Rest of season rankings: Week 9

(Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports)

NOTE: These player rankings track a player’s value for the remainder of the season and are intended to be used as a tool, not necessarily a definitive guide to player valuation. The scoring system is performance PPR.

There is no exact science behind season-long rankings, considering all of the variables and situational uncertainties at work. Defensive teams have been added but will not have analysis.

QUARTERBACKS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Deshaun Watson	HOU	10
2		Lamar Jackson	BAL	8
3		Russell Wilson	SEA	11
4	5	Aaron Rodgers	GB	11
5		Matt Ryan	ATL	9
6		Dak Prescott	DAL	8
7		Tom Brady	NE	10
8	14	Patrick Mahomes	KC	12
9		Jared Goff	LAR	9
10	23	Drew Brees	NO	9
11		Carson Wentz	PHI	10
12	9	Kyler Murray	ARI	12
13	16	M. Stafford	DET	5
14		Josh Allen	BUF	6
15	8	Jacoby Brissett	IND	6
16	12	Jameis Winston	TB	7
17	19	Gardner Minshew	JAC	10
18		Baker Mayfield	CLE	7
19		Kirk Cousins	MIN	12
20		Philip Rivers	LAC	12
21		Derek Carr	OAK	6
22		Daniel Jones	NYG	11
23	28	Cam Newton	CAR	7
24	20	Sam Darnold	NYJ	4
25		Jimmy Garoppolo	SF	4
26	29	Ryan Tannehill	TEN	11
27		Andy Dalton	CIN	9
28		Mason Rudolph	PIT	7
29	24	Kyle Allen	CAR	7
30		Mitchell Trubisky	CHI	6
31		Ryan Fitzpatrick	MIA	5
32	36	Case Keenum	WAS	10
33	32	Joe Flacco	DEN	10
34		Marcus Mariota	TEN	11
35		Josh Rosen	MIA	5
36		Nick Foles	JAC	10
37		Matt Moore	KC	12
38		Dwayne Haskins	WAS	10
39	31	Teddy Bridgewater	NO	9
40		Eli Manning	NYG	11

QUARTERBACK MOVEMENT

Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts

It’s hard not to be impressed by what Brissett has done in the wake of Andrew Luck’s retirement, but after moving Brissett into the top 10 last week, I’m reconsidering and moving back to QB2 status. He’s thrown for less than 205 yards four times in seven games, and his value is overly dependent on touchdowns. I need to see more consistency from Brissett to consider him a legit fantasy QB1.

Kyle Allen/Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Yes, Ron Rivera announced that Allen will start once again in Week 9, but whatever slim chance there was that Newton would remain on the bench came to a halt during that bloodbath in San Francisco. I’m guessing that Newton will be back sooner than later. For now, that means flipping him and Allen, but Newton will jump higher once he officially returns.

Others of note

I originally thought we wouldn’t see Patrick Mahomes until Week 13. Now, I’d be surprised if he’s not back for Week 10, maybe sooner … Drew Brees returned from his thumb injury so he jumps to low-end QB1 territory and Teddy Bridgewater slides down … The loss of Kerryon Johnson is going to mean more throwing from Matthew Stafford, who is quietly playing really well this year … Take a quick look at the upcoming schedule for Kyler Murray. That’s imposing for someone who already has failed to throw for a TD in four of his last five games … Joe Flacco won’t play in Week 9 with a neck injury, and it sounds as though it could be something that keeps the veteran out for a while … I know the Jags paid Nick Foles a ton of money, but you can’t bench Gardner Minshew, can you?

RUNNING BACKS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Christian McCaffrey	CAR	7
2		Dalvin Cook	MIN	12
3		Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	8
4		Saquon Barkley	NYG	11
5	7	Aaron Jones	GB	11
6		Nick Chubb	CLE	7
7		Alvin Kamara	NO	9
8		Josh Jacobs	OAK	6
9		Leonard Fournette	JAC	10
10	8	Le’Veon Bell	NYJ	4
11		James Conner	PIT	7
12		Marlon Mack	IND	6
13		Chris Carson	SEA	11
14	11	David Johnson	ARI	12
15		Mark Ingram II	BAL	8
16	12	Todd Gurley II	LAR	9
17		Derrick Henry	TEN	11
18		Phillip Lindsay	DEN	10
19		Sony Michel	NE	10
20		Austin Ekeler	LAC	12
21		Devonta Freeman	ATL	9
22		Carlos Hyde	HOU	10
23	36	Tevin Coleman	SF	4
24		Melvin Gordon III	LAC	12
25		Jordan Howard	PHI	10
26	35	David Montgomery	CHI	6
27	24	James White	NE	10
28		Joe Mixon	CIN	9
29		Latavius Murray	NO	9
30		Jamaal Williams	GB	11
31	40	Miles Sanders	PHI	10
32	32	LeSean McCoy	KC	12
33	29	Ronald Jones II	TB	7
34	26	Matt Breida	SF	4
35		Damien Williams	KC	12
36		Royce Freeman	DEN	10
37		Frank Gore	BUF	6
38		Duke Johnson	HOU	10
39		Devin Singletary	BUF	6
40	32	Chase Edmonds	ARI	12
41		Tarik Cohen	CHI	6
42		Alexander Mattison	MIN	12
43	33	Peyton Barber	TB	7
44		Kareem Hunt	CLE	7
45	52	Mark Walton	MIA	5
46		Adrian Peterson	WAS	10
47		Kenyan Drake	ARI	12
48		Rashaad Penny	SEA	11
49	56	Darrell Henderson	LAR	9
50		Nyheim Hines	IND	6
51		Chris Thompson	WAS	10
52	74	Ty Johnson	DET	5
53	NR	Tra Carson	DET	5
54		Justice Hill	BAL	8
55		Tony Pollard	DAL	8
56		Ito Smith	ATL	9
57		Raheem Mostert	SF	4
58	69	Giovani Bernard	CIN	9
59	49	Malcolm Brown	LAR	9
60		Ryquell Armstead	JAC	10
61		Jaylen Samuels	PIT	7
62		Kalen Ballage	MIA	5
63	55	Darrel Williams	KC	12
64		Jalen Richard	OAK	6
65	65	Reggie Bonnafon	CAR	7
66		Derrius Guice	WAS	10
67		Justin Jackson	LAC	12
68	58	Dion Lewis	TEN	11
69	60	Wayne Gallman	NYG	11
70	28	Kerryon Johnson	DET	5

RUNNING BACK MOVEMENT

Arizona Cardinals

With Chase Edmonds (hamstring) joining David Johnson (ankle) on the sidelines, the Cardinals traded for Kenyan Drake on Monday. In the short term, Drake could step right in as the primary back. Long term, it’s less clear. Edmonds is expected to miss a few weeks with a hamstring injury, even though the team hasn’t ruled him out for Thursday, and there’s no clear timeline with Johnson. For now I’m dropping Johnson a little, Edmonds a bit more and keeping Drake as an RB4.

Detroit Lions

Last Monday, Matt Patricia said Kerryon Johnson (knee) was “fine.” A few days later he was placed on IR, which means at most he’d return to play two games, and it seems unlikely the team would wait that long to bring someone back. Journeyman Tra Carson got the most carries in Week 8, and Ty Johnson saw action as well. For now, I’m classifying both as RB5s until I see more, though my expectation is that the Lions will simply throw a lot more or attempt to trade for someone.

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco’s running game is superb. Ever since he returned, Tevin Coleman has been the focal point ahead of Matt Breida, who hurt his ankle Sunday, and I’ve decided to essentially swap the two and then bump up Coleman.

Others of note

Derrius Guice returned to practice and could be activated for Week 11. If you have room to stash him on your bench, do so … Tampa Bay’s running game just isn’t very good. I prefer Ronald Jones to Peyton Barber, but I’m dropping both of them … Aaron Jones is developing into an elite-level dual threat and earned a bump into my top five … David Montgomery carrying the ball 27 times is a step in the right direction, so I’m moving him back into the 20s. Now how about involving him in the passing game … It sounds like Miles Sanders‘ shoulder injury is minor. That’s good news as he looked great against the Bills … James Conner departed late with a shoulder problem of his own that has been called an AC joint injury. With no word on the severity of it, there’s no change to Conner’s standing.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Michael Thomas	NO	9
2		DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	10
3		Julio Jones	ATL	9
4		Cooper Kupp	LAR	9
5	4	Davante Adams	GB	11
6		Chris Godwin	TB	7
7		Amari Cooper	DAL	8
8	9	Mike Evans	TB	7
9		Tyreek Hill	KC	12
10		JuJu Smith-Schuster	PIT	7
11	14	Julian Edelman	NE	10
12		Adam Thielen	MIN	12
13	8	Odell Beckham Jr.	CLE	7
14		Keenan Allen	LAC	12
15		Kenny Golladay	DET	5
16		Stefon Diggs	MIN	12
17		T.Y. Hilton	IND	6
18		Tyler Lockett	SEA	11
19		Robert Woods	LAR	9
20	26	Courtland Sutton	DEN	10
21		Tyler Boyd	CIN	9
22		D.J. Moore	CAR	7
23	17	Brandin Cooks	LAR	9
24		Calvin Ridley	ATL	9
25		D.J. Chark Jr.	JAC	10
26	23	Allen Robinson II	CHI	6
27		Terry McLaurin	WAS	10
28	31	Golden Tate	NYG	11
29		John Brown	BUF	6
30		Alshon Jeffery	PHI	10
31		Mike Williams	LAC	12
32		Michael Gallup	DAL	8
33	41	Tyrell Williams	OAK	6
34		DeVante Parker	MIA	5
35		Marquise Brown	BAL	8
36	29	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	12
37		DK Metcalf	SEA	11
38	45	Christian Kirk	ARI	12
39		Curtis Samuel	CAR	7
40		Robby Anderson	NYJ	4
41	37	Sterling Shepard	NYG	11
42		Dede Westbrook	JAC	10
43		A.J. Green	CIN	9
44		Corey Davis	TEN	11
45	40	Marvin Jones Jr.	DET	5
46		Emmanuel Sanders	SF	4
47	51	Jarvis Landry	CLE	7
48		Kenny Stills	HOU	10
49		Sammy Watkins	KC	12
50		Demaryius Thomas	NYJ	10
51	60	Phillip Dorsett II	NE	10
52		M. Valdes-Scantling	GB	11
53	63	Mohamed Sanu	NE	10
54		Preston Williams	MIA	5
55		A.J. Brown	TEN	11
56	61	Diontae Johnson	PIT	7
57		Will Fuller V	HOU	10
58		Mecole Hardman	KC	12
59	64	Danny Amendola	DET	5
60		Deebo Samuel	SF	4
61		DeSean Jackson	PHI	10
62		Anthony Miller	CHI	6
63		Jamison Crowder	NYJ	4
64	73	Hunter Renfrow	OAK	6
65		Willie Snead IV	BAL	8
66		Cole Beasley	BUF	6
67	NR	Allen Lazard	GB	11
68	75	Taylor Gabriel	CHI	6
69	83	Chris Conley	JAC	10
70	65	Keke Coutee	HOU	10
71	67	Tre’Quan Smith	NO	9
72	85	Alex Erickson	CIN	9
73		Adam Humphries	TEN	11
74	81	Nelson Agholor	PHI	10
75	90	Auden Tate	CIN	9
76	71	Antonio Callaway	CLE	7
77		Randall Cobb	DAL	8
78	NR	Justin Gage	ATL	9
79	92	Ted Ginn Jr.	NO	9
80	NR	Darius Slayton	NYG	11
81		Jaron Brown	SEA	11
82	70	Geronimo Allison	GB	11
83		Paul Richardson Jr.	WAS	10
84	74	Trey Quinn	WAS	10
85	97	DaeSean Hamilton	DEN	10
86		James Washington	PIT	7
87		Zach Pascal	IND	6
88		Zay Jones	OAK	6
89		Donte Moncrief	PIT	7
90		Andy Isabella	ARI	12
91		Miles Boykin	BAL	8
92		Devin Funchess	IND	6
93	34	Josh Gordon	NE	10
94	87	John Ross	CIN	9
95		Antonio Brown	FA	—

WIDE RECEIVER MOVEMENT

Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

In hindsight, I probably should’ve dropped Adams further initially, but it always seemed like he was just about to return. And now, it looks like he really is just about to return after being a game-time decision Sunday night. The development of players around him shouldn’t hurt Adams’ production, either. He’ll immediately step back in as Rodgers’ top target, and maybe teams won’t be able to commit as much attention to him going forward.

Tennessee Titans

In his second game as the starter, Ryan Tannehill threw most of his passes to tight ends and underneath receiver Adam Humphries, leaving Corey Davis and A.J. Brown to combine for 20 yards on four catches. I’m keeping all three Titans wideouts where they are as I wait for more clarity for what the passing game will look like under Tannehill.

Broncos/49ers trade

Following the Emmanuel Sanders trade, I’m moving Courtland Sutton up a bit and keeping Sanders as a WR4. Even though I think that Sanders is the top 49ers receiver to own, that offense is built around the running game.

Others of note

Brandin Cooks is having a difficult season. He’ll get two weeks to recover from his latest concussion, but there have to be some concerns going forward … Tyrell Williams returned to the field and scored yet another TD. As long as he’s healthy, Williams is a viable WR3 … It doesn’t sound like Dede Westbrook will miss much time, if any, but if he does Chris Conley has a little juice … If the Redskins can get competent QB play I’ll consider moving up Terry McLaurin again. Until then, though, I can’t put him higher than WR3 status … No running game means more looks for Danny Amendola, who has some real appeal in PPR leagues … Christian Kirk returned from injury and seemed to be Murray’s top target. If that keeps up it’ll be time to move him ahead of Larry Fitzgerald … Josh Gordon is on IR and expected to be released. If/when he signs with a new team I’ll adjust his value accordingly.

TIGHT ENDS

Rk	Mv	Player	Team	Bye
1		Travis Kelce	KC	12
2		George Kittle	SF	4
3		Darren Waller	OAK	11
4		Austin Hooper	ATL	5
5	2	Zach Ertz	PHI	10
6		Hunter Henry	LAC	12
7		Evan Engram	NYG	7
8		Mark Andrews	BAL	8
9		Jared Cook	NO	9
10		Eric Ebron	IND	6
11	10	Jimmy Graham	GB	11
12	18	Dallas Goedert	PHI	10
13		Vance McDonald	PIT	6
14	23	Tyler Eifert	CIN	12
15	12	Gerald Everett	LAR	9
16	20	Jack Doyle	IND	6
17	15	Greg Olsen	CAR	6
18		T.J. Hockenson	DET	9
19		Jason Witten	DAL	8
20	14	Delanie Walker	TEN	11
21		O.J. Howard	TB	7
22	27	Noah Fant	DEN	10
23	NR	Darren Fells	HOU	10
24		Chris Herndon	NYJ	4
25	38	Jonnu Smith	TEN	11
26	21	Mike Gesicki	MIA	7
27		Kyle Rudolph	MIN	12
28	30	Cameron Brate	TB	7
29		Foster Moreau	OAK	11
30		Jacob Hollister	SEA	11
31		Trey Burton	CHI	6
32		Hayden Hurst	BAL	8
33		Nick Vannett	PIT	6
34		Vernon Davis	WAS	10
35		David Njoku	CLE	7

TIGHT END MOVEMENT

Philadelphia Eagles

Over the last three games, Zach Ertz has eight receptions, 112 yards and no touchdowns, while Dallas Goedert has 11 catches, 139 yards and two scores. There’s no doubt in my mind that Ertz is still the main man in Philly, but Goedert is becoming a bigger part of the offense and taking advantage of the coverage Ertz draws.

Tennessee Titans

With Delanie Walker bothered by an ankle injury the past two weeks, Jonnu Smith has 142 receiving yards and a TD. I’m sure the Titans would love to Smith emerge given Walker’s age.

Others of note

There was an official Tyler Eifert sighting in London as he caught six passes for 74 yards. While there’s obvious injury risk, things could get interesting if Eifert is traded … Greg Olsen seems to have zero chemistry with Kyle Allen … With limited talent outside, I could see Denver getting Noah Fant more involved … Darren Fells has five touchdowns this season, and minus Will Fuller there’s no clear-cut No. 2 option in the Texans’ passing game.

DEFENSE

Rk	Mv	Team	Team	Bye
1		Patriots	NE	10
2	5	49ers	SF	4
3		Bills	BUF	9
4		Vikings	MIN	12
5		Bears	CHI	6
6	8	Saints	NO	9
7		Rams	LAR	9
8		Ravens	BAL	8
9		Panthers	CAR	6
10		Seahawks	SEA	11
11		Jaguars	JAC	10
12		Packers	GB	11
13		Steelers	PIT	6
14	12	Eagles	PHI	10
15		Chargers	LAC	12
16		Cowboys	DAL	8
17		Titans	TEN	11
18	9	Texans	HOU	10
19		Colts	IND	6
20		Lions	DET	9
21		Browns	CLE	7
22		Broncos	DEN	10
23		Chiefs	KC	12
24		Cardinals	ARI	5
25		Raiders	OAK	11
26		Buccaneers	TB	7
27		Giants	NYG	7
28		Bengals	CIN	12
29		Jets	NYJ	4
30		Redskins	WAS	10
31		Dolphins	MIA	7
32		Falcons	ATL	5