Start 'Em, Sit 'Em wide receivers: Week 9 fantasy football

The wide receiver position has been decimated by injuries throughout the first half of the 2024 season. With so many big injuries to star players and two teams on their byes, it can be difficult to determine which wideouts to start or sit for Week 9 action.

The San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers are both on byes this week, meaning fantasy owners of receivers like Deebo Samuel and George Pickens will have to look elsewhere for production at the position. Other fantasy football players may be reeling from the news that Houston Texans wideout Stefon Diggs has a torn ACL.

Here are some options at the wide receiver positions for fantasy football players looking for a boost in Week 9, as well as some players to avoid:

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in NFL Week 9

Fantasy football start 'em: Week 9 wide receivers

Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (at Minnesota Vikings)

Pittman was very nearly a "sit 'em" for this week until the news that Joe Flacco not Anthony Richardson would be the starting quarterback for the Colts' Week 9 "Sunday Night Football" game.

The leading receiver for Indianapolis had been struggling to get things going with Richardson this season but has thrived when Flacco is under center. In the five games in which the younger quarterback played more snaps, Pittman has been between WR38 and WR94 in full PPR leagues. With Flacco in three games, Pittman's finished in the top 30 of wideouts each time, peaking as high as WR20.

Now that the Colts have announced they're benching Richardson for the Week 9 game, the veteran receiver should be considered a high-end WR3/FLEX play or low-end WR2.

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

Tillman's rise in production following Amari Cooper's departure in a trade was no one-week fluke. That much was clear in the Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens when he put up a career-high 99 yards on seven catches with two touchdowns.

After back-to-back weeks as a top-10 receiver in fantasy football, Tillman may have his work cut out for him against a more stingy Los Angeles Chargers secondary. Regardless, it appears that the second-year wideout is the clear No. 1 option for quarterback Jameis Winston, a quarterback who loves to throw the ball downfield.

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Cleveland Browns)

Week 8 brought a massive breakout game for the Chargers rookie receiver. McConkey caught all six of his targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns at home against the New Orleans Saints.

Things had been trending well for the Georgia product all year with quarterback Justin Herbert's continuous efforts to target him in the passing game. It all paid off in a big way for McConkey on Sunday. The wideout is now the WR22 in full PPR leagues as he averages more than 13 points per game. He gets another easy matchup against a soft secondary in Week 9 against the Browns, who just allowed seven catches and 115 yards to the Ravens' Zay Flowers in Week 8.

FANTASY FOOTBALL TRADES: Week 9 trade value chart and rest of season rankings

Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 9 wide receivers

Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears (at Arizona Cardinals)

Allen has largely been unable to get things clicking with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams so far this season. In full PPR leagues, he's WR77 and averaging under 10 points per game, even after his 21-point outbreak against the Jaguars in Week 6.

Though the veteran receiver was the top target against the Commanders in Week 8, he only managed two catches for 39 yards at the end of the day against what has been a weak defensive secondary unit. So even as the Bears enter a Week 9 matchup with another lackluster passing defense, Allen can't yet be trusted to be a significant producer for fantasy owners.

Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

In his age-32 season, Lockett has what can only be considered a mediocre year at best so far as a fantasy receiver. He's cracked the top-20 mark just once in full PPR leagues and has just one touchdown and one game with more than five catches all season.

The 10-year NFL veteran looked to be in prime position to have more opportunities in Week 8 with fellow receiver DK Metcalf out with a knee injury, but he caught just one pass on three targets for nine yards against the Bills.

Lockett's days as a 1,000-yard receiver seem to be over with Metcalf and now Jaxon Smith-Njigba seeing more targets and taking on a bigger role in the Seahawks' offense. The veteran's average depth of target this year is the lowest it's been since 2020, and now he'll face a test against a divisional opponent in the Rams in Week 9.

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Denver Broncos)

The writing is on the wall for Bateman's target share in the Ravens' passing offense after Baltimore made a trade for receiver Diontae Johnson on Tuesday afternoon. The receiver followed up his 4/121/1 day in Week 7 with a one-catch dud against the Browns that included dropping a 50-yard pass that hit him in the chest.

Now that Johnson is headed to Baltimore, Bateman may be relegated to a No. 3 wide receiver in the Ravens' offense going forward. And given his bad, fourth-quarter drop in a frustrating loss in Week 8, it's unclear how much quarterback Lamar Jackson will trust him moving forward.

Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'ems, Week 9

Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:

→ Kickers are people, too: Here are some of the most clutch kickers to have on your fantasy team in Week 9.

→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 9 with start 'em, sit 'em advice for wideouts.

→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here's who to start and who to sit in Week 9.

→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here's who you should start and sit in Week 9.

→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent's offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 9.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 9: 6 WRs to start or sit