The push for the fantasy football playoffs has officially begun, and every lineup decision becomes increasingly important as we enter Week 9. With the playoff picture starting to take shape, fantasy managers can’t afford to leave valuable points on their benches or take unnecessary risks with unfavorable matchups. Identifying the right players to sit can be just as important as finding the right players to start. Whether you’re fighting to secure a playoff spot or trying to create some separation in your league standings, here are four players fantasy managers should think twice about starting in Week 9.
Bryce Young Vs. Denver Broncos
Bryce Young is a quarterback fantasy managers should consider sitting in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos. Despite showing some improvement throughout the 2026 season, Young enters this matchup coming off two disappointing performances. Over his last two games against Tampa Bay and Green Bay, Young has thrown for just 372 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He’s also struggled with accuracy, completing just 51.9% of his passes against Tampa Bay and 56.1% against Green Bay. His recent production has been inconsistent, making it difficult to trust him against one of the league’s toughest defensive units.
The biggest concern heading into this matchup is Denver’s pass rush. The Broncos enter Week 9 with a 40.3% pressure rate, the fourth-highest mark in the NFL, along with a 21.7% quick pressure rate, which ranks second. Meanwhile, Young has been pressured on 50% of his dropbacks over his last two games and has produced just a 35.4 passer rating under pressure. Carolina’s offensive-line struggles have made it difficult for Young to establish himself in the pocket, and facing a Denver defense that consistently creates pressure could lead to another frustrating fantasy performance.
Young’s health is another factor worth considering. He has been dealing with a left knee injury since Week 3 and has worn a knee brace throughout the season. Although he has continued playing, the injury has reportedly affected his ability to escape pressure and extend plays. That becomes particularly concerning against Denver, especially after Young was sacked six times against Green Bay in Week 8. If he cannot get comfortable in the pocket, his opportunities to make plays downfield will likely be limited.
While Young has put together respectable season-long numbers with 1,921 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions, this Week 9 matchup presents too many concerns to overlook. PFF projects him for just 14.9 fantasy points, ranking him QB21 for the week. Between his recent struggles, Carolina’s offensive-line issues, and Denver’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks, Young carries significant downside. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for their Week 9 quarterback and keep Young on the bench against Denver.
Saquon Barkley Vs. New York Giants
Saquon Barkley is a difficult fantasy decision heading into Week 9 against his former team, the New York Giants. While Barkley still possesses the talent to produce a big fantasy performance, his health and declining workload are becoming major concerns. Through six games, Barkley has recorded just 274 rushing yards on 56 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, with two rushing touchdowns. He has also contributed seven receptions for 41 yards. Those numbers are well below the production fantasy managers expected from a running back of Barkley’s caliber.
The biggest concern is Barkley’s recent injury situation. He has been dealing with both hamstring and back issues, which have limited his availability at practice and affected his workload. Against Washington in Week 8, Barkley played just 32% of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps, finishing with 13 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown while adding one reception for 24 yards. Although the touchdown helped salvage his fantasy performance, his limited involvement is concerning. He also continues to share opportunities with Elijah Mitchell, making it difficult to predict how much volume Barkley will receive moving forward.
Another factor working against Barkley is Philadelphia’s offensive struggles. The Eagles enter Week 9 on a six-game losing streak and rank 27th in rushing yards per game, averaging just 88.1 yards on the ground. Their offensive struggles have limited opportunities for Barkley to establish himself as a consistent focal point. Philadelphia is also making a quarterback change, turning to Joe Milton, which introduces additional uncertainty into the offense. If the Eagles struggle to sustain drives, Barkley could have fewer opportunities to accumulate rushing yards and find the end zone.
Despite these concerns, the matchup against the Giants is actually favorable on paper. New York is allowing 128.1 rushing yards per game, ranking 26th in the NFL in that category. However, Barkley’s health and inconsistent workload outweigh the favorable matchup. He’s coming off a game in which he averaged just 2.3 yards per carry, and there’s no guarantee Philadelphia will give him enough opportunities to return RB1 value. Consider sitting Barkley in favor of healthier running backs with more dependable workloads, particularly in smaller leagues. He’s still difficult to bench in deeper leagues, but until his health and snap share improve, fantasy managers should be cautious about relying on him as an RB1.
Tet McMillan Vs. Denver Broncos
Tetairoa McMillan is a receiver fantasy managers should consider sitting in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos. Despite establishing himself as Carolina’s primary receiving option, McMillan has struggled to consistently turn his opportunities into fantasy production. Through seven games, he has recorded 42 receptions on 65 targets for 569 yards and two touchdowns. While those numbers are respectable, much of his fantasy production has come in just two games. In Weeks 2 and 4, McMillan accounted for 62% of his total fantasy production, including a massive 192-yard, two-touchdown performance against Detroit in Week 4. Outside of those explosive performances, his weekly production has been considerably less impressive.
The biggest concern heading into this matchup is Denver’s secondary. The Broncos have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, making this one of the more difficult matchups on the Week 9 schedule. Over their last five games, Denver has also surrendered the seventh-fewest yards per target and fourth-fewest fantasy points per opportunity to perimeter receivers. With Patrick Surtain potentially spending time defending McMillan, Carolina’s top receiving option could have difficulty finding consistent separation and creating opportunities downfield.
Another major concern is the recent play of quarterback Bryce Young. McMillan has not exceeded 11.8 PPR fantasy points in either of his last two games, despite receiving 17 combined targets. Against Tampa Bay in Week 7, he finished with four receptions for 40 yards, followed by six receptions for 58 yards against Green Bay in Week 8. The opportunities are there, but Carolina’s passing offense has struggled to consistently capitalize on them. Young’s recent struggles with accuracy and pressure could make it difficult for McMillan to produce the explosive plays fantasy managers need against a defense as talented as Denver’s.
Despite the difficult matchup, McMillan’s volume makes him a difficult player to completely remove from fantasy lineups. He currently owns a 22.6% target share and has averaged approximately nine targets per game, demonstrating that he remains a focal point of Carolina’s passing attack. PFF projects him for 14.4 fantasy points and ranks him WR18 for Week 9. Temper expectations and consider sitting McMillan if you have a healthier receiver with a more favorable matchup. His target volume gives him a reasonable fantasy floor, but between Denver’s secondary, Young’s recent struggles, and McMillan’s inconsistent production, this is a week where I would rather explore other options.
Dalton Schultz
Dalton Schultz is a tight end fantasy managers should consider sitting in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Although Schultz has been a consistent presence in Houston’s passing offense, his fantasy production has been underwhelming outside of one standout performance. Through seven games, Schultz has recorded 33 receptions on 43 targets for 322 yards and zero touchdowns. He’s averaging just 46 receiving yards per game and has failed to reach double-digit PPR fantasy points in six of his seven appearances. His production has been difficult to rely on, especially for fantasy managers looking for consistent tight end production.
The biggest concern heading into this matchup is the Chargers’ pass defense. Los Angeles has allowed just 198.4 passing yards per game, ranking seventh in the NFL, while surrendering only eight passing touchdowns, the fourth-fewest in the league. Although the Chargers have allowed plenty of yards per target to opposing tight ends over their last five games, they’ve been much more effective at limiting fantasy production on a per-opportunity basis. Schultz will need to capitalize on a limited number of opportunities to produce a worthwhile fantasy performance.
Another major concern is Schultz’s role in the Houston offense. He currently owns a 17.7% target share, but his 57% snap rate and 62.1% route participation rate limit his overall opportunities. He’s also received just five red-zone targets this season, making it difficult to trust him to find the end zone. Without consistent touchdown production, Schultz needs significant receiving volume to deliver a strong fantasy performance, and his current usage doesn’t provide much confidence.
Despite the concerns, Schultz does have some potential as a streaming option because the Chargers have allowed the most yards per target to tight ends over their last five games. However, his lack of touchdown production and inconsistent weekly involvement make him a risky fantasy starter. FantasyPros ranks Schultz TE22 for Week 9, while its projections have him finishing with approximately 3.8 receptions, 36.4 receiving yards, and 6.6 fantasy points. My recommendation: Keep Schultz on your bench in Week 9 and look for a tight end with a more reliable workload or better scoring opportunities. In a position where consistent production is already difficult to find, Schultz carries too much risk to trust in your starting lineup.
As the push for the fantasy football playoffs continues, every win matters, and one bad lineup decision could make the difference between securing a postseason spot and missing out. Week 9 presents several difficult matchups and potential fantasy landmines that managers need to be aware of. While some of these players have the talent to overcome unfavorable situations, the combination of recent production, matchup difficulties, and inconsistent opportunities makes them risky starts this week. Make the necessary adjustments, trust the numbers, and put yourself in the best position possible to make a playoff push.
