With the fantasy football playoffs just four weeks away for most of you, week nine is another key week in deciding whether or not you will be in the playoffs or watching your friends gloat from the sidelines. 

With the Packers, Bears, Lions, Falcons, Titans and Bills on bye-weeks, the majority of fantasy footballers are going to have to dig deep to fill their lineup.

Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler are ranked third and sixth at the quarterback position respectively and are both out this weekend. With opposing owners salivating at the chance of you playing without a top quarterback, here are a few options to pick up on the waiver wire along with who is hot and who is not for week nine.

HOT: Ben Roethlisberger put up 44 standard league points last week against the Colts, who came into the game as a top team defending the pass. Facing the Ravens this week, who are without top cornerback Jimmy Smith, Roethlisberger should have a good day with his top receiver Antonio Brown facing off against a depleted secondary. Owned in almost 86 percent of ESPN.com leagues, there is a slim chance that he is available.

NOT: Andy Dalton is squaring off against Jacksonville this week, which automatically puts him as a must play for fantasy owners. Many fans underestimate the Jags defense, who are limited in effectiveness due to the amount of turnovers caused by their offense. Although Dalton should put up a decent score, don’t expect him to put up huge numbers. But with A.J. Green making his return this weekend, it’ll be a hit or miss.

Eddie Lacy is off this week after one of his best yardage games against the Saints. Here is a look at the running backs for week nine:

HOT: Jerick McKinnon is on this list for the second week in a row. McKinnon is facing off against a Washington defense who DeMarco Murray shredded on Monday. McKinnon is no Murray, but has been putting up solid yardage every weekend. If the Vikings can move the ball effectively, McKinnon’s eight and nine points will jump to 14 or 15.

NOT: Mark Ingram may be a surprise to many, but he is making his way onto the not list this weekend. News flash for some of you, he won’t be going up against the Packers’ defense every week. Ingram rushed for a career high last week but I don’t expect him to score 23 again this week. Ingram should be a play this week in many leagues because of the lack of top running backs available.

Wide receivers.

HOT: Brandin Cooks is ranked 20th by ESPN.com heading into tonight’s game. Cooks has been Drew Brees’ top target downfield this season. If the Saints can get some sort of running game going, Cooks will once again be running downfield off the play-action pass. Cooks catches the most targets, 80 percent, of any receiver in the league. Available in 51 percent of leagues, Cooks is a solid pickup for those who will be without Jordy Nelson and Julio Jones this week. And it is always nice to have a player in on a Thursday night game.

NOT: Keenan Allen is coming off of a week where he tallied over 70 yards and one touchdown. The Dolphins defense is on a roll after playing the Jags last weekend, but do not weigh heavily on that. The Dolphins contained Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey in week seven and should be able to stunt Allen’s numbers a bit. The upside of Allen that he does have Philip Rivers throwing him the ball.

Tight ends.

HOT: Despite not putting up mindblowing yardage, Dwayne Allen has scored a touchdown in six of his eight games this season. The Giants have allowed four touchdowns from tight ends the last two games they have played. Although he may not get the yardage you want, fantasy football is all about getting into the endzone, and Allen does just that.

NOT: Jason Witten is coming off of his best game this season, gaining a season-high 70 yards and scoring his second touchdown of the year. The Cardinals have allowed the 13th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, but don’t expect Witten to return to his old self.

Defense/Special teams.

HOT: The Vikings defense has been solid all year when the offense can keep ahold of the ball. Playing a Washington team who may have to start Colt McCoy again, the Vikings should be effective at limiting yards allowed.