Scott Engel is in his 13th year as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis and fantasy football rankings at RotoBaller.com. Scott's work is also featured on The Athletic and SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio.

We head into fantasy football in NFL Week 9 with an eye on beginning to make a true push for the playoffs. We're just a few weeks away from the fantasy postseason starting, and every win and loss will seemingly become more magnified.

We help you get prepared for fantasy football Week 9 with quality options to pick forlineups when faced with challenging lineup decisions. Analysis is based on PPR scoring. Two teams are on byes in NFL Week 9: San Francisco and Pittsburgh. We lead with wide receivers due to the recent wave of injuries affecting the position.

NFL Week 9: Wide Receiver Starters

START Ladd McConkey: The first-year Chargers WR is emerging as an impact fantasy performer. Last week he caught six passes for 111 yards and two TDs. Cleveland ranks 27^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs. McConkey's WR matchup grade of 88.2 on Pro Football Focus against the Browns cornerbacks for Week 9 qualifies as "Excellent."

START Courtland Sutton: Denver's most established WR took advantage of a good matchup against Carolina last week, catching eight balls for 100 yards. In Week 9 he faces the Ravens, who allow the most receiving yards to WRs.

START DeAndre Hopkins: Look for the newest Chief to get more involved in the passing game in his second game with the team. Tampa Bay ranks 28^th in receptions allowed to the position, so start Hopkins if you need to replace another player because of a bye week or injury.

START Jaxon Smith-Njigba: The Seahawks WR has a "Good" slot matchup against the Rams this week, with a grade of 83.6 on Pro Football Focus. In NFL Week 8, "JSN" caught six of his seven targets, and he can provide respectable fantasy output as a streaming option.

Fantasy Football Rankings: Waiver Wire Wide Receivers

1. Cedric Tillman: With 15 receptions for 180 yards and two TDs in the last two games, Tillman may be the top fantasy waiver wire add of the week. The Cleveland passing game certainly looks more potent with Jameis Winston at QB.
2. Josh Downs: His outlook certainly improves with Joe Flacco at QB for the Colts. Expect more consistency from Downs now.
3. Xavier Leggette: The trade of Diontae Johnson will open up more playmaking opportunities for this rookie. Leggette has caught three TD passes in his last five games.
4. Jalen McMillan: One of many rookies on this week's waiver wire rundown, McMillan can play an important role in the Tampa Bay passing game for the rest of the season due to injuries.
5. Parker Washington: Injuries at WR for Jacksonville might lead to quality statistical production from Washington.
6. Jerry Jeudy/Elijah Moore: These two Browns WRs have also seen spikes in production with Winston at QB. They are essentially tied in our rankings, but Jeudy may be the slightly safer fantasy add.
7. Ricky Pearsall: His statistical output can rise as a potential No. 2 WR for the 49ers during the upcoming weeks.
8. John Metchie III: Houston has been hit hard by injuries at WR, and Metchie may start to get into the offensive mix soon.
9. Darius Slayton: The Giants' downfield threat registered two 100-yard outings in his last four games played.
10. Sterling Shepard: Will also be needed to produce more for the Buccaneers.
11. Jalen Coker: This rookie finished with 78 yards and caught his first career TD pass in NFL Week 8. He is another Carolina WR who should see increased receiving opportunities.
12. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: The Titans have needs for more WR production after trading Hopkins. Westbrook-Ikhine has three TD catches in the last three games.

NFL Week 9: Running Back Starters

START Brian Robinson Jr.: The Giants rank 25^th in rushing yards allowed to RBs. After a matchup with a sturdy Chicago defense, Robinson gets a better draw this week, as the revived Commanders continue on a quest to stay atop the NFC East.

START Chase Brown: The Raiders defense is going to spend a lot of time on the field against Cincinnati. Brown has rushed for four TDs in his last five games. He is settling in as a frequent drive-finishing runner for the Bengals offense.

START Tony Pollard: This will be a good week to stream the Tennessee RB. New England has allowed an AFC-high total of 10 rushing TDs. Even if Titans-Patriots is a lower-scoring game, the Patriots rank 29^th in rushing yards allowed to RBs, and Pollard has more than one path to acceptable fantasy production.

START Chuba Hubbard: The Panthers have been able to rely on Hubbard often, and he has a good matchup against the Saints this week. New Orleans ranks 28^th in the NFL in rushing defense, so you can consider starting the Carolina RB at a flex spot. He has rushed for 90-plus yards four times this season.

Fantasy Football Rankings: Waiver Wire Running Backs

1. Braelon Allen: The Jets rookie logged 12 carries last week and is a good fantasy depth pickup.
2. Jaylen Warren: Najee Harris is playing very well, yet Warren should continue to claim a piece of the Pittsburgh RB pie going forward.
3. Tyler Allgeier: Atlanta's No. 2 RB will be an occasional fantasy contributor when the matchup is right.
4. Roschon Johnson: He has found a niche as a TD specialist for the Bears, with four rushing scores in the last four games.
5. Ray Davis: In his last three games, the Buffalo rookie has averaged 4.8 yards per carry or better. He is one of the best fantasy insurance RBs in the league.
6. Zach Charbonnet: He is up to five scrimmage TDs on the season and is essential to roster if you have Kenneth Walker III as a starter. Charbonnet has already proved to be a quality fantasy starter when taking on a larger role.
7. Jaylen Wright: Hopefully De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert stay healthy, but if an injury occurs at any point, Wright will have a significant upside as a potential starter.
8. Ty Chandler: Another necessary insurance RB, for those who roster Aaron Jones.
9. Kimani Vidal: At some point, the Chargers first-year RB may see more work, so stash him if you can.
10. Jaleel McLaughlin: He registered his third TD from scrimmage last week, and will be worthy of some flex consideration in deeper leagues going forward when injury and bye week replacements are needed.

NFL Week 9: Quarterback Starters

START Kirk Cousins: For the second time in four weeks, Cousins passed for four TDs in NFL Week 8. Dallas ranks 27^th in FFPG allowed to QBs. In his first season with the Falcons, Cousins is showing he can certainly benefit from a deep cast of offensive playmakers.

START Caleb Williams: The Bears will bounce back from a dramatic Week 8 loss behind their first-year star passer. Arizona' pass defense ranks 26^th in the NFL.

Fantasy Football Rankings: Waiver Wire Quarterbacks

1. Jameis Winston: In his first start with the Browns, Winston provided an instant jolt to the offense, passing for 334 yards and three TDs. Long known as an aggressive thrower, he carries some fantasy upside for the rest of the season.
2. Matthew Stafford: Both of his top WRs returned last week, and Stafford passed for four TDs. He's back on the fantasy map as a streaming option.
3. Joe Flacco: The ageless Flacco is ticketed to start for the Colts in Week 9. He passed for seven TDs from Weeks 4 through 6 and passed for 359 yards in Week 5.
4. Bo Nix: Denver's first-year QB passed for three TDs and ran for another in NFL Week 8. He is emerging as a viable dual threat fantasy backup. Nix has already rushed for four TDs this season.

NFL Week 9: Tight End Starters

START Jake Ferguson: Reliable options are not easy to find at the thinnest position in fantasy football. Ferguson has caught six-plus passes in four of his last five games played.

START Sam LaPorta: He caught all six of his targets and his second TD in three games last week. Green Bay ranks 29^th in receptions allowed to TEs and the Lions need all of their key playmakers to contribute in an important game against the Packers.

Fantasy Football Rankings: Waiver Wire Tight Ends

1. Hunter Henry: When Drake Maye is starting, Henry can post decent fantasy totals. Maye's status is uncertain for Week 9 due to a concussion.
2. Taysom Hill: New Orleans' versatile threat always has some upside fantasy-wise if you want to take the statistical gamble on him in any given week.
3. Mike Gesicki: He caught seven balls for 73 yards in NFL Week 8 and might be worthy of fantasy consideration if Tee Higgins misses any more time for Cincinnati.
4. Noah Fant: If you need a streamer, Fant has shown he can provide adequate fantasy numbers at times. He has finished with 60-plus receiving yards in two of his past three games.
5. Tyler Conklin: The Jets TE has caught TD passes in two consecutive games.

Week 9 NFL Streaming Defenses: New Orleans (vs. Carolina), Washington (vs. New York Giants), Cincinnati (vs. Las Vegas).