Sterling Shepard or Jalen McMillan Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Fantasy Football projections for Buccaneers WRs

Sterling Shepard and Jalen McMillan have seen their fantasy football values increase in recent weeks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team unfortunately lost Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to injuries, forcing their depth options to step up into larger roles.

The Buccaneers will again be without Evans and Godwin in Week 9 when they face off against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. This means that Shepard and McMillan are likely to serve as the top two wide receivers in this matchup. Here's which one is a better option to use in fantasy lineups in the final game of this week.

Is Sterling Shepard a good fantasy pick in Week 9?

Sterling Shepard

Sterling Shepard has been serving in a depth role for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for most of the 2024 fantasy football season. He has found his way to fairly significant playing time, appearing in more than 65% of the offensive snaps in four of his five completed games. This unfortuantely hasn't resulted in much fantasy production as he has recorded just 11 receptions on 17 targets.

The absence of Evans and Godwin haven't improved Shepard's output much as he has totaled just four receptions for 33 yards across his past two games. He will look to be more of a factor for the Buccaneers when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs this week in a favorable game script that could call for a ton of passing plays.

Is Jalen McMillan a good fantasy pick in Week 9?

Jalen McMillan

Jalen McMillan has received significant playing time during his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has played in at least 75% of the offensive snaps in four of his six games, but has failed to contribute much upside in fantasy football for most of the year.

This recently changed when Evans and Godwin went down with injuries, resulting in McMillan receiving 15 targets across the past two weeks. He has led all Buccaneers wide receivers during that time, so he has intriguing value in this particular matchup with the Chiefs.

Sterling Shepard or Jalen McMillan: Who should I start in Week 9 fantasy football?

Who Should I Start

Jalen McMillan is the recommended Buccaneers wide receiver to use in Week 9 fantasy football lineups over Sterling Shepard. He will be called upon to play a significant role this week as one of the top targets for Baker Mayfield against the Chiefs' elite defense.

Sportskeeda's Who Should I Start tool predicts that McMillan will score two additional fantasy points than Shepard. Despite Shepard being projected to record more receptions, McMillan's yardage expectations and touchdown probability make up the difference.