Apex Scores Lite Apex Scores Lite flag
back Back
Fantasy Football Week 9 Wide Receiver Projections & Rankings: Start Josh Downs, Sit Makai Lemon

Full wide receiver projections, rankings, best and worst picks, sleepers, and statistical leaders in Week 9 fantasy football.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) drops a pass Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Today's projections forecast Week 9 fantasy football wide receivers. We look for the good and the bad. The ensuing numbers are below. Use them to make start-sit decisions; they include highly debated names such as Xavier Worthy, Omar Cooper Jr., and Josh Downs.

Top-12 Wide Receivers

Three wide receivers project for over 11 targets this week: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. These three players, plus CeeDee Lamb, are what I would call "matchup-proof."

Tee Higgins is outperforming Ja'Marr Chase in 2026. Higgins is the WR5, and Chase is the WR8. Higgins is also on pace for about 1,700 yards, the second-most in the NFL.

High-Upside Wide Receivers

When facing top-8 coverage groupings, Tre Tucker is averaging 81.4 yards this season. The sample size is three games. Not only do I promote starting Tucker, but I also name Kirk Cousins my Sleeper of the Week.

Caleb Douglas ranks 2nd in Yards per Target and 4th in EPA per Target. The Dolphins will likely trail the Lions in this game, as the Lions are awful in coverage. Douglas truly has WR1 upside this week.

It sounds like Shedeur Sanders might get the start this week. If so, we can hope that this means better days ahead for KC Concepcion. The rookie has had volatile output, and mostly bad. But in his sole game against only low-end coverage, he recorded only 129 yards, and this week Concepcion faces the 7th-worst defense in Yards per Target Allowed to the slot.

Fade These Wide Receivers

Joe Milton gets the Eagles' surprise starter this week. I do not think that matters much. His scouting report labels Milton as having a strong arm, but not a very accurate one. I'm not convinced he aids Lemon, a short-yardage option who averages 8.1 Yards per Reception. It seems very risky to me.

Do not start any Buccaneer wideout. Baker Mayfield has thrown 14 passes in two games, likely due to his thumb injury.

Sleeper of the Week

Josh Downs is the pick. He faces the Cowboys this week, and they are bad. For reference, the median yards per Target Allowed to wide receivers is 8.05. The Cowboys allow 11.5 Yards per Target to slot wide receivers. They rank among the worst teams in EPA per Pass Allowed and 30th in Pass Rush Win Rate.

There is little excuse for the Daniel Jones-Josh Downs connection to fail. Downs is a great player, and the Colts want to showcase him in hopes of a trade by next week's deadline.

Week 9 Projected Statistical Leaders

  • Targets: Puka Nacua (11.8)
  • Receptions: Puka Nacua (7.9)
  • Yards: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (108.0)
  • Anytime Touchdown: CeeDee Lamb (56.2%)

More Fantasy Sports On SI News:

Add us as a preferred source on Google

You may like

A Deep Dive Into Cam Ward's Career Game vs. Bengals Reveals 3 Key Signs of Life Moving Forward

si.com 43 minut temu

Zay Flowers, Quinshon Judkins And Other Week 8 Fantasy Busts Not To Panic Over

si.com 2 godziny temu

3 Logical Breece Hall Trade Destinations to Give Jets the Best Return

si.com 43 minut temu

West Coast Read: Jim Harbaugh Must Protect Justin Herbert — By Benching Him

foxsports.com 1 godzina temu

Former Dolphins QB traded ahead of NFL's deadline

aol.com 3 godzin temu

Fantasy Football Injury Update: Garrett Wilson in Concussion Protocol, Potentially Paving Way for...

si.com 2 godziny temu

Vikings' Uphill Battle for a Potential Kyler Murray Trade Solution Officially Steepens

si.com 2 godziny temu

Two Ravens Players Who Benefit Most From The Jacoby Brissett Trade

si.com 38 minut temu

49ers Provide Encouraging Injury Update on Nick Bosa

si.com 43 minut temu