NFL Week 9 Quarterback Report: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Waiver Wire Pickups and the Best QB Matchups

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The quarterback position is getting interesting this week, and fantasy managers have some tough decisions to make. Between injuries, unexpected starters, coaching decisions and a few veterans fighting to keep their jobs, Week 9 is a big opportunity to find production where other managers aren't looking.

We've got established stars with favorable matchups, a handful of streaming options worth considering, and some quarterbacks who should be watching from your bench. Every fantasy number here comes from our own box scores through Week 8 (4 points per passing TD, 1 per 25 passing yards, minus 2 per interception, 1 per 10 rushing yards, 6 per rushing TD). Every line is from our board.

And there's a major transaction to discuss: Jacoby Brissett is officially a Raven.

Breaking: Jacoby Brissett Traded to Baltimore

The Ravens finally addressed their quarterback emergency, officially acquiring Brissett from the Cardinals on Friday.

Trade details:

• Baltimore receives Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
• Arizona receives a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-round pick.

Brissett started Arizona's first eight games, throwing for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions before being benched for Gardner Minshew II.

Baltimore desperately needed an experienced quarterback. Lamar Jackson is on injured reserve after thumb surgery, Tyler Huntley is on IR with turf toe, and undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano threw for 60 yards in Thursday's 33-10 loss to Jacksonville (box score).

Brissett is expected to step in when the Ravens host the Chargers on Monday, November 16, in Week 10.

Fantasy outlook: Don't rush Brissett into your lineup. He's worth a speculative claim in deeper leagues, particularly Superflex formats. His experience gives Baltimore some stability, but this offense has bigger problems than the quarterback. Track every move on our NFL transactions page and the Ravens depth chart.

In Arizona, Minshew becomes the starter, rookie Carson Beck moves into the backup role, and the Cardinals depth chart shows the new order.

The Quarterbacks We're Starting This Week

Elite Starts

1. Joe Burrow, Bengals vs. Falcons

MUST START

Game: Cincinnati -3 vs. Atlanta at Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, total 52.5, Sunday 9:30 AM ET. simulator | our pick

Burrow comes in as the most productive quarterback in football. He's thrown for 2,115 yards and 20 touchdowns in seven games and is averaging 24.5 fantasy points a game. Last week he threw for 462 yards and five touchdowns in a 43-36 win over Tennessee (box score).

That's elite production. Atlanta sits in the middle of the pack against quarterbacks, and Cincinnati's receivers can create explosive plays. The highest total on the slate (52.5) says this one could fly.

• Fantasy: QB1.
• DFS: excellent tournament option. The game kicks off at 9:30 AM ET, so check which slate you're building.
• Props: passing yards and touchdown passes.
• Matchup: favorable.

2. Jared Goff, Lions at Dolphins

MUST START

Game: Detroit -7 at Miami, total 50.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

This is one of my favorite matchups of the week. Miami is 1-6 and allows 19.8 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks, sixth-most in the league in our data.

Goff has been extremely efficient: 15 touchdowns and just one interception in seven games. Ignore last week's 9-point dud against Minnesota, the stingiest quarterback defense in the league (box score). Detroit's receiving weapons give him multiple ways to produce.

• Fantasy: QB1.
• DFS: strong in tournaments and cash games.
• Props: passing yards and passing touchdowns.
• Matchup: excellent.

3. Brock Purdy, 49ers vs. Raiders

MUST START

Game: San Francisco -10 vs. Las Vegas, total 51.5, Sunday 4:05 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Purdy gets a Raiders defense that allows 20.3 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks, fourth-most in the league. The 49ers are 6-1 and playing excellent football.

Purdy has 15 touchdown passes and averages 20.6 fantasy points a game. His ability to distribute the ball makes him an excellent fantasy option, and he adds a little on the ground (161 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown).

• Fantasy: QB1.
• DFS: strong consideration.
• Props: passing touchdowns and completions.
• Matchup: excellent.

4. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs vs. Jets

MUST START

Game: Kansas City -10 vs. the Jets, total 47.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Mahomes is an automatic start. He's coming off 321 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-24 loss at Denver (box score), and the 2-6 Jets sit in the middle of the league against quarterbacks.

With Kansas City a 10-point favorite, expect the Chiefs to control the game and keep Mahomes involved early.

• Fantasy: QB1.
• DFS: strong option.
• Props: completions, passing yards and touchdowns.
• Matchup: favorable.

5. Matthew Stafford, Rams at Commanders

MUST START

Game: Los Angeles -4.5 at Washington, total 48.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Washington has been extremely generous to fantasy quarterbacks: 21.0 points a game allowed, third-most in the league.

Stafford has the experience and arm to exploit it. Even with Davante Adams out with a hamstring injury, Stafford has enough weapons to produce. He threw 3 touchdowns at Las Vegas two weeks ago before a quiet 157-yard day against the Chargers (box score).

• Fantasy: QB1.
• DFS: excellent matchup.
• Props: passing yards and touchdowns.
• Matchup: very favorable.

Other Quarterbacks We Like

Josh Allen, Bills at Vikings

Game: Buffalo -3 at Minnesota, total 44.5, Monday Night Football 8:15 PM ET. simulator | our pick

You don't sit Josh Allen. Period. He's averaging 26.7 fantasy points a game, the most of any quarterback here.

Minnesota is the toughest quarterback matchup in the league, allowing just 8.4 fantasy points a game. But Allen's rushing gives him a floor most quarterbacks can't match. He ran for 121 yards and a touchdown against the Rams.

• Fantasy: elite QB1.
• DFS: always in consideration (Monday slate).
• Props: rushing yards and an anytime rushing touchdown.

Dak Prescott, Cowboys at Colts

Game: Dallas -5.5 at Indianapolis, total 51.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

This is an interesting matchup for Prescott. Indianapolis allows 18.6 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks, and the 51.5 total says there will be passing volume. He's a strong start, particularly in leagues that reward passing yards and touchdowns.

Drake Maye, Patriots vs. Packers

Game: New England -3 vs. Green Bay, total 45.5, Sunday 4:25 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Maye has developed into a legitimate fantasy quarterback, averaging 21.9 points a game with a rushing touchdown in three of his last four games. Green Bay is a tough opponent (12.6 points a game allowed to quarterbacks, fourth-fewest), but his mobility gives him a floor.

Jordan Love, Packers at Patriots

Love is another quarterback worth starting. He has 16 touchdown passes and is coming off three in last Thursday's win over Carolina (box score). New England plays competitive football, so this isn't an easy matchup, but Love has the weapons and the system to produce.

Quarterback Sleepers and Streaming Options

These are the quarterbacks worth a look if you're dealing with injuries, byes or a tough matchup for your regular starter.

Drew Lock, Seahawks vs. Cardinals

TOP WAIVER TARGET

Game: Seattle -8.5 vs. Arizona, total 39.5, Sunday 4:25 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Sam Darnold has been ruled out with a quad injury, so Lock is expected to start. One warning: Lock has missed the last two games with an elbow injury and is listed questionable on our NFL injury report. If he can't go, rookie Jalen Milroe could play.

The matchup is great. Arizona allows 22.0 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks, second-most in the league. And Lock has already done it against them: in Week 2 he went 19 of 26 for 235 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-7 win over the Cardinals.

He's one of my favorite streaming options this week, as long as the elbow cooperates. Watch the Seahawks depth chart.

Joe Milton III, Eagles vs. Giants

HIGH UPSIDE

Game: Giants -3.5 at Philadelphia, total 38.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Philadelphia (2-6, six straight losses) is benching Tanner McKee and turning to Milton for his first NFL start. Jalen Hurts is on injured reserve and expected to miss the rest of the season.

Milton, a 2024 sixth-round pick, signed off Dallas's practice squad on Oct. 16. He brings an athletic dimension, and his running gives him extra fantasy value. The Giants allow 19.0 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks (8th-most). He's particularly interesting in DFS tournaments because of the rushing upside. Note the 38.5 total, the lowest on the board.

Gardner Minshew II, Cardinals at Seahawks

Minshew takes over after Brissett was benched and traded. He looked excellent in relief at Dallas last week, going 17 of 23 for 188 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-30 comeback win (box score).

Seattle is a much tougher opponent, though: 11.0 fantasy points a game allowed to quarterbacks, second-fewest. He's a speculative Superflex and two-quarterback pickup. I wouldn't trust him as a one-quarterback starter.

Carson Wentz, Vikings vs. Bills

With Kyler Murray out with a hamstring strain, Wentz starts Monday night. He started the first two games of the season, throwing three touchdowns against Green Bay in Week 1.

Buffalo is actually a decent quarterback matchup (19.6 points a game allowed, seventh-most), but Wentz offers little on the ground. He's worth considering in Superflex formats and deeper leagues.

Quarterbacks We're Sitting

Sometimes the best fantasy decision is knowing when NOT to start a recognizable name.

Bryce Young, Panthers vs. Broncos

SIT OF THE WEEK

Game: Denver -2.5 at Carolina, total 44.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

This is a matchup I want to avoid. Young has been on the injury report with a knee for four weeks and added an ankle this week, though he was listed as a full participant. Carolina's line has struggled to protect him: the Panthers allow 3.3 sacks a game, second-most in the league.

Denver has one of the league's most disruptive pass rushes at 2.9 sacks a game (6th). Young has scored 7.4 and 10.4 fantasy points in his last two games. Unless you're in a two-quarterback league, look elsewhere.

C.J. Stroud, Texans at Chargers

Game: Houston -5.5 at the Chargers, total 40.5, Sunday 4:05 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Stroud is talented, but this is a tough matchup. The Chargers may be 0-7, but their defense has held four straight opposing quarterback rooms below 14 fantasy points. This isn't where I want to spend DFS salary.

Tyler Shough, Saints vs. Browns

Game: New Orleans -3 vs. Cleveland, total 42.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Shough has flashed (27 points against the Giants), but he's been inconsistent, including a 96-yard, two-interception day against Minnesota. Cleveland allows just 13.5 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks (7th-fewest). There are better streams this week.

Caleb Williams, Bears vs. Buccaneers

Game: Chicago -6 vs. Tampa Bay, total 47.5, Sunday Night Football 8:20 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Williams has been playing well in real football. Chicago is 6-2, and he has six touchdowns against one interception. But his fantasy production hasn't always followed, and Tampa Bay allows just 11.9 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks (3rd-fewest). He's not a disaster play, but I'd consider other options in one-quarterback leagues.

Tanner McKee, Eagles

With Philadelphia turning to Milton, McKee is no longer someone fantasy managers should start. Leave him on the bench until the situation changes.

Quarterback Injury Report: Who to Watch

From our NFL injury report and team announcements as of Friday.

Important: designations and starting announcements can change. Check the final inactives before kickoff, especially with replacement quarterbacks. Our NFL player news has the latest.

Week 9 QB Waiver Wire Priority List

Ownership varies by league, so check availability before you spend FAAB. For redraft leagues, Lock and Milton are the more interesting immediate pickups.

The Best QB Matchups for DFS and Player Props

Points allowed are fantasy points per game to that defense's opponents' quarterbacks, from our box scores. See all 32 teams on defense vs. quarterbacks.

QB matchups I'd approach carefully:

• Bryce Young against Denver.
• C.J. Stroud against the Chargers.
• Tyler Shough against Cleveland.
• Caleb Williams against Tampa Bay.
• Gardner Minshew II at Seattle.

Remember, a quarterback can have a good real-life game without a great fantasy day. We want volume, touchdowns, rushing production and favorable matchups. Find the price-to-production gaps on the NFL DFS value board and NFL start/sit board, and stack your quarterback with his receivers using the DFS correlation calculator.

FantasyDailies: Put the Numbers to Work

This is where we separate ourselves from the usual fantasy advice. Don't just take somebody's word for which quarterback to start. Compare the projections, evaluate the matchup and look at what the numbers tell you.

1. NFL Projection Board

Our projection board puts our projected numbers next to the betting lines, matchup grades, hit rates and more. Compare passing yards, passing touchdowns and player markets before you decide which quarterbacks offer the best value. Then check every line on our NFL player props page.

2. NFL Game Simulator

Want to see how a matchup could unfold? Our NFL Game Simulator runs each matchup 10,000 times and plays back the most likely result, with scoring, game clock, box score and win probability. Use it to judge the game environment before building a DFS lineup or playing a prop. Every game above has its own simulator link.

3. 2026 NFL schedule

Check every week's matchups, kickoff times, results and the playoff picture, plus the Week 9 hub and Week 9 matchups. Game-day conditions are on NFL weather.

The idea is simple: combine the matchup, the projection and the opportunity before you make your lineup decisions. When you're ready to bet it, build your ticket in the NFL Parlay Builder, let the AI Parlay Generator do it for you, move the number with the NFL Teaser Generator, and check the payout on the parlay calculator. Game sides come from every NFL pick.

FantasyDailies Final QB Verdict

My top five matchup starters

• 1. Joe Burrow
• 2. Jared Goff
• 3. Brock Purdy
• 4. Patrick Mahomes
• 5. Matthew Stafford

Josh Allen is an every-week start regardless of matchup.

My favorite sleepers

• 1. Drew Lock (if the elbow allows)
• 2. Joe Milton III
• 3. Gardner Minshew II

My biggest fades

• 1. Bryce Young
• 2. C.J. Stroud
• 3. Tyler Shough

• My waiver wire target: Drew Lock.
• My DFS target: Jared Goff.
• My high-ceiling play: Joe Milton III.
• My safe veteran: Patrick Mahomes.

The quarterback position can make or break your fantasy week. Don't chase last week's points, and don't automatically trust a big name because of his reputation. Look at the matchup, the injury report, the offensive line, the receiving weapons and the opportunity. That's how you get an edge. See who's scoring near the goal line on our red-zone leaders, and check the playoff race on the NFL standings.

Follow every game live in the NFL Game Zone and on FantasyDailies TV on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Talk it over in the forum.

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