NFL Fantasy 2025 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks for Week 9

Last week was a rough one for Dak. I thought Dallas' offense could overcome a difficult matchup against Denver's D, but I was wrong. Do not hold it against Prescott this week, though, as he gets a bounce-back opportunity against the Cardinals. While they may not seem like a slam-dunk matchup, they pick up sacks at the fifth-lowest rate in the NFL. They create pressure at a below-average rate, as well. If Dak has time to throw, with the weapons he has, he will have fantasy success.

This past Sunday's matchup against Cleveland's D looked pretty tough for Maye. Then the second-year pro went out, threw three touchdown passes and finished as the QB2 on the week, showing himself to be matchup proof. He has averaged 22.5 fantasy points per game since Week 2, posting just one game with fewer than 19 points in that span. He has five games with 200-plus passing yards and a 135-plus passer rating -- Tony Romo is the only player to accomplish that feat in more games in one season (six in 2014). Lastly, he has more touchdowns (five) than incompletions (four) on passes of 20-plus air yards this season. The Falcons are a tough matchup, but they can be had, as we saw last week with Tua Tagovailoa. Maye has simply been too good to get away from.

It looked like Dart would be held in check last Sunday, but a late rushing touchdown salvaged his day. He now has a ground TD in four of five starts, having eclipsed 50 rushing yards in three of them. That is a large reason why he is averaging 21.4 fantasy PPG as a starter, with over 19 in four of five. This week, he gets the 49ers, who have created pressure at the lowest rate in the NFL. That should allow Dart both time to throw and an opportunity to use his legs. The Niners also rank bottom two in sacks and interceptions. The QB facing them has topped 19 fantasy points in three of the last four games. The rushing upside and matchup have Dart in play.

It has been a disappointing fantasy season for Kyler, made worse by Jacoby Brissett putting up better numbers as Murray's injury replacement over the past two games. With the QB1 expected to return from his foot issue on Monday night, he gets a chance to right some of those wrongs against the Cowboys, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to QBs. That includes the most passing yards and touchdowns, as well as the most rushing yards and second-most rushing touchdowns to the position. Plus, Dallas can put up points, which should force Arizona into a position where Kyler has to drop back. That means more passing and potentially more scrambling. He is in play this week. If it is Brissett starting, he is a streaming option.

It has been a rough couple of weeks for Caleb fantasy-wise, but this is a great get-right spot against the Bengals, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy PPG to QBs over the last month. On the season, they've given up the third-most passing yards and second-most passing touchdowns. Plus, they are in the bottom four in pressure and sacks created since Week 4. Just like with Justin Fields last week, you have to disregard the recent performances and focus on the matchup. That has Williams in play.

Last time we saw Darnold, he was struggling against the Texans, but pretty much every QB's had a tough time against that defense. Prior to that, Darnold had topped 20 fantasy points in consecutive games, with 16-plus in four straight. He has shown he is capable of taking advantage of good matchups -- and that is what he gets this week against Washington. The Commanders have allowed the fourth-most passing yards and touchdowns in 2025. They've yielded the fifth-most fantasy PPG to quarterbacks. Plus, if Jayden Daniels is able to go for Washington, this could be a higher-scoring affair.

William Trevor "Mid" Lawrence, as he is known on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, has averaged 21 fantasy PPG in his last three outings. This week, he faces the Raiders, who have generated pressure at the third-lowest rate in the league. Lawrence will have time to throw, which means he should be able to utilize Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. (Check out my WR start/sit file for this week, and you'll see the Raiders have struggled mightily against receivers.) While Lawrence is never a sure thing, this is a prime matchup for him to enjoy fantasy success.

Benching Nix after the last two weeks might seem crazy to some, but the matchup against Houston will be the scariest thing fantasy managers see this Halloween weekend. The Texans have allowed the fewest fantasy PPG to QBs, yielding the fourth-fewest yards per game and fewest touchdown passes. In fact, they have more interceptions (eight) than passing touchdowns allowed (six). They also boast league lows in passer rating and pass EPA against, as well as the second-lowest completion percentage. Baker Mayfield and Mac Jones are the only QBs to top 14 fantasy points against Houston, with both having done so in catch-up mode. Matthew Stafford failed to clear that mark, while Trevor Lawrence and Sam Darnold were held to single digits. No QB has finished with a top-12 output in his week against this defense. I would start all of the signal-callers listed above over Nix this week.

I had Love as a "sit" for last Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, and that blew up in my face, as he finished as the week's QB1. But I'm doubling down! Love always brings a high ceiling, but we have often seen the floor, with fewer than 16 fantasy points in four of his seven games this season. The Panthers allow fewer than 200 passing yards per game, ranking above league average in a number of passing stats against, including passer rating, completion percent, yards per attempt, EPA and success rate. Meanwhile, Carolina just gave up 245 rushing yards to Buffalo, and Green Bay runs at the fourth-highest rate. Furthermore, the Packers are run-heavy in the red zone. This just seems like a game where Love does not have to light up the box score. He is not a must-sit, but if you have one of the options listed above, I would take it.

As discussed this week on the NFL Fantasy Football Show, the book on Stroud is simple: He is in play against defenses that do not generate pressure at a high rate. All three of his best fantasy games this season have come against defenses that currently rank bottom eight in pressure rate. But now the Texans are hosting the Broncos, who generate pressure and sacks at by far the highest rates in the NFL. They've allowed the third-fewest fantasy PPG to QBs. Last week, they shut down Dak Prescott. Stay far away from Stroud this week.

Rodgers lost the battle against his old team this past Sunday night, but he turned in a solid fantasy effort. That is pretty much what he is at this point: solid. We have seen him top 20 fantasy points twice, but most weeks, it's reasonable to look for a point total in the 16-18 range, while the floor is low double-digits. I've spoken about this before, but Rodgers has largely been propped up due to a high touchdown rate. Per Pro Football Reference, his 7.7 percent TD rate currently stands as the third-highest mark of his career. He is a natural regression candidate, and this week, he faces the Colts, who have generated pressure at the second-highest rate in the NFL. Get away from this 41-year-old in Week 9.

Minnesota's quarterback play has left a lot to be desired this season. While McCarthy clearly brings more upside than Carson Wentz, we do not really know what to expect in the second-year pro's third NFL start. We have seen him play eight quarters so far, with seven of them being less than inspiring. Perhaps McCarthy finds himself in pure catch-up mode against a tough Lions team that can put up points in a hurry, allowing him to do some fantasy damage. I do not want to bank on that, though, especially with this being an easy week to find QB streamers. You can add him if you need some upside at the position, but do not start him until we see more.