We did it! We have officially arrived halfway NFL season. And if math class has taught me anything, it’s that halfway through the season, most fantasy teams will be 4-4. This is called a normal distribution, a bell curve, whatever you want to call it. This also means that most fantasy football players are playoff bubble teams looking for that last push to the playoffs.
If you desperately need a win to get over .500, we’re here to help. Here are 16 players to start (or sit) before Week 9.
NFL WEEK 8 WINNERS AND LOSERS Aaron Rodgers’ Jets look is complete
Players who will start in week 9
Quarterbacks:
What world do we live in where Patrick Mahomes is no longer a “set it and forget it” fantasy option at quarterback. This week, however, he is. The Chiefs face a Bucs defense that has allowed more than 25 points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year. In fact, they only awarded less than 10 points once a year.
Essentially, Mahomes should have a pretty solid field in Week 9, and in a game that could end in a shootout, Mahomes will be a valuable asset.
Don’t look now, but Bo Nix has been a stud for Fantasy teams everywhere as of late. He has had at least 20 points in three of his last four games.
The Baltimore Ravens are not a bad defense, but they are a great team that forces opposing teams to pass the ball a lot. Nix will have insane volume in Week 9, which might be all he needs to get going. After all, the Ravens have given up the third-most points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Running backs:
The New Orleans Saints might be the worst team in the NFL right now. As long as Derek Carr is out, the Saints offense looks pathetic, meaning the Panthers could actually have a positive second-half game script this weekend. Regardless of the game’s scenario, the Saints are giving up more than five yards per carry on the season and have allowed at least one rushing touchdown in four straight weeks.
The New England Patriots are giving up 23 points per game to opposing running backs this year. That’s all that needs to be said. Also considering New England’s lack of offensive firepower, it’s possible the Titans play ahead in the second half. Expect Pollard to be fed very strong ground often in week 9.
Wide receivers:
Following the Defeat of the Vikings against the Rams on “Thursday Night Football”, Addison posted the message “Free 3” on social media. Addison wears #3.
While Addison would later defend this post, claiming that he was referring to their kicker Will Reichard, and that every time they get past midfield it seems like they come away with at least three points, we We can all agree, this is not the case. Addison is looking for an increase in volume. The Vikings will likely make a push to get him more involved immediately, and a matchup against a weak Colts defense that has averaged over 19 non-PPR points against wide receivers this season, means Addison could be ready for a big match.
Rookie Brian Thomas has been spectacular, and you probably already had him as a starter, but now with Christian Kirk out, Thomas could get an exceptional goal share. Additionally, the Eagles secondary has not been good this season.
Along those same lines, tight end Evan Engram also gets a boost moving forward.
Tight ends:
Fant has scored at least 10 PPR points in two of his last three games. Now, with a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, who have given up at least 13 PPR points to opposing tight ends in three straight games, Fant will have ample opportunity to produce, especially if Metcalf remains unavailable.
Welcome back, Hockenson! The former top-10 draft pick has earned more than a 25% target share through the first 15 weeks of 2023. While that likely won’t be sustainable in 2024, especially with Justin Jefferson healthy, he will always benefit from a majority of looks than other tight ones. endings don’t happen this year.
The match is also solid. The Colts have given up at least 13 PPR points to opposing tight ends in five of their last six games.
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Players sitting in Week 9
Quarterbacks:
Despite the release of a new “Call of Duty” Last weekend, Murray was still a solid quarterback against Miami in Week 8. However, the Chicago Bears are a much tougher defense, having allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per game.
There might be some debate given that the Bears have given up at least 20 points to opposing quarterbacks in two straight games, but one of those games was in London, where it’s difficult for defenses to score. adapt, and the other was Jayden Daniels, who got six. his points thanks to a last-second Hail Mary.
Is Stroud good? Yes.
Is he behind among his top two receivers and facing a Jets secondary that has given up the fifth fewest points per game to opposing quarterbacks? Yes too.
Running backs:
The Detroit Lions have been phenomenal against running backs this year, limiting them to five receptions or fewer in all but one game this season. Jacobs is not a receiver, which means his value will have to come from the field, where the Lions have given up just 4.15 yards per carry on the season.
Overall, Jacobs will likely be a touchdown-dependent play in a game in which the Packers could play from behind in the second half.
Outside of a three-touchdown outburst by the Washington backfield in Week 5, the Cleveland Browns haven’t allowed more than 16 non-PPR points to opposing running backs all season. Dobbins will still get the bulk of the carries, but don’t expect him to make a big impact.
If Deshaun Watson was still the Browns quarterback, Dobbins could have racked up unnecessary time points to help your team. With Winston under center for Cleveland, the Chargers could find themselves in a tight contest where they have to pass more than usual, and Dobbins doesn’t really catch passes.
Wide receivers:
If you’re expecting Amari Cooper to bounce back after a terrible Week 8, you’ll probably be disappointed. The Miami Dolphins secondary has been spectacular against wide receivers in 2024, having only given up more than 20 non-PPR points to opposing wide receivers once in their last four games. Although it was last weekend against the Arizona Cardinals, but given Cooper’s minimal involvement in the Bills’ offense last week, a negative game and the Bills’ willingness to run the ball when They lead (and they tend to take early leads when they play). Miami), it’s a disaster for Cooper.
While we should expect Hill to bounce back into overall WR1 territory soon, a matchup against the Buffalo Bills probably won’t happen when that happens. Hill has always done very poorly against Buffalo. He’s recorded three receptions or fewer in two of his last three games against Buffalo, and his connection with Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t yet appear to be where it was at the start of the season.
Tight ends:
After winning arguably the best game of his career, Otton will be stifled by the Chiefs defense. Week 9. The Chiefs are extraordinarily successful in limiting opposing teams’ best options. With Evans and Godwin out, Otton is the Bucs’ only proven receiver, which means the Chiefs will do everything they can to keep him from impacting the game, and they will likely succeed, as they have done all year.
The Detroit Lions haven’t allowed more than 60 yards to opposing tight ends all year. They have also only allowed one touchdown to tight ends this season. Kraft is a fairly touch-dependent option. He probably won’t provide teams with many points this week.
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This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 9: 16 NFL players to start or sit in your league
