### Fantasy Football Week 9: Key Sleepers to Elevate Your Roster

Identifying fresh talent for your fantasy football lineup can bring immense joy, but don't overlook seasoned players who can reinvigorate your midseason performance. Some of these veterans are still valuable as sleepers.

This week's sleepers include recognizable names, former Super Bowl champions, Pro Bowlers, and established career starters. Despite their credentials, these players aren't receiving enough attention as potential fantasy assets. Remarkably, all sleeper picks are available in over 50 percent of leagues according to FantasyPros.

Matthew Stafford might not usually be considered a sleeper, but he's only rostered in 32 percent of leagues, a figure that will soon rise. In his most recent game, Stafford delivered his best performance of the season, amassing 279 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. This placed him fifth among quarterbacks in fantasy points for the week. With Los Angeles Rams wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp possibly both on the field for just the third time this season, Stafford's potential for another strong outing looks promising. Despite Nacua's knee injury at practice, Rams head coach Sean McVay is optimistic about his participation on Sunday. Facing the Seattle Seahawks' defense that is tied for eighth in touchdowns allowed, Stafford is poised for significant action in this crucial NFC West matchup.

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts have named Joe Flacco as their starter over Anthony Richardson for the upcoming Sunday Night Football game against the Minnesota Vikings. Flacco has a favorable matchup against a Minnesota pass defense conceding the seventh-most yards per game and tied for sixth in touchdowns allowed. The Vikings' high blitz rate could enable Flacco to capitalize on their isolated cornerbacks. In his earlier displays against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, Flacco threw for a combined 548 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, showcasing his potential for another high-production fantasy outing.

Fantasy managers should also note the shifting dynamics in the Atlanta Falcons' backfield. Instead of dominating the rushes, Bijan Robinson is part of a duo with Tyler Allgeier, who split carries evenly in Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Allgeier has shown his value with double-digit touches in two of the last three games, including 105 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. Facing the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns and fantasy points to running backs while also conceding the ninth-most rushing yards per game, both Robinson and Allgeier could achieve RB1 fantasy numbers this week.

Finally, for those scouring the free-agent pool, Miles Sanders might be a worthy gamble. The Carolina Panthers' recent trade of wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens has opened up more opportunities for Sanders. In Johnson's absence last week, Sanders and Xavier Legette led the team in targets with seven each. With Jonathon Brooks nearing his debut, Sanders could either be benched to preserve his health for a possible trade or be showcased, either way offering potential value for fantasy managers.

Keep an eye on these players as you make crucial decisions for your Week 9 fantasy football lineup.