Fantasy Football Start/Sits: NFL 2026 Week 9
Well, here we are. Or rather, it's tiiiiiiiiime! Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé have begun their annual defrosting process and with that comes the halfway point of the NFL season, and the final month and a half or so of our fantasy regular seasons. If you're still within your league's playoff race, congrats. This has been a doozy of a season with plenty of injuries and unexpected stars and stinkers to stymy everyone's expectations entering the year. This week, as always, we've got some names for you to consider starting this week to secure the dub.
The way we go about this weekly article is: several 4QWI staff members select one player from the major fantasy football positions to write about, whether it be starting or sitting them. We don't communicate at all, and at times there may be some overlap of advice, or even disagreements about the same player. Of course, we will generally avoid the obvious no-brainer starts every week such as Josh Allen and Jahmyr Gibbs. With that, let's get going.
Quarterbacks:
(@spechty49) Start: Malik Willis vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, 11/8 @ 1:00 PM EST
Crazy I know. But the matchup warrants consideration. The Lions are BRUTAL against opposing QBs. Opposing QBs average 28.8 completions (4 completions higher than the next), 40 pass attempts, 297 yards a game, and 2.57 touchdowns, and 28 fantasy points a game. Which all lead the league. Now am I expecting Willis to go 28/40 for 300 yards and 2-3 Tuds? No. But if you maybe have Lamar on the IR? Might be worth a shot this week.
(@BreTT_Shevlin) Start: Kirk Cousins @ San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, 11/8 @ 4:25 PM EST
Kirko Chainz has quietly been putting together a pretty impressive season in Vegas, and at this point, we're done questioning the man. He's been slinging touchdowns like he's got something to prove, and Brock Bowers gives him a pretty nice safety blanket. The 49ers are a respectable test, but Cousins has already shown he can hang with tougher defenses. Sometimes fantasy football is about trusting your gut, and sometimes it's about trusting a 38 year old man with a mortgage and a family to feed. Let Kirko cook.
Running Backs:
(@Endydoe) Start: Quinshon Judkins @ New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 11/8 @ 1:00 PM EST
I feel like Judkins might be one of the most difficult RBs to start on a week to week basis. You both know exactly what you're going to get, and at the same time you have zero idea. Let me explain. The volume is consistently there as most predicted entering the season, but what's holding him back from being a true fantasy smash start every week is that damn offensive line. Judkins has taken 101 carries this season, but it's only resulted in 3.4 YPC. But, conventional fantasy wisdom says you have to follow things like the carries and the targets regardless of what the return is, and Judkins has the volume to go with the literal best matchup possible.
The Saints are dead last in points allowed to opposing Running Backs this season, including giving up 11 rushing tuddies in seven games coupled with 120 yards a game allowed on the ground to RBs. If there was ever a week to start Judkins, it's this one. Dylan Sampson does loom in the RB room with his return from injury, but the value he takes from Judkins is in the receiving end. This does put a ceiling on Judkins' PPR appeal, but again, follow the rushing volume and expect a solid RB2 showing for the Sophomore Running Back.
(@BreTT_Shevlin) Start: Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Green Bay Packers
Sunday, 11/8 @ 4:25 PM EST
It's time to unleash Mondre. The Patriots backfield might occasionally look like a game of musical chairs, but Stevenson has the ability to take control and make himself the focal point of the offense. He's a bruiser who can make something out of nothing, and you don't need him to be Barry Sanders to get the job done. Give the man his carries, let him run through a few linebackers, and let's get this offense moving.
He's coming off a season high 19 carries against Miami, and with TreVeyon Henderson’s status up in the air right now, Rhamondre has the ability to seize a work horse role.
(@spechty49) Start: Quinshon Judkins @ New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 11/8 @ 1:00 PM EST
Similar to my take with the Lions the Saints are pretty rough against the rush. They are ranked 32nd in the league against the position. Letting up a league high 1.57 Touchdowns per game. While their stats against average yards a rush and per game are floating around the 29th-32nd range. Could be a good game for Judkins to put up a nice solid confidence building number.
Wide Receivers:
(@Endydoe) Sit: Jalen Coker vs. Denver Broncos
Sunday, 11/8 @ 1:00 PM EST
One of this season's hottest free agent adds early in the season, Jalen Coker has come down to earth in recent weeks as has the entire Carolina Panthers offense, besides the GOAT Chuba Hubbard. I think Coker had earned some benefit of the doubt owing to a couple of great games to start the season as the Panthers were ripping points every week. Now, Coker has seen just nine targets over the past two games, and his fantasy performance last week was saved by a short touchdown catch at Green Bay.
The Panthers host the Broncos this week, who have allowed the 7th least points to opposing WRs this season and have held everyone not named Davante Adams or Jaxon Smith-Njigba in check all year as they've ceded under 100 WR receiving yards four times in eight games. With the Panthers offense in disarray, including their O-Line giving Bryce Young no pocket to work with, I don't like Coker at all this week.
This entry extends to Coker's fellow Panther Wideout in Tet McMillan a bit as well, but I think Tet has the benefit of at least being Bryce's favorite target, therefore leading to consistent targets to look for every week. Coker is at best a Flex play this week, but if you're in a league with 8 or maybe 10 teams, you should look elsewhere.
(@spechty49) Start: Malik Washington vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, 11/8 @ 1:00 PM EST
If we’re gonna start one, why not start the other! I’m not going to rattle off again about how bad the Lions secondary is. But they are equally bad against WRs naturally. Averaging the 3rd most fantasy points per game to the position. Washington has been decent. Averaging double digits in most leagues. This might be a game where he can up the average.
Tight Ends:
(@Endydoe) Start: Colston Loveland vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
SNF, 11/8 @ 8:20 PM EST Tight End guy here. Remember during Judkins' entry I said you should follow the volume and targets? Fire up Colston Loveland, baby. To begin the season, Loveland was looking like one of the biggest ADP busts of the 2026 campaign as he racked up just 11/91/0 over his first four games of the season, including a pure goose egg in Week 1 and just one catch for three yards in Week 2.
Now, Loveland has locked in and the past three weeks since Caleb Williams' return, he has been a premier fantasy TE option. Over that span, he has seen 28 targets, and has caught 20 of them for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Loveland's Bears now take on the Buccaneers, who have actually looked like a very formidable defense over the past few weeks. However, against Tight Ends specifically, they are 22nd in points allowed in PPR. Additionally, if last week's game against the Seahawks was any indication, Colston's QB Caleb Williams appears to be matchup proof. At home in the bright Sunday Night lights? Start Loveland with confidence.
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