It’s time for the home stretch. We’re over halfway through the fantasy football season, and it’s time to make a playoff push. You’re through bye-maggedon. But the off weeks are still a factor with some of the big guns. And especially this week, with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers off this week.

28 quarterbacks will be suiting up this week, so today, we’re going to rank all of them based on how well I think they’ll perform in fantasy football in Week 9.

Quarterbacks on bye in Week 9

• Jalen Hurts
• Baker Mayfield
• Justin Fields
• Dillon Gabriel

28. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Matchup: Los Angeles Chargers

The worst quarterback to start in fantasy this week is Cam Ward. He has a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Tennessee Titans’ offense just stinks. They don’t have good playmakers, and their offensive line gives up far too many pressures.

27. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

Matchup: Seattle Seahawks

Jayden Daniels could get the start here (and in that case I’d move him up to 18ish), but it seems like it’ll end up being Marcus Mariota. I just don’t trust Mariota to have a good day against a good defense, so he’s second to last.

26. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Matchup: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t pose much of a challenge defensively, but I just don’t trust anything about Geno Smith. He’s having one of the worst years of his career, and he just doesn’t have many playmakers around him to help him out.

25. Spencer Rattler/Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Matchup: Los Angeles Rams

I’m not sure who is going to be starting for New Orleans, but I would not start them in fantasy this week. The Saints’ offensive line isn’t bad, but the Los Angeles Rams have a very good pass rush that can put pressure on anybody. Both of the Saints’ QBs have struggled under pressure in their careers, so I don’t see them having a ton of success.

24. Carson Wentz, Minnesota Vikings

Matchup: Detroit Lions

The Minnesota Vikings offense has not been all that inspiring, even though they have a very good 1-2 punch at receiver. Carson Wentz just isn’t that good a quarterback, and he has a very tough matchup against an NFC North rival.

23. Michael Penix Jr./Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Matchup: New England Patriots

It seems like Michael Penix could be back this week, but no matter who’s under center for Atlanta, I want no part of it. The New England Patriots have a good defense, and this Falcons offense has not looked good since they beat the Buffalo Bills a few weeks back. Just stay away from the Falcons until further notice.

22. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Matchup: Denver Broncos

C.J. Stroud is coming off one of his best games of the season, but this week he faces an extremely tough Denver Broncos defense. The Broncos give up just over 13 points to opposing quarterbacks this year, so while you might fancy starting Stroud, I’d sit him this week.

21. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Matchup: Houston Texans

Bo Nix will be on the other side of the field from Stroud on Sunday, and I would also consider benching him, despite how well he’s been playing recently. Thought the Broncos’ defense was a tough matchup? Look at Houston. They allow 10.5 points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and Denver’s been inconsistent offensively at times. It might be hard, but I’d sit Nix.

20. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Matchup: Green Bay Packers

Hopefully, Bryce Young is back this week, because the Carolina Panthers looked lost without him offensively, but even if he is, I still would keep him on my bench. The Green Bay Packers can get after a quarterback, and I think the Panthers are really going to struggle offensively this week. It was a fun run, but I think the Panthers are getting back to their losing ways.

19. Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

Matchup: New York Giants

The Mac Jones magic is gone. As fun as it was, he is no longer the 300+ yards, 2+ touchdown quarterback he was in the first few weeks of the season. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a good game or two in him, but I wouldn’t trust him from here on out.

18. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Matchup: Indianapolis Colts

Aaron Rodgers is a fine backup option if you have Jalen Hurts or Baker Mayfield on a bye. The Indianapolis Colts’ defense is good, but it’s not great, and Rodgers has played pretty well this year, but he has a pretty obvious ceiling in fantasy, so he’s not going to give you 25+. He’s probably going to land in that 15-19 range.

17. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Matchup: Las Vegas Raiders

Trevor Lawrence has a very favorable matchup this weekend, but I just don’t trust him. I’ve been burned by him in fantasy one too many times for me to have him in the top 15 this week, even with one of the best matchups of the week.

16. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Matchup: Washington Commanders

Sam Darnold has been a very reliable fantasy option this season, but much like Rodgers, his ceiling isn’t all that high. He’s floated in that 16-20 point range all year, and that’s where I expect him to be again this weekend.

15. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Matchup: Baltimore Ravens

I love Tua Tagovailoa’s matchup this week against the Baltimore Ravens, but I just don’t trust that offense. They’ve been way too inconsistent, and he’s coming off his best game of the year. He should still be serviceable if your starter is out, but I wouldn’t start him otherwise.

14. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

Matchup: San Francisco 49ers

Jaxson Dart begins our “fringe starter” tier. Everyone before him, I would be pretty hesitant to start if I didn’t have to, but this is where you kind of have to play the matchup. The 49ers’ defense hasn’t been great, but they’re still pretty good. Add on the fact that the Giants’ run game got much less scary with Cam Skattebo out, and it may hinder Dart’s performance just a little bit.

13. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Matchup: Chicago Bears

Joe Flacco has revitalized his career in Cincinnati. In his three games with the Bengals, Flacco has scored 18, 26, and 24 fantasy points. He’s loving his new and improved weapons at receiver, and the Bengals are back to having one of the best offenses in the league. He has very little rushing upside, but he should still be good for 18+ points this week, so he’s a fringe starter.

12. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Matchup: Minnesota Vikings

Jared Goff would be higher on this list, but the Detroit Lions are running the football very well right now, and I think they’re going to take a big lead over the Vikings and probably take their foot off the gas a bit. He’ll still be a very viable starter this week, though.

11. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers

Daniel Jones and the Colts have one of the best offenses in football right now, and the only reason he isn’t higher is because of their run game. Jonathan Taylor has been on an absolute tear this season and should be in the MVP conversation. His rushing production takes away from Jones’ passing production, but they’ve been so efficient that it hasn’t really mattered. Plus, the Steelers give up 21 points to opposing quarterbacks, which is the 2nd-most in the NFL.

10. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals

Caleb Williams has a great matchup this week against the Bengals, who just gave up 39 points to the Jets. He looked pretty good last week despite the 30-16 loss to the Ravens, so if the Bears can convert some of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns this week, he should have a pretty good day.

9. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Matchup: Carolina Panthers

Another quarterback matchup that I love is Jordan Love vs the Panthers, who just gave up 40 to the Bills. I think the Packers are going to come out firing, and Love is going to get his team into the end zone at least a few times. The Panthers have a very bad run defense, so I’m a bit concerned about Josh Jacobs taking away from Love’s production, but he should still play well.

8. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Matchup: Atlanta Falcons

Drake Maye is on a heater right now. He’s scored 23+ in each of his last three games, and there’s no reason to believe that trend won’t continue this week against the Atlanta Falcons, who just have up 34 points to the Dolphins. The Falcons are down and out right now, and I expect Maye to rub some salt in the wound.

7. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Matchup: Kansas City Chiefs

The only reason Josh Allen is down at No. 7 is because he has one of the toughest defensive matchups. The Kansas City Chiefs hold opposing quarterbacks to 14.5 points per game, but Allen has a knack for playing well against KC. I still think he’ll have a good day despite the tough matchup.

6. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Matchup: Dallas Cowboys

Kyler Murray is expected to start this week after missing the last couple of games with an injury. Normally, he wouldn’t be anywhere near the top 10, but this week he’s playing the Dallas Cowboys, who are easily the most QB-friendly matchup in fantasy. They’re giving up nearly 25 points per game to opposing QBs, so Murray should have a good game this weekend.

5. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Matchups: New Orleans Saints

Matthew Stafford is coming off a bye and gets to play one of the worst teams in the league. The New Orleans Saints have an okay defense, but if Puka Nacua is indeed back, they have no chance of stopping this passing attack. I wouldn’t be surprised if Stafford has another 3+ touchdown day on Sunday afternoon.

4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Matchup: Tennessee Titans

Justin Herbert has a dream matchup this week against the Titans. Tennessee has not been able to stop anyone this year, and the Chargers’ passing attack has been red-hot these last few weeks. He’s certainly going to be one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy this week. (I am a little afraid of a blowout and LAC just running the ball late, but he should still be fine.)

3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Matchup: Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have held just two opponents to under 20 points this season, and I don’t think they have a chance in hell to stop this Cowboys offense. Dak Prescott is one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now, and with guys like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the outside, not many defenses are capable of stopping them.

2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Matchup: Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills’ defense has not been as good this season as it has been in the past, and Patrick Mahomes is playing as well as anyone right now. This should be a high-scoring game, so Mahomes is going to have to use his arm and his legs if the Chiefs want to get a win. He would be No. 1, but I feel more confident in the next guy…

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Matchup: Miami Dolphins

Coming in at our top spot (assuming he plays) is Lamar Jackson. The Ravens’ QB1 should be back this week after narrowly missing last week’s game, and he will be greeted with one of the easiest matchups he could hope for. The Dolphins’ defense has been pretty bad this year, and I don’t see them providing much resistance to the Ravens. Plus, Jackson’s itching to get back out there, so I expect him to play well.