Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Standard and PPR Leagues

RotoBaller brings you our Week 9 fantasy football rankings, for both PPR and standard leagues, by authors Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades) and Ryan Rufe (@RyanRufe) along with some Week 9 rankings analysis by Ryan Rufe. For even more Week 8 rankings analysis, be sure to check out our positional rankings going up on the site later today.

The NFL season is about 50% of the way through ladies and gents. You should be familiar with the routine by now, but just in case you weren’t sure, every week fellow RotoBaller Zach Wilkens and I will be posting our weekly fantasy football rankings and rankings analysis, based on team matchups and expected player performances for the week.

Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings

I've been dreading this week ever since I drafted my teams, analyzed my rosters, and realized that I'd need to be pretty crafty in order to account for all the star players who are on Week 9 bye.  Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Eddie Lacy, Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Sammy Watkins, Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and Joique Bell are the main players who will be occupying fantasy benches this week with Green Bay, Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit and Tennessee all on bye.  Lest I forget any Shonn Greene owners who are probably weeping as they scour the waiver wire for a RB5 replacement. 

Enough nonsense. Let's dive right into the Week 9 rankings analysis, shall we? Below are RotoBaller’s Week 9 fantasy football rankings for all positions including running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, kickers and team defenses. Hopefully our rankings can help guide you in Week 9, and every other week of the NFL season, when setting your fantasy football lineups. Good luck RotoBallers!


2014 Fantasy Football Rankings powered by FantasyPros

Week 9 Quarterback Rankings Analysis

Colin Kaepernick tops my short list of quarterbacks I like more than most experts this week.  He torched the Rams for 343 passing yards, three scores and 37 yards rushing in the 49ers' week 6 win in St.Louis, and I expect him to do similar damage this time around at home.

Jaguars rookie Blake Bortles is the other QB I'm higher on that most this week. Yes, the interceptions are a problem, but he's thrown at least a TD pass in five of six games and is doing damage on the ground, rushing for 37 yards or more in three straight.  

Ben Roethlisberger and Brian Hoyer are the two quarterbacks I like less than the consensus. The Ravens' loss of top CB Jimmy Smith bodes well for Roethlisberger on Sunday, but I'm not expecting a repeat of his 522 yard, 6 TD performance against Indianapolis.  Not against Baltimore's 2nd-ranked defense in points per game allowed (16.4). 

Week 9 Running Backs Rankings Analysis

The one thing the Chicago Bears were able to do well in their lopsided loss to the Patriots last week was run the ball. New England's run defense is ranked in the bottom-half of the NFL for the second straight season, which is why I have Ronnie Hillman ranked higher than normal this week -- above top 5 mainstays like Jamaal Charles and Le'Veon Bell.  

For all of the success Peyton Manning and the Broncos have had with their passing game, the team has scored two rushing touchdowns in each of their last two games. The rest of my RB rankings are pretty straightforward, with no real surprises to make note of. 

Week 9 Wide Receivers Rankings Analysis

I'll admit I was skeptical of the DeAndre Hopkins noise this preseason, but the new number one in Houston -- yes, I said it and I know I'm not the only one -- has found his way into my fantasy football circle of trust.  

Andre Johnson is still dominating the targets, but Hopkins is doing a lot more with his opportunities, averaging 15.3 yards per catch with three scores compared to a 12.0 YPC and a single TD for Johnson. Hopkins has been a consistent fantasy contributor as well, with only one blemish (1-12-0) from week 6 to speak of.  

While DeAndre Hopkins is on the up-and-up, let's briefly discuss a wide receiver whose stock has dropped dramatically this season. Some of you might consider Wes Welker's revenge game hype as you set your lineups this week, but I'm not buying it.  Welker's 4-31-0 and 4-38-0 lines against the Patriots last season weren't very inspiring, not to mention he's seeing far less targets in the Broncos' passing game than he was in 2013. 

Week 9 Tight End Rankings Analysis

Gronk-SMASH!  The Patriots' star tight end put on a show last week, reeling in highlight catches while stiff-arming defenders like play toys en route to a 9-149-3 line against the Bears.  

A few experts have said a healthy Rob Gronkowski easily trumps Jimmy Graham and Julius Thomas as the best tight end in the NFL, and I can't argue with them.  Gronk will always be a health-risk, but he's a game-changer in fantasy; someone who can single-handedly help you win your week.  

Don't forget about Vernon Davis either, who hasn't seen more than 6 targets in any game this season, but is about due for a multi-TD performance. While it's doubtful he helps much in the catch or yardage departments, I'd gamble that he finds the end zone this week against the Rams.  Don't forget he scored at least once in 11 of 15 games last season.