You might think with six teams on bye and less players overall to consider, establishing a solid set of rankings might be a bit easier. In fact, for fantasy purposes it makes it far tougher to establish the lower value tiers because you have to wade through RB committees and WR4/WR5 types just to assess whether any have a chance of making an impact. Usually the answer is no, but when you see Alex Collins put up 113 yards or Devontae Booker score a touchdown, you quickly wonder whether they should have been higher on your list. While this never keeps me up at night (nothing does, really), it does highlight the importance of prioritizing those flex plays because when push comes to shove, you'd rather be the guy who played Paul Richardson over Taylor Gabriel last week.

As an expert ranker for RotoBaller and FantasyPros, I'll put my own personal rankings out on the table for you here and show you how they stack up against the consensus of the other 100+ experts at FantasyPros. Each week, I'll list my Top 10 per position, plus a few notable players that have risen or fallen in my rankings more than the expert consensus this week. In other words, it's where I zig when the others zag.

Note: all rankings are for standard leagues and all opinions are my own. If you have questions, comments, or incoherent ramblings related to fantasy sports, hit me up on Twitter @pfunk00 to continue the conversation.

Week 9 Quarterbacks - Rankings Analysis

My Top 10 

I tried to redeem myself from ranking Deshaun Watson so low last week by putting him as the overall QB1, but Thursday's news changed everything. With a torn ACL suffered in a non-contact drill in practice, Colts-Texans becomes a matchup between two teams that just saw their franchise quarterback ruled out for the season.

In more uplifting news, Drew Brees is a QB1 again! He'll have to prove it on the field, but Tampa's defense should provide ample opportunity. Their offense really should be better than it has looked; they are 11th in offensive efficiency, ranking 7.4% above the league average.so maybe they can challenge the Saints' improved defense enough to force Brees to actually play like himself.

Carson Wentz did not finish as the top QB last week, contrary to expectations, but this ranking is more reflective of this week's trade. I believe Jay Ajayi will see the field this week. The team acquired him specifically to preserve their franchise QB, who has taken 22 sacks already. Matching up with Denver's No Fly Zone doesn't help either.

Deviation from expert consensus

I've already written about Goff as an underrated play this week. With the Watson injury, he now cracks my top 10 QB list for Week 9. Not that I'm expecting three touchdowns or more, but I do think a 300-yard passing game could be in the cards. Still, these QB rankings say more about the state of the position this week than anything else.

You have to downgrade Newton with the news of their top receiver being traded and I expect my fellow experts to follow suit. The matchup does lend itself to the possibility of a big game, as Atlanta ranks 28th is Defense DVOA, according to Football Outsiders. Still, Newton has only throw two touchdowns compared to six interceptions the last three games and is nursing a shoulder injury that makes him questionable.

Week 9 Running Backs - Rankings Analysis

My Top 10 

The big question this week is what to do with Lamar Miller. First, I'm not even sure how he creeped so high into the rankings in the first place, but the RB landscape is even bleaker than QB this week. With Tom Savage back behind center, logic dictates the team will try to run the ball as much as humanly possible. Miller has been limited in practice, however, and the team could look for a boost by giving D'onta Foreman more touches. You need to start Miller this week since he's bound to get a heavy workload, but you don't have to like it.

Mark Ingram is another question mark due to his fumbling issues creeping back up. Sean Payton already came out and said he won't be benched like last year and the team has complete confidence in him. That doesn't mean Alvin Kamara won't take just a few more snaps away from him, though. He's also a cringy RB1 for Week 9.

Deviation from expert consensus

Please know that I have absolutely no loyalty to Jay Ajayi any more now that he's not a Dolphin. As a running back, it's easier to step in and contribute right away, so I think he'll get decent usage if the team deems him ready to play. Trust me when I say that #19 in not too high to take a chance like this, especially when you see who else falls in that tier.

It may seem paradoxical for someone who just recommended dropping/avoiding all Seattle running backs to put Eddie Lacy higher in his rankings. While I'm not one to fall for coach speak, I do actually believe Pete Carroll when he says they'll commit to Lacy early on in this matchup with Washington. Back in Week 2, he said they liked what they saw in Chris Carson and were going to give him a shot. Boom. 20 carries, 93 yards and a new starter was born. We already know what Lacy has to offer and it's nothing great at this point, but the addition of Duane Brown does bolster the offensive line. Keeping in mind these rankings are for standard leagues, you can't be blamed for chasing TD upside with Lacy, as the Seahawks are trying to run the ball in the red zone. It just hasn't worked yet. In PPR leagues, you don't need to be starting him or Ajayi, for that matter.

Week 9 Wide Receivers - Rankings Analysis

My Top 10 

It's hard to move DeAndre Hopkins too far down the rankings because he'll still see a boatload of targets, he just won't be able to pull down half of them. Michael Crabtree could be in for another multi-touchdown game, while Amari Cooper (not pictured) comes in as the WR11. It's a homecoming for the South Florida native and he will square off against a rookie cornerback in Cordrea Tankersley, putting him to the test.

I like Detroit's passing game this week and Tate showed he's in fine health against the Steelers, pulling in seven of eight targets. He has a ginormous advantage against Damarious Randall this week and slots in as a WR1 with the highest of floors.

Deviation from expert consensus

Robby Anderson already validated my approval by scoring a touchdown on Thursday night. Call me a sucker, but I just can't quit Sammy Watkins. I really want to believe that the Rams spent their bye week drawing up plays for him and plan on getting him into the end zone several times. Even if that's a pipe dream, there is great opportunity with Janoris Jenkins suspended. Worth a flex? Why not?

I know Devin Funchess is technically a WR1 on his team, but then again so was Jordan Matthews in Buffalo. Funchess will face a tough cover in Desmond Trufant and has not shown anything to lead us to believe he can be the primary target on his team.

Week 9 Tight Ends - Rankings Analysis

My Top 10 

The surprise entry on this list is Vernon Davis. As is his midseason custom, Jordan Reed is injured and will miss Week 9. Davis isn't the safest play in PPR leagues, but his big-play ability makes him worth a start in most leagues. I will remind you again that if you don't own one of the top five tight ends, you need to roll with the player that gives you the highest touchdown upside based on matchup. Most tight ends simply don't catch more than three or four passes per game, so chasing the big play is your optimal bet.

Cameron Brate is always a good bet to score a TD, ranking eighth in red zone targets among tight ends and 21st among all players. The Saints are one of the stingiest defenses against the position this year, so something has to give. Unless you own one of these other players, keep him plugged in.

Deviation from expert consensus

Hooper has been up and down lately, but his talent level exceeds that of others in his tier. His matchup isn't ideal against the Panthers, who are the sixth-ranked defense in the league in terms of yardage allowed. They are middle of the pack against the tight end, though. Tyler Kroft, on the other hand, faces the Jaguars and their top-ranked D. They'll flip-flop positions as a result this week.

Although the rankings don't seem to reflect it, I am cautiously optimistic about Ed Dickson stepping up to take some of Benjamin's missing targets. This isn't because I think he's an underrated player, it's simply because I have little faith in the receiving corps of Carolina. Dickson had one monster game at Detroit earlier this year (five catches for 175 yards), but has been pedestrian otherwise. Let's hope he comes through, because I have to start him in two leagues where I own Hunter Henry!

More Week 9 Lineup Prep