The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that quarterbacks like Trevor Lawerence and Brock Purdy will be out this week. On top of that, injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 9 quarterback rankings.
[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]
[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]
Key:
Must Start- a player who should definitely be in your lineup that week because of the combination of matchup and talent. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and could repeat the production most weeks.
Starter- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
Low-End Starter- a player who should be started in most lineups but can possibly bottom out and finish below average on a given week. A high ceiling play in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.
Streamer- a player who could be a perfect replacement for a starter for a week or two. Starting this player may not win you your lineup but they will make sure that your production out of that position will not lose you your matchup either. Also a viable option in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.
Deep League Streamer- a player who could fill a void at a position in a deeper league. Their ceiling may be close to average point production at the position but their floor is enough to get through the week. A reasonable player to have in your lineup in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Rankings
Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
Must Start | Patrick Mahomes | vs Miami Dolphins | QB1 |
Must Start | Josh Allen | vs Cincinnati Bengals | QB2 |
Must Start | Jalen Hurts | vs Dallas Cowboys | QB3 |
Starter | Lamar Jackson | vs Seattle Seahawks | QB4 |
Starter | Joe Burrow | vs Buffalo Bills | QB5 |
Starter | Dak Prescott | vs Philadelphia Eagles | QB6 |
Starter | Justin Herbert | vs New York Jets | QB7 |
Starter | Tua Tagovailoa | vs Kansas City Chiefs | QB8 |
Low-End Starter | C.J. Stroud | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | QB9 |
Low-End Starter | Sam Howell | vs New England Patriots | QB10 |
Low-End Starter | Baker Mayfield* | vs Houston Texans | QB11 |
Low-End Starter | Bryce Young | vs Indianapolis Colts | QB12 |
Streamer | Will Levis | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | QB13 |
Streamer | Derek Carr | vs Chicago Bears | QB14 |
Streamer | Jordan Love | vs Los Angeles Rams | QB15 |
Deep League Streamer | Zach Wilson | vs Los Angeles Chargers | QB16 |
Deep League Streamer | Geno Smith | vs Baltimore Ravens | QB17 |
Deep League Streamer | Matthew Stafford* | vs Green Bay Packers | QB18 |
Deep League Streamer | Kenny Pickett* | vs Tennessee Titans | QB19 |
Deep League Streamer | Taylor Heinicke | vs Minnesota Vikings | QB20 |
Deep League Streamer | Mac Jones | vs Washington Commanders | QB21 |
Deep League Streamer | Daniel Jones* | vs Las Vegas Raiders | QB22 |
Leave on the Bench | Gardner Minshew | vs Carolina Panthers | QB23 |
Leave on the Bench | Aidan O’Connell | vs New York Giants | QB24 |
Leave on the Bench | Jaren Hall | vs Atlanta Falcons | QB25 |
Leave on the Bench | Tyler Bagent | vs New Orleans Saints | QB26 |
Leave on the Bench | P.J. Walker | vs Arizona Cardinals | QB27 |
Leave on the Bench | Clayton Tune | vs Cleveland Browns | QB28 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
QB11 Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield is dealing with a hand-contusion in his non-throwing hand. He is also dealing with a left knee contusion. If Mayfield was to miss Week 9 against the Houston Texans Kyle Trask would become the QB24 between Aidan O’Connell and Jaren Hall.
QB18 Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford sprained the UCL in his right thumb last week against the Dallas Cowboys. It is unclear if Stafford will be able to play this week. He is currently considered day-to-day. If Stafford misses Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers Brett Rypien will become the QB26 between Tyler Bagent and P.J. Walker.
QB19 Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett was limited in practice on Tuesday with a rib injury. At this point, he is expected to play this week. If Pickett misses Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans Mitch Trubisky becomes the QB24 between Aidan O’Connell and Jaren Hall.
QB22 Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Daniel Jones suffered a neck injury four weeks ago. He missed the past three games because of the injury. Jones has been cleared for contact this past week. If Jones misses Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders Tyrod Taylor becomes the QB23 between Desmond Ridder and Gardner Minshew.
If Jones and Taylor are both inactive against the Las Vegas Raiders New York will likely bypass Tommy DeVito and start veteran Matt Barkley. Barkley would become the QB27 between P.J. Walker and Clayton Tune.
Players that are currently not expected to play
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Justin Fields dislocated his thumb in his throwing hand three weeks ago against the Minnesota Vikings. He missed the past two games. Fields will likely miss games until he is comfortable gripping a football.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray will likely return from his torn ACL sooner rather than later. He has returned to practice but remains on the PUP list. Trading Josh Dobbs away is a signal that Murray should return in the near future. However Arizona will be cautious with Murray and hold him out at least another week.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson was a late scratch four weeks ago because of his bruised rotator cuff. Two weeks ago Watson sat out the rest of the game after clearing concussion protocol. Now he is unlikely to play for the second week in a row. P.J. Walker will start for the Cleveland Browns again if Watson is out.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders
Prior to Week 9, the Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. They appear to be headed towards a major rebuild as they benched Jimmy Garoppolo eight games (six starts) into his three-year contract with the team. It is unlikely that Garoppolo starts another game for the Raiders this year. Las Vegas will likely start Aidan O’Connell for the rest of the season to see what they have in their young quarterback.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill suffered an ankle injury before their bye against the Baltimore Ravens. It is unclear how much time Tannehill will miss but he is expected to miss time with the injury. Will Levis made his NFL debut last week and will likely continue to start for Tennessee for the rest of the season.
Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
It was announced on Wednesday that Taylor Heinicke will be starting over Desmond Ridder this week against the Minnesota Vikings. Heinicke saw action last week when Ridder was being tested for a concussion. It is unclear if Heinicke will be the team’s starter for the remainder or the season or during a stretch of time. From this point on it appears that Atlanta’s quarterback situation is fluent.
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