For the first time since Week 1, both Christian McCaffrey and Michael Thomas are set to play in Week 9. Antonio Brown and Dez Bryant are making their returns to the NFL, and Chris Godwin is coming back from his one-game absence. For once, Week 9 is defined as much by who is playing as who isn't.

Of course, that doesn't mean you don't like tough lineup decisions to make, and the Fantasy Football Today team is here to help. In today's newsletter, I've got the latest on all of the injuries and replacements you need to know about for Week 9 along with answers to some of your reader questions in a Start/Sit #AskFFT mailbag. And you need to tune in to Fantasy Football Today live on CBS Sports HQ until kickoff. We're also answering your questions on our Twitch stream starting at noon and going until kickoff — and you can always drop your questions on Twitter using the hashtag "#AskFFT" because the whole team is answering questions this morning.

More Week 9 help: Starts & Sits, Sleepers & Busts | RB Preview | WR Preview |  QB Preview | PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet |  Matchup Notes | Game Previews | Sleepers |  Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB  | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: RB | Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: WR | Biggest Questions |  Waiver Wire | TE Preview | Trade Values |  Cut List  | Winners and Losers | Believe It or Not   

Here are the key injury situations we're watching out for Sunday, along with some potential fill-in options if you need help: 

• In: Matthew Stafford (Reserve/COVID-19)
• Out: Gardner Minshew (thumb), Sam Darnold (shoulder), Andy Dalton (concussion) 

In the majority of Fantasy leagues, Minshew, Darnold, and Dalton are afterthoughts, so most of you won't need to worry about replacing them. However, if you did need someone to play out of the three backups in those spots, Jake Luton would be the one to go with against the Texans. It's not a strong recommendation, believe me, but given the circumstances, he's better than Joe Flacco and Garrett Gilbert in what might be the two worst offenses in the NFL right now.   

• In: Christian McCaffrey (ankle), Josh Jacobs (knee), Phillip Lindsay (foot)
• Out: Mark Ingram (ankle), Chris Carson (foot), Matt Breida (hamstring), Myles Gaskin (knee), Carlos Hyde (hamstring), Devonta Freeman (ankle), Troymaine Pope (concussion)
• Legitimately questionable: Ezekiel Elliott (hamstring), Damien Harris (ankle)
  

For what it's worth, early Sunday morning reports indicate Harris and Elliott are more likely to play than not. If Elliott ends up sitting, Tony Pollard is a fine fill-in option -- he's actually looked better than Elliott at times this season, though the offense around him is bad enough that he wouldn't be a must-start guy -- while Rex Burkhead would figure to see a larger role if Harris is out.  

• Fill-ins to consider: Wayne Gallman (57%), Gus Edwards (54%), Nyheim Hines (50%), Joshua Kelley (44%), Jordan Wilkins (28%), Jordan Howard (27%)

• In: Michael Thomas (hamstring), Chris Godwin (finger), Keenan Allen (illness), Emmanuel Sanders (Reserve/COVID-19), Tim Patrick (hamstring)
• Out: Calvin Ridley (foot), Kenny Golladay (hip), T.Y. Hilton (groin), Sammy Watkins (hamstring), Adam Humphries (concussion), Golden Tate (coach's decision), Dontrelle Inman (hamstring)
• Legitimately questionable: Jamison Crowder (groin)
• Fill-ins to consider: John Brown (65%), Mecole Hardman (59%), Sterling Shepard (58%), Tim Patrick (44%), Darnell Mooney (32%), Russell Gage (27%) 

Thankfully, there aren't any big question marks at tight end, though if you lost George Kittle and don't feel great about your replacement, Logan Thomas (53%), Dalton Schultz (33%), and Jordan Akins (8%) are all worth considering. 

If you want your questions answered, head to Twitter and use "#AskFFT" and we'll be answering them all morning. Here are some of the key questions I received Sunday morning:

• Nik: Should I roll with DeeJay Dallas or Antonio Brown?
  

Let this stand as my final piece of advice on Brown: Give him a week. If Chris Godwin wasn't playing, maybe you could justify starting Brown in Week 9, but with the Bucs receiving corps at full strength, I'm just not sure how you can justify sitting Brown for anyone you have faith in. And I do have faith in Dallas as long as he's replacing Chris Carson. Travis Homer's return doesn't scare me much, because Homer wasn't touching the ball much even when he was playing. Dallas seems like a good bet for 15 or so carries and 4-5 targets, plus any goal-line work that comes along. He's a solid No. 2 RB in my eyes, while Brown is just a speculative/desperation flex until we see what his role looks like.  

• Kevin: I have the following running backs on my roster: Dalvin Cook, Josh Jacobs, James Conner, Chase Edmonds and David Montgomery. Which three of the five would you start this weekend? 
  

You're never sitting Cook or Jacobs, so that's easy enough. Typically, I would say you're never sitting Conner, either, but in this instance, I think you probably have to. Jamey Eisenberg has Edmonds as his Start of the Week for Week 9, and I'm inclined to go with him over Conner. The Dolphins present a less than ideal matchup for Edmonds' first start of the season, but he should see a ton of work as the lead rusher and in the passing game, and he's looked like a potential star when given the opportunity in the past. I wouldn't be able to justify leaving him on my bench this week.

• Eric: One WR, one flex from this group: Antonio Gibson, D'Andre Swift, Robby Anderson, Diontae Johnson, Corey Davis.
  

It would be a tough decision to sit any one of these guys, but I would start Anderson and Gibson. Anderson has just been too valuable in his role with the Panthers, and Gibson is coming off his best game as a rusher before the bye. Washington's run defense has been pretty good, but I'm hopeful Gibson is going to start to take on more and more work down the stretch, and I love the talent. He could be in for a big second half, and has a more assured role than Swift. 

• J.M.: I have Derek Carr and Drew Brees, who should I start?
  

Brees has been better this season and he does get Michael Thomas back, but I'm not actually sure that's going to change his outlook much -- it's not like he's going to start chucking the ball down the field with Thomas around. It'll still be a lot of short stuff, and the matchup against the Buccaneers makes this one a tough one to bet on for Fantasy. Carr, on the other hand, gets to face a weaker Chargers defense that likely won't have Joey Bosa (concussion). Carr is taking more shots down the field of late, and this one could turn into a shootout.  

• Jeff: One WR, one flex: Zack Moss, Sterling Shepard, Diontae Johnson and Melvin Gordon. 
  

I love Shepard this week, and I'm willing to play him over the frustratingly inconsistent Johnson with Golden Tate out. And I'll go with Gordon for the second spot. The matchup against the Falcons should see the Broncos put up points, and Gordon is the preferred pass-catching and goal-line back in his backfield, which should work out well against the Falcons, who always struggle to cover receivers out of the backfield.