Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: DST
Peppers & Picks' Week 9 DST start 'em, sit 'em call for the 2026 NFL season: start Rams D/ST (LAR), our DST2 at 3.7 projected points, and sit Lions D/ST (DET) at 2.5 projected points. Every call below comes from our own weekly projection, position rank, roster and start rates, opponent and injury designation, with Sally's and Tina's reasoning attached.
Data on this page is as of November 10, 2026 at 6:55 PM ET and refreshes automatically every 30 minutes.
Sally's and Tina's Week 9 DST picks
Sally's pick
Rams D/ST DST · LAR
Sally's Week 9 DST pick: Rams D/ST. He's our DST2 at 3.7 projected points at WSH · Final, and the Pepper Meter has him at 1 of 5.
Tina's pick
49ers D/ST DST · SF
Tina's Week 9 DST pick: 49ers D/ST. 3.7 projected points vs LV · Final, started in 21% of leagues — she'll take the cheaper version of the same production.
Start 'em: DSTs to start in Week 9
Rams D/ST DST · LAR · at WSH · Final
3.7 proj · #2 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildStart Rams D/ST in Week 9: our DST2 projects for 3.7 points, 2.8 below a typical starting DST.
Rostered 81% · started 69%
Full outlook for Rams D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Rams D/ST (LAR DST) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at WSH, with 3.7 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST2 this week. Sally's angle is simple: he's a top-three DST on our board, and she never benches the guys who win weeks. Nothing in the projection defends him — 43% below positional par is a bench line for me. The at WSH draw matters here — road snaps against WSH shape how often he's asked to do something. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Mild here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
49ers D/ST DST · SF · vs LV · Final
3.7 proj · #3 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildStart 49ers D/ST in Week 9: our DST3 projects for 3.7 points, 2.8 below a typical starting DST.
Rostered 38% · started 21%
Full outlook for 49ers D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists 49ers D/ST (SF DST) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs LV, with 3.7 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST3 this week. Tina would rather take the cheaper, steadier option than 2.8 points of shortfall. 21% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 3.7 points is roughly 43% short of the DST baseline, and I honestly rank on output, not name recognition. Mild on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Seahawks D/ST DST · SEA · vs ARI · Final
3.5 proj · #4 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildStart Seahawks D/ST in Week 9: our DST4 projects for 3.5 points, 3 below a typical starting DST.
Rostered 97% · started 91%
Full outlook for Seahawks D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Seahawks D/ST (SEA DST) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs ARI, with 3.5 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST4 this week. Sally's angle is simple: he's a top-six DST on our board, and she never benches the guys who win weeks. At home against ARI, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. He's still in 91% of lineups at 97% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. Mild heat, high rank: reliable points without the fireworks.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Jaguars D/ST DST · JAX · at BAL · Final
3.4 proj · #5 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildStart Jaguars D/ST in Week 9: our DST5 projects for 3.4 points, 3.1 below a typical starting DST.
Rostered 89% · started 83%
Full outlook for Jaguars D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Jaguars D/ST (JAX DST) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at BAL, with 3.4 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST5 this week. Tina plays contrarian — with 83% start rate he's priced in, and she cares more about his floor than his name. He's still in 83% of lineups at 89% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. Nothing in the projection defends him — 48% below positional par is a bench line for me. Mild on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Broncos D/ST DST · DEN · at CAR · Final
3.3 proj · #6 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildStart Broncos D/ST in Week 9: our DST6 projects for 3.3 points, 3.2 below a typical starting DST.
Rostered 87% · started 68%
Full outlook for Broncos D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Broncos D/ST (DEN DST) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at CAR, with 3.3 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST6 this week. Sally's angle is simple: he's a top-six DST on our board, and she never benches the guys who win weeks. The projection sits about 49% under what a startable DST returns, so I can't pretend the price tag matches the output. On the road against CAR, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Mild here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Sit 'em: DSTs to bench in Week 9
Lions D/ST DST · DET · at MIA · Final
2.5 proj · #22 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Lions D/ST in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.5 projected points lands 4 under the DST starter line.
Rostered 37% · started 30%
See his full outlook for Lions D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Lions D/ST (DET DST) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at MIA, with only 2.5 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST22 this week. Tina calls it a floor problem: 4 points under the starter line is a lot of risk for a lineup spot. MIA is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 30% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Tina keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Eagles D/ST DST · PHI · vs NYG · Final
2.6 proj · #19 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Eagles D/ST in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.6 projected points lands 3.9 under the DST starter line.
Rostered 33% · started 26%
See his full outlook for Eagles D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Eagles D/ST (PHI DST) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs NYG, with only 2.6 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST19 this week. Sally's honest about it: 3.9 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. 26% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. He grades 60% below the average weekly DST number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Patriots D/ST DST · NE · vs GB · Final
2.6 proj · #18 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Patriots D/ST in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.6 projected points lands 3.9 under the DST starter line.
Rostered 59% · started 44%
See his full outlook for Patriots D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Patriots D/ST (NE DST) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs GB, with only 2.6 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST18 this week. Tina calls it a floor problem: 3.9 points under the starter line is a lot of risk for a lineup spot. He's still in 44% of lineups at 59% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. He grades 60% below the average weekly DST number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Ravens D/ST DST · BAL · vs JAX · Final
2.7 proj · #17 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Ravens D/ST in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.7 projected points lands 3.8 under the DST starter line.
Rostered 47% · started 35%
See his full outlook for Ravens D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Ravens D/ST (BAL DST) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs JAX, with only 2.7 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST17 this week. Sally wants fireworks, and 3.8 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. Facing JAX in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 35% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Bengals D/ST DST · CIN · at ATL · Final
2.8 proj · #16 DST1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Bengals D/ST in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.8 projected points lands 3.7 under the DST starter line.
Rostered 36% · started 25%
See his full outlook for Bengals D/STWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Bengals D/ST (CIN DST) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at ATL, with only 2.8 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our DST16 this week. Tina calls it a floor problem: 3.7 points under the starter line is a lot of risk for a lineup spot. He grades 57% below the average weekly DST number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. ATL is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
This article is rebuilt automatically every week from our own Week 9 projections, position ranks, roster and start rates, opponent data, injury designations and Pepper Meter heat ratings. Commentary is written in-house by Sally and Tina.