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If you're looking for stability in Week 9, quarterback is probably the wrong place to look. We're missing Tom Brady because of a bye week and Aaron Rodgers on the COVID IR. We're hopeful to get Taysom Hill starting for the Saints, but as of Thursday afternoon that is nothing more than a hope. And it sure sounds like Kyler Murray isn't going to practice this week, and he might not play.

All of this uncertainty makes both Carson Wentz and Tua Tagovailoa more appealing. They both have good matchups, and they've both been largely successful against bad defenses in 2021. The advantage to having Tagovailoa over Wentz is that you can wait until Sunday to find out if Murray or Hill is playing. If you have Wentz and Murray, you should probably start Wentz unless there's a really good option on the waiver wire.

The other change for Week 9 is that Tyrod Taylor will start for Houston after missing five weeks with a hamstring injury. Taylor doesn't have the upside Wentz or Tagovailoa have, but he's a great choice to add if you want to wait on Murray or Hill. 

Let's get to the rest of the Week 9 preview:

Week 9 QB Preview
QB Preview
Numbers to know
  • 23.1 -- Taysom Hill averaged 23.1 Fantasy points per game in his four starts last year.
  • 18 -- Justin Fields has 18 rush attempts in his last two games. If that continues, he may work his way into the Fantasy starter conversation.
  • 11 -- The Steelers have only allowed 11 rushing yards per game to quarterbacks.
  • 38 -- Kyler Murray only has 38 rushing yards in his past four games and now he has an ankle injury. He's more of a pocket passer than Patrick Mahomes right now.
  • 7.1 -- Justin Herbert is averaging 7.1 yards per pass attempt, which is both below average and worse than what he averaged last year.
  • 70 -- Josh Allen is the only quarterback in the top four with more than 70 rushing yards. Pocket passers making a come back?
  • 4.4% -- Lamar Jackson's passing touchdown rate this season. His career rate is 6.7%.
  • 2.6% -- Lamar Jackson's rushing touchdown rate this season. His career rate is 3.8%.
QB Preview
Matchups that matter
Matchups that Matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
PIT Pittsburgh • #1
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ PIT PIT -6.5 O/U 40
OPP VS QB
8th
PROJ PTS
13.6
QB RNK
23rd
YTD Stats
PAYDS
991
RUYDS
243
TD
5
INT
7
FPTS/G
9.5
NO New Orleans • #7
Age: 33 • Experience: 8 yrs.
ARI Arizona • #1
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ SF ARI -PK O/U 45
OPP VS QB
20th
PROJ PTS
19.7
QB RNK
8th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
2276
RUYDS
147
TD
20
INT
7
FPTS/G
26.4
IND Indianapolis • #2
Age: 38 • Experience: 16 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ NO NO -6 O/U 42.5
OPP VS QB
3rd
PROJ PTS
15.8
QB RNK
20th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1814
RUYDS
29
TD
13
INT
6
FPTS/G
19.9
MIA Miami • #1
Age: 26 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs HOU MIA -6.5 O/U 46
OPP VS QB
28th
PROJ PTS
26.6
QB RNK
14th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1040
RUYDS
62
TD
9
INT
5
FPTS/G
18.7
QB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
Waiver Wire/Streamers
NO New Orleans • #7
Age: 33 • Experience: 8 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs ATL NO -6 O/U 42
OPP VS QB
21st
QB RNK
9th
ROSTERED
45%
The only downside to Hill is the uncertainty over whether he'll start in Week 9. If he does, he's a top-12 option.
NYJ N.Y. Jets • #2
Age: 34 • Experience: 14 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ MIA MIA -6.5 O/U 45.5
OPP VS QB
30th
QB RNK
15th
ROSTERED
15%
YTD Stats
PAYDS
416
RUYDS
55
TD
4
INT
0
FPTS/G
23.1
Taylor scored 27.6 Fantasy points in Week 1 against Jacksonville. The Dolphins aren't as bad as Jacksonville, but they aren't good.
One To Stash
PIT Pittsburgh • #1
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ PIT PIT -6.5 O/U 40
OPP VS QB
8th
QB RNK
24th
ROSTERED
36%
YTD Stats
PAYDS
991
RUYDS
243
TD
5
INT
7
FPTS/G
9.5
He's not a must-stash, but I'm adding Fields where I can. The schedule gets much better after Week 11.
QB Preview
DFS Plays
Top Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
BAL Baltimore • #8
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs MIN BAL -5.5 O/U 49.5
OPP VS QB
5th
PROJ PTS
26.6
QB RNK
2nd
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1943
RUYDS
480
TD
12
INT
5
FPTS/G
26.5
The combination of the Ravens coming off their bye and Jackson's pending touchdown regression makes him one of my favorite boom candidates this week.

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