The Baltimore Ravens will face the Denver Broncos in Week 9. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding QB Lamar Jackson.
Is Lamar Jackson Playing in Week 9?
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh suggested that Wednesday was a rest day for Jackson, who was a DNP with back and knee injuries. Jackson was a non-participant again on Thursday with the same injuries.
Fortunately, Jackson returned to the practice field on Friday and said he would be ready to play against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Lamar said his Week 9 availability was never in doubt, noting that he simply resting his body at midseason. He is no longer listed on Blatimore’s injury report and has no designation for Sunday’s game.
The two-time MVP would probably have been able to suit up in Week 9 without practicing at all during the week. However, a third straight Lamar DNP would’ve raised significant alarm bells.
We’ll continue to monitor the Ravens’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Lamar Jackson in Week 9?
A Rashod Bateman drop last week robbed Jackson of additional yards and the 300-yard bonus in daily spots last week. I mean, your job title is “receiver;” you’d think “receiving” the ball would be at the top of his résumé, but what do I know?
No, I’m not at all salty about that drop. It certainly didn’t impact my DFS lineups, my moneyline picks competition, or my bet on the Ravens’ team total. Why do you ask?
OK, I had to get that off of my chest. Jackson has been the QB6 or better in six weeks this season, building a profile that looks very much like what Jalen Hurts gave us up to this point a season ago. Denver’s aggressive defense (second in pressure rate) is a problem for most, but Jackson isn’t “most.”
Jackson’s splits, 2024:
- Pressured: 108.2 passer rating, 7.0 yards per attempt, and 10.9% TD rate
- Not pressured: 118.1 passer rating, 9.6 yards per attempt, and 5.8% TD rate
His next pressured interception will be his first of the season. This Denver defense tops our Defense+ metric, and I’m buying what they are selling — just not against the reigning MVP.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 9 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Lamar Jackson’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 9
Jackson is projected to score 22.8 fantasy points in Week 9. This includes 234.7 passing yards, 1.5 passing touchdowns, and 0.6 interceptions. It also includes 10.4 rushing attempts for 63.3 yards and 0.3 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insights: Denver Broncos Defense
The Denver Broncos’ defense continues to put together an impressive 2024 resume, with this marking their sixth finish inside the top 10 and having finished inside the top 15 in all eight weeks of the season to date. That consistency goes into their metrics as well, as they rank inside the top 10 almost across the board, including first in yards/play (4.4), defensive total EPA per game (11.21), pass EPA per dropback (0.17).
Some of the key things the Broncos do not rank inside the top 10 for are forcing turnovers (12th) and third-down conversions (16th). This defense will get its hardest tests of the season in the next two weeks when facing the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. If they still rank at the top after those games, then we can start discussing whether this is one of the best defenses since 2019.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Lamar Jackson’s Week 9 Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 3:45 AM ET on Wednesday, December 25. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 17 QB PPR Rankings
1) Josh Allen | BUF (vs. NYJ)
2) Lamar Jackson | BAL (at HOU)
3) Jalen Hurts | PHI (vs. DAL)
4) Joe Burrow | CIN (vs. DEN)
5) Jayden Daniels | WAS (vs. ATL)
6) Baker Mayfield | TB (vs. CAR)
7) Sam Darnold | MIN (vs. GB)
8) Kyler Murray | ARI (at LAR)
9) Bo Nix | DEN (at CIN)
10) Jordan Love | GB (at MIN)
11) Jared Goff | DET (at SF)
12) Anthony Richardson | IND (at NYG)
13) Brock Purdy | SF (vs. DET)
14) Tua Tagovailoa | MIA (at CLE)
15) Matthew Stafford | LAR (vs. ARI)
16) C.J. Stroud | HOU (vs. BAL)
17) Patrick Mahomes | KC (at PIT)
18) Justin Herbert | LAC (at NE)
19) Caleb Williams | CHI (vs. SEA)
20) Aaron Rodgers | NYJ (at BUF)
21) Geno Smith | SEA (at CHI)
22) Russell Wilson | PIT (vs. KC)
23) Cooper Rush | DAL (at PHI)
24) Bryce Young | CAR (at TB)
25) Drake Maye | NE (vs. LAC)
26) Michael Penix Jr. | ATL (at WAS)
27) Aidan O'Connell | LV (at NO)
28) Mac Jones | JAX (vs. TEN)
29) Mason Rudolph | TEN (at JAX)
30) Tommy DeVito | NYG (vs. IND)
31) Dorian Thompson-Robinson | CLE (vs. MIA)
32) Spencer Rattler | NO (vs. LV)
Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens Insights
Denver Broncos
Team: Both the Broncos and Ravens are 5-1 over their past six games, with Denver (+66) holding the significant edge in point differential (Baltimore: +43).
QB: Over the past two weeks, Bo Nix is just 1-11 when pressured (43-52 when not pressured). The Ravens rank 27th in pressure rate this season and are coming off of their two lowest pressure rates of the season.
Offense: The Broncos picked up 64.7% of third downs on Sunday, their first game over 36.4% this season.
Defense: The Broncos allow a first down on just 19.% of opponent rush attempts, the third lowest rate in the league (Vikings and Ravens).
Fantasy: Nix is still a raw prospect, but he’s cleared six fantasy points with his legs in four straight and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of those games.
Betting: Denver has covered seven of their past nine games when installed as an underdog by more than six points.
Baltimore Ravens
Team: The Ravens are 1-2 outright when favored by at least seven points this season (they were 17-3 in such spots over the previous four seasons).
QB: Blitz at your own risk – Lamar Jackson has completed 28-of-36 passes against the blitz over the past three weeks.
Offense: In Weeks 1-5, Jackson’s sack-per-pass attempt rate was 3.3%. Since then, it has remained at 8.1%.
Defense: Baltimore’s defensive success rate through four weeks stood at 62.3%, but it has plummeted to 53.4% since
Fantasy: Over his past six games, Zay Flowers has three with over 110 receiving yards and three with no more than 20. On the plus side, three of his five end zone targets this season came on Sunday in Cleveland.
Betting: Over tickets have cashed in six of Baltimore’s last eight home games (2-1 this season).