WR Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 9 (2024)

I don't even know what to say anymore. Those zero RB truthers must not be sleeping well these nights, as the wide receiver position continues to produce injury after injury, week in and week out, to top fantasy assets. In Week 8, Stefon Diggs suffered a non-contact knee injury, and Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk's season ended due to a broken collarbone.

If you are part of our RotoBaller Discord, you know that Cedric Tillman was a must-start play in the receiver position. He was one of the most hyped players heading into last Sunday. Now, if I am going to take credit for Tillman, I have to admit I was also wrong about Calvin Ridley, but no one in their right frame of mind was starting any Titans pass catchers.

So, in Week 9, which receivers can you trust, and which ones should fantasy managers look to avoid? Let's break it all down in this week's wide receiver starts and sits for Week 9.

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Week 9 Starts - Fantasy Football Booms

DeVonta Smith - WR, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

With a 46-yard pitch and catch, have we seen the DeVonta Smith and Jalen Hurts connection get back on track? I don't care who you are - that was a thing of beauty. I don't know what was better, the throw or the catch, but I did develop a small tear in the corner of my eye.

SMITTY...HOW?! OMG!@DeVontaSmith_6 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/1gCGVqcIav

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 27, 2024

That throw accounted for over half of Smith's receiving total, but it was nice to see Smith targeted on seven occasions, resulting in that score and 85 yards. It was also only the second time this season that Smith eclipsed 20 fantasy points in a game. However, Smith has been consistent, recording 14 or more fantasy points in all but one game thus far.

This week, Smith faces a Jacksonville secondary that we seem to pick on every week, and rightfully so. The Jaguars have allowed nine touchdown receptions to wideouts and 1,417 receiving yards to date. This means the Jaguars are giving up the fourth most fantasy production to the position. Last week, Smith and A.J. Brown combined for 92% of the Eagles' first-read targets, each accounting for over 46%.

In the last four weeks, that number jumped even further as the Jaguars have allowed an average of 42.54 per outing. Smith has had at least six receptions and seven targets in four of six games this season, and while riding shotgun with Brown, has accounted for a 24.7% target share and a 27.8% air yards share.

Ladd McConkey - WR, Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns

After posting a six-catch, 111-yard, two-touchdown stat line against the New Orleans Saints last week, Ladd McConkey not only cracked the top 40 in receiving yards with 376 but his nearly 30-point fantasy performance shot him up to the 20th-ranked wide receiver in fantasy.

The Justin Herbert-McConkey connection is just starting to heat up. You can see Herbert's trust in McConkey, and why wouldn't he? McConkey is already among the elite route runners in the game, tracks the ball exceptionally well, and picks up yards after the catch, as 159 of his 376 yards have been.

LADD MCCONKEY! 🗣️

Route running, ball skills, contested catch ability, speed and elusiveness after the catch — dude is the whole package.

The more the Chargers get the ball into his hands, the better off they will be. pic.twitter.com/fDihS6bar1

— Mike Kennedy (@MikeKennedyNFL) October 27, 2024

One of my favorite pieces I picked up this week looking at potential starts was his fantasy points per route run through seven games (2014-2024). McConkey's 0.49 trails only Ja'Marr Chase (0.65), Justin Jefferson (0.58), Marquise Brown (0.56), Puka Nacua (0.54), Calvin Ridley (0.54), Brian Thomas Jr.(0.54), and Malik Nabers (0.53). That's an impressive company to mention in the same breath.

On the season, the Cleveland Browns allow 36.13 fantasy points per game, most of which have been from the opposing No.1 option. With 68.8% of his routes coming from the slot, I would anticipate his first-read target share increasing from its current 27%.

Courtland Sutton - WR, Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens

You know when you're out trick-or-treating and you purposely plan your route around the houses you know are giving out those full-size chocolate bars? Back in August, the Denver Broncos were not on my route.

However, with Bo Nix dressing up and performing like a fantasy superhero, this Denver team is one you need to visit for those fantasy treats.

Last week, Nix filled Courtland Sutton's bag with targets. Targeting the Broncos pass catcher on 11 occasions resulted in eight receptions and an even 100 yards on the day. Sutton has earned a 29.9% first-read target share and accounted for 38.5% of the Broncos' air yards.

Bo Nix with a beautiful pass to Courtland Sutton for a big gain pic.twitter.com/TWJT5x7QD8

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) October 27, 2024

As the Broncos' offense continues to grow, so too does the rapport between Nix and Sutton, leading to even more productive fantasy outings.

This week is another building block for that foundation, facing a Ravens team that has allowed 44.66 fantasy points per game this season to receivers, and who have allowed a league-high 13 touchdown receptions, including two more last week to Cedric Tillman.

Week 9 Sits - Fantasy Football Busts

Tee Higgins - WR, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Last week, Tee Higgins missed the contest against the Philadelphia Eagles after being a late addition to the injury report (quad), and the Bengals certainly missed him.

Lower body injuries are nothing new for Higgins, who has had five or more hamstring injuries in eight seasons, along with a couple of ankle injuries on top of this week's quadriceps injury.

Right now, Higgins is considered day-to-day, but I'd lean towards him not playing again this week. This is terrible news for the Bengals as a team that averages 11.3 fewer points per game and 48 fewer passing yards per game with Higgins out of the lineup.

Suppose Higgins somehow were to get that Mr. Miyagi wax on/wax off treatment. In that case, this week's matchup against the Raiders features the eighth-stingiest fantasy unit against the wide receiver position, allowing 28.08 fantasy points per game.

Jaylen Waddle - WR, Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

I think the band forgot to show up last week. Tua Tagovailoa was back, but the Tagovailoa/Jaylen Waddle connection seemed somewhat delayed. It wasn't a total buzz kill, as Waddle hauled in four receptions for 45 yards, but the big play was just 20 yards. Maybe we've been spoiled, but it's like getting all hyped up for a blockbuster movie just to have it fall short of our expectations. We can blame Tyreek Hill for that.

If you don't expect Waddle to have a big week this week, you won't be disappointed when he performs similarly to last week. If you set that bar too high, you will fail to reach it consistently. But, if you set that bar low, you'll constantly trip over it, and people will praise you.

Basically, if you set the bar lower than normal this week against a Bills team that has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the wide receiver position this year, you'll be much happier.

Amon-Ra St. Brown - WR, Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

This is the weekly "buyer beware" or "temper your expectations" portion of this week's starts and sits. Truth is, Amon-Ra St. Brown has not been his dominant self. While the Lions receiver has a touchdown in five straight contests, he also has failed to register more than 75 yards receiving in five of seven contests, including a two-catch, seven-yard performance last week.

Detroit is averaging 33.4 points per game this season. In the last four games, they have averaged 43 points per game. In these four contests, St. Brown has been held under 50 yards in three of the four and has seen fewer than five targets in two of the last three games, which is not exactly something to get excited about.

St. Brown was good but not great against the Packers last season. St. Brown had 14 grabs in two head-to-head matchups and averaged 75.5 receiving yards in those contests.

Over the last four weeks, Green Bay has allowed 28.55 fantasy points per game to receivers, the 10th fewest.

Some like it hot, and some sweat when the heat is on. You wanted bold, and I am a man of the people.

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