With only two NFL teams on bye in Week 9, fantasy managers have a larger pool of players to choose from, but the expanded options also make start‑sit decisions more challenging. A proven computer model that simulates every game 10,000 times has released its Week 9 fantasy football rankings for the 2026 season.
Key Players to Watch
New quarterbacks such as Shedeur Sanders, Gardner Minshew, Drew Lock and Joe Milton are under center, while backup running backs have recently posted strong numbers: Kenny Gainwell (140 total yards), Tyler Allgeier (191 yards, two touchdowns), Braelon Allen (153 yards, one touchdown) and Mike Washington Jr. (83 yards).
The model has outperformed human experts over several seasons and was early on players like A.J. Brown, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Surprising Rankings
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who ranks among the top 15 in wide receiver fantasy points and is started in more than 80% of leagues, does not crack the model's top 35 at the position this week. McMillan has been held under 60 yards in each of his last two games and has scored only once this season. He faces a Denver Broncos defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers among all but four teams.
Conversely, the model is high on Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis, projecting him as a top‑12 fantasy quarterback despite being started in just 19% of leagues last week. Willis has accounted for seven total touchdowns over his past three games and averaged the seventh‑most fantasy points during that stretch. He now draws a Detroit Lions defense that has surrendered the most passing yards, passing touchdowns and fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, placing Willis above even Josh Allen in the rankings.
The model also highlights a tight end who barely ranks in the top 15 at his position but is projected to finish in the top five for Week 9, a potential difference‑maker for fantasy lineups.
