Zay Flowers, Gabe Davis, Rashee Rice: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 9

The Week 9 NFL slate is finally here, meaning it's time for fantasy managers to make tough, last-minute start 'em, sit 'em decisions. Zay Flowers, Gabe Davis, and Rashee Rice are all hot names ahead of this week's games

Flowers and a trending Baltimore offense square off against the Seahawks. Davis faces the Bengals on Sunday Night Football. Rice and the Chiefs face the high-octane Dolphins on Sunday morning in Germany.

Should you start Flowers, Davis, or Rice in Week 9? Let's dive in.

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Should I Start Zay Flowers for Fantasy Football?

Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers has put together a rock-solid maiden NFL campaign to this point. The Boston College product has been one of the few constants for this injury-plagued Ravens receiving corps. Flowers has appeared in all eight of Baltimore's games this season, amassing 461 receiving yards and a TD on 44 receptions.

Ravens rookie Zay Flowers tribute#sundayvibes
pic.twitter.com/qfPsbhtsZC

— NFL Highs (@frito_paw) October 29, 2023

Flowers has been given consistent volume this season. He owns a 26.3% target share, as well as a 27.5% air yard share. The rookie's 61 targets rank 16th at the wide receiver position. Although he faces a difficult matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, Flowers sits on the WR2/3 borderline and should be started in all fantasy formats.

He is the WR24 in our RotoBaller half-PPR consensus staff rankings. Although he faces a difficult matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, Flowers sits on the WR2/3 borderline and should be started in all fantasy formats.

Should I Start Gabe Davis for Fantasy Football?

Serving as the primary deep threat in Buffalo's Josh Allen-led passing attack, Davis is currently the overall fantasy WR32. Davis is clearly behind Stefon Diggs in the Bills receiving pecking order, but he does sport a healthy 26.6% team air yard share and is averaging a chunky 14.0 yards per reception.

A Gabe Davis BOOM night it is! 💣

pic.twitter.com/BOnaGzjp2S

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) October 27, 2023

Davis is coming off one of his most productive outings of the season in Buffalo's Week 8 win over Tampa Bay. Davis reeled in nine catches on 12 targets for 87 yards and a score. His role in this offense makes him prone to be an erratic fantasy producer, but he could be in for a boom performance against a zone-heavy Bengals secondary in Week 9, which earns him the must-start WR2 treatment.

He is the WR20 in our RotoBaller half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

Should I Start Rashee Rice for Fantasy Football?

The Kansas City rookie's role continues to evolve as he nears the halfway mark of his first NFL season. Rice has now seen five or more targets in five of the Chiefs' last six games. While he's still part of this squad's wide receiver committee approach, Rice is the most likely breakout candidate for this receiving corps and has been the most consistent fantasy producer of the bunch in 2023.

FEED RASHEE RICE#ChiefsKingdom | #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/x5uaoTHR8Q

— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) October 29, 2023

While Rice still isn't as involved in this offense as his fantasy managers would like, he's certainly trending in the right direction as the season progresses. The rookie ran the second-most routes for Kansas City in Week 8, trailing only Travis Kelce, and his route per dropback rate has not increased in three straight games. This Week 9 matchup against the explosive Miami Dolphins has unquestioned shootout potential, meaning Rice's fantasy managers probably want to find a way to squeeze him into their starting lineups as a WR3/FLEX option.

He is the WR32 in our RotoBaller half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

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