Here are my fantasy football rankings for Week 9. You can find our expert consensus fantasy football rankings for the week here. And you can also sync your fantasy football league for free using our My Playbook tool for custom advice, rankings, and analysis.

• Pat Fitzmaurice’s Weekly Rankings
• Matthew Freedman’s Weekly Rankings
• Derek Brown’s Weekly Rankings
• Joe Pisapia’s Weekly Rankings

Be sure to check out my following notes on all the players/matchups this week from a season-long, DFS, player props, etc. perspective that shed light on “how the sausage is made” when it comes to finalizing my Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings.

Enjoy!

Check out all of our Week 9 fantasy football content

BYE WEEK TEAMS: Cowboys, Browns, Broncos, Giants, Steelers, 49ers

Thursday Night Football

• The Texans are allowing the league’s second-highest rushing TD rate (63%)
• Dameon Pierce is seeing all the volume in the Texans offense — 91% opportunity share and 59% route participation in Week 8 — which makes him virtually matchup-proof. And although the Eagles run defense looks challenging on paper, they still rank 30th in run defense EPA. They have benefitted from teams having to abandon the run, which won’t necessarily be the case with Pierce based on his recent usage in the Houston offense.
• The Texans WRs room is extremely banged up with both Nico Collins (out) and Brandin Cooks (questionable, expected to sit) missing practice this week. That will slide Phillip Dorsett into a larger role like in Week 8 when he ran a route on 91% of dropbacks with five targets (23% target share).
• Chris Moore ran 26 routes on 34 Davis Mills dropbacks (74%) but was not targeted. Tyron Johnson would likely start in place of Cooks if he does not play on Thursday. 
• Tight end Brevin Jordan ran the most routes at tight end (47%) and played the most snaps (56%). However O.J. Howard and Jordan Akins both earned red-zone targets. Howard also saw a deep target. 
• Start DeVonta Smith. A.J. Brown dominated the production with his 3 TDs and 37% target share in Week 8, but don’t overlook Smith‘s 27% target share. He converted his 8 targets into just 5 catches for 23 yards, which creates a buying window for aggressive fantasy managers. Entering Week 8, Smith and Brown had an equal target share in their last four games. He’ll bounce back based on his role in the Eagles offense, which tends to see him run more routes every week than Brown. Houston ranks 31st in yards per reception allowed to WRs this season. 
• So expect Brown’s production to also continue. He ranks 6th in yards per catch this season and the Texans are allowing the 7th-most receiving yards to opposing No. 1 WRs. 
• Bench Brandin Cooks. 70 of his 73 receiving yards came in total garbage time with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game last season. Before the two late targets, he was pacing for his lowest output of the entire season. Can’t play him versus the league’s best secondary after he ran fewer routes than Dorsett. 

Favorite DFS plays

• Jalen Hurts ($11,800)
• Miles Sanders ($10,400)
• Dameon Pierce ($8,600)
• DeVonta Smith ($8,200)
• Jake Elliott ($4,800)
• Phillip Dorsett ($4,000)
• Boston Scott ($1,800)
• Brevin Jordan ($1,000)

Sunday Early Afternoon Slate

Game 1 – Chargers at Falcons

• The Chargers passing game has been inconsistent all season, but the Atlanta Falcons are the prime get-right spot. They are the only defense that has allowed 300-plus passing yards per game. They also rank 31st in passing defense EPA. The Chargers rank 3rd in pass-play rate and Justin Herbert leads the NFL in passing attempts per game (44).
• So fire up your Chargers WRs, at least the ones that are healthy between Keenan Allen and Joshua Palmer. Palmer has cleared the concussion protocol, but Allen is still dealing with his hamstring injury. That puts his status in serious question for Sunday.
• The last time we saw Palmer (Week 6) he led the Chargers with a 22% target share with Mike Williams getting the Patrick Surtain coverage (2-for-17 on 6 targets). Palmer caught 9-of-12 targets for just 57 yards.
• Be slightly bearish with Gerald Everett. No Donald Parham Jr. or Josh Palmer in Week 7 and Everett still only ran a route on 58% of dropbacks. With those guys back after the bye week – even with Mike Williams slated to miss time – he is no guarantee. His usage has been fringe at best. However, based on the tight end landscape and the matchup in Week 9 – No.1 in targets allowed to TEs – Everett has to be started even with lackluster deployment. Especially if Allen is out. And Donald Parham is apparently still not practicing due to his concussion from before the bye week. Mt. Everett is slated to KABOOM. 
• Say the same thing every week when it comes to the Chargers. They. Cannot. Stop. The. Run. Dead last in yards before contact allowed (1.88) by a wide margin. And that issue is going to be exposed by the Falcons’ operation ground and pound. Atlanta has the highest run rate and run rate over expectation this season.
• So fully expect the combination of Marcus Mariota, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley to run HOG-WILD.
• Allgeier rushed for 39 yards on 14 carries but scored on a big play in the receiving game in Week 8. He finished with 3 catches for 46 yards and 1 score totaling a 49% opportunity share while playing 60% of the snaps. However, Caleb Huntley was the more effective rusher, tallying up 91 yards on 16 carries on a 46% opportunity share. He also earned the lone goal-line carry for Atlanta.
• Huntley is an easy plug-in play option versus the Chargers’ poor run defense after playing a season-high in snaps and seeing 16 carries for the second time in the last 3 weeks. He would move down in the rankings if Cordarrelle Patterson (activated off IR) suits up to play. 
• Austin Ekeler is averaging nearly nine targets and 7.5 catches per game amid all the WR injuries for the Chargers.
• Don’t start Drake London. 10 targets in his last 3 games.
• DeAndre Carter – cheap, Michael Bandy also cheap as salary savers.

Favorite DFS plays

• Justin Herbert ($7,200)
• Austin Ekeler ($8,800)
• Caleb Huntley ($4,900)
• Joshua Palmer ($5,100)
• Gerald Everett ($4,800)
• DeAndre Carter ($4,300)
• Michael Bandy ($3,500)

Game 2 – Dolphins at Bears

• No team is allowing a higher percentage of scores through rushing than the Chicago Bears (64%). Miami’s offense ranks fourth in red-zone scoring rate (70%).
• Go right back to Raheem Mostert and consider starting newly-acquired Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. in deeper formats. No. 3 most favorable matchup per PFF’s OL/DL matchup chart. The Bears already ranked 5th worst in rushing yards allowed this season and just recently traded away stud linebacker, Roquan Smith.
• Start Justin Fields: 63 rushing yards per game since Week 3. 8 carries in all but one game. Fantasy QB1 every week since Week 5. And a top-8 guy since Week 6. Miami ranks 7th in fantasy points allowed to QBs this season.
• Darnell Mooney owns a 27% target share (15th) and 41% air yards (10th) share this season. If there were ever a matchup to start him in, it would be in this game. The Dolphins are a bottom-10 defense versus WRs in regards to yards allowed and rank 8th in fantasy points to the position.
• Overall, Miami ranks 29th in pass defense EPA. 
• And the last time we saw the Bears play a defense that ranked above average in pass-play rate faced (Minnesota, Week 5), Fields threw for a season-high 208 passing yards. Miami’s 61% pass-play rate faced is the highest of any team Chicago has faced this season.
• Mike Gesicki‘s 58% route participation from Week 8 is major red flag, along with seeing an equal snap share alongside Durham Smythe. He benefitted when Smythe was hurt, but his role is reduced when the No. 2 tight end is active. Considering nothing stands out about the Bears matchup, he’s an easy fade this week.
• Poor Kyler Gordon. The rookie CB will be tasked with trying to stop Tyreek Hill from the slot in Week 9. Gordon has allowed the second-most receptions from the slot this season. Hill ranks No.1 this season in target rate per route run (35%) and targets per game (11.5).

Favorite DFS plays

• Justin Fields ($5,300)
• Darnell Mooney ($4,700)
• Tyreek Hill ($8,500)

Game 3 – Panthers at Bengals

• D’Onta Foreman bellcow szn. 26 carries for 118 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in Week 8. The backup, Spencer Brown totaled just 6 carries for 27 yards. 75% backfield opportunity for Foreman in his first official start. Chuba Hubbard‘s absence may have some looking to cash out on Foreman should the former return from a Week 7 ankle injury, but I think Foreman has shown enough to prove he is the starter moving forward. His schedule is also super favorable over the remainder of the season. And Hubbard has yet to practice in full this week.
• And that starts with the Bengals, who have been shredded by RBs over the last three weeks. They have faced nearly 30 rushes per game allowing an average of 127 yards on the ground; both rank inside the bottom 5 over that time frame. And over the last two games in the post CMC-era, Carolina is top-10 in early down rush EPA and rush rate. -12% pass rate over expectation, which would rank 31st compared to season-long numbers. 
• Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd each ran a route on 98% of dropbacks on Monday Night Football. Higgins edged out Boyd with 6 vs 5 targets, but both guys scored. I doubt we see Joe Mixon lead the Bengals in targets for a second straight week, so feel confident sliding back Higgins/Boyd into all starting lineups.
• I’d also be hesitant to view Mixon as a smash play. He struggled on the ground in Week 8 – 8 carries for 27 yards – and Carolina’s run defense is underrated. No.1 in run defense EPA this season.
• The Bengals secondary is banged-up. Chidobe Awuzie, Tre Flowers, Mike Hilton and Eli Apple are all on the injury report. Boasts well for D.J. Moore to continue his hot streak since the team traded Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson. Over the last two weeks, Moore owns a 37% target share. He’s averaged 110 receiving yards and 6.5 receptions per game.
• Second-year WR Terrace Marshall has also seen elite usage in the Panthers offense in back-to-back weeks running a route on 95%-plus of team dropbacks. He has a 21% target share and saw 2 red-zone targets in Week 8. Worthy of WR3 spot-start with all the bye weeks.

Game 4 – Packers at Lions

• This matchup pits the No. 4 red-zone defense (Green Bay) versus the No. 3 scoring red-zone offense (Detroit).
• And unfortunately, the game also projects as the slowest game on the main slate, mainly due to the Packers’ tendency to play slow and bleed out the clock over their opponents.
• Allen Lazard practiced on Wednesday which gives him a great chance of suiting up versus the Lions. Their defense plays a lot of man coverage (third-most) which Lazard has been very successful against this season. Top-10 in PFF receiving grade.
• Romeo Doubs – 38% catch rate vs man coverage. Bottom-10 this season. Amid all his inconsistent play this season, I’d recommend selling high with Lazard making his potential return.
• Doubs played the most snaps among the Packers WRs and led the team with 7 targets catching four for 62 yards and 1 TD in Week 8. 24% target share. Tight end Robert Tonyan finished second with 6 targets. But keep in mind that Doubs’ TD score came without Lazard in the lineup.
• Doubs will also likely draw the most man coverage from the Lions top cornerback Jeff Okudah. Through seven games, Okudah still hasn’t allowed a touchdown.
• As a result, the Lions defense ranks fourth-worst in fantasy points per game allowed to slot WRs…but 16th versus perimeter WRs. Doubs operates strictly as a perimeter WR and Lazard plays more from the slot. He has also only averaged 4 targets per game when both Sammy Watkins and Lazard have been healthy this season.
• Start Aaron Rodgers, despite how bad he has been this season for fantasy. Green Bay boasts the week’s fourth-highest implied team total (26.25), and the Lions rank second in fantasy points allowed to QBs this season.
• Start Aaron Jones. The Packers No. 1 running back carried the ball 20 times for 143 yards while catching four of 5 targets for 23 yards on a 67% snap share/69% opportunity share in Week 8. A.J. Dillon tallied just 11 touches (10 carries, 1 catch) while playing 42% of the snaps. It’s back-to-back weeks where Jones has dominated the usage over Dillon – Jones has out-touched Dillon 41 to 15 – as the Packers lean more on their No.1 runner.
• Detroit ranks last in rushing defense EPA, second-to-last in rushing TDs allowed and third in rushing yards allowed to RBs.
• Amon-Ra St. Brown finished with 7 catches for 69 yards on a team-high 10 targets (27% target share). As the target hog in the Lions offense, St. Brown remains a screaming buy across all fantasy formats. Especially now that T.J. Hockenson‘s 18% target share has been completely removed from the offense. ASB famously broke out at the end of 2021 when Hockenson missed the final five weeks. ASB averaged 8-plus receptions and 95 receiving yards per game.
• D’Andre Swift finished with just 5 carries for 6 yards but caught five passes for 27 yards and 1 TD receiving on five targets in his first game since Week 3. However, Swift totaled just 10 touches to Jamaal Williams’ 13. Williams also scored 2 rushing TDs.
• But Swift still played more snaps (55%) and ran a route on 54% of dropbacks. Considering the struggles of the Lions defense so far this season – they can’t stop anybody – I’d be a buyer of Swift after a so-so game. It’s not crazy to think he was being eased back after so much time missed. I’d expect a potential eruption spot versus a Packers run defense that ranks fourth in rushing yards (5.1 yards per carry) allowed to RBs this season.

Favorite DFS plays:

• Aaron Jones ($7,400)
• Amon-Ra St. Brown ($6,600)
• Kalif Raymond ($4,000)
• D’Andre Swift ($6,400)

Game 5 – Raiders at Jaguars

• It’s been a very up-and-down season for Trevor Lawrence. Four fantasy QB1 finishes and 4 outside the top 20. But a great matchup in Week 9 versus the Raiders. Las Vegas gives up the most fantasy points to the QB position. The Black Holes’ red-zone defense ranks 31st and the majority of those scores have come through the air (68%, 26th).
• Bodes well for wide receiver Christian Kirk, who leads the Jaguars in red-zone targets and ranks the in the NFL in target share inside the 10-yard line (43%). LV is also a bottom-10 defense against slot WRs this season.
• Keep starting Evan Engram. He was the Jaguars leading receiver (4-55-1) on 6 targets (21% target share) in Week 8. He played 93% of the snaps and ran a route on 94% of dropbacks, which is going to provide him with a super-high weekly floor. He’s got a great matchup on tap versus the Raiders in Week 9. They rank third in fantasy points per game allowed to TEs.
• Travis Etienne WENT bananas in Week 8. 24 carries for 156 yards and one rushing TD. Added 3 catches on 3 targets for 6 yards. 79% opportunity share. No. 2 running back JaMycal Hasty compiled only four carries, but 4 targets. ETN’s receiving usage still leaves a lot to be desired. Although running a route on 57% of dropbacks is solid, and that leaves room for his role to grow in the passing game. And a matchup versus the Raiders heavy zone defense lends itself to Etienne exploding as a receiver. Their defense ranks second in targets and receptions to RBs this season.

Favorite DFS plays

• Travis Etienne Jr. ($6,300)
• Davante Adams ($8,100)
• Zay Jones ($4,100)
• Evan Engram ($3,300)

Game 6 – Colts at Patriots

• The Patriots rank second-best vs fantasy RBs this season in fantasy points per game.
• Jonathan Taylor has one top-22 finish in half-point scoring this season (Texans, Week 1). He is the RB16 in expected fantasy points per game (12.0) and RB36 in points per game (8.4) since Week 2.
• This game has the single-lowest total on the slate (39.0), but projects to be the second-fastest in pace. That suggests that we will have decent play volume, although probably not to the extent based on season-long averages. The Colts’ pass rate over expectation dropped to -7% with Sam Ehlinger at QB. Their plays per game dropped from 69 (top-5) to 54 (bottom-5) in Week 8. Ergo, this is a game that will likely only have enough juice to carry one or two players, and that’s assuming the Patriots can force Indianapolis to play faster.
• Jakobi Meyers is hard to get away from based on his super-high floor (26% season-long target share), but he has a tougher matchup in the slot this week that may hinder his ceiling. Colts have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to WRs this season and the fewest in the slot.
• Michael Pittman Jr. led the Colts with 9 targets catching 7 for 53 yards (39% target share) in Ehlinger’s first start. His 39% target share was the second-highest mark in Week 8. He also almost scored a rushing TD. The performance is encouraging for Pittman for the remainder of the season, as his new QB is dead set on hyper-targeting him. However, we have seen before how volatile fringy QBs can be supporting WRs especially when they only throw 23 times like Ehlinger did in Week 8. If possible, I’d see if I can sell high on Pittman based on his target share alone. He’s got the Patriots and Eagles in 2 of his next 3 matchups.
• The Patriots defense ranks first in completion percentage allowed on defense (57.4%) which foreshadows a low-efficient outing for Pittman in Week 9, even if he is getting volume. Because get this…Pittman has seen 8-plus targets in all but one game this season. He has two top-6 finishes, with all others ranking outside the top-36.
• Pittman will also likely draw coverage from rookie Jack Jones on nearly half his routes. Jones is PFF’s highest-graded CB this season, allowing a bottom-5 passer rating when targeted.
• Alec Pierce‘s usage from Week 8 is worth noting as well. He filled in as the team’s primary deep threat, commanding 100 air yards. The Patriots rank top-5 in yards/catch to WRs this season, so there’s a chance he could haul in a deep one. Pierce was targeted on 26% of his routes run in Week 8.
• Rookie Tyquan Thornton ran a route on 84% of the dropbacks after DeVante Parker left due to injury. He’s going to play a full-time role if Parker is out (most likely) in Week 9.

Game 7 – Bills at Jets

• The Buffalo Bills have the highest implied team total on the slate (30).
• This matchup has the 6th-highest projected pace of play.
• The Jets secondary is the strength of their defense with cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed Jr. both grading out as top-5 CBs per PFF this season. The defense collectively has allowed the third-fewest receiving yards to WRs this season (125/game).
• The tough matchup on the perimeter suggests another boom-or-bust outing for Gabe Davis. Although the matchup does not up-end Davis’ 28% target share from Week 8 that was a season-high. No other Bill (besides Stefon Diggs) saw more than 3 targets (Dawson Knox). He also saw almost 100 air yards and combined for three red-zone/deep targets.
• The Jets weakness is definitely with slot cornerback Michael Carter II, which makes Isaiah McKenzie a sneaky starting option. Carter ranks fourth in targets and third in receptions allowed from the slot this season. Although, ,McKenzie’s role in the Bills offense should not be overblown. His route participation was just 53% in Week 8 as he continues to split slot reps and WR3 duties with Khalil Shakir. Also, Diggs played nearly half of his snaps from the slot in Week 8, as the Buffalo looks to get their No.1 playmaker more favorable looks.
• Michael Carter went 7-26-0 rushing and 4-35-0 receiving in Week 8 as the starter. He also added 7 targets on a 58% opportunity share. The 2nd-year RB led the Jets backfield with 11 touches – 3 of which were in the red zone. James Robinson may overtake Carter as the starter on early downs (5 for 17 rushing in Jets debut), but Carter’s receiving usage and goal-line deployment suggest he will have the most fantasy value in Gang Green’s backfield. Especially versus the Bills, who project to be playing with a lead in Week 9 as 13-point road favorites. It’s the receiving that is Carter’s only path to production as the Bills rank No. 1 in fewest yards allowed before contact (1.06).
• Devin Singletary out-touched rookie James Cook 15 to 6 on a 73% opportunity share in Week 8. The team could have increased the rookie’s role post-bye week, but instead went right back to the veteran as their bellcow. Still, it’s encouraging that Cook has at least supplanted Zack Moss as the clear-cut RB2 and is worth stashing should an injury occur to Singletary. At least that was the initial thought until the Bills traded for Nyheim Hines. It remains to be seen how big Hines’ role will be in Week 9, but he will surely eat into Singletary’s role as the receiver out-of-the-backfield. That’s probably not a concern against the Jets, where the Bills should find room to run playing with a lead. The rushing role still belongs solely to Singletary, who has at least 14 carries and 67 rushing yards in back-to-back games.
• Garrett Wilson ran a route on 98% of dropbacks and commanded a 21% target share from Zach Wilson. Wilson has earned a 21% target share over the last four weeks, which bodes well for him moving forward as the Jets’ WR1. The team seems to have no interest in getting Elijah Moore on the field (17% snap share in Week 8) and Corey Davis remains sidelined with an injury…so the rookie will be a major benefactor when the Jets’ schedule gets easier during the second half of the season. And it’s by no means a coincidence that without their star running back Breece Hall, Wilson attempted 41 passes – a season-high and the second-most in his career – to go along with 400 air yards.
• Buffalo ranks top-10 in fantasy points allowed to WRs since Week 5- mostly by way of sheer passing volume and TDs allowed – so Wilson has fantasy WR3 status as the alpha in New York’s passing game.
• Tyler Conklin comeback szn. Conklin has run a route on 72%-plus of dropbacks the last two weeks, a return to form to his early season usage. This puts him back in the tight-end streaming conversation, especially if the Jets stay pass-happy without Hall at RB. He also saw 4 targets of 20-plus yards (149 air yards) and a 29% target share in Week 8.

Favorite DFS plays:

• Gabe Davis ($6,900)
• Garrett Wilson ($4,800)
• Tyler Conklin ($3,200)

Game 8 – Vikings at Commanders

• The Vikings have allowed the league’s highest red zone scoring percentage this season (78%), allowing an 86% conversion rate in their last 3 games. 86% of the scores have come through the air.
• Curtis Samuel‘s production has tailed off the last two weeks with the QB change. Just 4 receptions per game on a 19% target share. But he also has nine carries. And his Week 9 slot matchup is one you want to target. Vikings slot CB Chandon Sullivan has faced the most targets from the slot per game and a league-high 446 receiving yards this season.
• Minnesota also runs a lot of zone coverage – second-most – and Antonio Gibson leads the Commanders in zone targets (8) the last two weeks. AG’s role as a receiver isn’t going away. Nor is his low-key status as RB1 in the backfield.
• Gibson finished second on the Commanders with seven targets catching all 7 for 58 yards and 1 TD (23% target share) in Week 8 after drawing the start. Rookie Brian Robinson totaled just 8 carries for 20 yards and zero TDs. Only 1 more carry and rushing yard than Gibson. Week 8 was also the first time since Robinson’s return that Gibson out-touched and out-snapped the rookie RB (36% vs 25%). 48% opportunity share for AG. He has an 18% target share and over 200 yards from scrimmage in his last 3 games. 13.5 touches over the last two weeks. Chasing the snaps and Gibson’s efficient play should be the move for fantasy managers this week with Washington’s upcoming schedule favorable for RBs.
• Start Kirk Cousins. Washington’s defense is allowing the fourth-highest passing TD rate (74%). Washington’s run defense is much tougher – 2nd in run defense EPA, No.1 in lowest rushing conversion rate inside the 5-yard line – so the offensive approach by Minnesota should be attacking through the air, especially in the red zone. The Vikings have the second-highest pass rate and pass rate over expectation (+13%) in the red zone this season.
• Only Allen Robinson (12) and Cooper Kupp (10) have combined for more red-zone targets among teammates this season than Justin Jefferson (11) and Adam Thielen (9).
• Terry McLaurin has been on a hot streak the last two weeks with Taylor Heinicke at quarterback. 26% target share. 57% air yards share. And 93 receiving yards per game. He’s in another great spot this week versus a Vikings defense that ranks fourth in receiving yards allowed per game to WRs.

Favorite DFS plays:

• Kirk Cousins ($6,200)
• Justin Jefferson ($8,600)
• Adam Thielen ($5,600)
• Antonio Gibson ($5,500)
• Terry McLaurin ($5,900)

Sunday Late Afternoon Slate

Game 9 – Seahawks at Cardinals

• Don’t have faith that any Cardinals running back will be effective on the ground versus the Seahawks. They are tasked with running behind a banged-up offensive line that is at the biggest disadvantage this week per PFF’s OL/DL matchup chart. It’s TD-or-bust because Seattle has faced most rushes inside the 5-yard line this season.
• As great as the Seahawks offense has been this season, it’s been a bit overblown. They have smashed very-low expectations, but they rank 31st scoring in the red zone. Only Denver (led by a former Seattle QB) has a worse red-zone scoring offense. However Arizona’s defense has not been great defending in the red area, ranking 24th in red-zone defense.
• If you need a tight-end streamer, you don’t have to look much farther than Seattle’s tight end room. Both Noah Fant and Will Dissly ran a route on 59% of dropbacks in Week 8, but each only saw two targets. They have flipped-flopped back and forth in terms of usage and production all season, so it’s hard to confidently project one over the other. Fant has one more catch (22 vs 21) and a higher target share (11.5% vs 9%) than Dissly, but it’s very close. Ultimately Fant’s YAC/ability gives him the slight edge versus a defense that ranks dead last in yards after the catch allowed this season. But that’s not to say that you need to get away from Dissly if he is the only option available on waivers. Guy has been sneaky efficient this year. No. 1 catch rate (95%), 4th in TDs (3) and 13th in yards per route run (1.51).
• The only reason we are talking about these fringy Seahawks tight ends is the divine matchup. Arizona is tied with Seattle for the league lead in fantasy points allowed to TEs. Fant caught six-of-seven passes for 45 yards the last time he faced the Cardinals.
• This matchup features the third-highest projected pace of play, so I’d anticipate a high-scoring environment which is also considered given the 50.5-point betting total.
• Kenneth Walker III posted a 91% opportunity share in Week 8, with 19 touches and 46% route participation. He rushed for nearly 100 yards and 1 TD back in Week 6 in his first matchup versus Arizona. Seattle’s OL ranks third in yards created before contact. 5.6 yards per carry to Dalvin Cook in Week 8, nearly half of which came before contact.
  
• Rondale Moore ended Sunday with a 7-92-1 receiving stat line on 8 targets (18% target share). But more importantly, he ran a route on nearly every single one of Kyler Murray‘s dropbacks (98%). And he moved back into the slot, running nearly 51% of his routes from inside. When Moore has played at least 50% from the slot this season, he has had at least 8 targets. Interestingly enough, the only weeks he has not played in the slot have been when A.J. Green has been inactive. When Green is healthy, it’s a green light for Moore’s production to continue. The last time Moore faced Seattle he earned 10 targets. 
• DK Metcalf is a GOD. 6 for 55 yards and 1 touchdown on 10 targets after he seemed like a no-go to even play in Week 8. And Metcalf could have had an even bigger game because he went 0-3 on three deep shots (149 air yards) from Geno Smith. Tyler Lockett finished right behind him with 8 targets, catching 5 for 63 and 1 score (after he dropped one earlier).
• My lean is towards Metcalf based on his dominant 27% target share in his last two healthy games.

Favorite DFS plays:

• Will Dissly ($3,000)
• Noah Fant ($2,900)
• Kenneth Walker ($6,200)
• DK Metcalf ($6,400)

Game 10 – Rams at Buccaneers

• Leonard Fournette is a screaming bust for Week 9. The Los Angeles Rams defense ranks 6th in run defense EPA this season because they have faced the third-fewest rushes inside the 5-yard line and allowed the third-lowest TD conversion rate on goal-line carries (25%). Considering the Buccaneers’ extremely low team total (23 points, 16th) in the second-lowest totaled game of the week, this is hardly a spot for Lenny to salvage his fantasy day with a late TD score like last week. Tampa Bay ranks 30th in red-zone scoring and the Rams rank 3rd in red-zone scoring defense. Not ideal.
• Lombardi Lenny has seen 12 or fewer touches for two straight games, while rookie Rachaad White has seen 7 touches for three straight weeks. Fournette rushed just 9 times for 24 yards (2.7 yards per carry) versus the Ravens. He ranks dead last in the NFL in rushing EPA. And both running backs saw three targets despite Fournette running a route on 73% of dropbacks. Fournette remains a sell-high candidate amid his efficiency woes, and White imposing his will as a threat to Lenny’s workload.
• Although this game may not feature a lot of scoring from two struggling offenses, we should see an ample amount of plays run on each side based on each team’s projected pace of play. This matchup ranks No.1 per Brandon Gdula’s NFL pace and pass rate report.
• Neither team can run the ball – both teams rank top-5 in pass rate – so there should be a plethora of passing volume to feed the WRs and TEs.
• The Rams defense is allowing the league’s second-highest completion rate to WRs (71%). They have been much tougher versus TEs however, ranking top-3 in fewest targets and catches allowed to the position.
• Over the last 3 weeks, Chris Godwin has 36 targets (28% target share) with Mike Evans not far behind (30 targets, 24% target share). Although the Rams’ zone-heavy defense suggests another busy day for Godwin. He leads the team in targets (41) vs zone this season.
• Van Jefferson ran a route on 64% of Matthew Stafford‘s dropbacks, ahead of Bennett Skowronek (47%) and behind Allen Robinson (89%). Although he was not targeted, he should see an increase in looks should Cooper Kupp miss anytime with his day-to-day ankle injury.
• After being a complete non-factor to start the season, A-Rob has put together back-to-back solid outings. 21% target share and 5 catches in back-to-back weeks with 1 TD. He is tied with Travis Kelce for the league-lead in targets inside the 10-yard line (10).
• Tyler Higbee only ran a route on 42% of dropbacks because of an injury in Week 8, but still managed 6 targets (40% target rate per route run). The dude will be PEPPERED if Kupp misses any games. Way too cheap at $3.7K on DraftKings this week. Tampa Bay is a top-5 matchup for TEs this season.
• Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting are back to practicing in full. Davis hasn’t played since Week 6, while Murphy- Bunting last played in Week 5. Despite all the injuries…Tampa still ranks 6th in pass defense EPA this year, allowing fewer than 200 passing yards per game (6th-best). Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are the only two QBs to score 20-plus fantasy points versus the Bucs this season. Matthew Stafford has scored 20 fantasy points once this year (Atlanta). He’s QB20 in ECR and could finish even worse if Cooper Kupp is not 100%. Van Jefferson may not be fully healthy. The Rams’ 6th-lowest implied team total says ALL. 

Favorite DFS plays:

• Chris Godwin ($6,200)
• Tyler Higbee ($3,700)

Sunday Night Football

Game 11 – Titans at Chiefs

• The Titans are not giving up production on the ground. They have allowed a league-low 6% rushing TD percentage to their opponents. Second best in that category? The KC Chiefs defense is at 15%. Needless to say, the scoring in this contest will most likely be coming through the air on both sides. And there should be sufficient scoring on each side, considering the Titans/Chiefs ranks first and second respectively in red-zone scoring efficiency.
• KC ranks first in pass-play rate faced and TEN ranks fourth. The Patrick Mahomes-led offense ranks first in pass rate over expectation overall and in the red zone.
• All reasons to fade the Chiefs running backs into oblivion. Let’s recall the last time we saw them…
• Isiah Pacheco earned a 40% opportunity share in the Chiefs backfield after being named the starter in Week 7. He led the team in carries (8) and rushing yards (43), but Clyde Edwards-Helaire scored on 1 of his 6 carries. Pacheco also totaled half of his carries in the second half. Neither caught any passes. Jerick McKinnon caught 2-of-3 targets for 36 yards.
• This backfield is a three-headed mess with each guy carving out a niche role. Pacheco is the best pure rusher, CEH has a nose for the end zone and McKinnon is the preferred pass-catching specialist. Ergo, none of them are going to be reliable week-to-week in an offense that would rather just let Patrick Mahomes sling the rock. So sell CEH or any of these Chiefs RBs. Edwards-Helaire played just 27% of the snaps and had just 6 touches. Third-worst schedule over the rest of the season and the second-worst over the next two weeks per PFF.
• Need a sneaky start in deeper formats with bye weeks? Look no further than Dontrell Hilliard. 29% target rate per route run and 17% target share in his last four games played. The Chiefs rank dead last in targets, receptions and receiving yards allowed to RBs this season.
• Start Marquez-Valdes Scantling. He leads all Chiefs WRs in air yards (25%), aDOT (12.7) and saw 100-plus air yards (two deep targets) back in Week 7. In 2 of his last 3 games, he’s surpassed 90-plus receiving yards. The Titans rank dead last in DVOA versus the deep ball this season.

Monday Night Football

Game 12 – Ravens at Saints

• No game projects for a slower pace of play than Baltimore-New Orleans. So this is hardly a spot where you are looking to jam in ancillary pieces.
• Rashod Bateman left Week 8 after playing just 17% of the snaps. He saw just one target. In relief, Devin Duvernay and James Proche led the Ravens WRs in routes run. Demarcus Robinson led Baltimore in targets (8, 24% target share) but ran a route on just 53% of the dropbacks. Don’t add Robinson, who is more of a glorified run-blocker than a reliable wide receiver. Duvernay is the only trusted start, with Bateman slated to miss time with his foot injury.
• There’s no debate who benefited most from the injuries to Mark Andrews and Bateman on Thursday night: Isaiah Likely. The Ravens rookie “tight end” ran a route on 81% of the dropbacks and led all skill players with a 67% snap share. And the Coastal Carolina product delivered on his increased playing time, catching 6-of-7 targets for 77 yards and one touchdown. He needs to be added this week off waivers with injuries plaguing the Ravens. Andrews may not go due to injury (Ravens are on bye in Week 10), so Likely would be a plug-in option.
• Gus Edwards led the Ravens backfield with 11 carries for 65 yards on Thursday night football playing on just 21% of the snaps. He actually played less than Kenyan Drake, who totaled 7 carries for 62 yards plus four catches for 5 yards and 1 touchdown (5 targets, 58% snap share). Although Drake was involved throughout the game, his snaps got a definite bump after Edwards left with a hamstring injury with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Based on Edwards prior injury history entering this season, I’d be pessimistic about Gus Bus making a quick turnaround. Therefore, Drake needs to be rostered across all formats and started as RB2/FLEX option. He ran a route on 58% of the dropbacks. Edwards ran one route.
• Although the matchup is tough. New Orleans ranks third in run defense EPA.
• Chris Olave had his first “bad” game since Week 2 for the Saints in Week 8, catching just 5 passes for 52 yards on 7 targets (23% target share). However, he was targeted on an elite 28% of his routes. Be all over buying him this week with Michael Thomas no longer in the picture for 2022. The upcoming schedule versus Baltimore, Pittsburgh and the Rams is ideal for the rookie to go on another tear of production. 25% target share when healthy this season. The Ravens rank fourth-worst versus fantasy WRs this season.
• Also I’d be hard-pressed to not mention how hot Alvin Kamara has been since his return in Week 5: 26% target share, 37% target rate per route run, 7 catches per game, 18 carries per game and 145 yards from scrimmage. The Ravens rank third in targets per game allowed to RBs.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings

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