NFL Week 9 Wide Receiver Report: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, DFS Value, WR Props and Parlay Targets

AI Parlay Generator | NFL Parlay Builder | NFL player props | NFL DFS value board | NFL injury report | NFL Game Zone | defense vs. wide receivers

Wide receiver could make or break your Week 9 lineup. Several big-name receivers are sidelined, injuries are opening doors, and there are defensive matchups worth attacking. This is a week to pay close attention to targets, quarterback play and red-zone looks.

We're looking past the big names for receivers who are actually involved in their offenses. Every number below comes from our own box scores through Week 8, every injury from our NFL injury report and Friday's official reports, and every line from our board.

Out this week: Garrett Wilson (Jets, concussion), A.J. Brown (Patriots, knee), DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks (Eagles), and the 49ers' Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Christian Kirk. Check final inactives before locking anything.

Must-Start Wide Receivers

Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals at Falcons

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

• Fantasy: elite WR1.
• DFS: premium option. Note the 9:30 AM ET kickoff.
• Props: receptions, receiving yards and anytime touchdown.
• Parlay: 5+ receptions (5 of 7 games).

Chase has 43 catches for 492 yards and six touchdowns, scoring in five of seven games, on 8.7 targets a game. He just caught 11 of 16 targets for 141 yards and a score against Tennessee (box score). This game has the highest total on the slate.

And don't forget his teammate: Tee Higgins actually leads the Bengals with 726 receiving yards (103.7 a game) and went for 155 and two scores last week. With Joe Burrow throwing for 462 yards a week ago, both belong in lineups. See the Bengals depth chart.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions at Dolphins (questionable)

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

• Fantasy: must-start WR1 if he plays.
• DFS: strong cash and tournament option.
• Props: receptions and receiving yards.
• Parlay: 6+ receptions (6 of 7 games).

Health check: St. Brown is questionable with a rib injury after three limited practices, but he's expected to play. Watch the 11:30 AM inactives.

He leads Detroit with 76 targets (10.9 a game) and 53 catches, and his route running underneath makes him one of the best PPR plays on the board. If he sits, Jameson Williams (five touchdowns) and the rest of the Lions' receivers move up. Lions depth chart.

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys at Colts

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

• Fantasy: must-start WR1.
• DFS: high-upside play.
• Props: receiving yards and receptions.
• Parlay: 70+ receiving yards (5 of 8 games).

Lamb leads the Cowboys with 92 targets (11.5 a game), 60 catches and 709 yards. Dallas has a chance to put up points against a 2-6 Colts team, and with George Pickens questionable with a hamstring, Lamb's share could grow. Check the Cowboys depth chart.

Rashee Rice, Chiefs vs. Jets

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

• Fantasy: WR1/WR2.
• DFS: strong value relative to his upside.
• Props: receptions and receiving yards.
• Parlay: receptions over.

Rice returned last week after missing three games and caught 7 of 8 targets for 53 yards and a touchdown at Denver (box score). He's the receiver I want in this passing game: Xavier Worthy has averaged just 32.9 yards a game.

One caution: the Jets allow just 194 passing yards a game, fifth-fewest in the league, so this is a volume play more than a matchup play. Chiefs depth chart.

Malik Nabers, Giants at Eagles

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

• Fantasy: high-end WR1.
• DFS: tournament upside.
• Props: receptions (6+ in 5 of 7 games) and receiving yards.

Health check: Nabers missed Wednesday with a knee issue but has been cleared, and he carries no designation for Sunday.

He's coming off the bye with 100+ yards in three straight games, including 12 catches for 165 yards against New Orleans. He sees 10 targets a game, and Philadelphia allows 235 passing yards a game (eighth-most). The 38.5 total is the lowest on the board, but Nabers doesn't need many plays. Giants depth chart.

Matthew Golden, Packers at Patriots

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

• Fantasy: strong WR2.
• DFS: upside play.
• Props: receiving yards and receptions.
• Parlay: 60+ receiving yards (5 of 8 games).

Golden has become Jordan Love's go-to receiver: 82 targets (10.2 a game), 619 yards and four touchdowns. He's seen 12 or more targets in three straight games, including 7 for 79 and a score in the win over Carolina (box score). Packers depth chart.

Strong Starts: DFS and Fantasy Value

These receivers deserve a look as WR2, WR3 or FLEX starters.

Why these players?

• Keenan Allen: Dallas allows 232.6 passing yards a game (10th-most). Allen has four or more catches in five of seven games and saw 11 targets against Tennessee on Oct. 18, making him an attractive FLEX and reception play. simulator | Colts depth chart.
• Ladd McConkey: a pure tournament play. Houston allows 244 passing yards a game (4th-most), but McConkey is averaging just four targets. He did catch 4 for 86 last week (box score). simulator | our pick.
• Tre Tucker: boom-or-bust. He had 97 and 103 yards with three touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, then one target and no catches at the Jets. A 51.5 total against a banged-up 49ers team gives him a ceiling. simulator | our pick.
• Makai Lemon: with DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks out, the rookie should be one of Joe Milton III's top targets in his first start. Lemon saw 8 and 9 targets the last two weeks. simulator | Eagles depth chart.
• Malik Washington: the best matchup on this list. Detroit allows 276.6 passing yards a game, the most in the league, and Miami will be throwing from behind as a 7-point underdog. simulator | our pick.
• Jordan Addison: Buffalo allows 254.7 passing yards a game (third-most), but Carson Wentz replaces the injured Kyler Murray at quarterback Monday night. Addison is averaging 5.5 targets. simulator | our pick.
• DeMario Douglas: A.J. Brown is out, which opens targets in New England. Douglas has four touchdowns on just 30 targets and caught 3 for 76 and a score last week (box score). simulator | Patriots depth chart.
• Jaylen Waddle: now a Bronco, and still finding his footing at 39.4 yards a game. A tournament dart only. simulator | our pick.

WR Props and Parlay Targets

These are alternate-line targets, with how often each has hit this season in our box scores. Check the actual numbers on our NFL player props page and the NFL Projection Board before you play anything, and see the other side on NFL prop unders.

Build them in the NFL Parlay Builder or the NFL slip builder, let the AI Parlay Generator put a ticket together for you, and check the payout on the parlay calculator. Want a game side on the ticket? Take it from every NFL pick so every leg agrees with our call, or move the number with the NFL Teaser Generator.

DFS Strategy

Pay for targets, not names. Find the underpriced workloads on the NFL DFS value board and NFL volume board, compare them with the NFL start/sit board, and stack your receivers with their quarterbacks using the DFS correlation calculator. Then build lineups with our NFL DFS lineup tools.

See who's getting the volume on our 2026 receiving leaders and red-zone leaders, and how every defense handles receivers on defense vs. wide receivers.

Final Word

Chase, Lamb, Nabers and Golden are the safest volume plays this week. St. Brown is a must-start if active. Tee Higgins, Keenan Allen and Malik Washington are the matchup plays. Makai Lemon is the value the injury report created.

Get the full slate on the Week 9 hub and Week 9 matchups, check NFL weather and the latest on NFL player news, and follow every catch live in the NFL Game Zone.

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