The ESPN+ Cheat Sheet for Week 9 is your one-stop shop for fantasy football advice. We’ve curated all our best start/sit advice from this week, including insights from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell and Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates. Don’t have time to read it all? That’s why cheat sheets were invented! Catch up on a week’s worth of reading in mere minutes, see which players are on the injury report, consider the betting data and then set your lineup with confidence.
Lines accurate as of latest time stamp. For latest odds, go to ESPN BET. 
Injury aggregation powered by RotoWire. Football Power Index by ESPN Analytics.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals -7
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 46.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Bengals by 5.5, 64.1% to win outright
Raiders injury watch: RB Zamir White: Q; TE Harrison Bryant: Q; TE Michael Mayer: O
Bengals injury watch: WR Charlie Jones: Q; WR Tee Higgins: Q
Best of the Week
- Eric Karabell: Jakobi Meyers returned from a two-game absence due to an ankle injury and he caught one of two touchdown passes thrown by Gardner Minshew. With Davante Adams no longer around, there are WR2 possibilities moving forward here.
- Liz Loza: Chase Brown has out-snapped and out-carried Zack Moss by a wide margin since Week 5, logging a snap share of 56% (to Moss’ 49%) and registering 37 totes (to Moss’ 17) over the team’s three most recent outings. Eight starting backs have posted 13 or more fantasy points when facing the Raiders, with each primary ball carrier either hauling in a minimum of five passes or finding the end zone.
- Matt Bowen: The Raiders have surrendered 25 sacks (third most in the league), and Minshew has turned the ball over at least once in six of his seven games played. This is a spot where the Bengals D/ST can produce points for your lineup.
Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills -6
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 48.5 (second highest)
FPI favorite: Bills by 9.2, 73.5% to win outright
Dolphins injury watch: WR Tyreek Hill: Q; TE Julian Hill: Q
Bills injury watch: WR Curtis Samuel: Q
Best of the Week
- Tristan H. Cockcroft: Tua Tagovailoa has averaged only 10.9 fantasy points in eight previous meetings with the Bills (exceeding 14 just three times). The Bills have been every bit as tough against quarterbacks this season as they have been against Tagovailoa since 2020, holding the position to 13.4 fantasy points per game (fifth fewest).
- Liz Loza: Even with Tagovailoa under center, Jaylen Waddle has struggled against the Bills, recording four or fewer receptions in five straight outings against them. Consider the Dolphins’ No. 2 a low-end WR3 for fantasy purposes this weekend. Meanwhile, Keon Coleman has led the Bills in high-value opportunities in back-to-back games since the acquisition of Amari Cooper and should continue to be relied upon versus a Dolphins defense that gave up scores to a pair of Cardinals wideouts last Sunday.
- Matt Bowen: Ray Davis is a potential deeper-league flier. James Cook is clearly the lead back for the Bills, but Davis can give you six to eight touches as a rotational player on an offense that will score points.
Los Angeles Chargers -1.5 vs. Cleveland Browns
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 41.5 (13th highest)
FPI favorite: Browns by 1.3, 53.5% to win outright
Chargers injury watch: WR Brenden Rice: Q; TE Will Dissly: Q; TE Stone Smartt: Q; WR Derius Davis: Q
Browns injury watch: WR Amari Cooper: Q; TE David Njoku: Q; RB Jerome Ford: Q; RB Nyheim Hines: O
Best of the Week
- Tristan H. Cockcroft: J.K. Dobbins has cooled off significantly after his fast start and he might not experience much success against a Browns defense that has allowed only one game greater than 15 fantasy points to a running back all season. In the past three weeks alone, the Browns held Saquon Barkley to 7.4 points (Week 6) and Derrick Henry to 14.7 (Week 8).
- Matt Bowen: Both Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore can be streamed in deeper formats. Tillman has scored at least 18 points in his past two games, while Moore has been targeted 18 times in those contests. Both get a tougher matchup this week versus the Chargers. However, given their target volume from Jameis Winston, both can be played as WR3s in deeper format.
- Mike Clay: The Browns have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to receivers, including the ninth most to the perimeter over the past four weeks. Joshua Palmer and, if he returns from injury, Quentin Johnston will see plenty of Martin Emerson Jr. on the boundary (and potentially Denzel Ward, if he clears concussion protocol), with red-hot Ladd McConkey working inside against Greg Newsome II. Upgrade the Chargers’ receivers.
Washington Commanders -4 vs. New York Giants
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 44.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Commanders by 5.8, 64.5% to win outright
Commanders injury watch: WR Olamide Zaccheaus: Q; RB Brian Robinson Jr.: Q; QB Jayden Daniels: Q
Giants injury watch: RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.: Q; WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton: Q
Best of the Week
- Eric Moody: Tyrone Tracy Jr. led the Giants backfield with 22 touches and scored 23 fantasy points in Week 8 solidifying himself as the starter over Devin Singletary. The Giants have one of the most favorable RB schedules for the rest of the season, but do keep an eye on Tracy’s status for the Week 9 as he’s in the concussion protocol after a head injury late in Monday night’s game.
- Mike Clay: Zach Ertz is fantasy’s TE9 and has emerged as Jayden Daniels‘ No. 2 target, which is enough to place him on the weekly TE1 radar. He does, however, have a tough Week 9 matchup against a Giants defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest TE fantasy points (and zero TE touchdowns) this season.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons -3.5
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 51.5 (Highest)
FPI favorite: Falcons by 2.7, 56.6% to win outright
Cowboys injury watch: none to report
Falcons injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
- Mike Clay: Kirk Cousins‘ boom/bust production is concerning, but he is sure to rack up some yardage and has a strong matchup against a Dallas defense that has allowed the sixth-most QB fantasy points and the highest YPA (8.2) this season. The past two QBs Dallas faced (Jared Goff, Brock Purdy) both cleared 25 fantasy points. Cousins is a strong Week 9 streamer.
- Liz Loza: Kyle Pitts has drawn five or more looks in four straight games after being targeted five or fewer times in each of his first four games. Dallas just gave up 6 of 7 for 128 receiving yards and a score to George Kittle this past Sunday evening. In a game with a projected point total of 52.5, there should be plenty of opportunities for Pitts to produce.
- Tristan H. Cockcroft: The Falcons defense has three plus matchups in November starting with the Cowboys (then @NO, DEN). The Falcons rank only 22nd for the season with a 4.1 fantasy PPG, but they’ve also had one of the more difficult full-year schedules to date. If there’s any singular defense to trust over the course of November, it’s the Falcons.
Denver Broncos vs. Baltimore Ravens -9
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 46.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Ravens by 10.3, 75.1% to win outright
Broncos injury watch: none to report
Ravens injury watch: QB Lamar Jackson: Q; RB Keaton Mitchell: O; RB Rasheen Ali: Q
Best of the Week
- Matt Bowen: Bo Nix has now thrown multiple touchdown passes, with 20 or more points, in three of his past four games. And with his dual-threat ability (five or more carries in seven of eight games), you’re getting more upside in the lineup. Nix can be started again this Sunday versus a Ravens defense that is allowing a league-high 291.4 passing yards per game.
- Mike Clay: Baltimore has allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, as well as the most points to the perimeter and second most to the slot. The Ravens have allowed a league-high 13 touchdowns to wide receivers, and six wideouts have already hit the 20-point mark against them. Denver’s receivers can be upgraded and even more so if Marlon Humphrey and/or Nate Wiggins remain out.
- Mike Clay: Pat Surtain II will shadow Zay Flowers on the perimeter. The Denver defense has allowed an NFL-low four TDs and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers (10th fewest to the perimeter). No receiver has reached 18 fantasy points in a game against Denver this season.
- Tristan H. Cockcroft: The league-leading Broncos defense faces their toughest matchup of 2024, and be aware that no Ravens opponent this season has generated more than three fantasy points from their D/ST.
New Orleans Saints -7 vs. Carolina Panthers
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (12th highest)
FPI favorite: Saints by 8.5, 71% to win outright
Saints injury watch: RB Kendre Miller: Q; RB Jamaal Williams: Q; WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.: Q; WR Bub Means: Q; RB Alvin Kamara: Q; QB Derek Carr: Q
Panthers injury watch: WR Xavier Legette: Q; RB Jonathon Brooks: O; TE Tommy Tremble: Q
Best of the Week
- Liz Loza: Chuba Hubbard has averaged 7.4 fantasy points per game with Bryce Young starting and 18.8 with Andy Dalton. That includes four TDs with Dalton on the field and zero with Young. The Saints have allowed eight scores (tied for the fifth most) to opposing RBs, though it’s worth noting New Orleans held J.K. Dobbins to 3.4 YPC in Week 8.
- Eric Karabell: Xavier Legette is 230 pounds and a clear red zone target, as we have seen recently with touchdowns in three of the past five games. The Panthers have to keep pushing QB Bryce Young and see if he improves, and Legette should help. Even with veteran Adam Thielen on the way back to the lineup, Legette should produce.
New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans -3.5
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 37.5 (14th highest)
FPI favorite: Titans by 4.8, 62.2% to win outright
Patriots injury watch: WR Tyquan Thornton: Q; WR Ja’Lynn Polk: Q; QB Drake Maye: Q; RB Antonio Gibson: Q
Titans injury watch: WR Tyler Boyd: Q; QB Will Levis: Q; RB Tyjae Spears: Q; RB Tony Pollard: Q; WR Colton Dowell: O
Best of the Week
- Mike Clay: A high target share should be a lock for Calvin Ridley with DeAndre Hopkins no longer on the roster, but Tennessee’s shaky QB play will lead to inconsistent output. Ridley is a good bet for a return to earth this week with Christian Gonzalez shadow coverage on tap. He’s best viewed as a boom/bust flex.
Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals -1.5
Locks: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 44.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Bears by 0, 50.3% to win outright
Bears injury watch: none to report
Cardinals injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
- Field Yates (video): DJ Moore has been steady but unspectacular, but he is the clear top target in the Bears’ offense. The Cardinals have struggled against the pass, giving up a high completion percentage as well as big-yardage plays this season. Moore is a safe WR2 this week.
- Mike Clay: Keenan Allen has yet to clear 41 yards in any game, has reached 7.0 fantasy points only once and has seen six or fewer targets in four straight games. Rome Odunze had a big Week 3 (7-114-1 on 11 targets), but otherwise has maxed out at 6 targets, 41 yards and 9.0 fantasy points. This is a good matchup (Arizona has allowed the second-highest YPT and highest catch rate to wide receivers), but Moore is the only safe start. Allen and Odunze remain flex options, at best.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles -7.5
Locks: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 45.5 (eighth highest)
FPI favorite: Eagles by 7.2, 68.4% to win outright
Jaguars injury watch: WR Gabe Davis: Q; WR Brian Thomas Jr.: Q; RB Tank Bigsby: Q; RB Travis Etienne Jr.: Q; WR Christian Kirk: O
Eagles injury watch: TE Dallas Goedert: Q
Best of the Week
- Mike Clay: The Eagles’ secondary is making a comeback, having held four of the past five opposing WR corps (Saints, Browns, Giants and Bengals) to 100 or fewer yards and a total of two touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase‘s 20.4-point effort Sunday made him the first receiver to reach 9.0 points against the Eagles since Week 4.
- Eric Karabell: Travis Etienne Jr. projects better than Tank Bigsby this week because Jaguars coach Doug Pederson has repeatedly said Etienne will not lose his starting job due to injury. Even if Etienne and Bigsby share touches, Etienne is a pass-catcher and the Jaguars are without their top two receivers. You don’t have to activate him against an Eagles defense that permits the sixth-fewest points per game to running backs, but you can’t ignore him, either.
Detroit Lions -2.5 vs. Green Bay Packers
Locks: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 48.5 (second highest)
FPI favorite: Lions by 3.9, 60.1% to win outright
Lions injury watch: none to report
Packers injury watch: RB Josh Jacobs: Q; QB Jordan Love: Q
Best of the Week
- Mike Clay: The Lions have allowed the most targets, receptions and yards, as well as the third-most fantasy points to receivers this season. They’ve especially struggled against the slot, which is where Jayden Reed aligns 71% of the time. He can be upgraded quite a bit, whereas perimeter receivers Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks get a slight boost.
- Tristan H. Cockcroft: Whether Jordan Love (groin) is able to play has a bearing on Tucker Kraft, who had two of his worst games of 2024 with Malik Willis under center, scoring a combined 6.0 points on five targets in Weeks 2 and 3. Even if Love starts, this is a matchup to avoid, if possible, as only one tight end has scored double-digit points against the Lions this season.
- Liz Loza: LaPorta’s numbers have spiked with Jameson Williams sidelined, which is a trend that figures to continue. In 2023, LaPorta was targeted on 19.8% of his routes when sharing the field with Williams, and 28.2% when not. In 2024, it has been 12.4% with Williams on the field, 25.9% without. However, most of LaPorta’s points come from TDs, as he has cleared 70 receiving yards in only three of 24 career games, so expect some inconsistency.
Los Angeles Rams -1 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Locks: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 48.5 (second highest)
FPI favorite: Rams by 0.1, 50.8% to win outright
Rams injury watch: WR Puka Nacua: Q; WR Jordan Whittington: Q; TE Tyler Higbee: O
Seahawks injury watch: TE Noah Fant: Q; WR DK Metcalf: Q; WR Laviska Shenault Jr.: Q
Best of the Week
- Mike Clay: Geno Smith is in the midst of a bizarre season, in which he ranks first in the NFL in dropbacks, passing attempts, completions and passing yards but just 16th in passing TDs and 14th in QB fantasy points per game. Smith has been a boom/bust fantasy producer, with five top-10 outings (all in the 7-to-10 range) and three finishes outside the top 20. Smith remains no more than a streaming option when the matchup is right. The Rams’ pass defense can be taken advantage of, having allowed an 8.1 YPA (second highest) this season.
- Tristan H. Cockcroft: Matthew Stafford has averaged 18.1 fantasy points in games in which both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have played at least half the offensive snaps the past two seasons, but just 10.6 in games in which one or both fell short. The past five QBs the Seahawks have faced averaged 20.1 fantasy points, thanks to the third-most points per pass attempt (0.57).
- Matt Bowen: Noah Fant has caught all 13 targets over his past three games, with double-digit points in two, and he draws a Rams defense in Week 9 that ranks in the bottom 10 versus tight ends. Trust the matchup.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings -5.5
Locks: Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 46.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Vikings by 1.4, 53.6% to win outright
Colts injury watch: none to report
Vikings injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
- Mike Clay: Sam Darnold has played well for Minnesota this season, but the veteran hasn’t made for a particularly good fantasy option. Darnold has had just one weekly finish better than QB9 (Week 2) and has finished outside the top 12 in each of his past three games. Darnold remains a low-ceiling streaming option this week in a solid matchup against the Colts.
- Mike Clay: The zone-heavy Vikings have allowed the most fantasy points to wideouts, both over the full season and over the past four weeks, as well as the fourth-most points to the perimeter and third most to the slot. Minnesota has surrendered 43-plus fantasy points to the opposing WR room in five consecutive games. Upgrade the Colts’ passing attack.
- Mike Clay: Aaron Jones has three TDs this season, but his usage suggests that number should be much higher. Jones’ expected TD total (5.8) ranks fifth in the NFL despite Minnesota already serving its bye week. Jones’ six carries inside the opponent’s 5-yard line are his most in a season since 2020 and he’ll benefit from a much easier schedule moving forward.
- Tristan H. Cockcroft: The Vikings have given up nine outings of 15-plus fantasy points to the WR position, seven of them in the past five weeks alone, and in those past five weeks their 1.95 points-per-target mark is third highest in the league. Josh Downs‘ fantasy stock got a boost with the Colts’ decision to switch from Anthony Richardson to Joe Flacco, and he has a team-leading 81.1 points and 25.9% target share over the past five weeks, making him the Colts receiver you’ll most want.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs -8.5
Locks: Monday 8:15 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 45.5 (eighth highest)
FPI favorite: Chiefs by 5.4, 63.5% to win outright
Buccaneers injury watch: RB Bucky Irving: Q; WR Mike Evans: O
Chiefs injury watch: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: Q
Best of the Week
- Matt Bowen: Jalen McMillan saw seven targets in the Week 8 game against the Falcons, catching four passes for 34 yards. And, for the second straight week, he had a rushing attempt on a schemed touch, which went for 17 yards. While McMillan scored only 9.2 points in that game, Baker Mayfield did attempt to target McMillan on vertical throws. You can play McMillan as a deeper-league flex for the Week 9 matchup versus Kansas City.
- Mike Clay: The zone-heavy Tampa Bay pass defense has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers, including the sixth most to the perimeter and fifth most to the slot (second most to the perimeter and most to the slot over the past four weeks). And a lot of that damage came with top corner Jamel Dean (now on IR) on the field. Upgrade the Chiefs’ passing game.
- Mike Clay: With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out last week, Cade Otton paced the Buccaneers with 10 targets, and no one else was above seven. The Kansas City defense has been generous to tight ends this season (the most targets, receptions and yards allowed), so Otton is a borderline “lineup lock” as Baker Mayfield’s top target for at least a few more weeks.