The Los Angeles Chargers will face the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Ladd McConkey.
Is Ladd McConkey Playing in Week 9?
McConkey (hip) practiced fully Thursday. The same goes for Quentin Johnston (ankle), which sets the stage for the Chargers to have their top three wideouts (McConkey, Johnston and Joshua Palmer) available Sunday against the Browns.
It also looks like DJ Chark (groin, IR) is trending toward returning to action this weekend, but in any case McConkey should maintain steady enough volume going forward to yield weekly fantasy lineup utility.
We’ll continue to monitor the Chargers’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Ladd McConkey in Week 9?
McConkey played through a hip injury last week to author the best game of his young career (6-111-2) against the Saints, and he has an NFL feel about him as he operates out of the slot.
This offense as a whole may be boring, but Justin Herbert is an above-average QB and one that is capable of elevating talent; so, yeah, I’m buying what this rookie is selling. He has earned at least six targets in six of seven games this season and gets the pleasure of facing a defense that ranks 31st in yards allowed after the catch per reception when opponents target the slot.
A repeat of Week 8’s explosion is unlikely, but another top-30 finish is more than reasonable, and that’s where I have him ranked: as a strong Flex option in PPR formats.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 9 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Ladd McConkey’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 9
McConkey is projected to score 13.7 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 2.7 receptions for 81.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
PFN Insights: Cleveland Browns Defense
The Cleveland Browns’ defense has done a solid job of holding things together this year, and it must have been a relief to see the offense come to play in Week 8. By no means have things been perfect, but they have held their opponents to just 21 or fewer points on five occasions this year.
The win percentage since 2019 when holding a team to 21 or fewer points is .763 (1035-320-6). The Browns this year are 1-4 (.200) when holding opponents to 21 points or fewer, which is nearly tied for the worst record in a single season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019 (1-5, .166).
The Browns have been incredible at putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and rank first in the league in terms of doing so without sending extra defenders. They have also been impressive on third downs, ranking third. The defense has not been exceptional, but it has been good enough that a competent offense should have been able to deliver them another two or three wins, which would change the season outlook completely.
For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis.
Ladd McConkey’s Week 9 Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 7:00 PM ET on Friday, December 13. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 15 WR PPR Rankings
1) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (at TEN)
2) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (vs. BUF)
3) Puka Nacua | LAR (at SF)
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. CHI)
5) Nico Collins | HOU (vs. MIA)
6) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. PIT)
7) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at HOU)
8) Mike Evans | TB (at LAC)
9) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at NO)
10) Drake London | ATL (at LV)
11) Malik Nabers | NYG (vs. BAL)
12) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (at CAR)
13) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (vs. GB)
14) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. IND)
15) Cooper Kupp | LAR (at SF)
16) Tee Higgins | CIN (at TEN)
17) Davante Adams | NYJ (at JAX)
18) Calvin Ridley | TEN (vs. CIN)
19) Jauan Jennings | SF (vs. LAR)
20) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at JAX)
21) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (vs. KC)
22) Zay Flowers | BAL (at NYG)
23) DK Metcalf | SEA (vs. GB)
24) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at DET)
25) DJ Moore | CHI (at MIN)
26) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. NYJ)
27) Ladd McConkey | LAC (vs. TB)
28) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (vs. NE)
29) Jakobi Meyers | LV (vs. ATL)
30) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at HOU)
31) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. CHI)
32) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at CLE)
33) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at DEN)
34) Jayden Reed | GB (at SEA)
35) Keenan Allen | CHI (at MIN)
36) Adam Thielen | CAR (vs. DAL)
37) Jameson Williams | DET (vs. BUF)
38) Darnell Mooney | ATL (at LV)
39) Amari Cooper | BUF (at DET)
40) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. PIT)
41) Tank Dell | HOU (vs. MIA)
42) Elijah Moore | CLE (vs. KC)
43) Rome Odunze | CHI (at MIN)
44) DeMario Douglas | NE (at ARI)
45) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at NYG)
46) Christian Watson | GB (at SEA)
47) Xavier Worthy | KC (at CLE)
48) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (vs. LAR)
49) Michael Wilson | ARI (vs. NE)
50) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (vs. CIN)
51) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (at DET)
52) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (at LV)
53) Alec Pierce | IND (at DEN)
54) Quentin Johnston | LAC (vs. TB)
55) Xavier Legette | CAR (vs. DAL)
56) Jalen McMillan | TB (at LAC)
57) Kendrick Bourne | NE (at ARI)
58) Parker Washington | JAX (vs. NYJ)
59) Tim Patrick | DET (vs. BUF)
60) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (vs. BAL)
61) Devaughn Vele | DEN (vs. IND)
62) Calvin Austin III | PIT (at PHI)
63) Joshua Palmer | LAC (vs. TB)
64) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (at SF)
65) Tre Tucker | LV (vs. ATL)
66) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at CAR)
67) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at SEA)
68) David Moore | CAR (vs. DAL)
69) Sterling Shepard | TB (at LAC)
70) Tyler Lockett | SEA (vs. GB)
71) Mike Williams | PIT (at PHI)
72) Keon Coleman | BUF (at DET)
73) Darius Slayton | NYG (vs. BAL)
74) Van Jefferson | PIT (at PHI)
75) Adonai Mitchell | IND (at DEN)
76) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (at CAR)
77) Allen Lazard | NYJ (at JAX)
78) Ricky Pearsall | SF (vs. LAR)
79) Tyler Boyd | TEN (vs. CIN)
80) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (at TEN)
81) Jalen Nailor | MIN (vs. CHI)
82) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (at CAR)
83) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (vs. WAS)
84) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at CLE)
85) Malik Washington | MIA (at HOU)
86) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (vs. IND)
87) Josh Downs | IND (at DEN)
88) Tutu Atwell | LAR (at SF)
89) Mack Hollins | BUF (at DET)
90) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | NO (vs. WAS)
91) Justin Watson | KC (at CLE)
92) Curtis Samuel | BUF (at DET)
93) Devin Duvernay | JAX (vs. NYJ)
94) Michael Woods II | CLE (vs. KC)
95) Jahan Dotson | PHI (vs. PIT)
96) Bo Melton | GB (at SEA)
97) Greg Dortch | ARI (vs. NE)
98) Jalen Reagor | LAC (vs. TB)
99) Jalin Hyatt | NYG (vs. BAL)
100) Derius Davis | LAC (vs. TB)
101) Zay Jones | ARI (vs. NE)
102) Terrace Marshall Jr. | SF (vs. LAR)
103) Jermaine Burton | CIN (at TEN)
104) Jonathan Mingo | DAL (at CAR)
105) DJ Chark | LAC (vs. TB)
106) Tyler Johnson | LAR (at SF)
107) Trey Palmer | TB (at LAC)
108) Ben Skowronek | PIT (at PHI)
109) Rakim Jarrett | TB (at LAC)
110) Jalen Brooks | DAL (at CAR)
111) Jake Bobo | SEA (vs. GB)
112) Xavier Gipson | NYJ (at JAX)
113) Kadarius Toney | CLE (vs. KC)
114) Malik Heath | GB (at SEA)
115) Johnny Wilson | PHI (vs. PIT)
116) Brandon Powell | MIN (vs. CHI)
117) Ramel Keyton | LV (vs. ATL)
118) KhaDarel Hodge | ATL (at LV)
119) Tim Jones | JAX (vs. NYJ)
120) Kristian Wilkerson | LV (vs. ATL)
121) Jalen Coker | CAR (vs. DAL)
122) Romeo Doubs | GB (at SEA)
Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns Insights
Los Angeles Chargers
Team: We still haven’t seen 40 total points scored in a Charger game this season (the Browns aren’t exactly explosive on either side of the ball, but even they’ve seen 40 points hit three times this season)
QB: Over the past two weeks, Justin Herbert is 20-of-24 for 328 yards and a touchdown when throwing out of play-action.
Offense: In Weeks 1-4, the Bolts averaged 1.5 points per drive. In the past three weeks, however, that number has spiked to 2.0 (up 33.3%).
Defense: Los Angeles is the only team in the league that can say they’ve recovered as many fumbles as rushing touchdowns they’ve allowed (three).
Fantasy: This is a low-volume offense, and those situations typically result in touchdowns to pay off fantasy managers – J.K. Dobbins was able to help you out with a short score, but that’s not going to be the norm for a team that ranks 31st in percentage of drives that reach the opponents’ 20-yard line (20.8%, only the Browns have been worse).
Betting: Unders are 5-1 in the last six Justin Herbert starts in which the Chargers have been a road favorite.
Cleveland Browns
Team: Cleveland leads the league in play-action rate this season (19.4%), which they essentially mirrored in Jameis Winston’s first start (19.7%).
QB: Winston went 8-11 when throwing deep downfield (15-plus air yards) on Sunday against the Ravens, totaling 167 yards and two touchdowns.
Offense: The Browns completed just 19.2% of their third downs through Week 6. Against the Bengals in Week 7, they were eight-of-19 (42.1%) and, in the upset win over the Ravens on Sunday, eight-of-15 (53.3%).
Defense: Cleveland leads the NFL in pressure rate this season (42.7%) and made Lamar Jackson uncomfortable on 50% of his dropbacks last weekend (the second time this season, they created chaos on at least half of their opponents’ pass attempts.
Fantasy: David Njoku has scored in consecutive weeks and can be used as a weekly option across all formats with confidence as the featured pass catcher in the fourth most pass-oriented offense when inside the red zone.
Betting: Since the beginning of last season, the Browns are 7-2 ATS when playing at home with a total that closes under 40 points (unders are 6-2-1 in those games).