By DynastyMath Staff · Published · Numbers as of November 3, 2026 · 5 min read
Start the high number. Break ties with recent scoring. Every projection here is PPR points for Week 9, as of Nov 3, 2026, and status is the tag exactly as listed. One trap first: 6 players listed Out still carry a projection of 10 or more, and Mike Evans leads them at 16.6. They are left out of the tiers.
How the tiers work. Inside each position, Tier 1 is any player less than 3 points under the top projection. Tier 2 is 3 to 6 back and Tier 3 is 6 to 9. Players in a tier are close enough to swap, so fill Tier 1 before anything else. Rows below show the top of each position, not the whole list.
Quarterbacks
| Tier | Player | Proj | Season PPG | Last 3 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brock Purdy (SF) | 22.4 | 21.4 | 15.2 | Active |
| 1 | Josh Allen (BUF) | 21.6 | 27.5 | 25.1 | Active |
| 1 | Joe Burrow (CIN) | 21.3 | 25.1 | 31 | Active |
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes (KC) | 20.8 | 18.5 | 14 | Active |
| 1 | Drake Maye (NE) | 20.7 | 21.1 | 24.6 | Active |
Brock Purdy tops the board at 22.4, but his last three average 15.2, a 7.2-point gap, the widest of these five. Josh Allen is 21.6 with a 27.5 season average, the best of the group. Joe Burrow has the hottest recent run at 31 PPG. Seven quarterbacks land in Tier 1, so the five above are interchangeable. Pick one and move on.
Running backs
| Tier | Player | Proj | Season PPG | Last 3 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) | 26.6 | 28 | 26.6 | Active |
| 1 | Bijan Robinson (ATL) | 25 | 19.2 | 10.7 | Active |
| 2 | Kenneth Walker III (KC) | 22.8 | 22.9 | 16.7 | Active |
| 2 | Christian McCaffrey (SF) | 22.2 | 20.6 | 23.3 | Questionable |
| 3 | Javonte Williams (DAL) | 19.6 | 17.2 | 13.7 | Active |
| 3 | Kyren Williams (LAR) | 19.1 | 18.8 | 13.6 | Active |
Jahmyr Gibbs is the top number at any position, 26.6, with 28 per game this year and 26.6 over his last three. Bijan Robinson joins him in Tier 1 at 25, but he scores 10.7 over his last three, and his projection sits 5.8 above his season average, the biggest bump in this table. Christian McCaffrey (22.2) is listed Questionable. Have a backup.
Wide receivers
| Tier | Player | Proj | Season PPG | Last 3 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) | 25.8 | 27.5 | 26.8 | Active |
| 1 | Puka Nacua (LAR) | 23.2 | 23.1 | 20.3 | Active |
| 2 | Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) | 20.2 | 18.3 | 22.7 | Active |
| 2 | CeeDee Lamb (DAL) | 20.1 | 21 | 17.7 | Active |
| 2 | Luther Burden III (CHI) | 20 | 14.5 | 19.9 | Active |
| 3 | Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) | 18.9 | 20.1 | 16.6 | Questionable |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has the second-highest projection of any player, 25.8, behind only Gibbs, and he is a Tier 1 receiver along with Puka Nacua at 23.2. Everyone else is Tier 2 or lower. Luther Burden III is projected for 20 against a 14.5 season average, with 19.9 over his last three. Amon-Ra St. Brown (18.9) is listed Questionable.
Tight ends
| Tier | Player | Proj | Season PPG | Last 3 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brock Bowers (LV) | 17.2 | 20.6 | 17.5 | Active |
| 1 | Trey McBride (ARI) | 15.1 | 18.8 | 19.9 | Active |
| 1 | George Kittle (SF) | 14.9 | 14.9 | 13.4 | Active |
| 2 | Isaiah Likely (NYG) | 13.4 | 16.1 | 19.8 | Active |
Brock Bowers (17.2) is 2.1 points clear of Trey McBride (15.1), the biggest step in the top six. George Kittle (14.9) sits in Tier 1 with them. Past those three the tiers start dropping, so a tight end at Tier 2 or lower is a streamer call.
Flex ties: five pairs share a projection
When two flex options carry the same number, the projection cannot decide it. Last-three scoring can. Each pair below is sorted with the higher last-three first.
| Player | Pos | Proj | Season PPG | Last 3 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) | WR | 18.9 | 20.1 | 16.6 | Questionable |
| Jonathan Taylor (IND) | RB | 18.9 | 18 | 15.6 | Active |
| Brock Bowers (LV) | TE | 17.2 | 20.6 | 17.5 | Active |
| Justin Jefferson (MIN) | WR | 17.2 | 14.4 | 13.8 | Active |
| Tee Higgins (CIN) | WR | 16.2 | 19.9 | 22.8 | Active |
| Nico Collins (HOU) | WR | 16.2 | 15.2 | 8 | Active |
| Christian Watson (GB) | WR | 15.7 | 18.4 | 12.5 | Questionable |
| Saquon Barkley (PHI) | RB | 15.7 | 8.4 | 9.8 | Active |
| James Cook III (BUF) | RB | 15.1 | 18.8 | 21.7 | Questionable |
| Trey McBride (ARI) | TE | 15.1 | 18.8 | 19.9 | Active |
At 18.9, Amon-Ra St. Brown has the better last three (16.6 to 15.6). At 17.2, Brock Bowers has the better last three (17.5 to 13.8). At 16.2, Tee Higgins has the better last three (22.8 to 8). The other two ties, at 15.7 and 15.1, follow the same rule: Christian Watson over Saquon Barkley, James Cook III over Trey McBride. Check each status Sunday morning. Three are Questionable in these pairs: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Christian Watson, James Cook III. A tie on paper is not a coin flip if one side carries a tag. The flex start/sit page lists the whole board.
When the last three games disagree with the projection
| Player | Pos | Proj | Last 3 | Last 3 minus proj |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | QB | 21.3 | 31 | +9.7 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 16.2 | 22.8 | +6.6 |
| James Cook III | RB | 15.1 | 21.7 | +6.6 |
| Bijan Robinson | RB | 25 | 10.7 | -14.3 |
| Juwan Johnson | TE | 11.7 | 2.4 | -9.3 |
| Nico Collins | WR | 16.2 | 8 | -8.2 |
The top three have scored more than their projection, the bottom three less. A gap is a flag, not an order, and three games is a small sample.
How to use this
- Start Tier 1 at every position. You do not need to out-think it.
- Fill flex from the highest projection. Break ties on last-three scoring.
- Read the tag. 2 of the 21 players in the position tables carry one, and 6 Out players still show a projection of 10 or more.
- Go deeper. The Week 9 start/sit page covers more players, and the start/sit tool compares two of yours head to head.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the top fantasy quarterbacks to start in Week 9?
By PPR projection as of Nov 3, 2026: Brock Purdy (22.4), Josh Allen (21.6), Joe Burrow (21.3), Patrick Mahomes (20.8).
Who should I start at flex in Week 9?
Five pairs tie. Jonathan Taylor and Amon-Ra St. Brown are both 18.9, and Brock Bowers ties Justin Jefferson at 17.2. Last-three PPG separates each pair.
Is Jahmyr Gibbs a must-start in Week 9?
By the numbers, yes. He is projected for 26.6, the top running back number, and averages 28 per game over 7 games.
Does a projection mean a player is playing?
No. 6 players listed Out still carry a Week 9 projection of 10 or more, led by Mike Evans at 16.6. Check the tag first.
Should I trust projections or recent scoring?
Use projections first and recent scoring as the tie-breaker. When last-three PPG is far from the projection, treat it as a flag, not an answer.
More from the blog
- Rest-of-Season Rankings: Most Projected PPR Points, Weeks 9-11
- Dynasty Buy-Low and Sell-High Trade Targets Week 9
- Dynasty Rookie Risers and Fallers Week 9: Who Moved Since Oct 27
Numbers as of November 3, 2026. Live values move daily, so check the linked pages for today’s. Fantasy football is for fun. This is data, not betting advice.