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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




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

CFB

Notre Dame Opting Out of Postseason Amid College Football Playoff Exclusion
Zach Ertz

Ruled Out Sunday With Serious Knee Injury
Karl-Anthony Towns

Ruled Out Against Orlando
Draymond Green

Remains on the Shelf Versus Chicago
Jimmy Butler III

Expected to Return on Sunday
Jayden Daniels

Questionable to Return in Week 14 With Left-Elbow Injury
Immanuel Quickley

Now Probable Versus Boston
Bhayshul Tuten

Returns in Week 14 After Injury Scare
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Will Miss First Game of the Year on Sunday
De'Von Achane

Questionable to Return in Week 14 with Rib Injury
Joel Embiid

Upgraded to Probable Against Lakers
Bhayshul Tuten

Being Evaluated For Concussion
Daniel Jones

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Ja Morant

Doubtful Against Portland
Robert Williams III

Now Questionable Versus Memphis
Donovan Clingan

Questionable Versus Grizzlies
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Won't Fire Mike Tomlin This Year
Chris Olave

Officially Active in Week 14
Dalton Kincaid

Suiting Up Against Bengals
CFB

Kendal Briles a Candidate for South Carolina Offensive Coordinator Job
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James Madison Playoff-Bound After Duke Wins ACC Title?
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Notre Dame, Miami, Alabama on College Football Playoff Bubble
Garrett Wilson

Still Expected to Return and Contribute in 2025
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Brent Pry Could Return to Virginia Tech as Defensive Coordinator
Mike Evans

Could Return in Week 15
Trey Benson

Might Not Return This Season
Darcy Kuemper

Ends Losing Streak With Shutout Performance
Nikolaj Ehlers

Collects Three Points in Saturday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

Ties Franchise Record With 25th Shutout
Sam Bennett

Bags Season-High Four Points Saturday
Jordan Kyrou

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Saturday
Dominic James

Hurt on Saturday
Maxx Crosby

Trending Toward Playing Against Broncos
Chris Olave

Set to Play Vs. Bucs
LaMelo Ball

Won't Suit Up Against Denver
Immanuel Quickley

Questionable for Sunday Afternoon
Deshaun Watson

Expected to Stay With Browns Next Year
Klay Thompson

Downgraded Versus Houston
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Out Again on Saturday Evening
Tyler Herro

Will Miss Another Game on Saturday
Jimmy Butler III

Out Again on Saturday Night
Draymond Green

Ruled Out Versus Cleveland
Jose A. Ferrer

Mariners Acquire Jose A. Ferrer from the Nationals
Mason Marchment

Expected to Return Saturday
Danila Yurov

Returns From Two-Game Absence Saturday
Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Available Saturday
Harry Ford

Traded to the Nationals
Shane Pinto

to Miss Two Weeks
David Pastrnak

Misses Fifth Consecutive Game Saturday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Remains Out Saturday
Nikita Kucherov

Out on Saturday
Jayden Reed

Activated Off Injured Reserve, Will Play in Week 14
Omarion Hampton

Activated From IR, Faces Uncertain Workload Monday Night
Cody Bellinger

Drawing Interest From the Phillies
MacKenzie Gore

Will the Nationals Trade MacKenzie Gore?
Justin Herbert

Officially Listed as Questionable for Monday Night Football
Justin Herbert

Chargers "Expecting" Justin Herbert to Play in Week 14
Yves Missi

Trending Toward Game-Time Decision
Khris Middleton

Questionable With Knee Soreness Against Hawks
Noah Clowney

On Track To Suit Up Against Pelicans
De'Anthony Melton

Questionable With Knee Management
Draymond Green

Questionable With Mid-Foot Sprain
Mikko Rantanen

Picks Up Three Points Against Sharks
Kyle Connor

Scores in Fourth Consecutive Game
Beckett Sennecke

Notches Two Points in Friday's Win
Ryan Leonard

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Friday
Carter Hart

Day-to-Day With Lower-Body Injury
Brayden Point

Questionable for Saturday
Victor Hedman

Expected to Return Saturday
Byron Buxton

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Ozzy Wiesblatt

to Miss 8-10 Weeks With Upper-Body Injury
Rome Odunze

has Fractured Foot, Labeled Week-to-Week
Sauce Gardner

Ruled Out for Sunday
Petr Yan

Looks To Reclaim Bantamweight Belt
Merab Dvalishvili

Set For His Fourth Title Defense
Joshua Van

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Alexandre Pantoja

Set For Fifth Title Defense At UFC 323
Tatsuro Taira

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Brandon Moreno

Searches For His Third Win In A Row
Payton Talbott

A Favorite At UFC 323
Henry Cejudo

Set For His Retirement Fight
Jan Blachowicz

Set To Open Up UFC 323 Main Card
Bogdan Guskov

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
CFB

Emmett Johnson Leaving Nebraska for 2026 NFL Draft
CFB

Jam Miller Unlikely to Play in SEC Title Game
CFB

Penn State Expected to Hire Matt Campbell from Iowa State
CFB

Arkansas Targeting Ron Roberts for Defensive Coordinator Job
Jhostynxon Garcia

Pirates Acquire Jhostynxon Garcia From Red Sox
Cody Bellinger

Yankees Pushing Hard to Re-Sign Cody Bellinger
CFB

Penn State Eyeing Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell For Coaching Vacancy
Alex Bregman

Cubs Have Renewed Interest in Alex Bregman
CFB

Billy Napier Finalizing Deal to Become James Madison's New Head Coach
CFB

Buster Faulkner Set to Become Florida's New Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Joe Sloan Expected to be Kentucky's New Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Lane Kiffin Working to Keep Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker at LSU
CFB

Brian Daboll a Candidate for Penn State Head-Coaching Job?
Kyle Tucker

Visits With Blue Jays
Emilio Pagán

Reds Bring Back Closer Emilio Pagan on Two-Year Deal
Cedric Mullins

Rays Agree on One-Year Deal
Freddy Peralta

Brewers Considering Trading Freddy Peralta
Kyle Schwarber

Reds Serious About Adding Kyle Schwarber in Free Agency?
CFB

Brent Key Signing Five-Year Deal to Remain at Georgia Tech
CFB

Brian Hartline Expected to Land USF Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Collin Klein Expected to be Top Target for Kansas State if Head-Coach Job Opens
CFB

Chris Klieman Considering Stepping Down at Kansas State
CFB

D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
CFB

Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
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?

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