The ninth Sunday of the NFL season featured one other enjoyable Josh Allen-Patrick Mahomes battle in Buffalo, a wild, defenseless slugfest with Caleb Williams and Joe Flacco offering monster numbers, preseason high tight finish Brock Bowers scoring three touchdowns and a league-high 43.3 PPR factors, whereas Cam Little, the Twentieth-most-rostered kicker in ESPN Fantasy, blasted the longest subject purpose in NFL historical past.
After all, fantasy managers are likely to at all times bear in mind the accidents first, and there have been a number of this week with long-range ramifications. Jayden Daniels, one of many high quarterbacks within the sport, suffered a major elbow damage late Sunday night time and, far earlier within the day, Tucker Kraft, the tight finish scoring chief this season, tore a ligament in his knee.
Every Monday, earlier than the present NFL weekend ends, we are going to determine gamers out there in a minimum of 50% of ESPN normal leagues worthy of your consideration, from normal codecs to deeper choices. The NFL is a weekly league, and participant valuation and roles seldom stay stagnant. It doesn’t matter the way you purchase gamers on your fantasy rosters, simply that you simply purchase them!
Quarterback
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Why Joe Flacco is a strong flex QB for fantasy managers
Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down why Joe Flacco makes a strong flex quarterback for fantasy managers.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (25.3% rostered in ESPN leagues): McCarthy (ankle) returned from a six-week (5 video games) absence and delivered 18.92 factors within the shocking win over the Detroit Lions. McCarthy accomplished solely 14 passes, however two went for touchdowns, and he turned a 9-yard run into his second speeding landing in three video games. McCarthy stays a bit uncooked as a passer, and maybe the Vikings don’t need him throwing the ball greater than 25 instances per sport, but when he retains working for touchdowns, fantasy managers should listen. McCarthy faces the (maybe) revitalized Baltimore Ravens protection in Week 10.
Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders (5.2%): Mariota has been right here earlier than, and with Daniels (elbow) sidelined for maybe the remainder of this misplaced Washington season, he’ll begin his fourth sport on Sunday towards the Lions. Mariota can’t run like Daniels (few can), however he does have 122 speeding yards and a landing briefly responsibility this season, so he is not the everyday backup QB. The Commanders have but to serve their bye (Week 11) — and that have to be an element for fantasy managers — however additionally they have video games with the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys looming.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (14.2%): Penix (knee) returned from lacking one sport to fireplace off three landing passes to Drake London in a 1-point loss to the New England Patriots. The ultimate tally was 22.74 factors, which is probably the most for Penix since Week 1 (24.02 factors). The Falcons play the Indianapolis Colts this week. It is going to be onerous to advocate Penix, however the schedule after that’s sometimes intriguing, with two video games towards the New Orleans Saints and one towards the New York Jets.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
The San Francisco 49ers declare that beginning QB Brock Purdy (58.9%) might return from his toe damage for Week 10 towards the Los Angeles Rams, and he could also be out there in your league(s). Backup Mac Jones (6.1%), who scored 15.8 factors Sunday towards the New York Giants, has performed capably. Whoever begins at QB for the 49ers seems value counting on.
Cincinnati Bengals hero Joe Flacco (32.9%) scored 30.8 factors in Sunday’s late loss to the Chicago Bears, his third consecutive week among the many high quarterback producers within the league. Alas, he will not do that in Week 10, because the Bengals are on their bye. Maybe you wish to stash Flacco anyway, in anticipation of future weeks. The Bengals nonetheless have two remaining matchups with the Ravens.
Las Vegas Raiders starter Geno Smith scored 26.26 factors within the extra time loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. You shouldn’t add Smith for Week 10 towards the Denver Broncos, however the defenseless Cowboys loom for Week 11.
Houston Texans starter C.J. Stroud (56.8%) left Sunday’s sport with a concussion, and we’d not know his standing for Week 10 towards the Jaguars till later within the week. Veteran Davis Mills (0.0%) did not precisely shine in reduction of Stroud, and the Texans misplaced to the powerful Broncos, however for these in superflex and deep codecs, each beginning QB for a given week certainly issues.
Working again
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Are each Giants RBs unstartable in fantasy?
Filed Yates and Daniel Dopp focus on Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary’s disappointing fantasy week.
Isaiah Davis, Jets (9.1%): The Jets come off their bye week and play the Browns in what certainly can be something however an offensive slugfest in Week 10. Nonetheless, we recall Davis, the backup to Breece Corridor, scoring 17.9 factors towards the defenseless Bengals in Week 8. Maybe it was a mirage, however Davis boasts expertise, and even when Corridor stays a Jet and wholesome, Davis has worth.
Devin Singletary, Giants (4.5%): Giants RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (86.3%) was featured on this spot final week and have become the most-added participant coming into Week 9, albeit with the unlucky caveat that maybe he is not actually going to assist fantasy managers all that a lot with Cam Skattebo out for the season. On Sunday at house towards the San Francisco 49ers, Tracy didn’t assist a lot. He turned eight touches into 37 yards and 6.7 factors. Singletary was not significantly better, turning 10 touches into 51 yards and seven.1 factors. Maybe neither Giants again might help anybody in Week 10 towards the Bears or past, however Singletary is the one out there in myriad leagues, and there simply is not a lot so as to add at working again.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Fantasy managers obtained enthusiastic about Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson (82%) towards the Atlanta Falcons as a result of beginning RB Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) was slated to overlook Week 9. Henderson turned 18 touches into 87 yards and a season-best 12.7 factors, however second-year possibility Terrell Jennings (10.6%) scored the staff’s speeding landing on a 3-yard scamper within the second quarter. Henderson’s annoyed managers don’t need any timeshare, however Jennings is larger and thus could be the “landing man.” Or not. Who is aware of? Jennings is not value an add in normal leagues but, however issues might change.
A number of different rookies made fairly the influence Sunday, together with Bears seventh-round choose Kyle Monangai (66.7%) and Broncos second-round selection RJ Harvey (67.6%). Monangai scored 22.8 factors within the wild win over the Bengals, whereas Harvey contributed 16.6 factors within the shut win over the Texans. They exceed our 50% threshold however maybe they’re out there in your league(s). Go get ’em, as a result of whereas each are prone to share touches, they’re actually good.
Extensive receiver
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Why Alec Pierce needs to be on the radar of fantasy managers
Matt Bowen explains why fantasy managers needs to be extra inclined to think about Alec Pierce after his Week 9 efficiency.
Christian Watson, Inexperienced Bay Packers (25.6%): Watson has seen exactly 4 targets in every of his two video games after coming back from a torn ACL in Week 8, however alternative could also be opening up with Kraft’s critical damage and rookie WR Matthew Golden (shoulder) leaving Sunday’s loss as nicely. Watson, now in his fourth season, has been a fantasy underachiever/disappointment a lot of that point, and QB Jordan Love stays reckless and inconsistent, however somebody apart from Josh Jacobs and Romeo Doubs should catch the soccer.
Alec Pierce, Colts (11.8%): The Colts scuffled in Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, however QB Daniel Jones threw 50 instances (24 passes within the fourth quarter!) and every of the staff’s high three large receivers excelled. Pierce was probably the most focused possibility, with another look than Michael Pittman Jr., and he registered season bests of six catches for 115 yards. As well as, Josh Downs (58.6%) caught a landing go. The Colts don’t need Jones throwing 50 instances in any sport, however Pittman is sort of universally rostered, Downs is standard, whereas Pierce is considerably forgotten. That appears odd. Pierce averaged 22.3 yards per reception final season, and he is at 20.9 YPR this season.
Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars (5.1%): This staff’s passing sport stays quite dysfunctional, and shedding Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter (knee) is not going to assist, however Washington stepped up Sunday with staff highs of eight receptions, 9 targets and 90 receiving yards within the extra time win over the Raiders. Star Brian Thomas Jr., one of many larger disappointments in fantasy, injured his ankle late within the win and will miss time. The Jaguars face a troublesome Texans protection in Week 10, however Washington might see sufficient quantity to matter anyway.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Seattle Seahawks rookie Tory Horton (7.3%) loved his Sunday night time in Washington with a pair of landing grabs, giving him 5 on the season, albeit on solely 13 receptions. That stage of success with so little quantity tends to be unsustainable, however so long as veteran Cooper Kupp (hamstring) stays out and QB Sam Darnold stays excellent, Horton could matter in deep leagues.
Bears journeyman Olamide Zaccheaus (1.2%) led the offense with eight targets towards the Bengals, turning six catches into 58 yards, a landing and a season-best 17.8 factors. Zaccheaus caught seven passes in Week 8 towards the Baltimore Ravens, and now we will ask if he’s changing into a legit issue within the offense. In spite of everything, DJ Moore hasn’t caught as many as six passes in any sport this season. Rome Odunze, September celebrity, was shut out on three targets Sunday. It’s untimely to name Zaccheaus, together with his fourth franchise over the previous 4 seasons, a protected pickup, however we’re trending in that course.
Wan’Dale Robinson (81.1%) is the Giants WR rostered in probably the most leagues, which is honest. Darius Slayton (14.9%) can’t match Robinson for season manufacturing, but when Flacco can generate greater than 40 factors towards the Bears, maybe Giants rookie Jaxson Dart can as nicely. Slayton earned a season-best seven targets on Sunday, producing his first double-digit PPR outing of the season.
Tight finish
Colston Loveland, Bears (23.6%): The No. 10 choose within the NFL draft from Michigan was our featured tight finish on this area final week however, oddly sufficient, he’s rostered in fewer leagues at the moment. The quantity should rise this week after Loveland scored a position-high 29.8 factors within the wild win over the Bengals, which included his game-winning landing within the closing seconds. (Begin your tight ends towards the Bengals!) As well as, the Bears misplaced TE Cole Kmet (concussion) throughout the sport. Loveland ought to proceed incomes extra targets in Week 10 towards the Giants.
Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (50.6%): The rookie scored 18.4 factors in Week 8 towards the Patriots, then hit the bye week. Now, he’s again! Similar goes for Jets rookie Mason Taylor (14.7%). The Browns really feel much less dysfunctional than the Jets (which is saying one thing), so go together with Fannin first.
Theo Johnson, Giants (33.2%): We have additionally talked about this fellow on this area, and Johnson continues to be a goal-line presence for the rookie Dart. He scored his fifth landing in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers. Once more, the Giants play the Bears this coming week. Johnson needs to be an element.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
The Texans don’t possess probably the most environment friendly offense, however TE Dalton Schultz (20.7%), regardless of nary a landing reception this season, has three double-figure fantasy outings in his previous 4 video games, and backup QB Mills actually regarded his method Sunday. Schultz sees constant targets, although not within the pink zone, and he could also be an improve on your squad.
With Kraft carted off Lambeau Subject on Sunday and going through an extended rehab from an ACL tear, backup Luke Musgrave (0.2%) ought to emerge as a gentle contributor for deeper codecs. Musgrave can’t carry out at Kraft’s stage, however he loved three receptions (season excessive) within the fourth quarter of Sunday’s gorgeous loss to the Carolina Panthers. We must always count on extra catches in Week 10 towards the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bye weeks: To Drop or To not Drop?
Three of the league’s more adept offenses are serving the Week 10 bye (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Bengals, Cowboys), in addition to the worst offense (Tennessee Titans). Three apparent Chiefs have to be stored rostered (Mahomes, Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce), and fantasy managers ought to maintain RB Isiah Pacheco (knee) round, too. He’s anticipated to play in Week 11. Transferring on from overrated WR Xavier Worthy (93.8%) is OK. He hasn’t scored greater than 11.1 factors since Week 4, even earlier than Rice made his season debut.
With the Cowboys and Bengals, maintain the beginning RBs (Javonte Williams, Chase Brown), WRs (CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins) and Dallas QB Dak Prescott and TE Jake Ferguson round. Bengals QB Joe Burrow (61%) is probably going in an IR spot for many managers. It might or could not make sense to maintain Flacco rostered. Lastly, the one Titans participant that ought to stay rostered is RB Tony Pollard, although he’s barely a flex possibility (if that) today. WR Calvin Ridley (60.7%) presumably could be extra beneficial if traded to a different staff.
Protection
The Buffalo Payments D/ST (36.5%) has reached double-digit factors in solely two video games, however the schedule is enticing for fantasy managers many of the remainder of the way in which. The Payments play the Dolphins in Week 10, then later face the Texans, Steelers, Browns and Jets.
The Ravens D/ST (42.4%) scored 12 factors in shutting down the Dolphins in Week 9. Subsequent up are highway video games towards the Vikings and Browns, then a house sport with the Jets. Maybe it’s not too late for the Ravens D/ST — standard on draft day however clearly a bust thus far — to assist fantasy managers.
Don’t count on myriad factors scored when the Browns D/ST (29.6%) and Jets D/ST (9%) face off in Week 10, and similar goes for the much-anticipated (OK, probably not) Panthers D/ST (4.4%)-Saints D/ST (1.5%) matchup. Nevertheless, the Panthers shut down the Packers in Week 9 and, as with the Jets, will face a rookie QB. Go together with the Panthers as an inexpensive streamer.