2024 Fantasy Football Rankings, Week 9: WR

Malik Nabers wonders whether his game is “Daniel Jones proof” after all, Puka Nacua appears to be delivering strong performance, and Calvin Ridley And Ladd McConkey I hope to build big days.

Other positions: Quarterback | Run back | Tight End/Kickers/Defense

Updated 11/1 6:50 PM ET. DK Metcalf and Sterling Shepard removed. Puka Nacua (knee) moved down. Still waiting for more Brian Thomas Jr. information.

Week 9 recipients

WR notes: With 31 goals in the last two weeks, CeeDee Lam finally takes up the resources for Cowboys production. … Justin Jefferson never has rather reached his full ceiling this season. Now TJ Hockenson is back to participate in the target fight. Just something to keep an eye on. It’s certainly nothing to worry about versus the Colts’ raw defense. … While he didn’t break in Week 8, it still seems like only a matter of time before that Tyreek Hill resumes his Tyreek Hill ways with Tua Tagovailoa back at the wheel. The Bills have a limited number of opposing receivers, but sizable road dog Miami will have to throw a lot on Sunday. … Malik Nabers looks a little less Daniel Jones-proof every week. The Giants still don’t have any better ideas, especially with Tyrone Tracy (concussion) now on the shelf. … DK Metcalf remains on track to return from his knee injury. The only Seahawks to offer any semblance of consistency this season are immediately dispatched by the return of the big dog Jaxon Smith-Njigba back to low-end WR3 compilation state. Tyler Lockett is a dart throw WR4.

Puka Nacua And Kuiper Kupp made their triumphant return at the same time. We knew Kupp was ready. We heard that Nacua would supposedly be counted soon. A dominant After Nacua’s performance, we are left with a data point that says rank Nacua higher and wait for more information. Of course, things were already moving in this direction last season. Both players have worrying injury histories, but Nacua’s youth is a point in his favor. We like both players as WR1s versus the Seahawks’ leaky defense. … Zay Flowers went from injury question mark to WR13 overall in Week 8. It would have been much higher if his 7/115 hadn’t been scoreless. Triumphant, but difficult to target, chase versus the Broncos’ elite pass defense. This could be a rare recent establishment game for big home favorite Baltimore. … That’s one reason we give Diontae Johnson a “WR4-waiting” week in his Ravens debut. …I think we just have to accept it Marvin Harrison Jr.’s play on the field will make him volatile, although he finally saw some more creative usage in Week 8. Encouraging. The Bears will also be a tough place to start a hot streak. … Chris Olaf has had its fair share of disappointments in 2024. Still, it will be tough against the Panthers.

Josh Downs can never be just a regular WR2. The second-year pro has never been over, so back. It’s the last one for Week 9, with Joltin’ Joe Flacco benching Anthony Richardson. The Vikings are a brutal matchup, albeit one that Matthew Stafford just cut out with similar style. At the very least, Flacco will be ready for the exotic pressure. Flacco’s return also marks a WR3 return for Michael Pittman Jr. and his beam-like back. … DJ Moor is really feeling the effects of: 1. The Bears’ increasingly tough ways. 2. Keenan Allen actually stay in the lineup. The Cardinals offer hope for Week 9, but the upside is a lot lower than it seemed in Allen’s absence. … Calvin Ridley‘s monster Week 8 was one game with a clear directive from the technical staff: make sure the expensive man gets the ball. It’s also true that there are only so many wideouts who are 10-for-15 for 143 yards. Of course, that was with Mason Rudolph under center, who is nothing if not a No. 1 wideout targeter. Will Levis? Is he something at this point? He has a strong matchup in Week 9 at the Patriots.

Tank Dell is virtually outside the target competition. We’d like to say it “has to happen” in Week 9, but it’s a short week on the road against a tough Jets pass defense. Behind Dell you can make a WR5 choice blindfolded Xavier Hutchinson And John Metchie. …I finally give up the Jayden Reed ghost. It feels a bit like a Kyle Pitts situation, where as soon as your uncle cries, the obviously talented player is immediately clearly talented again, but the five-man pass catcher rotation is bad enough when Jordan Love is under center. Malik Willis? Maybe the Pack will trim the backup, but the volume will be too elusive. Reed needs a real “Baby Deebo” day to get WR2 returns. … What about the Bills’ unpredictable receiver output since then Amari Kuiper‘s takeover? Well, one point of clarity emerged on Wednesday when it was revealed that Cooper suffered a wrist injury in Week 8. While his 1/3 statline initially seemed to be a case of “Cooper is Cooper,” it was Cooper who got hurt. If Cooper can play, he fits in the WR24-30 range. If he goes, Khalil Shakir remains a floor-based WR3 with Keon Coleman suddenly a WR3 ceiling option.

It appears the Chiefs will take things a step further DeAndre Hopkins‘ routes after managing just 14 in his Chiefs debut. It couldn’t come at a better time, as the Bucs’ passing D is about to fall apart. That’s also good news for Xavier Waardwhich seems closer than ever to some bigger plays. … This is the highest you’ll see Courtland Sutton ranked for the rest of the year. After his best game, he now has by far his best game with the Ravens. …Well, there goes mine Carlo Tilman theory. I thought maybe the young man’s big Week 7 was all about practice squad chemistry with Dorian Thompson-Robinson. But he was just as good for Jameis Winston in Week 8, who also sparked Jerry Jeudy And Elijah Moore. There will be weeks again where Winston feeds all three, but the Chargers are a much tougher opponent than Baltimore. For now, we’ll just have to trust what the box scores and eye test revealed, and that’s WR1 Tillman. However, there is still time for an actual pass-first QB like Winston to eventually make Jeudy the No. 1 wideout he was drafted to be.