Fantasy Football Week 9 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2025-26 NFL season is underway which means we are in the thick of fantasy football season! The fantasy landscape has already changed since the preseason due to breakout players and major injuries across the league. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that wide receivers like A.J. Brown and Emeka Egbuka will be out this week. It would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one that is ranked or projected to perform similarly. Here are fantasy football Week 9 wide receiver 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 is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High WR2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 territory.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.

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.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Wide Receiver Rankings

Players that could miss this week’s game

WR2 Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

Puka Nacua missed Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars with an ankle injury. He was limited on Wednesday because of the injury. If Nacua misses Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints Davante Adams moves up to WR6 between Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashee Rice. Jordan Whittington would become WR58 between Michael Wilson and Xavier Legette.

WR9 Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

Ladd McConkey was limited on Wednesday with a calf injury. It is unclear if this injury could cause McConkey to miss time. If McConkey misses Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans Keenan Allen moves up to WR19 between Tetairoa McMillan and Tee Higgins. Quentin Johnston moves up to WR22 between Wan’Dale Robinson and Brian Thomas Jr. Tre Harris moves up to WR70 between Xavier Hutchinson and Marvin Mims Jr.

Atlanta Falcons Wide Receivers: WR11 Drake London & WR55 Darnell Mooney

Drake London missed last week’s game against the Miami Dolphins with a hip injury. Darnell Mooney was limited in practice on Wednesday with a hamstring injury. If London and Mooney miss Week 9 against the New England Patriots Khadarel Hodge becomes WR59 between Xavier Legette and Olamide Zaccheaus.

If London misses Week 9 against the New England Patriots and Mooney is active, Mooney moves up to WR46 between Calvin Ridley and Darius Slayton.

If Mooney misses Week 9 against the New England Patriots and London is active Hodge becomes WR67 between Josh Palmer and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.

Houston Texans Wide Receivers: WR12 Nico Collins & WR62 Christian Kirk

Nico Collins missed last week against the San Francisco 49ers with a concussion. Christian Kirk missed the past two games with hamstring injury. If both Collins and Kirk miss Week 9 against the Denver Broncos Xavier Hutchinson moves up to WR36 between Jauan Jennings and Rashid Shaheed. Jaylin Noel moves up to WR46 between Cooper Kupp and Calvin Ridley. Jayden Higgins moves up to WR55 between Christian Watson and Darnell Mooney.

If Collins misses Week 9 against the Denver Broncos and Kirk is active, Hutchinson moves up to WR39 between Ricky Pearsall and Troy Franklin. Higgins moves up to WR68 between Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Marvin Mims Jr.

If Kirk misses Week 9 against the Denver Broncos and Collins is active Noel moves up to WR47 between Calvin Ridley and Darius Slayton.

Chicago Bears Wide Receivers: WR17 Rome Odunze, WR32 D.J. Moore, WR60 Olamide Zaccheus & WR78 Luther Burden III

Rome Odunze missed practice on Wednesday with a heel injury. D.J. Moore missed practice on Wednesday with hip and groin injuries. Olamide Zaccheaus missed practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. Luther Burden III missed practice on Wednesday because of a a concussion. If both Odunze and Moore miss Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals and Zaccheaus and Burden III are active  Zaccheaus moves up to WR35 between Xavier Worthy and Josh Downs. Burden III becomes WR38 between Jauan Jennings and Rashid Shaheed.

If Odunze misses Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals and Moore is active Moore moves up to WR20 between Wan’Dale Robinson and Keenan Allen. Zaccheaus moves up to WR59 between Michael Wilson and Xavier Legette. Luther Burden III moves up to WR68 between Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Xavier Hutchinson.

If Moore misses Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals and Odunze is active Zaccheaus moves up to WR59 between Michael Wilson and Xavier Legette. Luther Burden III moves up to WR68 between Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Xavier Hutchinson.

WR23 Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Brian Thomas Jr. suffered a shoulder injury in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams. It is unclear if this injury could cause him to miss any time. If Thomas Jr. misses Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders Travis Hunter moves up to WR28 between Khalil Shakir and Deebo Samuel. Dyami Brown would become WR59 between Xavier Legette and Olamide Zaccheaus.

WR24 Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots

Stefon Diggs was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. It doesn’t seem that this injury will cause Diggs to miss any time. If Diggs misses Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons Kayshon Boutte moves up to WR30 between Travis Hunter and D.J. Moore. Demario “Pop” Douglas moves up to WR48 between Darius Slayton and Malik Washington. Mack Hollins moves up to WR61 between Olamide Zaccheaus and Rashod Bateman.

WR35 Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts

Josh Downs missed practice on Wednesday with a hip injury. It is unclear if Downs will miss this week’s game or not. If Downs misses Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers Alec Pierce moves up to WR45 between Cooper Kupp and Calvin Ridley. Adonai Mitchell becomes WR66 between Parker Washington and Josh Palmer.

WR38 Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints

Rashid Shaheed was limited in practice on Wednesday with a hip injury. It is unclear if this injury could cause Shaheed to miss time. If Shaheed misses Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams Brandin Cooks becomes WR69 between Xavier Hutchinson and Marvin Mims Jr.

WR40 Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

Ricky Pearsall missed the past four games with a knee injury. There is a chance Pearsall returns this week. If Pearsall misses Week 9 against the New York Giants  Jauan Jennings moves up to WR34 between Romeo Doubs and Xavier Worthy. Kendrick Bourne moves up to WR45 between Cooper Kupp and Calvin Ridley.

WR45 Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

Jakobi Meyers missed Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs with a knee injury. After the bye Meyers is expected to return to play. If Meyers misses Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars Jack Bech becomes WR64 between Kendrick Bourne and Mack Hollins.

WR47 Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

Calvin Ridley missed the past two games because of a hamstring injury. There is a chance he returns this week. If Ridley misses Week 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers Chimere Dike moves up to WR46 between Cooper Kupp and Darius Slayton. Elic Ayomanor moves up to WR50 between Alec Pierce and Keon Coleman.

WR53 Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

Christian Watson was limited in practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. Watson had missed the first six games of the season because of his knee injury he suffered late last season. If Watson misses Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers Matthew Golden moves up to WR44 between Calvin Austin III and Jakobi Meyers. Dontayvion Wicks becomes WR71 between Tre Harris and Jayden Higgins.

WR67 Josh Palmer, Buffalo Bills

Josh Palmer missed last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers with knee and ankle injuries. He missed practice on Wednesday because of the injuries. If Palmer misses Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs Elijah Moore becomes WR79 between Chris Moore and DeAndre Hopkins.

WR68 Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Kansas City Chiefs

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown missed practice on Wednesday because of an illness. It is unclear if this illness could cause Brown to miss anytime. If Brown misses Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills JuJu Smith-Schuster becomes WR75 between Jaylin Noel and Zay Jones.

WR70 Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos

Marvin Mims Jr. missed practice on Wednesday with a concussion. It is likely that Mims Jr. will miss this week’s game given the nature of his injury. If Mims Jr. misses Week 9 against the Houston Texans Pat Bryant moves up to WR70 between Xavier Hutchinson and Tre Harris.

Players that are currently not expected to play

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Terry McLaurin has been dealing with a quad injury since Week 4. The injury caused him to miss four games. Even though he returned last week, McLaurin re-aggravated the injury and will now have to sit out next week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. While McLaurin is out Deebo Samuel will reassume the role of the team’s top wide receiver. After Samuel Luke McCaffrey and Chris Moore will see extended work as the team’s secondary pass catchers.

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