Welcome back, everyone. If you’re looking for Mike Maher, he’s on vacation this week, so FantasyPros decided to go with the backup Mike. Hopefully, this feels like going from Anthony Richardson to Joe Flacco rather than Tua Tagovailoa to Skylar Thompson.
With Mike out of the lineup this week, I’ll share my initial reactions and thoughts via the notes I took all day while watching every NFL game. I will focus on Week 9 news, notes, and waiver wire targets in an attempt to keep the content digestible. Here are my key takeaways from a wild Week 8 Sunday. Let’s dive in.
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Fantasy Football Reactions & Takeaways
Are the Cardinals Back on Track?
The Arizona Cardinals offense hasn’t clicked most of the year. However, that wasn’t the case in the team’s 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins. Kyler Murray scored over 20 fantasy points for the third time this season (22.2). Meanwhile, James Conner had had 13 or more half-point PPR fantasy points for the fourth time in the past five weeks.
Marvin Harrison Jr. (20.1), Michael Wilson (11.6), and Trey McBride (16.9) all scored double-digit fantasy points. More importantly, Week 8 was the first time Harrison and McBride scored double-digit fantasy points since Week 2. The real test for Arizona comes next week against an elite Chicago Bears defense.
Houston, We Have a Problem
While many had high expectations for C.J. Stroud this season, the second-year pro has been a massive fantasy bust. He has scored over 18.7 fantasy points only once (Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars). The former Ohio State star has one passing touchdown and 17.7 fantasy points over the past two weeks despite having an excellent Week 8 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Unfortunately, the Houston Texans will be without Nico Collins for at least one more game because of a hamstring injury. More importantly, Stefon Diggs left Sunday’s matchup after suffering a non-contact knee injury, leaving Tank Dell, John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson as Stroud’s top weapons. Joe Mixon has scored at least 21.4 half-point PPR fantasy points in every game he’s finished this year. The veteran is the only must-star Texan until Collins is back.
Stefon Diggs –
Hard to truly tell from this angle, but it looks like his Right knee buckles inward as he steps right near the 40.
Primary concern for ACL injury.
Hopefully he got lucky and it’s just meniscus, but by initial video is doesn’t look good. pic.twitter.com/y56c7QCKT5— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) October 27, 2024
Jameis Winston is QB_ for the Rest of the Season?
Last week, Winston was the No. 3 quarterback behind Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The veteran only had 11 pass attempts against the Cincinnati Bengals, as he couldn’t play until the other two were injured. However, Winston had a passing touchdown and averaged 0.79 fantasy points per pass attempt in limited action against the division rivals.
The former No. 1 overall pick made his first start on Sunday since the 2022 season. He took apart the Baltimore Ravens defense, totaling 334 passing yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and 23.6 fantasy points on 41 attempts in the win. Furthermore, Winston averaged 0.57 fantasy points per pass attempt. Last year, Joe Flacco came off the couch and was a top-five quarterback as the starter. Could Winston have similar success this season?
No Receivers, No Problem for Baker
Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without Chris Godwin (ankle) for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, Mike Evans (hamstring) is likely out until after the team’s Week 11 bye. Yet, Baker Mayfield didn’t seem to miss either star wide receiver on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. When the two NFC South teams met in Week 5, Mayfield had three passing touchdowns and 23.4 fantasy points with everyone healthy.
By comparison, the veteran had three passing touchdowns and 22.3 fantasy points in the rematch today. Mayfield completed 74% of his pass attempts, hitting the 70% or higher mark for the fourth time this year. He was outstanding despite getting little help from his wide receiver core. Rakim Jarrett (3-58) was the only wide receiver with more than 35 receiving yards against the Falcons. Meanwhile, Cade Otton (9-81-2) was Mayfield’s go-to target.
Cade Otton's second TD on #NationalTightEndsDay!
Bucs are back in it.
????: #ATLvsTB on FOX
????: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ZZDLInY3RP— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Calvin Ridley Hates You and Me
Raise your hand if you dropped Ridley over the past two weeks. The veteran wide receiver had 12 receptions on 36 targets for 183 receiving yards and 39.2 half-point PPR fantasy points over the first seven weeks, totaling 6.5 or fewer in all but one contest. Yet, Ridley turned into a superstar in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions, totaling 10 receptions on 15 targets for 143 receiving yards and 17.6 fantasy points.
Furthermore, he was unstoppable in the first quarter, catching all six targets for 118 receiving yards. Who knew that trading away DeAndre Hopkins and putting Treylon Burks (knee) on injured reserve was all Ridley needed to live up to his massive contract. If the veteran wide receiver is on the waiver wire, he’s worth adding this week. However, I’m not going crazy with my FAAB money. More importantly, Ridley is a sell-high candidate if he is still on your roster.
Cedric Tillman: The New No. 1 WR in Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns traded away Amari Cooper before their Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. While everyone thought Jerry Jeudy would be the new No. 1 wide receiver in town, Tillman has shined. The second-year wide receiver had eight receptions on 12 targets for 81 receiving yards and 14.1 half-point PPR fantasy points against the division rivals. By comparison, Jeudy had one reception on six targets for 18 receiving yards and 2.3 fantasy points, totaling as many targets as Elijah Moore.
Thankfully, Jeudy played better in Week 8, finishing with five receptions on eight targets for 79 receiving yards and 10.4 fantasy points. However, Tillman and Moore outscored him. The second-year pro was outstanding, finishing as the WR1 in the early game window. He had seven receptions on nine targets for 99 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and 25.4 fantasy points, leading the Browns in yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points. Tillman is a must-add off the waiver wire this week, but more on that later.
Keon Coleman Breakout on the Horizon?
While Amari Cooper is the No. 1 wide receiver in Buffalo, fantasy players shouldn’t give up on Khalil Shakir and the rookie. Coleman averaged 2.8 targets and 5.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the first four weeks, scoring fewer than nine in every contest. However, the rookie has played well lately, averaging 10 fantasy points per game from Week 5 through Week 7 despite facing three talented pass defenses.
Furthermore, Coleman had a productive first half against the Seattle Seahawks in the rain on Sunday, totaling three receptions on five targets for 34 receiving yards and 10.9 fantasy points. The rookie wide receiver had the Buffalo Bills’ opening game touchdown, pulling in an impressive one-handed reception on Riq Woolen. Coleman has had at least seven targets in back-to-back games and 11 or more fantasy points in three of the past four contests. His breakout could happen next week against the Miami Dolphins.
A beautiful TD catch by @keoncoleman6 ????
????: #BUFvsSEA on FOX
????: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/t2VpmIdGGP— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Happy National Tight Ends Day
Sunday was National Tight Ends Day. Hopefully, fantasy players started as many of them as possible. Cade Otton (24.6) and Kyle Pitts (23.1) both had two receiving touchdowns, finishing as the only two tight ends with over 17 half-point PPR fantasy points in the early window. However, 10 tight ends scored double-digit fantasy points in the eight early window games. Tucker Kraft (3-78-1-15.3) and David Njoku (5-61-1-14.6) had a touchdown and significant performances in their team’s victories.
Meanwhile, Travis Kelce finally scored his first touchdown of the year. The future Hall of Famer had gone 12 consecutive regular season games without finding the end zone. Mark Andrews appears back, catching all five targets for 36 receiving yards. He has at least one touchdown and 12 or more fantasy points in three consecutive games. More importantly, Sam LaPorta shined despite Jared Goff having 85 passing yards, totaling a season-high 13.8 fantasy points.
Early Week 9 Waiver Wire Targets
Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR)
Stafford understandably struggled over the first seven weeks without Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, totaling three passing touchdowns and a 9.2 fantasy points per game average. However, the veteran was spectacular on Thursday night, setting season-highs in completion rate (73.5%), passing touchdowns (four), and fantasy points (24.8). Stafford has been outstanding when his weapons are healthy. He was the QB2, averaging 22 fantasy points per game from Week 12 through Week 16 last year.
Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE)
Last week, I told fantasy players to add Tillman off the waiver wire. If you didn’t listen to me, don’t ignore me twice. The second-year was the top-scoring wide receiver from the early window of games, totaling 25.4 half-point PPR fantasy points. He led the Browns in receiving yards (99) and touchdowns (two), including the game-winning 38-yard bomb with under a minute to go. Tillman has 21 targets over the past two weeks.
Josh Downs (WR – IND)
While Anthony Richardson struggled, Downs scored 20.2 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Houston Texans. He scored 66.3% of his fantasy points on the 69-yard touchdown bomb against blown coverage. However, the second-year pro had nine targets, the most on the team. Furthermore, only Michael Pittman Jr. (six) had more than four targets in Week 8. Down might be a boom-or-bust WR3 option for the rest of the season, but he is the team’s No. 1 wide receiver.
WHAT A CATCH BY JOSH DOWNS.
????: #INDvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
????: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/1WMCZDj8G3— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Jalen McMillan (WR – TB)
The Buccaneers got little production from their wide receiver core with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans out of the lineup. Yet, McMillan was the bunch of the unit. He scored 7.2 half-point PPR fantasy points, 0.1 fewer than Rakim Jarrett for the team lead. However, the rookie finished second in targets (seven) behind Cade Otton (10). More importantly, McMillan had 31.8% of the team’s wide receiver’s 22 targets, with no other wide receiver totaling more than five looks.
Mike Gesicki (TE – CIN)
Unfortunately, Tee Higgins didn’t play on Sunday because of a quad injury. While Ja’Marr Chase was productive, the rest of the Bengals’ wide receiver core struggled. Gesicki stepped up for Joe Burrow, catching seven of his eight targets for 73 receiving yards and 8.8 fantasy points. He led the team in receiving yards while posting a 21.6% target share. Gesicki is an excellent Week 9 bye-week replacement for George Kittle if Higgins can’t play against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
