Welcome to Week 9 of the fantasy football season. With several weeks of data available, we can officially make more educated start/sit and roster decisions. Pay attention to bye weeks, injuries, and how to set lineups to cover your risk and maximize your best players.
Every league is different — especially in the IDP world. These rankings are based on fantasy scoring to help adjust to your league while acknowledging that there will be some variations across different platforms. If you have any questions, join our free PFN Fantasy Discord, and let us know!
Which IDP Players Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) Zaire Franklin | IND, LB | (@ CAR)
2) Roquan Smith | BAL, LB | (vs. SEA)
3) Drue Tranquill | KC, LB | (vs. MIA)
4) Maxx Crosby | LV, DE | (vs. NYG)
5) T.J. Edwards | CHI, LB | (@ NO)
6) Quincy Williams | NYJ, LB | (vs. LAC)
7) Terrel Bernard | BUF, LB | (@ CIN)
8) C.J. Mosley | NYJ, LB | (vs. LAC)
9) Quay Walker | GB, LB | (vs. LAR)
10) T.J. Watt | PIT, LB | (vs. TEN)
11) Jordyn Brooks | SEA, LB | (@ BAL)
12) Bobby Okereke | NYG, LB | (@ LV)
13) Camryn Bynum | MIN, S | (@ ATL)
14) Derwin James Jr. | LAC, S | (@ NYJ)
15) Azeez Al-Shaair | TEN, LB | (@ PIT)
16) Logan Wilson | CIN, LB | (vs. BUF)
17) Myles Garrett | CLE, DE | (vs. ARI)
18) Nakobe Dean | PHI, LB | (vs. DAL)
19) Ernest Jones | LAR, LB | (@ GB)
20) Bobby Wagner | SEA, LB | (@ BAL)
21) Kyzir White | ARI, LB | (@ CLE)
22) Patrick Queen | BAL, LB | (vs. SEA)
23) Lavonte David | TB, LB | (@ HOU)
24) Dax Hill | CIN, S | (vs. BUF)
25) Kamren Curl | WAS, S | (@ NE)
MORE: 2023 D/ST Fantasy Football Rankings
26) Kenneth Murray Jr. | LAC, LB | (@ NYJ)
27) Frankie Luvu | CAR, LB | (vs. IND)
28) Micah Parsons | DAL, LB | (@ PHI)
29) Kyle Dugger | NE, S | (vs. WAS)
30) Kyle Hamilton | BAL, S | (vs. SEA)
31) Jamin Davis | WAS, LB | (@ NE)
32) Jerome Baker | MIA, LB | (@ KC)
33) Tremaine Edmunds | CHI, LB | (@ NO)
34) Jordan Hicks | MIN, LB | (@ ATL)
35) Cole Holcomb | PIT, LB | (vs. TEN)
36) Blake Cashman | HOU, LB | (vs. TB)
37) Danielle Hunter | MIN, DE | (@ ATL)
38) Antoine Winfield Jr. | TB, S | (@ HOU)
39) Devin White | TB, LB | (@ HOU)
40) Robert Spillane | LV, LB | (vs. NYG)
41) Germaine Pratt | CIN, LB | (vs. BUF)
42) Jaelan Phillips | MIA, DE | (@ KC)
43) Eric Kendricks | LAC, LB | (@ NYJ)
44) Jack Gibbens | TEN, LB | (@ PIT)
45) Julian Blackmon | IND, S | (@ CAR)
46) Budda Baker | ARI, S | (@ CLE)
47) Micah McFadden | NYG, LB | (@ LV)
48) Demario Davis | NO, LB | (vs. CHI)
49) Ryan Neal | TB, S | (@ HOU)
50) Jevon Holland | MIA, S | (@ KC)
51) De’Vondre Campbell | GB, LB | (vs. LAR)
52) Rashan Gary | GB, LB | (vs. LAR)
53) Kaden Elliss | ATL, LB | (vs. MIN)
54) Damone Clark | DAL, LB | (@ PHI)
55) Harrison Smith | MIN, S | (@ ATL)
56) Jessie Bates III | ATL, S | (vs. MIN)
57) Pete Werner | NO, LB | (vs. CHI)
58) Nate Landman | ATL, LB | (vs. MIN)
59) Aaron Donald | LAR, DT | (@ GB)
60) Haason Reddick | PHI, DE | (vs. DAL)
61) Carl Granderson | NO, DE | (vs. CHI)
62) Reed Blankenship | PHI, S | (vs. DAL)
63) Jalen Pitre | HOU, S | (vs. TB)
64) DeForest Buckner | IND, DT | (@ CAR)
65) David Long Jr. | LV, CB | (vs. NYG)
66) Kevin Byard | PHI, S | (vs. DAL)
67) Grant Delpit | CLE, S | (vs. ARI)
68) Brian Burns | CAR, DE | (vs. IND)
69) Jahlani Tavai | NE, LB | (vs. WAS)
70) Josh Metellus | MIN, S | (@ ATL)
71) Devon Witherspoon | SEA, CB | (@ BAL)
72) Jamal Adams | SEA, S | (@ BAL)
73) Amani Hooker | TEN, S | (@ PIT)
74) Shaquille Leonard | IND, LB | (@ CAR)
75) David Mayo | WAS, LB | (@ NE)
76) Rudy Ford | GB, S | (vs. LAR)
77) Nate Hobbs | LV, CB | (vs. NYG)
78) Trent McDuffie | KC, CB | (vs. MIA)
79) Kwon Alexander | PIT, LB | (vs. TEN)
80) Kayvon Thibodeaux | NYG, DE | (@ LV)
81) Chris Jones | KC, DT | (vs. MIA)
82) Montez Sweat | CHI, DE | (@ NO)
83) Kenny Moore II | IND, CB | (@ CAR)
84) Trey Hendrickson | CIN, DE | (vs. BUF)
85) Divine Deablo | LV, LB | (vs. NYG)
86) Markquese Bell | DAL, S | (@ PHI)
87) Jason Pinnock | NYG, S | (@ LV)
88) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | CLE, LB | (vs. ARI)
89) Jordan Fuller | LAR, S | (@ GB)
90) Jeffery Simmons | TEN, DT | (@ PIT)
91) Alex Highsmith | PIT, LB | (vs. TEN)
92) Jordan Poyer | BUF, S | (@ CIN)
93) Julian Love | SEA, S | (@ BAL)
94) Harold Landry III | TEN, LB | (@ PIT)
95) Richie Grant | ATL, S | (vs. MIN)
96) Quinnen Williams | NYJ, DT | (vs. LAC)
97) Zach Cunningham | PHI, LB | (vs. DAL)
98) DaRon Bland | DAL, CB | (@ PHI)
99) Christian Wilkins | MIA, DT | (@ KC)
100) Jabrill Peppers | NE, S | (vs. WAS)
Best IDP Players To Start in Week 9
Kyle Dugger, S, New England Patriots
Kyle Dugger is a borderline must-play this week, especially in any league where at least one DB is required. Last week, Dugger posted one of his best games of 2023. He tallied eight total tackles, a sack, and an interception. This also coincided with LB Ja’Whaun Bentley getting hurt.
The Patriots will use Dugger as a linebacker-hybrid again without Bentley. This makes him playable in most leagues and a locked-in starter in DB-required formats.
Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami Dolphins
Jaelan Phillips was one of my favorite breakout stars for 2023. While injuries have hindered him early in 2023, his per-game stats are wild. In his three games over 50% of snaps, he’s posted a combined 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
This week, the Dolphins play the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany. QB Patrick Mahomes has been getting sacked more recently, as nine of the 10 sacks have come in the last five games. Another seven tackles and a sack seem likely vs. KC.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!