Fantasy Football Week 9 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Cheat Sheet

Do you have tough lineup decisions to make on Sunday? We’ve got you covered. Welcome to your Week 9 fantasy football cheat sheet for start/sit advice. In this article, we’ll highlight players to start and sit at each position along with fantasy rankings. Find Week 9 start/sit picks at QB, WR, RB and TE below.

Week 9 Start/Sit QB Picks

Start: Malik Willis vs. Lions

Still only 27 years old, I declared Malik Willis one of the most underrated additions of the offseason for any NFL team, and we’re finally starting to see what he’s capable of near the midpoint of the 2026 campaign. After a relatively slow start, Willis has now scored at least 15 fantasy points in three straight outings. He’s a true dual-threat QB, which has helped him overcome a relatively underwhelming supporting cast since De’Von Achane’s season-ending injury.

Next up, Willis will look to keep the momentum rolling in a favorable matchup against Detroit. The Lions allow the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, putting Willis in low-end QB1 range with upside in Week 9.

Sit: Bryce Young vs. Broncos

After a ridiculously hot start to the season, Bryce Young has seriously cooled off. The former No. 1 overall pick has been stymied in back-to-back weeks by the Buccaneers and Packers, combining for less than 20 total points over both contests. After throwing only two interceptions over the first six weeks of the season, he has tossed three in his last two outings.

This week, Young draws the Broncos, who still boast one of the more fearsome defensive units in football. It’s impossible to trust Young given his recent form, so keep Carolina’s signal caller on your bench.

Find our full Week 9 QB fantasy rankings here!

Week 9 Start/Sit RB Picks

Start: Jonah Coleman at Panthers

As promised, here is Denver’s start of the week, and this selection should come as no surprise. Jonah Coleman has burst back onto the scene following his return from IR, taking over the Broncos’ backfield. The rookie flashed potential in his return to action against Arizona before dominating against the Chiefs, racking up 20.4 PPR points.

Coleman has real dual-threat value as the head of this committee, and with RJ Harvey on IR, he should continue to operate as the top fantasy option in this backfield. While I highlighted Carolina’s secondary earlier, the same positive label cannot be given to the Panthers’ run defense, which surrenders the second-most fantasy points to RBs. Coleman carries RB2 upside in Week 9.

Sit: Seahawks Running Backs vs. Cardinals

The Seahawks’ backfield is finally healthy again, which is great news for the actual team, but could cause some problems from a fantasy perspective.

Rookie Jadarian Price returned from IR against the Bears and led the team in carries with 10, but only averaged 2.9 yards per attempt. Dynamic back Zach Charbonnet also made his long-awaited return in that contest after extensive reconstructive knee surgery, rushing more efficiently on six attempts.

When both of these backs get up to speed, I expect Charbonnet to receive around 60 to 65% of the workload with Price mixing in consistently, although Seattle will certainly ride the hot hand. That said, until any type of hierarchy becomes established, fantasy managers are guessing with these guys in their lineups. Keep them both on your bench as we await clarity on the situation.

Check out the rest of our Week 9 RB start/sit picks here!

Week 9 Start/Sit WR Picks

Start: Makai Lemon vs. Giants

Misfortune can often create opportunities, which is exactly the case for Makai Lemon amidst a lost Eagles’ season. With Jalen Hurts expected to miss the remainder of the year and a myriad of other key injuries throughout the roster — including No. 1 receiver DeVonta Smith — Lemon has taken advantage of his expanded role.

Now operating as Philly’s WR1, the rookie has played a sizable role in Philly’s last two contests, hauling in 13 of 17 targets for 124 yards and a touchdown. With Joe Milton and his upgraded arm now under center instead of Tanner McKee, Lemon’s upside only grows against a middling Giants secondary. Fire up the rookie as a WR3/FLEX.

Sit: Jaylen Waddle at Panthers

Spoiler alert: another Broncos star appears on this list later in a positive light. The same cannot be said about Jaylen Waddle.

The man who was hyped up as the new star receiver in Denver has struggled to find any semblance of consistency this year. He’s managed to amass double-digit fantasy points just once over his last four contests, becoming a touchdown-dependent fantasy option. That’s not an ideal situation heading into a Week 9 clash with the Panthers, whose secondary has held its own in 2026. Pivot away from Waddle to a receiver with a better matchup.

Find our full Week 9 WR fantasy rankings here!

Week 9 Start/Sit TE Picks

Start: Greg Dulcich vs. Lions

Greg Dulcich may have finally found a home in the NFL. The talented tight end has been sneakily productive this year, officially entering streaming conversations after a strong recent stretch. Dulcich has scored at least eight PPR points in four of his last five outings, seeing at least five targets in each of those four games.

In Week 9, he draws the most favorable matchup a tight end could ask for. Detroit doesn’t just surrender the most fantasy points per game to tight ends, they do so by a massive margin. If Malik Willis earns a start of the week nod, so does one of his most reliable targets.

Sit: Dalton Kincaid at Vikings

If you’re a regular in this series, you know I firmly believe in one, persistent theme in fantasy football this season: do not mess with Brian Flores.

Sometimes, you have to start a star player against the Vikings and it can’t be avoided. This is not one of those instances. Dalton Kincaid has been solid over his last two outings, but certainly nowhere near a must-start tight end. With Buffalo taking a trip to Minnesota, every fantasy manager with Kincaid on the roster should be looking elsewhere. Flores’ defense is the most dangerous in the NFL, and it comes as no surprise that they are holding tight ends to the fewest fantasy points per contest. Keep the fourth-year TE on your bench and pivot to a more favorable matchup this week.

Find our full Week 9 TE fantasy rankings here!

That’s our Week 9 fantasy football start/sit cheat sheet! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice and start/sit picks next week.