Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Week 9 (2025)

Week 8 of the NFL season had its ups and downs. We saw some big plays on both sides of the ball, but the injury monster continues to be a main talking point this season. Week 9 is here, and Thursday Night Football lived up to expectations and gave us a beatdown. The matchup was between two teams with almost identical records but far different outlooks. Baltimore came in to the contest at 2-5, while Miami sat at 2-6. The 2-5 Ravens were favored to win their division. The 2-6 Dolphins were set to fire either their General Manager and/or Head Coach, likely prior to the end of the season. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.

Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Week 9

Start em

Elandon Roberts (LB – LV)
Elandon was excellent in Week 7, racking up seven solos, 11 assists, and one tackle for loss. Roberts is back in the starting lineup following the release of Germaine Pratt, as the veteran linebacker was slated to open the season as a starter but lost the job to injury and the resurgence of Devin White. Now with a near everydown role, he can be counted as an LB3 with obvious LB2 upside. Treat him as such for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Gervon Dexter (DT – CHI)
Dexter went off in Week 8, tallying five solos, two assists, one sack, and two tackles for loss. Dexter has recorded 2.5 sacks in his last three games and is up to 3.5 on the season. Riding high with at least one sack in two of his last three contests, fantasy managers can feel free to plug the defensive tackle into lineups as a DT1/DL3 option for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Marcus Jones (CB – NE)
Marcus Jones was at it again in Week 8, tallying five solos, one assist, one tackle for loss, and two passes defended. The DB2 overall since Week 4, Jones has bullied his way into becoming a part of the DB1 conversation. He has simply been too productive to ignore, even in leagues where you only start one or two IDP players. Start Jones everywhere as an IDP1/2 as long as he remains on fire.

Riley Moss (CB – DEN)
Riley Moss was excellent in Week 8, tallying four solos, two assists, and four passes defended. Moss gets a lot of work as a Broncos corner not named Pat Surtain and has become a fantasy option because of it. He has safety level solo numbers and has more fantasy points than names like Budda Baker, Tyler Nubin, Cole Bishop, Jalen Thompson, and Jaquan Brisker. You will need to live with the inconsistency if you plan on starting him in DB leagues, but Moss has proven time and time again that he belongs in the DB3 conversation. Treat him as a CB1/DB3 option for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans.

Nahshon Wright (CB – CHI)
Nahshon Wright was excellent in Week 8, racking up six solos and three assists. Despite inconsistent production, Nahshon has parlayed a pair of massive spike weeks into sitting as the DB16 on the season overall and the DB11 in fppg. Wright needs to be rostered and started in all competitive leagues and should be counted as no less than a low-floor DB2 option. Start him with confidence for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Sit em

Trevin Wallace (LB – CAR)
Trevin Wallace showed up in Week 8, racking up five solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Trevin hasn’t been much more than a bye week filler, managing four or more solos just three times in his eight contests. Also dealing with a shoulder stinger, keep Wallace on rosters, but on benches for Week 9, despite the plus matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Jacob Martin (DE – WAS)
Martin showed up in Week 8, tallying two solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Martin is now up to 3.5 sacks on the year, but these were his first full sacks of the season. He is an option for those dealing with bye week issues in 16+ team leagues, but those in 12-team 11 v 11 formats and shallower can find better options for Week 9. Look elsewhere for Week 9, despite Martin’s excellent Week 8.

Mike Danna (DE – KC)
Danna showed up in Week 8, racking up one solo, two assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended on 38 percent of the snaps. The sack was Danna’s first of the season, and he is simply not playing enough snaps to be considered at this time. Look elsewhere for your Week 9 DL3/4.

Jer’Zhan Newton (DT – WAS)
Jer’Zhan was excellent in Week 8, tallying two solos, two assists, one sack, and one forced fumble. Newton is up to two sacks on the season, with both of them coming in two of his last four games. Jer’Zhan is a DT3 at best for now and should not be on radars yet for those in DL leagues. Look elsewhere for your Week 9 DL3, despite the standout Week 8 and the plus Week 9 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Chris Lammons (CB – IND)
Lammons was excellent in Week 8, racking up four solos, one interception, and one pass defended on 39 percent of the snaps. Lammons has been a non-factor for the bulk of the season. This can be attributed to playing limited snaps most games, with the two outliers being back in Week 5 and Week 6 when he saw north of 60 percent. Look elsewhere for your Week 9 DB3/4.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.