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%)

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