Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Wide Listeners in Week 9 of Fantasy Football

Dear friends, it’s already week 9! Time to set up those fantastic lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is a best and worst look at the week’s best and worst matchups in fantasy football leagues. Each week I will be examining wingers who could exceed or fall short of expectations based on their weekly opponent… like Cedric Tillman and DeAndre Hopkins in Week 8!

To make your final lineup decision, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them every day! Make sure too subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me as we cover all things fantasy football five days a week!

All positions: QB | RB | WR | TE | K and summer time

Hi: 49ers, Steelers

1. Justin Jefferson vs. Colts
2. CeeDee Lamb for the Falcons
3. Ja’Marr Chase vs. Raiders
4. AJ Brown vs. Jaguars
5. Bills Tyreek Hill
6. Drake London vs. Cowboys
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown with the Packers
8. Nacua knocks on the Seahawks
9. Malik Nabers vs. Commanders
10. Cooper Kupp for the Seahawks

Full Week 9 wide receiver rankings (coming soon!)

The beginning of the week

Chris Olave of the Panthers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Olave finally woke up last weekend, scoring 18.7 fantasy points in a loss to the Chargers. He had not scored more than 12 points in four of his six previous contests, so this was a welcome sight. I would keep him in the lineup this week as well, as he will face a Panthers defense that has given up eight touchdowns and the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses this season.

Run them

Terry McLaurin on Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox): McLaurin’s hot streak continued last week, scoring 17.5 points despite a poor game against the Bears on paper. This week it’s the opposite as they face the Giants. In New York, he was held to just 8.2 points in Week 2, but that was before McLaurin started to heat up. Their defense was poor on the perimeter, allowing five touchdowns and seventh-fewest points per game.

DeVonta Smith vs. Jaguars (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Smith was on the stat sheet a week ago, scoring 20.5 fantasy points in a win over the Bengals. This came after he scored just 0.80 points the previous week. Smith should remain in all lineups against the Jaguars, who have scored nine touchdowns and allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game by wide receivers. Smith should post top 20 numbers this weekend.

Courtland Sutton on Ravens (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Sutton has been rattling off good and bad stats over the past four weeks, but he’s having a hard time sitting still this week in Baltimore despite the inconsistencies. The Ravens defense allowed perimeter receivers the most fantasy points per game, including seven touchdowns. Overall, their defense allowed 11 wingers to score over 13 points, including six who scored over 20 points.

Xavier Worthy vs. Buccaneers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Worthy doesn’t invest large sums, but he’s certainly worth using as a flexible starter. He has scored over 11 points in three of the last four games, and the matchup against Tampa Bay is very favorable. In fact, their defense has allowed seven touchdowns and the third-most points per game in the last four weeks. Overall, the Bucks are allowing 158.0 yards per game to wide receivers.

WR with good matchups

Sit of the week

Zay Flowers vs. Broncos (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Flowers has made a splash recently, scoring at least 18.5 points in three of his last four games. Still, this week’s matchup with the Broncos is a tough one. CB Patrick Surtain and his defensive teammates allowed the wingers to just four goals and the fourth-fewest points per game. Moreover, only one player has scored more than 14.2 points in a game against them on the court in 2024.

Sit down

Amari Cooper vs. Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Cooper saw an uptick in snaps last week, but still only saw two targets in the win over the Seahawks. Moreover, both Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir took more snaps and had more targets per game. The next game was a tough matchup with CB Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins giving up just two touchdowns and the seventh fewest points in the game to the perimeter.

Jaylen Waddle at Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Waddle has had a dismal performance since Week 2, failing to score more than 8.6 points in six straight games. It had a lot to do with Tua Tagovailoa’s absence, but Tagovailoa returned last week and Waddle still had 8.5 points. Waddle has also had a poor showing in his career against the Bills, as he has scored in single digits in four of his six career contests. At best, Waddle is a shaky flex option.

Jordan Addison vs. Colts (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): It’s more about Addison’s lack of any fantasy points compared to this week’s matchup. The USC product has scored four or fewer goals in all but one game this season and has scored in single digits in four of five contests. TJ Hockenson will join the Vikings again this week, which will further divide the target pie. Addison should be benched.

Jerry Jeudy vs. Chargers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Jeudy had a solid game last week, catching five passes and scoring 12.9 points in a win over the Ravens. However, it seems that Cedric Tillman has taken over as Cleveland’s new alpha referee, and the matchup with the Chargers is not very favorable. In fact, their defense conceded the fewest points per game to wingers. I would start with Tillman, who is hot, but Jeudy will fade this weekend.

WR with bad matchups