In Week 8, Broncos QB Bo Nix continued his hot streak against Dallas with a second-consecutive 4-TD performance in a 44-24 blowout victory. Coming into his Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans, he has 8 total TDs in his last two games.
As for the Jaguars, they have lost two in a row, most recently falling to the Los Angeles Rams 35-7 in London. Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offense has amassed just 19 points during their two-game skid.
Nix has finished as a top-6 fantasy QB in back-to-back weeks, while Lawrence has failed to finish top-10 in his last two games. Could we see Nix continue his recent surge and Lawrence regain his Week 5 form, when he finished as the QB5?
In a battle between these two franchise QBs, let’s break down our Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 9 QB showdown between Trevor Lawrence and Bo Nix.
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 9: Trevor Lawrence or Bo Nix?
Why Start Trevor Lawrence?
- Lawrence ranks as the QB16 in fantasy football according to FantasyPros, averaging 16.7 fantasy points per game through seven games.
- He’s completed 152 of 259 passes (58.7%) for 1,620 yards with 9 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs.
- The Jaguars' signal caller averages 37 pass attempts per game, ranking him third in the NFL in team pass plays per game (40.1).
- Lawrence has 28 explosive plays (sixth-most in the league), 1,778 air yards (11th-most), and 25 deep ball attempts (12th-most) through seven weeks.
- Over his last three games, Lawrence has averaged 21.3 fantasy points, with 4 total TDs.
- The Raiders’ defense ranks 20th in passing yards allowed per game (225.1) and has surrendered 11 passing TDs.
- Las Vegas has allowed four QBs to score 21+ fantasy points this season — Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes notched his season-high in fantasy points (31) against the Raiders in Week 7.
- The former Clemson QB’s rushing upside remains a key asset — he’s run for 113 yards and 4 TDs, giving him a safe floor.
Trevor Lawrence PrizePicks Projections: 229.5 Pass Yards, 15.5 Rush Yards
Why Start Bo Nix?
- Nix currently ranks as the QB5 in fantasy football with 20.8 fantasy points per game through eight weeks, sitting fifth among all quarterbacks in total fantasy points with 166.2 total points.
- He's completed 179 of 285 passes (62.8%) for 1,803 yards with 15 TDs — averaging 225.4 passing yards per game, which is the ninth-most in the NFL.
- Over his last three games, Nix has averaged 25.7 fantasy points per game (78.2 total), completing 65-of-109 throws for 700 yards and 7 TDs with 71 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs.
- The former Oregon Duck is coming off back-to-back 4-touchdown performances in Weeks 7-8, including his career-best 40.0 fantasy points against the Giants.
- The Denver signal caller has rushed for 171 yards and 3 TDs on 39 carries this season (4.4 YPC) — averaging 21.4 rushing yards per game and at least 20 rushing yards in five of eight games.
- Denver’s offensive playcalling has given Nix elite passing opportunities, helping him rank top-10 with 285 pass attempts (4), 29 deep ball attempts (7), 34 red zone attempts (6), and 37.7 team pass plays per game (9).
Bo Nix PrizePicks Projections: 222.5 Pass Yards, 23.5 Rush Yards
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Verdict: Start Bo Nix
Nix started off the season slowly, with no top-10 finishes through three weeks. Things changed in Week 4, when he finished as the QB5 with 26.7 fantasy points. Since then, he’s been a top-6 fantasy QB in three of five games.
During Nix’s recent surge, the Broncos have won four in a row, scoring 77 points in their last two games. The 25-year-old tapped into his rookie season mojo, when he finished as the QB7 in fantasy football
As for Lawrence, while he has shown glimpses of promise in his first season under head coach Liam Coen, it’s tough to trust him in his current form, as he's completing just 58.7% of his passes.
While he does have a favorable matchup against the bottom-feeding Las Vegas Raiders, the Jaguars’ offense has been struggling — the playmakers rank 32nd in the NFL at converting catchable targets into catches.
That said, even in a tough matchup against a Houston Texans defense, it’s best to stick with Nix's hot hand and safe floor rather than the potential upside with Lawrence in this Week 9 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em showdown.
If you’re looking for more Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em breakdowns for the 2025 season, then Playbook is your go-to for season-long NFL analysis.
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