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Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em, and lineup advice for the Colts vs. Vikings on Sunday Night Football in Week 9 (2024). Detailed player breakdowns and matchup analysis.
We've arrived at Week 9 of the NFL season! Let's take a look at some fantasy football outlooks for tonight's primetime clash. We have an interesting matchup for Sunday Night Football between two of the league's most interesting teams, as the Indianapolis Colts travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings.
After an impressive (and surprising) 5-0 start, Minnesota has now dropped two straight games. They'll look to get back on track against a Colts squad that has decided to bench young QB Anthony Richardson and hand the keys over to veteran Joe Flacco in hopes of making a playoff push. From a fantasy perspective, Flacco's presence is a welcome sight if you roster Colts players in your league.
We'll be bringing you Sunday Night Football analysis all year long, focusing on who to definitely start, who is on the fence, and who should find the bench. Let's dive into this awesome Sunday Night matchup. You can also read all Week 9 Matchups for the entire slate. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
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Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings - 8:20 pm ET
Spread: Vikings -5.5
Implied Total: 46.5
Matchup Outlooks
QB Joe Flacco
The Colts named Joe Flacco as the team's starter moving forward, and he'll likely be a solid QB2 option moving forward. Flacco has finished as the QB15, QB4, and QB18 in his three games this year and now faces a Vikings defense that has had a hard time stopping the pass. Minnesota is giving up 284 passing yards per game while allowing a top-10 fantasy quarterback in three of the past four games. Flacco is a QB2 play in Week 9.
Joe Flacco had a total of one offer in free agency. Anthony Richardson was a Top 5 pick with all the talent.
Why is Flacco starting for the #Colts, as Richardson heads to the bench this season?
My story on all of it: https://t.co/Kb2kvLaGbFhttps://t.co/Kb2kvLaGbF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2024
QB Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold has been a solid quarterback option this year, scoring above 17 fantasy points in five of his past six games. Now, he gets a Colts defense in Week 9 that has allowed at least 285 passing yards in four of the past six weeks. Indianapolis has also given up the 10th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, making Darnold a low-end QB1 option.
WR Josh Downs
With Flacco now starting, Josh Downs gets a major boost. He has scored 22.2 PPR fantasy points, 15.9 PPR fantasy points, and 19.5 PPR fantasy points in three games with the veteran under center. As a result, he'll be a solid WR2 option in Week 9 against the Vikings. Minnesota has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to slot wideouts this season.
New Heat 🔥🔥🔥@RotoBallerNFL
Must START 'EM Sleepers and Boom Value Plays - Week 9
🎥: https://t.co/DSBhVjNkMv pic.twitter.com/Glc8Qq5hUt
— LaQuan Jones (@RealDealFantasy) November 2, 2024
Michael Pittman Jr. gets a nice fantasy boost with Flacco under center. Pittman has scored 17.3 PPR fantasy points, 14.7 PPR fantasy points, and 12.5 PPR fantasy points with the veteran under center. Given that the Vikings have allowed the most fantasy points per game to wideouts this season, Pittman is a solid WR3 option in Week 9.
Justin Jefferson is a must-start every week and will continue to be in Week 9 against the Colts. Indianapolis has certainly had its struggles in the secondary this season, and that defense has given up four different 100-yard receivers this season. Jefferson is a strong WR1 play this weekend.
T.J. Hockenson (knee) will make his season debut in Week 9 against the Colts. While we don't know what to expect from him in his first game back, Hockenson could be started in deeper leagues this weekend. Indianapolis has given up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, and the Vikings playmaker is not expected to be on a snap count this weekend.
T.J. Hockenson on his impending return after 10 months of knee rehab and recovery… pic.twitter.com/mPucniTCdi
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 31, 2024
RB Aaron Jones
Jones will remain a strong RB2 option in Week 9 against the Colts. Jones played a season-high 92% of the team's offensive snaps last week while seeing 21 touches. Given that usage, the veteran should be started in most cases this weekend against an Indianapolis defense that has allowed the third-most rushing yards to running backs this season.
Overall, the Vikings have done a good job stopping the run this season. They have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. However, teams have been able to run on Minnesota's defense in recent weeks, as Kyren Williams and Gibbs have finished as top-10 fantasy running backs against it in back-to-back weeks. Taylor is still a solid RB1 option in Week 9.
Most fantasy managers should be sitting Jordan Addison this week, even in a solid matchup against the Colts secondary. Addison hasn't caught more than three passes in any game this season while failing to see more than four targets in four of five games. He is a risky flex play in most leagues this weekend.
Fantasy-Relevant Injuries:
- None
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