Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) looks to the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Seahawks defeated the Jaguars 20-12.

We’re approaching the time of the year when fantasy teams turn into pumpkins, or you’re dousing yourself in candy while taking in the sweets of your team’s standing. As October turns into November with the NFL and fantasy playoff picture heating up, here are three wideouts that need to be spotlighted heading into week nine and three who, well, might need to stay left behind in October.

Start: Michael Pittman Jr. (Indianapolis Colts)

Anything with the Colts offense can not go wrong right now. If you’re someone who drafted Pittman Jr. or picked him off the waiver wire once Daniel Jones turned into a new human, then congratulations. The Colts' offense cannot be denied right now, and Pittman Jr. has become the favorite target of Jones down the field. He has touchdowns in four of his last five games, and I don’t see that stopping against a pricey but downright disappointing Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Sit: Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals)

Last week, Joe Flacco threw to Ja'Marr Chase more than any other player on the Bengals combined. Flacco is still figuring out the way of the lands in Cincinnati, and he has chosen Chase as his safety blanket. Although that’s not an entirely bad idea, seeing as Chase is one of the best catchers of the ball in the sport, it leaves the team’s shining No. 2 option, Higgins, scrounging for anything he can get. Flacco and Higgins had a good game together versus the Steelers, but everyone has had success against them. Maybe if he’s lucky, he’ll get more than two targets this weekend.

Start: Travis Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Hunter had the best game of his young career in London against the Los Angeles Rams. He was one of the only bright spots for the team on the trip, as they were out of the game before the second quarter even started. With the future of Brian Thomas Jr. muddled and the standout sophomore receiver struggling mightily with confidence, look for Hunter to get more opportunities in a winnable matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Jaguars see Hunter as one of their cornerstones alongside Trevor Lawrence, and this might be the week they really try to get him his breakout performance.

Sit: DK Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers)

As we go on about Pittsburgh’s defense made of Swiss cheese, I’m also not too excited about their offense. They’re going against the Colts, and though Indianapolis has an explosive offense, it also has a good defense that has stymied much tougher offenses than Pittsburgh’s. Metcalf has slowed down a bit following two games earlier in the season when he combined for over 200 yards, and the Colts aren’t a get-right type of team for an offense to go against.

Start: Courtland Sutton (Broncos)

The Broncos broke out last week with a stampede of offense at home versus the Dallas Cowboys. Everyone took part in the touchdown party thrown by Bo Nix...except for their WR1 and his usual favorite receiver, Sutton. Nix tried over and over to get Sutton the ball in the end zone, to no avail, with a few miscues, a dropped pass, and a penalty all stopping him from getting that elusive six points. I believe Nix will want to make his best guy happy by getting him the ball early and often while facing the Houston Texans.

Sit: Jordan Addison (Vikings)

I don’t know what’s going on in Minnesota. They sacrificed Carson Wentz to the football gods last Thursday, which has ruled him out for the year following a surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. J.J. McCarthy is back, but will that really do anything when traveling to a Detroit team hungry to embarrass their divisional rival? McCarthy isn’t going to be throwing bombs or spreading the field, so I expect a healthy dose of runs, quick passes to Justin Jefferson, and bigger bodies. Addison, speedy and a deep threat, is going to have issues with a stout Detroit defense and a rookie quarterback who is going to be afraid to sling it across the field.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 9: WR Edition

Reporting by Tyler Erzberger, Touchdown Wire / Touchdown Wire

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