At this point in the fantasy season, there are three kinds of players: the top dogs, the ones trying to avoid a punishment, and the bubble teams teetering on the edge of the playoffs. Wherever you fall, these last-minute start/sit calls could move you up a tier, or help you stay at the top. Week 8 is in the books; here's who you should trust (and who you shouldn't) for Week 9.
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Running Backs
Start: Chase Brown
It's been a frustrating year for anyone who spent a second or third-round pick on Chase Brown. But things finally seem to be turning around now that Joe Flacco is under center. Brown logged 12 carries for 73 yards, caught three passes for another 32, and found the end zone twice last week. The Bengals win through their offense—start their RB while he's hot.
Sit: Kenneth Walker
Walker might be the single most maddening fantasy player of 2025. He's got clear top-10 talent, but Seattle's coaching staff refuses to unleash him near the goal line. Somehow, Zach Charbonnet continues to vulture red zone touches, and until that changes, it's hard to trust either of them. Bench Walker until this backfield split stabilizes.
Quarterbacks
Start: Dak Prescott
Don't let Dak's rough outing against Denver cause any panic. The Broncos have a stingy defense, and once Dallas fell behind early, their offense became too predictable. This week, he gets a home game against an average Cardinals squad, and I like Prescott to bounce back in a big way under the lights on Monday night.
Sit: Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers has quietly been solid—QB15 on the season—but this matchup is rough. Pittsburgh's offense relies heavily on the run game and play-action, which limits Rodgers' volume. Facing a high-powered Colts team, the Steelers could fall behind early, forcing Rodgers into a higher-risk passing script. Expect more mistakes than magic this week.
Wide Receivers
Start: Tee Higgins
The Bengals' offensive revival since trading for Flacco has been a sight to behold. Playoffs might be a stretch, but fantasy managers are reaping the benefits. Higgins, in particular, stands to gain the most—his chemistry with Flacco is growing fast, and he's got a juicy matchup against an overrated Bears secondary.
Sit: DK Metcalf
Metcalf's connection with Rodgers has shown flashes, but inconsistency defines his season. Despite ranking inside the top 20 among receivers, he's yet to record more than five catches in any game. Big-play upside only gets you so far, and in what looks like another come-from-behind script, I don't see Metcalf cracking double-digit PPR points this week.
