Fantasy Football Week 9 QB Start Decision: Will Levis vs. Jordan Love vs. Taylor Heinicke vs. Baker Mayfield vs. Several Other QBs

Week 9 is here and the FantasySP start/sit tool is filling up with intriguing trending decisions. With the Thursday night game closing in, it’s no surprise that Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis is part of some trending decisions, but at the time this story was published, he was part of the top 10 decisions.

In total, Levis is part of 13 trending decisions. This won’t be the typical start/sit breakdown with so many players involved, but we’ll help you make the best decision by the end of things like usual. Let’s get to it!

Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including predictive waiver analytics to help prioritize waiver pickups, projections, auction values, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant. Use our fantasy football trade analyzer to break down trade scenarios.

Why You Should Start Will Levis

Levis put forth a monster fantasy outing in his NFL debut last week, throwing for 238 yards and four touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons’ defense that had been pretty solid in pass defense. 

The huge showing mixed with the up-and-down play at the position, plus some injuries, made Levis a hot name on the waiver wire this week. It makes sense that fantasy owners are wondering what to do with him.

He’ll be taking on a Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense that is above average against opposing quarterbacks, allowing 15 fantasy points per game. That has Levis ranked 20th in our weekly projections.

Why You Should Start Mac Jones

Jones has been underwhelming this season, but has been a touch better of late, with two touchdown passes in each of the last two games. He’s reached 200 passing yards in five of the team’s eight games and also has a touchdown pass in all but three contests.

Jones has been turnover prone, with interceptions in all but two games. With two games at two picks, he’s got as many interceptions as games played.

He’ll be taking on a Washington Commanders’ defense this week that has allowed quarterbacks to score 21 points a week. That number is the second most in the league, behind only the Los Angeles Chargers (22). Jones is ranked 17th in the projections.

Why You Should Start Taylor Heinicke

Heinicke will be making his first start for the Falcons, as he’s replacing Desmond Ridder. Heinicke played last week against the Titans, completing 12-of-21 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. He added 14 rushing yards on two carries.

This isn’t your typical No. 2 quarterback taking over. Heinicke has plenty of starting experience with the Commanders. He averaged a little over a touchdown a game over the past two seasons with Washington, but also was close to an interception a game. 

His matchup with the Patriots’ defense is an average one, as New England has allowed quarterbacks to score 15 fantasy points a game. Heinicke slots in one spot behind Jones, at 18th in the weekly projections.

Why You Should Start Kenny Pickett

Pickett has also been pretty underwhelming this season, with just five touchdown passes and four interceptions to his name. He’s topped 200 passing yards in five of the team’s seven games, but hasn’t thrown for more than 235 yards once. 

He was hurt last week, but is good to go for Thursday night against the Titans. Tennessee’s defense is a touch better than average against quarterbacks, allowing 15 fantasy points per week. 

Pickett is our 21st-ranked quarterback in the week 9 projections.

Why You Should Start Gardner Minshew

Minshew continues to put up good fantasy numbers for the owners that keep starting him. His 219-yard, two-touchdown performance last week was actually a step down from the previous couple of weeks, but still was an average fantasy outing.

In his four starts, Minshew has thrown for at least 200 yards and a touchdown in each game. He’s got six touchdowns, but five interceptions in those contests.

Minshew and the Colts will be facing the Carolina Panthers this week. Carolina’s defense is also average against opposing quarterbacks, allowing 15 fantasy points per week. 

Minshew is the 22nd-ranked quarterback in this week’s projections.

Why You Should Start Jordan Love

After a solid start to the season, Love has put up some rough-looking numbers the past few games. He threw six touchdowns to no interceptions in weeks 1-2, but has eight interceptions and only five touchdowns since.

Love is coming off a couple average weeks, with 180 passing yards, two touchdowns and a pick in week 7 before 229 yards, a touchdown and an interception in week 8.

He’ll be facing the Los Angeles Rams and their below-average defense this week. The Rams allow opposing quarterbacks to score 18 fantasy points per game. Love is ranked 13th in the projections.

Why You Should Start C.J. Stroud

Stroud got his rookie season off to a hot start, but has slowed down the past couple weeks. He had over 240 passing yards in the team’s first five games, but has had only 199 and 140 yards the past couple weeks.

Stroud didn’t throw a touchdown last week, which was the first time he hasn’t since week 1. He’s avoided negative plays though, with only one interception for the season.

He’ll be going up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 9. The Bucs’ defense is a touch better than average, allowing 17 fantasy points per week. Stroud is still the 10th-ranked quarterback for the week.

Why You Should Start Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is the quarterback that will be on the opposite side of the field as Stroud. Mayfield is coming off of one of his better fantasy showings, when he threw for 237 yards and two scores against a top-end Buffalo Bills’ defense. 

Mayfield has reached 200 passing yards in five of the team’s seven games, and has at least once touchdown pass in all but one contest. He’d thrown a pick in the four games leading up to the game against the Bills. 

The Texans’ defense is average against opposing quarterbacks, allowing 17 fantasy points per week. Mayfield is ranked 16th in our projections, but that could be a touch higher if he wasn’t dinged up. 

Why You Should Start Geno Smith

Smith was an average fantasy quarterback last week despite throwing a couple picks. He threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns to help offset the negatives.

He’s topped 200 passing yards in all but two contests, and has a touchdown pass in all but one game. Interceptions have been a problem, with five over the past three games.

Seattle takes on the Baltimore Ravens in week 9. The Ravens’ defense is the best in the league against opposing quarterbacks, allowing only 11 fantasy points. Smith is the 14th-ranked quarterback for the week. 

Why You Should Start Daniel Jones

Jones hasn’t played since the early part of October because of a neck injury, but is expected back this week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

In Jones’ five games this season, he’s topped 200 passing yards twice. He’s thrown two touchdowns to six interceptions. He does add some value as a runner, with 197 yards and a score this season, but could be limited coming off the injury.

The Raiders’ defense is surprisingly good against quarterbacks, allowing only 15 fantasy points a week. Jones is the eighth-ranked quarterback in his first game back.

Why You Should Start Derek Carr

Carr has been on fire of late, throwing for 300+ yards in three straight games. Over that span, he’s tossed four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Carr’s big numbers coincide with him getting healthy. He’s now reached 300 passing yards in four contests, and his only times under 200 passing yards were in the game he was injured and the following two games.

He’s got a great matchup ahead against the Chicago Bears. Chicago allows QBs to score 19 points a contest. It’s surprising to see Carr ranked 11th in the weekly rankings. 

Why You Should Start Bryce Young

Young has improved as his rookie season has moved along. He’s thrown for over 200 passing yards in four straight games, and has five touchdowns to just two interceptions over that timeframe.

He’s coming off arguably his best game, when he threw for 235 yards and a touchdown, while completing 71% of his passes and not throwing a pick.

His matchup against the Colts is a favorable one, as Indy allows 19 fantasy points a contest. Young is ranked 15th in the weekly projections.

Why You Should Start Sam Howell

Howell continues to turn in some great fantasy performances for owners starting him. He threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns last week, while tossing just one interception on 52 pass attempts.

For the season, Howell has reached 200 passing yards in all but two games. He’s also had a touchdown pass in all but two weeks. His downfalls include taking 41 sacks already and throwing eight interceptions.

Howell’s matchup with the Patriots is an average one, as New England’s defense allows 15 fantasy points a week to opposing quarterbacks. Howell is ranked 12th in the projections. 

Why You Should Start Justin Herbert

Herbert isn’t a name I expected to see in a trending decision with Levis, but I promise you, it was.

Herbert has thrown for at least 200 yards and one touchdown in all but one game. He’s coming off a 298-yard, 3-touchdown performance.

He’ll have a tough matchup against the New York Jets. New York allows only 15 fantasy points per week. He’s still the fifth-ranked quarterback for the week. 

Final Numbers and the Recommended Start

This is mostly about Levis, so let’s see what decisions fantasy owners are making when he’s on their roster. Levis is the preferred starter over Love, Heinicke, Smith, Daniel Jones and Pickett. So that means owners are starting Mayfield, Stroud, Young, Carr, Mac Jones, Minshew, Howell and Herbert over Levis.

As for my favorite quarterback of the group, I’d go against the projections and say Carr is the best fantasy option this week. I’d then go Herbert despite his tougher matchup.

I’ll continue to defy the projections and take Young next, followed by Mac Jones and Stroud. After that, I like Howell, Minshew and Mayfield. 

Love, Levis and Heinicke I think all produce similar fantasy showings, but would rank them in that order. I’d take Daniel Jones closely behind them. Pickett would come next, which leaves Smith as the final guy.

Most of the matchups are pretty even for these quarterbacks, so my top guys are simply the quarterbacks that have produced somewhat consistently. Outside of Carr and Herbert, most of these quarterbacks I think are capable of pretty similar fantasy showings. A short touchdown or turnover might be the only difference between the other 12 quarterbacks.

Best of luck making your decision!