🖥 CYBER MONDAY - TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE CYBER
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Target Acquired: Surprise Target Grabbers from Week 9 and Possible Breakouts

The fantasy playoffs are only a couple weeks away. The bye has been in full effect. Owners are scrambling to fill their squad with worthy replacements in their stars' absences. The Bills, Lions, Colts, and Raiders all have the week off.

Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 9, and a look at possible breakout options for Week 10 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Surprise Week 9 Target Grabbers

Lance Kendricks - (TE, LA)

After two straight seven-reception weeks, Lance Kendricks has inserted himself into the Los Angeles Rams' offense. Kendricks was targeted a career-high 12 times and reeled in 90 yards; his most since December of 2012. Amidst the production, Kendricks dropped a crucial, routine catch on third-and-goal in the fourth quarter that would have inched the Rams closer to coming back against the Carolina Panthers. The team settled for a field goal and the loss.

Kendricks, despite the impressive showing, remains a matchup-based option. The Rams head to New York to face a Jets squad that has allowed the 12th most fantasy points to tight ends and 272.2 passing yards per contest, according to Yahoo! Sports. Kendricks has found the end zone only once this season yet could accumulate enough receptions and yards against a spiraling Jets defense to be a useful play this weekend.

 

Albert Wilson - (WR, KC) 

Albert Wilson tied a career-high with eight targets on Sunday, although he reeled in only three for 42 yards. One of those three went for a touchdown, his third in a professional uniform. Wilson could see another boost in target volume if Jeremy Maclin misses more time. Maclin went down with a groin injury early in Kansas City's win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The issues with trusting Wilson are that he's unestablished and still remains behind Tyreek Hill and Chris Conley on the depth chart. Hill is a guy you want to target more than Wilson when looking for bye week replacements off of the waiver wire.

 

Quinton Patton - (WR, SF) 

Quinton Patton is another wideout that had an inaugural showing on Sunday. Patton finished Week 9's shootout versus the New Orleans Saints with a career-high six receptions on a career-tying nine targets for 109 yards; his most in four professional seasons. He still has not found the end zone and has scored only one touchdown in his career, but looked to be favored by Colin Kaepernick as the team played catchup against the Saints.

Patton has emerged as the best option in the pedestrian group of receivers in San Fransisco, but heads into a difficult matchup against an Arizona Cardinals club that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts this season, according to Yahoo! Sports. He can remain on the wire, unless you're in need of a desperation punt.

 

Possible Week 10 Breakout Options

Cameron Meredith - (WR, CHI)

Jay Cutler returns, wins one game, against the Minnesota Vikings, and suddenly makes Chicago players relevant to fantasy again. The value of Zach Miller and Alshon Jeffery has remained steady throughout the season, but someone like Cameron Meredith has shown bursts of brilliance followed by moments of nonexistence.

Meredith exploded for noteworthy showings in Week 5 and Week 6, accumulating 20 receptions on 27 targets for 243 yards and a touchdown. In two games since, Meredith has reeled in only two catches on four targets for 36 yards. He didn't seem to mesh too well with Cutler in Chicago's win before their bye, but heads into a favorable matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to Yahoo! Sports, the Bucs have surrendered the third-most fantasy points to receivers, while they have already relinquished 18 touchdowns through the air. Meredith is a punt, but has enough upside to stir some appeal around his name. With all the attention likely pinned to Jeffery on Sunday, Meredith should see a ton of one-on-one matchups.

 

Marqise Lee - (WR, JAX)

It's difficult to trust a receiver on the Jacksonville Jaguars that doesn't answer to the first name of Allen. But Marqise Lee has been a bit of a surprise for fantasy so far. While only owned in 4% of Yahoo! leagues, Lee has put up some solid points for PPR leagues on three separate occasions. Against a stingy Kansas City defense last week, Lee posted four catches on eight targets for an impressive 84 yards.

It doesn't get any easier for the struggling Jaguars as they host a Houston Texans squad that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wideouts this season. But with Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns tightly covered, Lee could find plenty of openings to reel in enough catches to make him a worthy punt on Sunday.

 

Zach Ertz - (TE, PHI) 

After a solid season debut where he reeled in six of seven targets for 58 yards, Ertz missed the following two weeks with an injury. Following Philadelphia's bye, Ertz returned to the field but was unable to reassert himself into the Eagles' offense, catching only nine passes over a four-week span.

Week 9 proved to be a turnaround showing for Ertz, posting eight catches on eight targets for 97 yards, ushering his name back into waiver-wire-pickup consideration. Still likely owned in over 50% of leagues, Ertz is a streaming option against an Atlanta Falcons team that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season and currently own the 31st ranked pass defense in the league.

 

Other Options: Austin Hooper (TE, ATL) @PHI, Jalin Marshall (WR, NYJ) vs LA, Vernon Davis (TE, WAS) vs MIN




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Carted Off With Hip Injury on Monday Night
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
CFB

Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
Davante Adams

Not Dealing With a Serious Injury
Brandon Miller

Unavailable on Monday
Kyler Murray

Surgery Not on the Table for Kyler Murray
Duncan Robinson

Absent Against Atlanta
Marvin Harrison Jr.

in Danger of Missing Week 14?
Jalen Duren

Back in the Lineup on Monday Evening
Noah Clowney

Cleared to Play Versus Charlotte
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Active On Monday
Danila Yurov

Won't Play on Tuesday
Michael Porter Jr.

Back in Action on Monday
Sam Merrill

Unavailable Versus Pacers
David Pastrnak

to Remain Out Tuesday
Alexandre Sarr

Won't Play Versus Milwaukee
Adam Gaudette

Iffy for Monday
CFB

Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
Logan Cooley

a Game-Time Decision Monday
Josh Norris

Available Monday
Neal Pionk

Remains Out Monday
Lonzo Ball

Ruled Out on Monday
Jimmy Snuggerud

to Miss Six Weeks After Wrist Surgery
Justin Herbert

Having Hand Surgery on Monday
Steven Adams

Out Against Jazz
Kyler Murray

Cardinals Won't Open Kyler Murray's Practice Window This Week
Darius Garland

Unavailable Monday
Sauce Gardner

Not a Candidate to Go on Injured Reserve
Kristaps Porzingis

Out of Action Versus Pistons
Jayden Daniels

Not Cleared for Contact, Decision on Week 14 Status Delayed
Daniel Gafford

Sidelined Again on Monday
CFB

Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job
Trey Hendrickson

Doubtful to Return in Week 14
Tee Higgins

Still in the Concussion Protocol
Drake London

"has a Chance" to Play in Week 14
J.J. McCarthy

in Line to Start in Week 14?
Aaron Jones Sr.

Not Dealing With Serious Shoulder Injury, Likely Day-to-Day
Sam Darnold

Dealing With Ankle Injury, "Should be Good" for Week 14
CFB

Will Stein, Brian Hartline the Top Candidates for Kentucky Job?
CFB

Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler After One Season
CFB

UCLA Expected to Hire Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach
Sauce Gardner

Officially Week-to-Week with Strained Calf
CFB

Lane Kiffin to Make $13 Million Salary, Ties Kirby Smart
CFB

Buster Faulkner, Joey Halzle Candidates for Florida Offensive Coordinator Job?
CFB

Kentucky Officially Fires Mark Stoops
Justin Herbert

Has Metacarpal Fracture in Left Hand
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Week 14 Availability Up in the Air
VEG

Carter Hart Expected to Make Golden Knights Debut Tuesday
Andre Drummond

Leaves Early, Status Now in Question
Pyotr Kochetkov

Remains Without Timeline For Return
Boone Jenner

Close to Returning
Tre Mann

Uncertain for Monday's Game Against Nets
Lian Bichsel

Exits With Injury Sunday
Deandre Ayton

Leaves Game With Knee Soreness
Petr Mrazek

Injured in Sunday's Loss
Adam Fox

Placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Brandon Williams

Questionable With Adductor Issue
P.J. Washington

Uncertain For Monday's Contest
Daniel Gafford

Expected To Miss Second Straight Game
Zach Ertz

Leads Washington in Receiving in Overtime Loss
James Cook

Handles Career-High 32 Carries for 144 Yards in Win
Egor Demin

Available Against Hornets
Justin Herbert

Planning to Play Through Broken Bone in Left Hand in Week 14
Terance Mann

in Danger of Missing Monday's Game
Sauce Gardner

Likely to Miss a "Couple of Weeks" With Calf Strain
CFB

Lane Kiffin to be Introduced as LSU's Next Head Coach on Monday
CFB

Florida Poised to Land Jon Sumrall as Next Head Coach
CFB

Alex Golesh Taking Over Auburn Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Arkansas Expected to Hire Ryan Silverfield as Next Head Coach
Joel Hofer

Shuts Out Mammoth
Owen Tippett

Amasses Three Points in Saturday's Win
Stuart Skinner

Bounces Back With Shutout
Brock Nelson

Notches Four Points in Big Win
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Sustains Upper-Body Injury
Logan Cooley

Hurt in Saturday's Loss
Warren Foegele

Not Ready to Return Saturday
Simon Benoit

Won't Play Saturday
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles
Dylan Cease

Agrees With Blue Jays on Seven-Year, $210 Million Deal
Anthony Rendon

Angels Could Buy Out Final Year of Anthony Rendon's Contract
Josh Hader

Says his Shoulder is "Back to Normal"
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks "Actively Listening" on Ketel Marte

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP