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Welcome to Week 9 of the fantasy football season! As the NFL season rolls on, the stakes are getting higher, and making the right start and sit decisions for your fantasy team becomes increasingly crucial. Whether you're vying for a playoff spot, looking to maintain your position at the top of the standings, or just hoping to salvage your season, we've got you covered with the latest insights and analysis to help you set the perfect lineup.
In this week's edition, we'll delve into the most compelling matchups and player performances from the previous week to help you identify potential fantasy stars and avoid those who might leave you disappointed. We'll consider factors like injuries, recent trends, and strength of schedule to guide you in making informed decisions. With injuries continuing to impact rosters, waiver wire pickups can be a game-changer, so we'll also highlight some under-the-radar players who could make a significant difference for your team in Week 9. Whether you're in a standard league or a PPR format, we'll offer recommendations that cater to various fantasy football preferences.
The trade deadline is looming in many fantasy leagues, and the pressure to secure those elusive wins is mounting. So, don't miss out on the invaluable advice and insights in this week's start and sit article to give yourself the best chance of achieving fantasy football glory in Week 9 and beyond. Let's dive in and ensure you're on the path to victory!
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Week 9 Woos - Fantasy Football Booms
C.J. Stroud - QB, Houston Texans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a very disappointing week, I am going back to the well on C.J. Stroud. In what was expected to be a highly productive matchup, Stroud underperformed for fantasy managers with just 140 passing yards and a rushing score on the way to a QB24 finish (12.9 FP). On the season, he has been ahead of expectations as the QB16 (16.7 FPPG) on the year. But, there have been struggles over the last three games where he has failed to exceed 20 FP in each.
Most of the deeper analytical numbers have him ranked in the middle of the league, but an encouraging stat that I like from him is his yard per attempt (7.6), which ranks as the QB4. This shows that Stroud is willing to keep his eyes down the field for potential big plays for fantasy managers.
Heading into Week 9, he will be faced with yet another positive matchup to take advantage of as the Texans will be at home against Tampa Bay. A defense that has been very kind to allowing points to opposing quarterbacks over the last four games (21.76 FPPG). A positive for Stroud is that this Buccaneers defense has surrendered multiple touchdowns to quarterbacks in all but two games on the year.
On paper, this has all the makings of a matchup for Stroud to exploit as the Texans' running game will be limited against the tough Buccaneers front. I expect to see Stroud bounce back in Week 9, providing fantasy managers with a solid QB1 finish, and is a player that should be started in lineups.
Chuba Hubbard - RB, Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts
My how things have changed in the backfield for the Carolina Panthers. Signed in the offseason to be the RB1 and produce similarly to how he did in Philadelphia, Miles Sanders has just been bad. As Sanders has struggled, Chuba Hubbard has been there to take advantage. Over the last two games, Hubbard has posted a snap share in this backfield of at least 66%, while Sanders has fallen well below that mark.
Hubbard has also taken the majority of routes run between the two as well, making him out to be a low-key three-down back. On the season, he is still just RB39 with 8.1 FPPG, but the volume he has accrued over the last two weeks (37 touches) says that his fantasy production should be trending up.
The Week 9 matchup for Hubbard, given his volume holds, is a very juicy one. He will be facing a home matchup against an Indianapolis Colts defense that has been gashed over the last month by an opposing running back (30.70 FPPG). This defense has given up at least one rushing score in each of the last five games as well. With this game total one of the highest on the slate for Week 9, the assumption is that there will be several scoring opportunities.
As many fantasy managers are currently struggling to rub two running backs together and place them into a starting linuep, Hubbard presents an option who could return RB2 upside this week.
Demario Douglas - WR, New England Patriots vs. Washington Commanders
As the pieces continue to fall off the board for the Patriots receiving group, someone has to step up to the plate. That player could be none other than Demario Douglas, who has seen his route run percentage increase up to over 76% in each of the last two weeks. In those two contests, Douglas has been somewhat productive as he has seen 13 targets and nine receptions.
After the injury to Kendrick Bourne, Douglas was the player to step into the WR1 role for the Patriots and posted a 22% target share in Week 8. As the snaps and targets continue to increase, he could potentially become an upside play for fantasy managers and sneak into weekly lineups as a WR3/Flex option.
Going into Week 9, Douglas will have a chance to make an immediate impact. He will be facing a Commanders secondary that is among the league's worst in points allowed to the position over the last four games (40.68 FPPG). Over that span, they have also surrendered seven touchdowns, the most in the league. With the Patriots favored in this game (-3.5) and carrying an implied total of 22, there's a chance you could see Douglas targeted quite often this week.
If the pesky Commanders offense, led by Sam Howell, can make this a competitive back-and-forth game, I expect to see Douglas get into the end-zone and produce fantasy managers with a WR3 week. Making him a player worth sliding into your starting lineups.
David Njoku - TE, Cleveland Browns vs. Arizona Cardinals
What a difference a couple of games make. After the first three games of the year, the Browns' offense looked terrible and David Njoku was left for dead and likely found himself on fantasy waiver wires. But over the last two weeks, he has rebounded nicely and posted back-to-back TE1 finishes. Over those games, he has 17 targets (five red zone), nine receptions, and a score.
Even though he is just TE18 on the year in target rate (18.9%), Njoku is inside the Top 10 in both snap share (79.8%) and route participation (85.5%). If the Browns can get their quarterback situation settled and Deshaun Watson back onto the field, Njoku should be able to find the consistency needed to be a weekly starter at the tight end position in fantasy.
Heading into Week 9, the matchup for Njoku on paper looks to be one of the tougher plays for the slate. He will be facing a Cardinals defense that has been one of the best in the league over the last four games in points allowed to the position (6.98 FPPG). Outside of Mark Andrews last week, this defense has not allowed an opposing tight end to exceed three receptions or 26 yards since Week 3.
But in the case of Njoku, it appears as though he has been able to play well with either quarterback starting for the Browns. With most of the tight end position being a gamble for fantasy managers every week, I will ride the hot hand in Njoku and trust that he can keep things going. Look for him to again find the end zone in this game, making him an easy start in Week 9.
Week 9 Boos - Fantasy Football Busts
Justin Herbert - QB, Los Angeles Chargers @ New York Jets
After a torrid start to the season that saw Justin Herbert rank as the QB1 after Week 3, things have somewhat cooled off in recent weeks. He has still been providing weekly QB1 finishes (aside from Week 7) for fantasy managers, but the turnovers have started to creep up on him with four interceptions in his last four games. He has also not had a 300-yard game since Week 3, which is when the Chargers lost Mike Williams for the year due to injury.
On the season, he still ranks as the QB3 with 22.0 FPPG thanks in large part to the offense ranking inside the Top 10 in pace of play (2.23) and pass plays per game (36.1). With Kellen Moore as the Offensive Coordinator, expect to see those numbers stay fairly consistent as he will coach to his talent, keeping Herbert in play as a Top 5 QB in fantasy.
In Week 9, Herbert will be faced with a tough test as the Chargers travel across the country for a primetime game against the tough Jets secondary. A defense that has allowed just 14.95 FPPG on the season. Also, take into account that Josh Palmer and Gerald Everett come into this game banged up, which could limit Herbert's weapons to utilize.
Even though the total for this game currently sits at 40, I expect to see this one play to the under. A low-scoring game will cap Herbert's upside, keeping him out of play for a Top 5 finish this week. I see him as more of a fringe QB1 this week and even though fantasy managers will have to start him, you have to temper expectations in a game like this.
Isiah Pacheco - RB, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins
Isiah Pacheco is a player that was not a go-to selection for fantasy managers during draft season, but he has produced fairly well through the first half of the season. Although he does rank as the RB11 in total points on the year (109.9 FP), it does not tell the true story of his weekly performances as he is just RB18 in fantasy points per game (13.7). His production isn't blowing the doors down by any standards, he's just been steady and consistent.
He currently ranks as an RB1 in the major counting stats like rushing yards (459), receptions (24), and total touchdowns (4). But the volume he sees compared to his fantasy points per opportunity (0.81 - RB31) shows a somewhat inefficient player. But, with the nature of the running back position and injuries taking a toll, a player like Pacheco is valuable to fantasy managers as he is always on the field.
Those inefficiencies could catch up to him in Week 9 as the Chiefs head to Germany to face the Miami Dolphins. A defense that has been the best in the league over the last four games in points allowed to opposing running backs (13.73 FPPG). This defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 1 and has given up just two rushing scores since Week 4.
With this game carrying the highest total on the week (50.5), the implication is that this will turn into a shootout between two high-powered passing attacks. If that is the case, opportunities will be limited for Pacheco to produce for fantasy managers. Although he will be in fantasy lineups, managers should expect a lower production total from him in Week 9 than what they've been accustomed to.
DK Metcalf - WR, Seattle Seahawks @ Baltimore Ravens
When it comes to naming one of the more disappointing players in fantasy for 2023, DK. Metcalf may be at the top of the list. Through his first six games, he has yet to produce a WR1 finish for fantasy managers with only a single 100-yard game and two touchdowns. He has seen the targets pick up over the last two games (24), but that has translated into just nine receptions and 136 yards.
His five red zone targets in Week 8 were a season high and he was unable to convert one for a score. On the year, his expected fantasy points per game are 17.8, but he has been unable to reach that mark due to inefficiencies with Geno Smith as Matcalf ranks as WR27 with 13.2 FPPG. Looking into things a little deeper, his target accuracy of 6.5 ranks as WR63 while he also sits at WR83 in target quality rating (3.81). To put it mildly, Metcalf can blame his subpar play in 2023 on Geno Smith entirely.
Look for the subpar play to continue in Week 9 as he faces a tough task in a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens secondary on the road. A defense that has been one of the best against the position on the season, but has also been tougher over the last month surrendering just 26.23 FPPG.
I am expecting to see Geno Smith struggle yet again in this game due to the pressure that the Ravens can bring. Those struggles will of course trickle down to the receivers and Metcalf. Fantasy managers should view Metcalf as more of a WR3 from a production standpoint in Week 9 and brace for another subpar performance.
Trey McBride - TE, Arizona Cardinals @ Cleveland Browns
The fantasy darling for managers heading to the waiver wire in Week 8, Trey McBride came up huge for those needing to start him in a pinch. He produced a surprising TE1 finish in what was expected to be a minimal output against the Ravens' defense. But those junk time targets in the second half added up to a total of 14, 10 of which he hauled in for receptions.
Add in the touchdown he scored, his first of the year, and managers found themselves suddenly with another option to go to at the tight end position. Now, on the cusp of the return of Kyler Murray, McBride could turn into a weekly TE1 and potential league-winning type of pickup.
Let's see if McBride can do it two weeks in a row, as he will be facing another tough task as the Cardinals go on the road to face the stout Cleveland Browns defense. A defense that has been far-and-away the league's top unit in points allowed to the position over the last four weeks (2.23 FPPG). With the Cardinals likely to be going into this game with Clayton Tune as the starting quarterback, there will not be a lot of excitement from the fantasy community in terms of expected production.
With McBride being one of the top waiver wire additions last week, odds are fantasy managers still have options at the position to put into play. For Week 9, I would do just that and leave McBride on the bench due to the matchup.
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