We’ve reached the virtual halfway point of the 2025 NFL season, which means you need to start stacking wins or you’ll risk missing out on the fantasy playoffs. After eight weeks, we have a strong sample size to analyze, as workloads, target shares, and other trends have been established across the league. With all of that in mind, let’s break down my start/sit Week 9 fantasy football picks.
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em: Joe Flacco (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Chicago Bears
In case you haven’t noticed, it turns out Joe Flacco wasn’t washed during his time in Cleveland. He just needed to drive a few hours south and get paired up with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Flacco has scored at least 24 fantasy points in back-to-back games against the Steelers and Jets, throwing for a combined 565 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.
It’s safe to say the 40-year-old still has it.
Flacco will get an opportunity to keep this momentum rolling on Sunday against Chicago. The Bears allow the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, setting the stage for another offensive battle. Flacco checks in as the NFL’s oldest QB1 and should be started in most leagues with confidence.
NOTE: Joe Flacco is day-to-day with a shoulder injury. Monitor his status throughout the week.
Sit ‘Em: Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) at Houston Texans
Typically, you don’t sit a quarterback coming off 40 and 25-point fantasy outings. However, certain exceptions can be made when you’re set to face the NFL’s best pass defense. Houston is allowing an almost unfathomable 10.51 fantasy points per game to opposing signal callers, by far the lowest total in the league.
The Texans are also surrendering the fourth-fewest passing yards per contest. Nix has found solid success on the ground lately, which could slightly raise his fantasy floor, but it’s hard to have confidence in any quarterback outside of the short list of elite fantasy names. Nix has turned his season around over the last few weeks, but he isn’t in must-start territory yet. If the second-year QB is able to produce against this Texans defense, he could earn that label, but I’d play it safe and roll with another option with a more favorable matchup.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em: Kimani Vidal (Los Angeles Chargers) at Tennessee Titans
After a massive first showing as the Chargers’ lead back in Week 6, Vidal took a step back in L.A.’s following matchup against the Colts, seeing a significant drop in usage and efficiency. This led to many fantasy managers erring on the side of caution for the Chargers’ last contest against a tough Minnesota defense. The second-year back responded by rushing 23 times for 117 yards and a touchdown, firmly re-establishing himself as the guy in Omarion Hampton’s absence.
This time, I don’t think we need to worry about another dud following a big showing. There will be matchups over the coming weeks that could result in fewer touches for Vidal, but that won’t be the case against Tennessee. The Titans rank bottom-seven in rushing yards allowed and surrender the third-most fantasy points to opposing backfields. At this point, Hassan Haskins is little to no threat to Vidal’s usage, planting the latter in firm must-start territory this weekend.
Sit ‘Em: Rico Dowdle (Carolina Panthers) at Green Bay Packers
In the spirit of taking full accountability, Dowdle was one of my starts of the week last Sunday. It took approximately two drives to realize I had made a grave mistake. By no actual fault of Dowdle’s, Andy Dalton and the rest of Carolina’s offense put up arguably their most abysmal offensive showing of the season. The veteran back was actually efficient whenever he got an opportunity, averaging 6.75 yards per carry. Unfortunately, game script immediately took him out of the equation.
Bryce Young’s status will be key in determining what Dowdle’s fantasy ceiling and floor look like heading into Sunday’s clash with the Packers. If the starter is able to suit up, the 27-year-old back could be FLEX viable in deeper leagues, but it’s hard to feel confident. Despite being drastically less efficient, it was Chuba Hubbard who saw significantly more offensive snaps against the Bills. Hubbard also saw the goal-line opportunity in the fourth quarter, converting it into a touchdown.
This week, Carolina takes on a Packers defense that allows the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. All signs are pointing down for Dowdle just weeks after his breakout in Carolina.
Check out all of my Week 9 RB start/sit picks here!
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em: Travis Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars) at Las Vegas Raiders
In an intriguing turn of events, we heard trade rumors about Brian Thomas Jr. during Jacksonville’s bye week. While Liam Coen proceeded to shut such rumors down, the Jaguars at least being willing to listen on BTJ suggests that they’re comfortable with Travis Hunter being the future top dog in the receiving room.
Jacksonville fans got a preview of what that would look like in Week 6, and the second overall pick didn’t disappoint. Hunter saw a career-high 87% offensive snap share and 14 targets, catching eight of them for 101 yards and a touchdown. It seems like Coen is finally figuring out how to utilize his dual-threat playmaker properly.
This Sunday, Hunter will look to build on that momentum against the Raiders, who allow the fourth-most fantasy points to receivers. Thomas Jr. is still the de facto No. 1 option, but Hunter is a fantasy WR2 with strong upside.
Sit ‘Em: Jameson Williams (Detroit Lions) vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Jameson Williams experience is proving to be one of the biggest thorns in fantasy managers’ sides this year. The elite big-play threat has shown flashes of greatness, scoring over 18 points twice on the season. In every other game, however, he’s failed to hit the 7-point mark.
Expectations were high coming off a huge showing against the Chiefs in Week 6, only for Williams to not catch a single pass on only two targets against the Buccaneers. On paper, Williams is a clear sit this week coming off the bye. However, when you’re taken as highly as he was in fantasy drafts and boast that big of a name, it can be tough to justify sitting a player.
If you are in that position, I am here to affirm your decision to bench him. Minnesota allows the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers, but that doesn’t even really matter with Williams struggling to find a role in Detroit’s system. The speedster may return to consistent form, but I wouldn’t count on it this week.
Looking for more start/sit Week 9 fantasy football advice? Check out our NFL page!
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em: Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons) at New England Patriots
Pitts was my start of the week at tight end last Sunday and it paid off, as he finished with 14.9 PPR points as the Falcons’ leading receiver. The 25-year-old has now climbed into the top 10 on the year, currently ranking as PPR TE9. Pitts has seen fewer than five targets in only one game this year, establishing a much more consistent role than in seasons prior.
The former fourth overall pick has now scored at least 13 points in three of Atlanta’s last four contests, putting himself in clear TE1 territory against the Patriots. New England presents an imposing matchup for a Falcons offense that was just blown out my Miami. However, the Pats do allow the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Pitts can be fired up with confidence across all formats.
Sit ‘Em: Hunter Henry (New England Patriots) vs. Atlanta Falcons
Walking across the field to the opposing sideline, Hunter Henry has disappeared after a strong start to the season. The veteran opened up his 10th NFL campaign with three double-digit fantasy outings in the first four weeks. Since then, however, he’s failed to score eight PPR points in four straight outings.
This isn’t necessarily a Hunter Henry issue, it’s actually indicative of New England’s offense hitting its stride. Stefon Diggs has returned to No. 1 receiver form and Kayshon Boutte has emerged as a legitimate weapon. Meanwhile Austin Hooper is making plays every week as the second tight end on the depth chart. As a result, the Patriots don’t need to look Henry’s way as often, especially in the red zone.
Of course, that’s concerning for the 30-year-old from a fantasy perspective. Despite still ranking as PPR TE7 on the year, he’s a clear sit in Week 9 against a Falcons defense that allows the least fantasy points to tight ends.
Those are my start/sit Week 9 fantasy football picks! Stay tuned for more start/sit Week 9 positional analysis over the coming days.
