With only two teams on bye in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season, fantasy managers have a larger player pool but also tougher start-sit decisions. The SportsLine computer model, which simulates every game 10,000 times and has outperformed human experts over several seasons, has released its Week 9 fantasy football rankings for both PPR and standard leagues.
Backup running backs such as Kenny Gainwell (140 total yards), Tyler Allgeier (191 yards, 2 TDs), Braelon Allen (153 yards, 1 TD) and Mike Washington Jr. (83 yards) are coming off strong performances, and the model projects their outlook for Sunday. Among the notable calls, the model is fading Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who ranks among the top 15 in fantasy points at his position but does not crack the top 35 this week. McMillan has been held under 60 yards in each of his last two games and has scored only once all season, facing a tough matchup against a Denver Broncos defense that allows the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
Conversely, the model is high on Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis, projecting him as a top-12 fantasy QB despite being started in just 19% of leagues last week. Willis has accounted for seven total touchdowns over his last three games, averaging the seventh-most fantasy points in that span. He now draws a Detroit Lions defense that has allowed the most passing yards, passing touchdowns and fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, in a game with a 50.5 over/under. The model ranks Willis above even Josh Allen for Week 9.
The model also highlights a surprising tight end who barely cracks the top 15 in positional fantasy points this season but is projected to finish in the top five for Week 9. Full rankings and start-sit advice are available at SportsLine.
