The Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans are both on bye during Week 9. With that said, neither club boasts a true top-tier receiver for fantasy football purposes, so we can focus on more viable fantasy football options at the position than we've had the last few weeks.
As we help you set your lineups, let’s break down our NFL Week 9 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em battle between Lions WR Jameson Williams and Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle for your fantasy football picks this week. We'll also include both players' PrizePicks projections for the weekend.
Keep this analysis in mind when making your Week 9 fantasy football decisions.
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Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em WRs, Week 9: Jameson Williams or Jaylen Waddle?
Who'd be the better pick out of this NFL Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em dilemma: Williams or Waddle?
Why Start Jameson Williams?
Jameson Williams PrizePicks Projections vs. Dolphins: 52.5 Rec Yards, 3.5 Recs, 0.5 Anytime TDs (Demon)
- Facing one of the best defensive teams in the league last week, Williams posted 4 receptions for 70 yards and 1 TD in a 19-15 win over the Vikings.
- After failing to reach the end zone in any of his first four games, the former first-round pick has 5 TDs over his last three games.
- Per PFF, Williams ranks sixth among 79 WRs with an average depth of target (aDOT) of 15.9 yards. He's also 12th in yards per reception (16.2).
- The fifth-year wideout has routinely been one of the best deep threats in the league, averaging 17.3 and 17.2 yards per reception in each of the last two seasons.
Add Jameson Williams + Lions to win to your PrizePicks lineup now.
Why Start Jaylen Waddle?
Jaylen Waddle PrizePicks Projections vs. Panthers: 45.5 Rec Yards, 3.5 Recs (Goblin), 0.5 Anytime TDs (Demon)
- Waddle scored his second TD of the season in last week’s 28-24 win over the Chiefs. It was the fourth time over the last five games that he received a red-zone target.
- The former Dolphin hasn't received fewer than 5 targets in a game since Week 1. His 51 total targets lead the Broncos. No other player on Denver has more than 37.
- Waddle is on pace to reach 100 targets for the fifth time in his six-year career.
- According to RotoWire, the 27-year-old has accounted for 36.5% of Denver’s air yards.
Add Jaylen Waddle + Broncos to cover the spread to your PrizePicks lineup now.
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Week 9 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Verdict: Start Jameson Williams
Although Waddle leads the Broncos in targets, their passing attack hasn't been explosive. Per RBSDM, Denver ranks 21st in dropback EPA/play. QB Bo Nix has an aDOT of 6.6 yards, which is 32nd among 35 qualified QBs.
If Waddle is going to be worth starting in Week 9, he might need to find his way into the end zone. That could be asking a lot, considering the Panthers have only allowed 4 TDs to the WR position this year.
With the Dolphins struggling on their way to a 1-6 record, teams haven’t needed to throw a lot against them. Their 195 pass attempts allowed are the fewest in the NFL. However, they've allowed 9.76 yards per target to WRs, which is the highest mark in the league.
Their 74.7% catch rate allowed to the position is also the highest.
Since Williams has big-play upside, he doesn’t need a ton of targets to be productive. Despite only having 11 receptions over his last three games, he came away with 208 yards to go along with the 5 TDs.
The Broncos have a limited passing attack and will face a Panthers team that has done a good job keeping receivers out of the end zone, which makes Waddle an inferior fantasy option to Williams this week.
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Waddle has struggled to rack up yards and TDs for a Broncos team that's been limited through the air. Williams has been the opposite, bringing his propensity for big plays into a favorable Week 9 matchup against the Dolphins.
Don't wait until kickoff — make your NFL Week 9 picks on PrizePicks now. Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right.
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