Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: WR
Peppers & Picks' Week 9 WR start 'em, sit 'em call for the 2026 NFL season: start Ja'Marr Chase (CIN), our WR1 at 12.5 projected points, and sit Travis Hunter (JAX) at 1.9 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 WR picks
Sally's pick
Ja'Marr Chase WR · CIN
Sally's Week 9 WR pick: Ja'Marr Chase. He's our WR1 at 12.5 projected points at ATL · Final, and the Pepper Meter has him at 3 of 5.
Tina's pick
Amon-Ra St. Brown WR · DET
Tina's Week 9 WR pick: Amon-Ra St. Brown. 10 projected points at MIA · Final, started in 97% of leagues — she'll take the cheaper version of the same production.
Start 'em: WRs to start in Week 9
Ja'Marr Chase WR · CIN · at ATL · Final
12.5 proj · #1 WR3 of 5 peppers, HotStart Ja'Marr Chase in Week 9: our WR1 projects for 12.5 points, 2.5 above a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 98%
Full outlook for Ja'Marr ChaseWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Ja'Marr Chase (CIN WR) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at ATL, with 12.5 projected fantasy points and a hot Pepper Meter rating, our WR1 this week. Sally doesn't overthink it — that's 2.5 points of upside over the position line, so he plays. 98% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 12.5 projected points is roughly 25% more than the WR baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at WR1. Hot on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Amon-Ra St. Brown WR · DET · at MIA · Final
10 proj · #2 WR2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Amon-Ra St. Brown in Week 9: our WR2 projects for 10 points, 0 above a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 97%
Full outlook for Amon-Ra St. BrownWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET WR) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at MIA, with 10.0 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our WR2 this week. Tina's pushback: 97% of leagues start him, so you gain nothing on your opponent here — the edge is elsewhere. 97% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at WR2 because the projection lands about 0% clear of what a typical WR banks in a week. Spicy 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.
Justin Jefferson WR · MIN · vs BUF · Final
9.8 proj · #3 WR2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Justin Jefferson in Week 9: our WR3 projects for 9.8 points, 0.2 below a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 95%
Full outlook for Justin JeffersonWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Justin Jefferson (MIN WR) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs BUF, with 9.8 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our WR3 this week. Sally's angle is simple: he's a top-three WR on our board, and she never benches the guys who win weeks. He's still in 95% of lineups at 100% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. Nothing in the projection defends him — 2% below positional par is a bench line for me. Spicy on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR · SEA · vs ARI · Final
9.7 proj · #4 WR2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 9: our WR4 projects for 9.7 points, 0.3 below a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 100%
Full outlook for Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA WR) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs ARI, with 9.7 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our WR4 this week. Tina's pushback: 100% of leagues start him, so you gain nothing on your opponent here — the edge is elsewhere. At home against ARI, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. He's still in 100% of lineups at 100% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. Spicy heat, high rank: reliable points without the fireworks.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Game is final — numbers above are the pre-game projection.
CeeDee Lamb WR · DAL · at IND · Final
9.6 proj · #5 WR2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart CeeDee Lamb in Week 9: our WR5 projects for 9.6 points, 0.4 below a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 99%
Full outlook for CeeDee LambWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists CeeDee Lamb (DAL WR) as a start in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at IND, with 9.6 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our WR5 this week. Sally's angle is simple: he's a top-six WR on our board, and she never benches the guys who win weeks. 9.6 points is roughly 4% short of the WR baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. Facing IND away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy 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: WRs to bench in Week 9
Travis Hunter WR · JAX · at BAL · Final
1.9 proj · #89 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Travis Hunter in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 1.9 projected points lands 8.1 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 26% · started 4%
See his full outlook for Travis HunterWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Travis Hunter (JAX WR) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at BAL, with only 1.9 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR89 this week. Tina calls it a floor problem: 8.1 points under the starter line is a lot of risk for a lineup spot. BAL is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 4% 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.
Makai Lemon WR · PHI · vs NYG · Final
2.7 proj · #81 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Makai Lemon in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 2.7 projected points lands 7.3 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 55% · started 13%
See his full outlook for Makai LemonWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Makai Lemon (PHI WR) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs NYG, with only 2.7 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR81 this week. Sally wants fireworks, and 7.3 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. 13% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 2.7 points is roughly 73% short of the WR baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. 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.
Brian Thomas Jr. WR · JAX · at BAL · Final
3.1 proj · #74 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Brian Thomas Jr. in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 3.1 projected points lands 6.9 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 40% · started 3%
See his full outlook for Brian Thomas Jr.Why?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX WR) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at BAL, with only 3.1 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR74 this week. Tina calls it a floor problem: 6.9 points under the starter line is a lot of risk for a lineup spot. 3% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. He grades 69% below the average weekly WR 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.
Keenan Allen WR · SF · vs LV · Final
3.2 proj · #72 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Keenan Allen in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 3.2 projected points lands 6.8 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 46% · started 21%
See his full outlook for Keenan AllenWhy?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Keenan Allen (SF WR) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season vs LV, with only 3.2 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR72 this week. Sally wants fireworks, and 6.8 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. The vs LV draw matters here — home snaps against LV shape how often he's asked to do something. 21% 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.
Marvin Harrison Jr. WR · HOU · at LAC · Final
3.3 proj · #68 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Marvin Harrison Jr. in Week 9 if you have an alternative — 3.3 projected points lands 6.7 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 64% · started 8%
See his full outlook for Marvin Harrison Jr.Why?
FINAL — his game is over; this was our pre-game read. Peppers & Picks lists Marvin Harrison Jr. (HOU WR) as a sit in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season at LAC, with only 3.3 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR68 this week. Tina calls it a floor problem: 6.7 points under the starter line is a lot of risk for a lineup spot. The projection sits about 67% under what a startable WR returns, so I honestly can't pretend the price tag matches the output. On the road against LAC, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 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.