Welcome to our Fantasy Football Plays and Fades for Week 9 (2024)! We have entered the bye weeks and injuries are happening everywhere, which makes setting your lineups difficult. This is where we breakdown matchups to help you find the right players to play and which players to avoid each week.
Bye weeks can often force our hands on who we play and who we fade, but if there’s a chance to make a choice, this article will help you make it. It’s essential to make sure you’re playing your studs, but even some of them can be risky plays depending on who they are matched up against. This article highlights key matchups for you to exploit or avoid by providing you with information on six players at each position, three to play and three to fade. Without any further ado, let’s get into it!
Quarterbacks
Plays
- Patrick Mahomes vs TB
- It feels wrong that Mahomes has been as mediocre as he has looked this season so far. Still, he hasn’t scored less than 14 points in a game yet this year, which is a decent floor. You want more from your starting quarterback of course and this week will be a “get right” game for Mahomes.
- This week is one of those times you can start Mahomes comfortably, as he plays the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have been giving up the league’s most points to opposing quarterbacks at 23.4 PPG. Start Mahomes this week and enjoy the shoot out.
- Bo Nix @ BAL
- It feels weird writing about Nix as a Play, but he’s been proving he has a right to be in the conversation. QB9 on the season, he is averaging 17.3 PPG and has been making the most out of a poor receiving cast. Now that he has his feet under him, Nix has made the most of the last four weeks, averaging 22.2 PPG. He’s been making it happen through the air and has been surprisingly one of the better rushing threat quarterbacks this year.
- This week will be one that you can take advantage of as the Baltimore Ravens have been giving up the third most points to quarterbacks. Averaging 21.9 PPG given up each week, the Ravens are the kind of team that Nix should be able to exploit.
- Gardner Minshew @ CIN
- Minshew Mania! I’ve waited a while to write about this the man, the myth, the legend that is Gardner Minshew. Is he one of the best? No. Will he always be a starter? Also, no. But that’s why you need to take advantage against a matchup like this when you can! The Bengals have been giving up the fourth most points to opposing quarterbacks at a clip of 21.1 PPG on average. Have some fun this week and start Minshew!
Fades
- CJ Stroud @ NYJ
- Sitting just outside the top 12 quarterbacks, Stroud has kind of disappointed this year. This week is going to be another tough one for the young star as he goes up against the New York Jets. They’ve given up the fifth least amount of points to quarterbacks. If you have another option, pivot and pour one out for Stroud.
- Baker Mayfield @ KC
- The Kansas City Chiefs have been giving the 16th most points, which is middle of the road and not a terrible matchup. That said, it’s going to be one of the tougher matchups for Mayfield as the Chiefs defense can force teams to become one dimensional. Unless Cade Otton can have another big game, which we’re hoping for as you’ll see later on, Mayfield will be wishing he wasn’t in Kansas City anymore by the end of it.
- Tua Tagovailoa @ BUF
- Tua had a good matchup last week and would have been a top Play for me. Problem is he is still shaking off the rust of that last concussion he suffered. Add in the fact that this week he gets the sixth best defense against quarterbacks and it becomes an easy decision to sit him.
Running Backs
Plays
- Tyler Allgeier vs DAL
- This one might backfire on me and I’ll understand if you don’t listen to it, but I have some hope behind Allgeier this week.
- They face the Dallas Cowboys, who have given up the second most points to running backs. This means that Allgeier should get a decent shot at producing this week. The last time that he faced a defense this bad, he got 16 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown. While this game should be a bit closer than that last one was, Allgeier should still get a fair amount of opportunities.
- De’Von Achane @ BUF
- While Tua didn’t produce much last week, you know who did? Achane, which is why he made my list of Plays this week. He scored 26.7 points in Tua’s first return because there was some semblance of a passing game. Achane also got involved in the pass game as he was targeted eight times and scored one receiving touchdown.
- If Arizona was a good matchup for the young stud, the Buffalo Bills could show us his ceiling. They’ve given up 25.1 PPG to opposing running backs, ranked as the third worse defense against the run.
- Add in the concerns I have with Tua and the passing game, I’m expecting this game to flow through the run game.
- Tony Pollard vs NE
- This New England defense is not the defense of yore. They are giving up the fourth most points per game to opposing running backs at a solid 25 PPG on average. This week Pollard will be the next running back to take advantage of them
- Pollard himself has had a couple of big games and a couple of duds, averaging 11.2 PPG right now. With the Tennessee Titans trading away their top receiver in Hopkins, it was easy to write off the Titans offense. However, Mason Rudolph looked surprisingly competent last week and it elevated the whole offense. With their being some life in the passing game, I’m expecting the run game to have a similar revival.
Fades
- Tampa Bay Three-Headed Monster @ KC
- There are just too many cooks in the kitchen for me to feel comfortable starting them on any typical week. This week is a definite fade as they go up against the leagues best run defense in the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s going to be a tough one and Fading all of them is the move this week.
- Nick Chubb vs LAC
- There are few who have been more excited about the return of Chubb than me, but this week we are tempering expectations. The LA Chargers are giving up the second least amount of points to opposing running backs. With Chubb still shaking off the rust of his injury, this isn’t the week to force him in your lineups if you have somewhere else you can pivot to.
- Breece Hall vs HOU
- The Houston Texans have been really sound against opposing running backs, only giving up 16.7 PPG on average, which is the fourth best in the league. Breece has been up and down this year as the Jets try to figure out their identity. This one will be a tough matchup and you should bench him in hopes of someone else producing.
Wide Receivers
Plays
- Josh Downs @ MIN
- Josh Downs has been so much fun to watch! His emergence has been a boon for the Indianapolis Colts and for fantasy in general. Taking out his two dud games, he’s averaging 19.95 PPG. Now he gets Joe Flacco throwing to him again. The shift at quarterback will mean great things for Downs.
- Plus, this week they get the Minnesota Vikings! They’ve been giving up the most points to opposing wide receivers. After a strong start, the Vikings have floundered and offenses are having their way with them. It’s time to start exploiting their deficiencies.
- I missed last week when I said to Fade him and I am not making the mistake again. Our own Stacy Perez has been trying to tell everybody for weeks on The Waiver Wire Show (Tuesdays at 8 PM EST) to pick him up and plug him into your lineups.
- Courtland Sutton @ BAL
- As stated, the Broncos have been surprising this year in terms of offense. Nix has been giving everything he can to give it life and his top receiver has been Sutton. Now, it’s been up and down for the veteran receiver, but he’s had some solid games this year. Add in the fact that he’s going up against the Baltimore Ravens defense, and he should be a definite Play.
- Ravens have been giving up the second most points to opposing receivers. This should be even more exciting for Sutton, as the Ravens offense is one of the most explosive in the league. This is adding up to the Broncos, and Sutton himself, needing to keep up with the high powered offense.
- DeAndre Hopkins vs TB
- Typically, I don’t like to Play receivers until they’ve had a little more time to gel in the offense. That said, this week, they are going to need to get Hopkins the ball, and there will be plenty of opportunities. Despite losing both of their top receivers, Tampa has been able to keep its foot on the gas pedal. They’ve also given up the sixth-most points to opposing receivers. All of this points to Hopkins having a big game.
Fades
- Zay Flowers vs DEN
- Even with the addition of Diontae Johnson this week, the Ravens’ top receiver is Zay Flowers. This means Flowers will be getting shadowed by Patrick Surtain. Surtain will be stitched on tighter than Peter Pans’ shadow was. Expect him to have a quiet day next week.
- Amari Cooper vs MIA
- Now, I want to Play Cooper as much as I can as he becomes more involved in the Bills offense. This week, however, is going to be a tough one as he goes up against the second best receiving defense in the league. Fade him comfortably and find another starter.
- Stefon Diggs @ NYJ
- At the creation of this article, Diggs was still going to play sometime this season. That’s over now with his ACL tear. So, whether it’s Tank Dell or John Metchie, you’re going to want to Fade whoever has to go up against the fourth-best defensive unit against opposing receivers.
Tight Ends
Play
- Cade Otton @ KC
- Don’t chase points. Never chase points. This week we’re kinda chasing points!
- Last week, Otton had his best game of the season and ended with 29.1 points. This is partially due to the fact that the Buccaneers don’t have anyone else to throw to, which means he should continue his success.
- The Chiefs have been giving up points to opposing tight ends. They’ve given up the second most points to opposing tight ends. Otton should be a good Play for at least another week.
- Noah Fant vs. LAR
- The LA Rams have been giving up the third most points to tight ends. Enter Noah Fant. Has he been immaculate this year? No, but I’m expecting him to need to get involved in this game. If you’re in need of an immediate add at tight end position, look no further than Fant.
- TJ Hockenson vs IND
- He’s back! Hockenson has been off for almost a year after suffering a season ending injury last year. Now, one of the best tight ends in the league is coming back to give life to a destitute tight end field.
- Typically, it’s good to wait a bit after a player has come back from injury before playing them. However, Hockenson has been practicing at some capacity for weeks now and already has a grasp of the offense. This week, he gets the fifth-worst defense against tight ends. The Minnesota Vikings have been lacking something the past couple of weeks on their offense. That something has been Hockenson. Play him and watch as the Vikings’ tight end has himself a day.
Fades
- Tucker Kraft vs DET
- The Detroit Lions are the best in the league at defending tight ends at only 5.3 PPG on average.
- The Packers might not have Jordan Love throwing the ball again this week.
- This is going to be a tough game for the young tight end. Fade him and find Noah Fant on your waivers.
- Tyler Conklin vs HOU
- Houston has also been one of the best in the league against tight ends, giving up only 5.4 PPG on average. Conklin has been a roller coaster of a ride at tight end. This is going to be one of the lows.
- Evan Engram vs PHI
- Evan Engram might be the only receiver on the Jacksonville Jaguars now? Not really, but woof, is it going to be rough for that receiving game. The Philadelphia Eagles are tied with the Detroit Lions at only allowing 5.3 PPG. They’ll have Engram locked down.
Plays
- Cincinnati Bengals vs LV
- The Las Vegas Raiders have been giving up the second most points to opposing defenses. With the departure of Davante Adams, that number has only dropped. Fire up the Bengals defense and watch them keep the Raiders in check.
- Los Angeles Chargers @ CLE
- The Cleveland Browns have been giving up the fourth most points to defenses. This might be a tougher matchup as Jameis Winston looked good last week. That said, he’s always good for an interception or two. Expect the Chargers to take advantage of the situation.
- Buffalo Bills vs MIA
- I already said I was fading Tua. Unless he returns to his pre-concussion form, this is going to be a tough matchup for Tua. The Dolphins have been giving up 9.7 points to opposing defenses so far this year. It should be an easy Play.
Fades
- Denver Broncos @ BAL
- It’s easy to just stick to your guns and keep playing the same defense that has gotten you this far already. This week might be your undoing though. We already touched on how explosive this offense is. Expect them to give the Broncos defense their worst game of the year.
- New York Giants vs WAS
- Was anyone even starting the Giants defense to begin with?! Well, they should have been, since the Giants are the 10th best defense in the league right now. Much like the Broncos those, this week is going to be a tough one for Giants. Find another team to lean on for the week.
- Miami Dolphins @ BUF
- One, two, three… The Broncos are facing the top offense, the Giants are facing the second best, and guess what? The Miami Dolphins are facing the third best. Fade em and look elsewhere for help this week.