Week 9 fantasy football matchups

Start Malik Willis QB · MIA · Matchup lifts him — Detroit has allowed the most points to quarterbacks. Touchdowns made up about 44% of the last few weeks for Malik Willis. He's a clear start this week. He put up 19, 26 and 15 points in his last three games. Our projection27 pass attempts · 212 passing yards · 1.2 passing touchdowns · 0.7 interceptions · 17 rushing yards14 PPR pointsLast week: scored 14.614.614.6, projected 13.213.513.5.

Start Caleb Williams QB · CHI · Role wins: keep him in — Look at the opponent: Tampa Bay has allowed the 3rd-fewest points to quarterbacks this season. Close to 37% of the points Caleb Williams has scored lately were touchdowns. He belongs in your lineup this week. Our projection30 pass attempts · 226 passing yards · 1.4 passing touchdowns · 0.5 interceptions · 17 rushing yards16 PPR pointsLast week: scored 14.014.014.0, projected 17.515.415.4.

Start Matthew Stafford QB · LA · Matchup lifts him — Matthew Stafford has been given more work, and nobody had to miss time for it. Look at the opponent: Washington has allowed the 4th-most points to quarterbacks this season. Stafford got about 45% of his recent points from touchdowns. He's an easy start this week. Our projection33 pass attempts · 263 passing yards · 2.0 passing touchdowns · 0.7 interceptions · 2 rushing yards17 PPR pointsLast week: scored 8.38.38.3, projected 17.416.316.3.

Sit Geno Smith QB · NYJ · Matchup sits him — Kansas City gives quarterbacks little room: the 7th-fewest points allowed this season. About 44% of the scoring from Geno Smith lately has been touchdowns, which makes the floor lower. The floor is low and the ceiling is high: 12, 23 and 18 points. Keep him out of your lineup this week. Our projection30 pass attempts · 228 passing yards · 1.4 passing touchdowns · 0.8 interceptions · 8 rushing yards14 PPR pointsLast week: scored 18.018.018.0, projected 13.713.613.6.

Start Quinshon Judkins RB · CLE · Matchup lifts him — New Orleans has been one of the easier draws for running backs, with the most points allowed. About 26% of the points for Judkins came from touchdowns lately. Quinshon Judkins missed Week 6 and was back in Week 7. Give him the start this week. Our projection15 carries · 57 rushing yards · 2 receptions · 13 receiving yards · 0.5 touchdowns12 PPR pointsLast week: scored 6.95.94.9, projected 12.311.910.7.

Start Derrick Henry RB · BAL · Role wins: keep him in — Jacksonville is among the toughest matchups for running backs, with the 2nd-fewest points allowed. Touchdowns account for about 29% of the recent points for Derrick Henry. Production has risen each game, from 5 to 6 to 14 points. Yes, start him this week. Result: 6 PPR points. Our projection17 carries · 63 rushing yards · 1 reception · 9 receiving yards · 0.6 touchdowns12 PPR pointsLast week: scored 14.013.012.0, projected 15.114.113.5.

Start Jonah Coleman RB · DEN · Matchup lifts him — Jonah Coleman has taken on more of the work lately, with nobody hurt ahead of him. Carolina has been generous to running backs, with the 2nd-most points allowed. About 27% of the recent scoring from Coleman came on touchdowns. Coleman missed Weeks 3–6 and has played since Week 7. Plug him in this week. Our projection11 carries · 48 rushing yards · 2 receptions · 20 receiving yards · 0.5 touchdowns12 PPR pointsLast week: scored 20.418.416.4, projected 8.38.07.1.

Flex J.K. Dobbins RB · DEN · Matchup helps, still a flex — J.K. Dobbins: This is a good draw, since Carolina has given up the 2nd-most points to running backs. Judging him on 2 games would be a stretch. Consider him for the flex spot this week. Dobbins' bigger role came with Coleman out for Week 6. With Coleman back, don't count on the same share. Our projection11 carries · 47 rushing yards · 1 reception · 7 receiving yards · 0.4 touchdowns9 PPR pointsLast week: scored 1.31.31.3, projected 9.59.18.4.

Start Michael Wilson WR · ARI · Role wins: keep him in — Seattle has given up the fewest points to receivers. More touchdowns should follow the red-zone looks Michael Wilson is getting. Three games, three steps up: 7, 11 and 27 points. Start him with confidence this week. Our projection8 targets · 4 receptions · 52 receiving yards · 0.3 touchdowns12 PPR pointsLast week: scored 26.822.818.8, projected 11.49.27.0.

Start Omar Cooper Jr. WR · NYJ · Role wins: keep him in — Omar Cooper Jr.: Points have been hard to find against Kansas City: the 2nd-fewest allowed to receivers. Get him in the lineup this week. Over his last three he has 22, 22 and 0 points. Our projection4 targets · 4 receptions · 53 receiving yards · 0.3 touchdowns11 PPR pointsLast week: scored 0.00.00.0, projected 11.58.16.3.

Sit Adonai Mitchell WR · NYJ · Matchup sits him — The matchup hurts: Kansas City has allowed the 2nd-fewest points to receivers. He swings: 12, 0 and 27 points in his last three, so the upside comes with a low floor. Adonai Mitchell returned in Week 7, having missed Weeks 3–6. Skip him this week. Our projection6 targets · 3 receptions · 47 receiving yards · 0.3 touchdowns9 PPR pointsLast week: scored 27.223.720.2, projected 6.85.34.2.

Flex Khalil Shakir WR · BUF · Still a flex — Minnesota has been one of the harder draws for receivers, with the 4th-fewest points allowed. Khalil Shakir works as a flex this week. Recent games: 11, 13 and 11 points. Our projection5 targets · 4 receptions · 44 receiving yards · 0.2 touchdowns10 PPR pointsLast week: scored 11.48.96.4, projected 9.56.64.9.

Flex Dalton Kincaid TE · BUF · Still a flex — This is a tough draw, since Minnesota has given up the fewest points to tight ends. Each of Dalton Kincaid's last three games has been better: 4, 11, then 19 points. A flex this week, not a core starter. Our projection5 targets · 4 receptions · 51 receiving yards · 0.3 touchdowns11 PPR pointsLast week: scored 18.616.614.6, projected 8.06.44.9.

Sit Greg Dulcich TE · MIA · Sit even with the matchup — Greg Dulcich: Points have been easy to find against Detroit: the most allowed to tight ends. Use someone else this week. His three most recent games: 10, 14 and 8 points. He's also a sleeper: that page looks at this week's projection, this one at this week's opponent, so both can be true. Our projection5 targets · 4 receptions · 42 receiving yards · 0.2 touchdowns9 PPR pointsLast week: scored 8.36.34.3, projected 7.96.95.2.

Start Isaiah Likely TE · NYG · Role wins: keep him in — Everything for Isaiah Likely starts with McCarthy at quarterback. Philadelphia has been hard on tight ends, with the 3rd-fewest points allowed. Put him in your lineup this week. Lately he has given you 32, 24 and 3 points. Our projection6 targets · 5 receptions · 52 receiving yards · 0.4 touchdowns12 PPR points

Start Sam LaPorta TE · DET · Matchup lifts him — Sam LaPorta: Miami has given up the 3rd-most points to tight ends this year. Start him this week and don't overthink it. Scores lately: 20, 3 and 6 points. Our projection5 targets · 5 receptions · 54 receiving yards · 0.4 touchdowns12 PPR pointsLast week: scored 6.55.03.5, projected 11.98.86.7.