Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult his Week 9 rankings.
Starts
Daniel Jones, QB, Colts
at Steelers
Jones is averaging the seventh-most fantasy points per game among quarterbacks this season and has finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in six of his eight appearances.
You shouldn’t expect the Steelers to slow him down this week, since they are the second-easiest matchup for fantasy passers — and might be getting worse. Pittsburgh has allowed 702 passing yards and six passing TDs over the last two weeks alone.
You can confidently fire up Jones as a top-10 option once again.
Other QBs to start:
Matthew Stafford vs. Saints– Stafford has thrown at least three touchdowns in three of his last four outings and is getting Puka Nacua back coming off the bye.
Caleb Williams at Bengals – Though it’s hard to trust Williams after some of his recent performances, the matchup with Cincy is too hard to pass up. The Bengals have allowed over 20 fantasy points to five of the past seven QBs they’ve faced.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Chargers
at Titans
Vidal has dominated two of his three games as the Chargers’ starter, finishing as the fantasy RB7 and RB8 in those contests. His only quiet game during that stretch occurred in Week 7 against a tougher Colts’ defense.
Thankfully, he gets his best matchup yet this week versus Tennessee. The Titans are giving up the second-most fantasy points to running backs, including some massive results recently with 86 scrimmage yards and a touchdown to Ashton Jeanty, 88 yards and a score to Rhamondre Stevenson and 174 yards and three TDs to Jonathan Taylor.
Vidal is a must-start and a borderline fantasy RB1 in a game the Chargers should control.
Other RBs to start:
Javonte Williams vs. Cardinals – Williams is the fantasy RB8 on the season and has touchdowns in six of his eight contests with the Cowboys. You’re not sitting him in a game Dallas is favored in.
Kareem Hunt at Bills – Hunt was the RB15 in fantasy points per game when he served as the Chiefs’ starter from Week 3 to Week 12 last season. Meanwhile, the Bills are permitting the sixth-most fantasy points to RBs, including the second-most rushing TDs on the year.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs. 49ers – The banged-up Niners’ defense has let opposing lead backs post at least 100 scrimmage yards and/or a touchdown in six of the last seven weeks.
George Pickens, WR, Cowboys
vs. Cardinals
Even with CeeDee Lamb back in the lineup and a tough matchup with the Broncos last week, Pickens delivered another strong performance — catching seven of his nine targets for 78 yards.
Pickens has now proven that he’s matchup-proof, so don’t hesitate to start him in a game with the highest projected point total of the week at 53.5.
Volume will rarely be an issue in Dallas because its defense lacks the talent to slow down opposing attacks. The Cowboys are currently third in pass attempts in an offense that’s focused on feeding Lamb, Pickens, Williams and Jake Ferguson.
Other WRs to start:
Michael Pittman Jr. at Steelers – Pittman has quietly posted the 12th-most fantasy points among receivers and now gets to face the Steelers, who are the sixth-easiest opponent for his position.
Ladd McConkey at Titans – McConkey has reasserted himself as Justin Herbert’s top target with stat lines of 5-39-1, 7-100-1, 9-67-0 and 6-88-1 over the last month. That trend should only continue in a plus matchup with the Titans.
DK Metcalf vs. Colts – Metcalf can be boom or bust, but he’s poised for a solid outing versus the banged-up Colts’ secondary that’s allowing the fourth most fantasy points to wideouts.
Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders
vs. Jaguars
Bowers doesn’t normally qualify for the start section in this column because he’s such an obvious play every week. However, I’m making an exception this time around as he prepares to return from the knee injury that cost him the last three games and limited him in the three outings before he eventually sat out to heal.
In his lone healthy appearance this season, Bowers posted 103 yards versus the Patriots. That’s the player we saw during his outstanding rookie campaign and it’s the player we’re going to see again after a month off.
The Jaguars are a favorable matchup for tight ends; they've given up a touchdown to the position in three of their last four games. Bowers also put up 99 yards on 11 receptions against them in 2024.
Bowers is right back in the mix as a high-end fantasy TE1 in Week 9, and moving forward.
Other TEs to start:
Oronde Gadsden II at Titans – Gadsden is the third-highest scoring tight end over the last three weeks and is quickly establishing himself as a fantasy differencemaker at a position that doesn’t have many.
Kyle Pitts Sr. at Patriots – Though he’s only found the end zone once this season, Pitts is getting it done from a yardage standpoint with at least 59 yards in three of his last four games. New England is the fifth-most generous defense to fantasy tight ends.
Sits
Bo NIx, QB, Broncos
vs. Texans
It’s been a bumpy ride for Nix in his sophomore season, but he’s started to heat up lately. However, his biggest games have come against the Bengals, Giants and Cowboys — who are all among the seven easiest matchups for fantasy quarterbacks.
The concern for Nix this week stems from his opponent being statistically the worst matchup possible.
It’s not just that the Texans are allowing the fewest fantasy points to the position, but they’ve also held four of the past five QBs they’ve faced to under 10 fantasy points.
Other QBs to sit:
C.J. Stroud vs. Broncos – Even with Pat Surtain II expected to miss this game, the Broncos still have one of the best defenses in the league.
Trevor Lawrence at Raiders – Lawrence has only topped 20 fantasy points once this season. With the injuries in his WR corps, I’m taking a cautious approach and looking elsewhere for a starter this week.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Commanders
vs. Seahawks
Croskey-Merritt has been given more than enough opportunity to break out over the last few weeks, but he’s struggled in a one-dimensional role.
Despite being the lead back in Washington, his lack of involvement in the passing game has neutralized him when the team has fallen behind.
Injuries to key players like Jayden Daniels, Deebo Samuel Sr. and Terry McLaurin have prevented this offense from hitting its stride. And though Daniels and Deebo will be available this week, the matchup with the Seahawks is a tough one.
Not only are the Seahawks favored in this contest, but they’ve also held opposing ball carriers under 50 rushing yards in every game since Week 1.
Croskey-Merritt will have a chance to crack your starting lineup in better matchups, but this isn’t one of them.
Other RBs to sit:
Jordan Mason at Lions – The return of Aaron Jones Sr. caused Mason to play a season-low 35% of the snaps last week. Meanwhile, his next opponent, the Lions, are the fourth-hardest matchup for fantasy RBs.
Alvin Kamara at Rams – Kamara wasn’t particularly effective when fully healthy and is now playing through an ankle injury. The Rams are giving up the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs, so don’t get cute here.
Tony Pollard/Tyjae Spears vs. Chargers – A split backfield in a bad offense is not where you want to search for a fantasy starter. Let’s hope Pollard gets traded and at least clears a path for Spears to have value in the second half of the season.
Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos
vs. Texans
Sutton has been pretty consistent this year, but like most wideouts, he is prone to the odd down game. The Broncos star has been held under 20 yards in two of his eight appearances this season and there’s reason to believe Week 9 could be another disappointing result.
The Texans have only let two receivers top 75 yards against them all year — Puka Nacua in Week 1 and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 7. While I’m not trying to disrespect Sutton, he doesn’t belong in the same conversation with those elite guys.
The Broncos' passing attack is likely to struggle as a whole and that makes Sutton a risky low-end WR2 or more likely a TD-or-bust WR3.
Like any start-sit decision, it always comes down to who your other options are and that gets complicated with bye weeks and injury situations. But I’d aim to have Sutton on your bench if you can this week.
Other WRs to sit:
Stefon Diggs vs. Falcons – Diggs has been held under 35 yards in four of his last seven games, including twice in the past three weeks. With a tough matchup against the Falcons and Drake Maye spreading the ball around, Diggs is more volatile than people might realize.
Deebo Samuel Sr. vs. Seahawks – Even with Terry McLaurin sidelined, Deebo remains a risky play in a Commanders offense that’s struggled more often than not this season. He’s managed just 26 yards on seven catches over his last two games.
Romeo Doubs vs. Panthers – Carolina is allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts and Doubs continues to be a TD-or-bust WR3/FLEX.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills
vs. Chiefs
Kincaid dealt with an oblique injury around the Bills’ Week 7 bye, but overall on the season, he’s been held under 60 yards in all but one game.
The 26-year-old hasn’t played more than 60% of the snaps in any contest this year and his route participation isn’t where we want it to be — still under 70%.
While he’s been getting by thanks to his touchdown scoring, that can be a volatile stat to depend on.
That’s especially true against the Chiefs, who are the fourth-toughest opponent for fantasy TEs. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has kept every tight end they’ve encountered to 55 yards or less this year.
It makes Kincaid a risky low-end TE1/high-end TE2 this week.
Other TEs to sit:
Hunter Henry vs. Falcons – The Falcons are the most difficult challenge for opposing tight ends. They haven’t let a tight end top 21 receiving yards against them this year and have given up just one touchdown to the position.
T.J. Hockenson at Lions – When Hockenson finally has a 50-yard game in 2025, we’ll start considering him as a fantasy option. Until then, he should be on waivers.
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