Below you will find our Week 9 quarterback rankings, to help determine your QB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Bill Dubiel (@Roto_Dubs), Nick Mariano (@NMariano53) and Ben Ruppert (@Ben_Ruppert_21).
Featured writer Ben Ruppert also highlights some QB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 9, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 9. You can also check out RotoBaller's overall player rankings.
Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email info@rotoballer.com with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.
Week 9 Quarterbacks - Rankings & Matchups Analysis
The highest scoring game of the week looks like it’ll be between the Packers and the Colts, meaning good days should be ahead for Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck. Rodgers has really started turning things around over the past two weeks, throwing for seven of his 17 total passing TDs. The Colts defense is nothing to write home about; they have given up the sixth most fantasy points to the QB position this season. The Packers defense has been better, but has been dominant at stopping the run this season leaving Luck to air it out. If he can get some decent protection from his offensive line this week, we will see both QBs score great in fantasy.
It’s amazing to see Ben Roethlisberger expected to play after missing only one game (and a bye week). It’s not like he sprained his ankle though; he had surgery to repair a torn meniscus, and is back out there after two weeks. He’s either a warrior, or absolutely crazy, but on Sunday he’ll be the QB for the Steelers. Unfortunately, his first game back comes against the Ravens in Baltimore. Big Ben has been markedly worse on the road throughout his career, and divisional games are very difficult. Both teams have been better than average at defending opposing QBs, but a divisional game on the road smells like a recipe for a low-scoring slug fest on Sunday. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a mediocre day on the field, while each team scores in the teens.
The matchup of the week has to be the two 6-and-2 teams meeting, the Broncos and the Raiders. Last season these teams split the season series, with neither team scoring more than 16 points in either game. Derek Carr has taken a noticeable step up in his game this season, throwing for 290 yards and two TDs per game on average. Last season in those two games against Denver, Carr completed 55.9% of his throws, for 192 yards per game, with a 3:1 TD:INT ratio. Aquib Talib will be out this week, but the Denver defense is still one of the best in the league at defending the pass. I would sit Carr if you have better options, then roll with him the rest of the way.
Russell Wilson has not been the same player he has been this season. His inability to scramble with the knee injury is keeping Wilson as a pocket QB, and the results have not been good. Through seven games this season, Wilson has only thrown for five scores, and averages 259 yards passing per game. This week they take on the Bills at home on Monday night football. The Bills are fresh off a shellacking by Tom Brady, but overall have been a solid defense. They are tied for the lead league in sacks and defensive TDs, and have given up the eighth least amount of fantasy points to opposing QBs. Seattle will need to rely more on the run this week than Wilson’s arm; his inability to maneuver and shown his weaknesses as a QB. This will be a low scoring game, so I would sit Wilson if I had similar options.
One QB worth taking a flyer on this week is Ryan Tannehill. The Dolphins welcome the Jets to Miami this weekend for the first of two meetings this season. Jay Ajayi has run for 200 yards in two straight games (maybe you haven’t yet heard), while Tannehill has a 1:2 TD:INT ratio over this past three games. So why recommend the QB? The Jets have only allowed 68.5 rushing yards to opposing RBs per game on average this season, one of the best marks in the league. They have also allowed 302 passing yards against per game, the highest mark in the league. The new-found run game can only help Tannehill, by opening passing lanes and keeping the defense in check. A 300-yard two TD game is not out of the question for Tannehill.
Outside of Denver over these past five weeks, the stingiest defense over that time frame against opposing QBs has been the San Diego Chargers. Over those same five weeks, Marcus Mariota has completely turned his season around. After a slow start, he has thrown for 10 TDs and two INTs over the past five weeks. Something is going to have to give in this one, and with the Chargers still being very poor against opposing RBs I could see Mariota having a mediocre day. DeMarco Murray should be able to dominate, but with Joey Bosa now in wreaking havoc opposing QBs have had troubles. Mariota is a risky play this week.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings - Quarterbacks
195 | Aaron Rodgers | QB |
196 | Drew Brees | QB |
197 | Matt Ryan | QB |
198 | Andrew Luck | QB |
199 | Philip Rivers | QB |
200 | Cam Newton | QB |
201 | Ben Roethlisberger | QB |
202 | Dak Prescott | QB |
203 | Jameis Winston | QB |
204 | Marcus Mariota | QB |
205 | Matthew Stafford | QB |
206 | Eli Manning | QB |
207 | Russell Wilson | QB |
208 | Ryan Tannehill | QB |
209 | Colin Kaepernick | QB |
210 | Derek Carr | QB |
211 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | QB |
212 | Blake Bortles | QB |
213 | Sam Bradford | QB |
214 | Tyrod Taylor | QB |
215 | Josh McCown | QB |
216 | Alex Smith | QB |
217 | Trevor Siemian | QB |
218 | Joe Flacco | QB |
219 | Nick Foles | QB |
220 | Cody Kessler | QB |
221 | Case Keenum | QB |
222 | Carson Wentz | QB |
Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.