Ahead of the New Orleans Saints' Week 9 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, let's take a look at the top players on both teams expected to make the most fantasy impact. 

Stafford has been great this season, finishing as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in three of his last four games. He leads the league in passing touchdowns and faces a Saints defense that has allowed 14 touchdown passes in seven games, the sixth-most in the league. Puka Nacua is set to return this week, further boosting the veteran QB’s fantasy appeal. As long as this game doesn’t get away from New Orleans quickly and the Rams don’t lean on the run, Matthew Stafford is a strong QB1 play for Week 9.

Shough is not a playable fantasy option in his first NFL start. While rookie Jaxson Dart has provided plenty of positives, the same should not be expected from the Saints’ new signal-caller in Week 9. The Rams excel at rushing the passer, the Saints’ offensive line has struggled, and Alvin Kamara is still not 100% due to an ankle injury. If you need a quarterback because of a bye week or injury, look elsewhere.

Nacua is a WR1 any time he takes the field. His understanding of leverage and ability to find soft spots in zone coverage make him a perfect fit for Sean McVay’s offense. Prior to his injury, Nacua’s worst fantasy performance came in a game where he recorded 11 receptions for 112 yards.

Olave is a shaky WR2/FLEX play this week. Week 9 marks Tyler Shough’s first start, and he’s sure to have plenty of nerves. It remains to be seen what type of immediate chemistry Olave will have with his new quarterback. Still, he should see enough targets to make him a viable fantasy option.

Adams is a solid WR2 against the Saints in Week 9. He had his best game of the season last week, catching three touchdowns against the Jaguars in London. However, he totaled only 35 yards, and Puka Nacua was still inactive. The only reason Adams isn’t a higher-priority start is the potential blowout implications of this matchup. He is WR13 in PPR format this season.

Williams is a high-end RB2 coming off the bye week. He’s a lock for 15+ touches and always has the potential for a multi-touchdown performance. However, this game could get out of hand sooner rather than later. While that scenario typically benefits running backs, Blake Corum dominated the touches in Week 7 once the Rams took a commanding lead. Feel confident starting Williams this week, and consider picking up Corum off waivers if you’re in dire need of a plug-and-play running back for Week 9.

The veteran RB is in a tough spot: there are concerns about his ankle, he’s lacked explosive plays this year, and the Rams are one of the toughest fantasy matchups for running backs. The Saints will likely be playing from behind for much of the game, and Kamara’s only saving grace could be the rookie quarterback using him as a safety valve in the passing game. Kamara is an RB3 in this matchup and is best to be avoided if you have other options on your bench.