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:

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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
Justin Fields QB
PIT Pittsburgh • #2
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ 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
Taysom Hill TE
NO New Orleans • #7
Age: 34 • Experience: 8 yrs.
Kyler Murray QB
ARI Arizona • #1
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ 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
Matt Ryan QB
IND Indianapolis • #2
Age: 39 • Experience: 16 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ 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
Tua Tagovailoa QB
MIA Miami • #1
Age: 26 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

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
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Waiver Wire Targets
Waiver Wire/Streamers
Taysom Hill TE
NO New Orleans • #7
Age: 34 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

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.
Tyrod Taylor QB
NYJ N.Y. Jets • #2
Age: 35 • Experience: 14 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ 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
Justin Fields QB
PIT Pittsburgh • #2
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ 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.
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DFS Plays
Top Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
Lamar Jackson QB
BAL Baltimore • #8
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

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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