Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 9: Lineup Advice, Stars to Exploit and Sleeper Options

Week 9 of the 2022 NFL season could be a tricky one for fantasy managers to navigate. Injuries are likely to play a role—top fantasy performers such as Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Ja'Marr Chase (hip) may miss time—and six teams are on bye.

The Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers will be out of action, meaning standouts like Nick Chubb, Deebo Samuel, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley will be unavailable.

We're here to help by examining some names to exploit, matchups to avoid and potential sleepers to consider at the top three fantasy positions: quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

All choices here are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Start 'Em: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Sit 'Em: Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sleeper: Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

Last season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers were the top two vote-getters for NFL MVP, with the latter winning his second straight award.

This year, the two veterans have largely struggled. In Week 8, Brady threw for 325 yards but only one touchdown, while Rodgers tossed a pair of touchdowns but only threw for 203 with an interception.

Only one of these two aging stars is a safe play in Week 9, and it's Rodgers.

The Packers offense has been inconsistent all season, but the 38-year-old is determined to get things back on track.

"Nobody feels sorry for us," Rodgers told reporters. "We've got to find a way to get one win. I feel like if we can just get one, then the whole momentum changes."

The Packers will have a chance to reverse course against a Detroit Lions defense that ranks dead-last in both yards and points allowed. The team has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Brady, meanwhile, will face a Los Angeles Rams side that has struggled overall but remains relatively stout against the pass. L.A. has allowed an average of roughly 206 passing yards and one touchdown per game, and an average of just 14.5 fantasy points to opposing QBs.

Managers looking for a bit of a sleeper might want to take a flier on Chicago Bears signal-caller Justin Fields. He has ramped up his rushing in recent weeks and is coming off a stellar game against a good Cowboys defense.

The Ohio State product finished Week 8 with 151 passing yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, 60 rushing yards and a rushing score. He'll face the Miami Dolphins and their 23rd-ranked defense in Week 9.

Managers might be able to find Fields on the waiver wire, as he's rostered in only 41 percent of Yahoo leagues and 26 percent of ESPN leagues.

Start 'Em: Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

Sit 'Em: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

Sleeper: Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Miles Sanders hasn't been the most consistent fantasy back, as he's split reps with Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott and quarterback Jalen Hurts in the Philadelphia Eagles' run-oriented offense.

However, the 25-year-old is coming off of back-to-back 70-plus-yard, one-touchdown games and has a fantastic matchup in Week 9.

Sanders and the Eagles are set to take on the 1-5-1 Houston Texans, which rank 32nd in rushing yards allowed and 31st in yards per carry surrendered (31). On average, they have surrendered 31.5 fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, most in the NFL.

If Philadelphia can get out to an early lead and ride its ground game in the second half, the Penn State product could be in store for a monster day.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is far less likely to have a strong outing in Week 9. He was replaced by rookie Isiah Pacheco as the starter in Week 7 and finished with only six carries for 32 yards, though he did save managers with a touchdown run.

Expect Edwards-Helaire to struggle against a Tennessee Titans run defense that is giving up only 4.2 yards per carry on the season. A reduced role isn't going to help matters.

Plenty of managers are still rostering the 23-year-old—93 percent of both Yahoo and ESPN leagues—but this is not the week to trust him.

Managers looking for a potential replacement should consider Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier, who is rostered in percent of 54 Yahoo leagues and 55 percent of ESPN leagues.

The 22-year-old has logged double-digit carries in five straight games and had three receptions, 85 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in Week 8.

While Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) may come off of injured reserve this week, Allgeier should still see work against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers have allowed a league-high 5.7 yards per carry this season.

Start 'Em: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs

Sit 'Em: Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots

Sleeper: Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals

While the Titans have done a solid job against the run this season, they've been far more vulnerable to the pass.

Tennessee ranks 24th in passing yards allowed, 23rd in yards per attempt allowed and has surrendered 14 passing touchdowns on the season. On average, it has surrendered 32.6 fantasy points to opposing receivers.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce are obvious must-starts against Tennessee this week, and managers should trust wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster as well.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers standout, 25, has emerged as a top target in Kansas City and had back-to-back strong outings.

Smith-Schuster finished Week 6 with five catches for 113 yards and a touchdown; in Week 7, he logged seven catches for 124 yards and a score. Expect him to shine once again against the Titans.

New England Patriots wideout Jakobi Meyers had a strong day on Sunday, finishing with nine receptions for 60 yards and a score. But he's less trustworthy in Week 9.

There's no guarantee quarterback Mac Jones has a second straight strong game, and Meyers will face a good Indianapolis Colts secondary. The Colts have surrendered only nine passing touchdowns this year and an average of 19.7 fantasy points to opposing receivers.

While Meyers has scored touchdowns in three of his last four games, he's a touchdown-dependent option against an Indianapolis defense that doesn't give up many of them through the air.

Arizona Cardinals wideout Rondale Moore has a tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, which have allowed an average of 21.6 fantasy points to opposing receivers. However, he's a solid sleeper after being heavily used in Week 8.

The 22-year-old finished with seven receptions, two carries, 104 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. As long as the Cardinals don't forget that he can be a multi-faceted weapon, he should have a decent floor in Week 9.

Over the past four games, Moore has caught at least six passes in three of them. He is rostered in 35 percent of Yahoo leagues and 47 percent of ESPN leagues.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information via FantasyPros.