return to the Rams offense, and they were both productive. Nacua finished with 18.1 fantasy points, while Kupp had 16.1. Quarterback Matthew Stafford can support two high-level receivers in fantasy. Both Nacua and Kupp jump into the top ten of the wide receiver rankings for the Week 9 game against the Seahawks.
**Thomas is unlikely to play in Week 9 with a chest injury. Metcalf has a chance to play after missing Week 8.
Tier 3: Solid WR2s
14. D.J. Moore
15. Tee Higgins**
16. DeVonta Smith
17. Garrett Wilson
18. Zay Flowers
19. Terry McLaurin
20. Jaylen Waddle
21. Chris Olave
22. Marvin Harrison Jr.
23. Diontae Johnson**
Olave returned from his concussion with a big game, totaling 18.7 fantasy points on eight receptions for 107 yards. He accumulated 14 total targets from Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler. Derek Carr is closer to returning and could play in Week 9. The Saints have a great matchup against the Panthers. Expect Olave to have another great day, regardless of who is at quarterback.
Harrison Jr. established a connection with quarterback Kyler Murray, catching six of seven targets for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins. Miami was one of the better defenses in the league against the pass, and Murray and Harrison Jr. were able to dominate. That is a great sign, as they have another tough matchup against the Bears in Week 9. Harrison Jr. can be safely started again in fantasy lineups.
**Higgins is questionable after missing Week 8 after pulling his quad in a practice. Johnson is still questionable with a ribs injury and was traded to the Ravens, which increases his value if he plays.
Tier 4: WR3s
24. Tank Dell
25. Josh Downs
26. Calvin Ridley
27. Ladd McConkey
28. Jakobi Meyers
29. Davante Adams
30. Xavier Worthy
31. Khalil Shakir
With Stefon Diggs out for the year, Dell becomes the WR1 for the Texans in their matchup against the Jets. Dell caught all four of his targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in their Week 8 victory. Despite the Jets’ strong defense, his expected increase in target share boosts his value, making him a solid WR3 play in Week 9.
Ladd McConkey had a breakout performance in Week 8, posting 29.1 fantasy points with six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. This was his first game over 15 points, making him the second-highest-scoring wide receiver of the week behind CeeDee Lamb. McConkey has a favorable matchup against the Browns in Week 9, who rank in the top ten for most fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, giving him a good chance to keep up the momentum.
Tier 5: FLEX Plays
32. Cedric Tillman
33. Michael Pittman Jr.
34. Romeo Doubs
35. Darnell Mooney
36. Keon Coleman
37. Amari Cooper
38. Courtland Sutton
39. Demario Douglas
40. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
After not finishing inside the top 100 among wide receivers for the first six games of the year, Tillman has had back-to-back top ten weekly finishes. The difference is Jameis Winston at quarterback and Cooper on the Bills. He caught seven of nine targets for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Tillman is a second-year player who finally has a chance to play, and he is making the most of it. He has become a solid flex play for the rest of the season.
Things were not looking good for Coleman after the Bills traded for Cooper, but Coleman has been great since, totaling 16.5 and 18 fantasy points in the last two weeks, both good for top-20 finishes. Cooper seems to have opened up the Bills offense, as both Coleman and Shakir are getting more involved. Cooper will have better weeks, making Coleman an inconsistent fantasy play, but both are risky flex plays for now.
Main Image: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
