Remember that the Patriots, Cardinals, Texans, Bears, Bengals and Redskins are off this week, making the waiver wire busier, season-long rankings tougher to put together, and daily fantasy football lineups harder to pick.

There are still plenty of guys in play, though, so here’s our take on the tough calls you should make in Week 9.

WEEK 9 RANKINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Follow us at @SN_Fantasy for updates throughout the week, and check out our Facebook Live show starting at 11 am ET on Sunday for your chance to ask lineup questions!

Fantasy Football Week 9 Start ’em: Quarterback

Dak Prescott, Cowboys (at CLE). Look up and Prescott is firmly now in the QB1 range – and yet he somehow is being unowned and unplayed in many leagues. We haven’t seen a rookie QB producer like this since Cam Newton, and the matchups going forward, including this Browns gimme, are outstanding.

DFS Steal: Colin Kaepernick, 49ers (vs. NO, $7,200 on FanDuel). The 49ers will come out of the bye with Kap a lot healthier with a great matchup for both his zone-read running and downfield passing. There should be plenty of garbage production to be had chasing the Saints on the scoreboard.

Four more: Philip Rivers, Chargers (vs. TEN), Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (vs. ATL), Marcus Mariota, Titans (at SD), Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (vs. NYJ)

WEEK 9 DFS: DK cash lineup | FD tournament | DK tournament | Values | DFS Lineup Builder

Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit ’em: Quarterback

Russell Wilson, Seahawks (at BUF). For the record, Wilson is making a case as maybe the biggest bust this season in terms of draft status vs. production. There has only one one Wilson-like passing game (against the Jets), and no Wilson-like running game. The Saints’ flop is especially hard to fathom. Wait until there are signs that he’s actually healthy to trust him.

Four more: Derek Carr, Raiders (vs. DEN), Matthew Stafford, Lions (at MIN), Eli Manning, Giants (vs. PHI), Blake Bortles, Jaguars (at KC)

See the complete Week 9 QB rankings

Fantasy Football Week 9 Start ’em: Running back

Jay Ajayi, Dolphins (vs. NYJ). OK, this might seem like a no-brainer after he rumbled for back-to-back 200-yard games. But then again, looking how the Jets have made running games evaporate all season, you still might skeptical. Don’t be. Miami’s line is rolling, and Ajayi is too hot and talented to think about sitting after a bye.

DFS Steal: Charcandrick West, Chiefs (vs. JAX, $5,600 on FanDuel). It’s not looking good for Spencer Ware (concussion), so West is lining up nicely to see plenty of touches against the Jaguars, especially with Nick Foles filling in at QB.

Four more: Devontae Booker, Broncos (at OAK), Tim Hightower, Saints (at SF) Christine Michael, Seahawks (vs. BUF), Terrance West, Ravens (vs. PIT)

Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit ’em: Running back

All Raiders (vs. DEN). OK, this is mainly Latavius Murray, who’s pretty much touchdown dependent and not looking great otherwise facing a stingy Broncos defense. But hey, we had to use this to set up our committee theme below.

More than four more: All Bills (at SEA), All Lions (at MIN), All Eagles (at NYG), All Vikings (vs. DET), All Giants (vs. PHI)

See the complete Week 9 RB rankings

Fantasy Football Week 9 Start ’em: Wide receiver

Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos (at OAK). Manny Sandy is an excellent play this week to potentially have a huge game against a banged-up Raiders secondary that has trouble with speedy wideouts who can shoot out of the slot and make big plays after the catch. Hey, that’s this guy!

DFS Steal Allen Hurns, Jaguars (at KC, $5,900 on FanDuel). Bortles is way off with Allen Robinson at the moment, and Julius Thomas can be covered well by the Chiefs. So, he’ll need the other of his most reliable receiver to rack up catches and yards in trail mode again. Kansas City tends to allow things to most targeted wideouts.

Fourish more: Ty Montgomery, Packers (vs. IND), Michael Thomas and Willie Snead, Saints (at SF), Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills, Dolphins (vs. NYJ), Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt, Rams (vs. CAR).

Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit ’em: Wide receiver

Allen Robinson, Jaguars (at KC). You know this might have been coming, announcing that A-Rob is far from being considered an every-week play and Wilson’s best competition for absolute bust-ness. Maybe the fact that we dissed the Chiefs’ Jerry Maclin last week will get Robinson to score, too, but you’re still looking at something between a low ceiling and a dangerously low floor.

Four more: Marvin Jones, Jr., Lions (at MIN), Mike Wallace, Ravens (vs. PIT), Michael Crabtree, Raiders (vs. DEN), Stefon Diggs, Vikings (vs. DET)

See the complete Week 9 WR rankings

Fantasy Football Week 9 Start ’em: Tight end

Antonio Gates, Chargers (vs. TEN). Hunter Henry is fading again as a rookie, not helped by a concussion and now a knee injury. That’s leaving the venerable future Hall-of-Famer, now healthy himself from a hamstring, more involved as a Rivers’ favorite target again. The Titans are a tremendously good matchup.

DFS Steal: Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (vs. DET, $5,000 on FanDuel). The Lions still allow the most fantasy points to tight ends. Minnesota’s offense is struggling and needs Sam Bradford back in a groove throwing quickly underneath. Rudolph does the trick.

Four more: Gary Barnidge, Browns (vs. DAL), Coby Fleener, Saints (at SF), Dennis Pitta, Ravens (vs. PIT), Virgil Green, Broncos (at OAK)

Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit ’em: Tight end

Jason Witten, Cowboys (at CLE). How do you know that Prescott doesn’t act like a rookie QB? He doesn’t use Witten as a forced security blanket. Sure, Witten scored to beat the Eagles, but he’s seeing few targets – not enough to trust in what’s a misleading matchup against the Browns.

Four more: Jimmy Graham, Seahawks (vs. BUF), Julius Thomas, Jaguars (at KC), Eric Ebron, Lions (at MIN), Jesse James, Steelers (at BAL)

See the complete Week 9 TE rankings

Fantasy Football Week 9 Start ’em: Defense

Giants (vs. PHI). This has the makings of an ugly defensive game for both quarterbacks, not helped by limited running games and receiving corps. Multiple sack opportunities will be there for both NYG and the Eagles, who are more of an every-week play anyway.

DFS Steal: Packers (vs. IND, $4,400 on FanDuel). There’s no doubt Green Bay will give up some passing yards and scores to Andrew Luck, but Luck can’t shake a ton of sacks and some giveaways, either. At home in Lambeau, the Packers should be good for a double-digit fantasy-point performance.

Four more: Panthers (at LA), Chiefs (vs. JAX), Dolphins (vs. NYJ), Chargers (vs. TEN)

See the complete Week 9 D/ST rankings

Fantasy Football Week 9 Sit ’em: Defense

Bills (at SEA). It will seem tempting to put them in there against a struggling Seahawks’ passing game, but look for Seattle to own this game on the ground with Michael and more of rookie C.J. Prosise. With a lead, Wilson at least won’t need to force things.

Four more: Steelers (at BAL), Ravens (vs. PIT), Lions (at MIN), Cowboys (at CLE)