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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Patrick Mahomes (v TB)
We are still waiting for a big game from Mahomes, but DeAndre Hopkins should be close to a full-time player on Monday night—and I think he can finally have a monster passing performance versus a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks (22.8). Focusing on just the past month, the Bucs was absolutely torched by Kirk Cousins twice (509 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception; 276 yards and four touchdowns) and Lamar Jackson (281 yards and five touchdowns), so Mahomes is poised to come through as a top-five option at the position for Week 9.
Start: Caleb Williams (@ ARI)
Williams was a major disappointment last week as he was held out to 131 passing yards with zero touchdowns in a heartbreaking, low-scoring loss, but we shouldn’t forget what he did before the bye with fantasy-point totals of 23.56 and 28.64. While the shaky play-calling for Chicago will likely lead to more sub-par outings for the No. 1 overall pick, Arizona should be a plus matchup as a defense that has struggled most versus dual-threat passers, and weapons aren’t an issue for Williams—who cracks the top 10 if you can live with a lower floor in an inconsistent offense.
Start: Bo Nix (@ BAL)
Nix also makes the top 10 at quarterback, as he was lights out in the win over Carolina by completing 28-of-37 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns while also adding his fourth rushing score of the season. Plus, the numbers would have been even more impressive if his pass-catchers were able to bring in a couple of deep balls, and Nix’s confidence should be extremely high heading into a matchup versus a tough Baltimore opponent—but one that has allowed the most passing yards per game (291.4) and passing touchdowns (17) in the league.
Start: Aaron Rodgers (v HOU)
Houston isn’t an easy opponent as a top-three pass defense in terms of both passing yards per game (164.3) and passing yards per attempt (6.1) allowed, but they have ceded 16 touchdown passes—and this is more of a gut feeling about Rodgers breaking through with the Jets sitting at 2-6. Despite the nightmare season for New York, the four-time NFL MVP has been solid with multiple scores in three of the past four weeks, so look for the connection with Davante Adams to hit on Halloween and for Rodgers to pay off as a high-end QB2 option.
Sit of the Week: C.J. Stroud (@ NYJ)
The Texans will be without both Nico Collins (hamstring) and Stefon Diggs (knee) heading into a matchup versus a Jets defense that has allowed just six touchdown passes on the year—and Stroud himself hasn’t been as prolific as he was in his rookie campaign. I’ll hit on Tank Dell later and believe he can have success on Thursday night, but the other complementary options haven’t done much this season, and Houston will probably try to go with a run-heavy approach built around Joe Mixon this week. We have Stroud outside the top 20.
Sit: Tua Tagovailoa (@ BUF)
Tagovailoa looked good in his return to the lineup last week, but now he’ll face a Buffalo defense that Miami hasn’t been able to solve over the past two seasons—leading to a 3:6 touchdown-interception ratio for Tua in three meetings. Because of those struggles, the Dolphins are another team that should have a focus on playing through the running backs, and Tagovailoa only has one game with more than 15.24 fantasy points against Sean McDermott’s defense in eight career matchups. Tagovailoa is a low-end QB2 that should probably only draw a start in superflex leagues.
Sit: Trevor Lawrence (@ PHI)
The Eagles have been much better defensively since inserting rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean into the starting lineup along with Darius Slay Jr. and Quinyon Mitchell, and Lawrence will be down Christian Kirk (collarbone) and potentially Brian Thomas Jr. (ribs) heading into a hostile road environment. I am high on Parker Washington as the replacement for Kirk, but the overall firepower in Jacksonville is now lacking—lowering both the ceiling and floor for Lawrence if the Jags can’t hold up in pass protection with left tackle Cam Robinson sent to Minnesota.
Sit: Baker Mayfield (@ KC)
Mayfield is the overall QB2 through eight weeks, so keeping him in lineups is certainly understandable despite the Bucs being without Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring)—as Tampa Bay showed they will continue firing with 50 pass attempts in Week 8. The concern is Kansas City’s defense being too overwhelming for a primetime showdown at Arrowhead Stadium, as they’ve allowed just nine touchdown passes on the season and typically start to really become a dominant unit when November hits; we saw a showcase of the stinginess by the Chiefs when they recorded three interceptions against Brock Purdy a couple of weeks ago, so Mayfield is more of a midrange QB2.
Running Back
Start of the Week: Nick Chubb (v LAC)
The efficiency hasn’t been there yet for Chubb with 2.7 yards per attempt through two games, but he saw 16 carries last week against the NFL’s top rushing defense—and now will be in a much better spot versus a Chargers defense that has allowed a healthy 4.8 yards per carry on the season. We still have Chubb in the low-end RB2 ranks because Los Angeles does tighten up in scoring territory with a league-low three rushing touchdowns allowed, but investors should be encouraged and feel better about the star runner in lineups this week.
Start: Devin Singletary (v WAS)
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (concussion) is unlikely to play in Week 9 with less time to get cleared after playing on Monday night, so Singletary will be back in the lead role and could have more of an edge after being overtaken by the rookie. In the first matchup versus Washington back in Week 2, Singletary had his best game as a Giant with 16 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown, so the veteran is a strong start as New York tries to keep Jayden Daniels off the field by controlling the clock.
Start: Bucky Irving (@ KC)
Tampa Bay announcing both Rachaad White and Irving as starters last week shows the kind of commitment they’ll have to playing through the running backs due to their injuries at wide receiver, and the rookie was able to turn 16 touches into 84 yards in the loss to Atlanta. Overall, Irving has gone for 55+ total yards in all but one game this year, and the past three weeks in particular have been outstanding with fantasy-point totals of 17.5, 15.2, and 11.9. Even facing a Kansas City defense allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to the position, Irving is a low-end RB2/FLEX option.
Start: Travis Etienne Jr. (@ PHI)
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said he “feels good” about Etienne (hamstring) returning this weekend, and I wouldn’t waste any time getting him back in lineups as an upside RB2 option that should be played through both as a runner and receiver due to all the injuries for Jacksonville. As stated, the Philadelphia defense has been much improved in recent weeks, but they’ve allowed 4.5 yards per carry this season and could struggle to contain a dynamic back of Etienne’s caliber—putting him immediately back in the top 20 with a case to be a top-15 play.
Sit of the Week: Rhamondre Stevenson (@ TEN)
Tennessee’s run defense has fallen off over the past two games—and the Lions really gave them trouble last week with 163 rushing yards from their backfield. That said, the Titans still have rookie defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat in the middle to make things difficult on Stevenson and the Patriots this week, and the unit had been allowing just 72.5 rushing yards to enemy backfields before running into a buzzsaw Detroit offense. If he doesn’t find the end zone again, Stevenson could disappoint with 2.4 yards per carry since his return to the starting lineup.
Sit: Javonte Williams (@ BAL)
Baltimore remains the top run defense in football with 69.9 rushing yards per game and 3.3 yards per carry allowed, so Williams could be in store for a quiet outing with Sean Payton obviously wanting to exploit weaknesses rather than getting behind the sticks too much if early-down runs don’t have success. Williams has gone for 17+ touches in four of the past five weeks and is another back that could find the end zone when Denver gets close, but he leans more towards the FLEX side of the low-end RB2 line.
Sit: Rico Dowdle (@ ATL)
Dowdle didn’t play on Sunday night after coming down with an illness, and he could return to more of a full-blown committee with Dalvin Cook (seven touches in his team debut) potentially remaining involved alongside him and Ezekiel Elliott (38 yards and a score last week). If so, Dowdle could have a capped ceiling with zero rushing touchdowns on the season and 11 or fewer carries in all but one game, and Cook even taking a handful of touches would limit his appeal as a FLEX option.
Sit: J.K. Dobbins (@ CLE)
The Chargers playing from ahead can allow Dobbins to thrive in tougher matchups like the one he’ll face in Cleveland (such as Week 6 when he rushed 25 times for 96 yards and a touchdown in Denver), but as stated, the Browns were fired up last week—and they’ve allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. With Dobbins being limited to 3.8 or fewer yards per carry in every game since two first two weeks when he went off, he’s settled in as more of a clear RB2.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Davante Adams (v HOU)
Adams was at least able to get a couple of chunk gains very late last week to save his day from complete disappointment, but he’s been limited to three receptions for 30 yards and four receptions for 54 yards in two games as a Jet—so some might go as far as taking him out of lineups. However, the history with Aaron Rodgers is too great for Adams to not have a breakout game soon, and I get the feeling he could go for multiple scores on Halloween to finish as a no-doubt WR1 for those sticking with him.
Start: Courtland Sutton (@ BAL)
After being held without a catch two weeks ago, it was obvious that Denver would try to get Sutton the ball in the win over Carolina—and a lost fumble was the lone blemish for him with eight receptions (on 11 targets) for 100 yards. Baltimore struggling to contain another big-bodied wideout in Cedric Tillman (7/99/2) in the loss to Cleveland would seem to set up well for Sutton to build on what he did last week, and being a priority for Bo Nix in scoring territory should make him a top-20 option in Week 9.
Start: Tank Dell (@ NYJ)
Dell hasn’t quite looked like the guy that we saw average 15.1 yards per reception and catch seven touchdowns in 11 games as a rookie, but he’s now the clear No. 1 option for C.J. Stroud until Nico Collins is back—and the second-year weapon should be more rounded back into form as the weeks progress. While the Jets might be a difficult opponent, I’m reminded of a similar situation last year when Jaylen Waddle (a fellow speedster) went for an 8/142/1 line against New York with Tyreek Hill out, so I like Dell as an upside WR2.
Start: Romeo Doubs (v DET)
Jordan Love (groin) being out would move Doubs down the rankings some, but the Lions are best attacked through the air as a top-five run defense that has allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game in the league (247.6). Last season, Doubs had nine receptions for 95 yards in the first matchup versus Detroit, and he’s been a key part of the offense with lines of 3/49/2, 8/94, and 3/72 in three games since his return from a one-game suspension—not to mention 10.8 yards per target. I’d roll with Doubs as a top-24 option at wide receiver.
Others: Jordan Addison (v IND), Chris Olave (@ CAR)
Sit of the Week: Calvin Ridley (v NE)
Mason Rudolph proved very capable of getting Ridley the ball last week in the loss to Buffalo (especially in the first half), and I’m sure he’ll try to lean on his top target again if he draws another start. Unfortunately, Ridley has a lower floor and ceiling this week due to the probable shadow assignment from top cornerback Christian Gonzalez, and the Patriots would be wise to make sure Tennessee’s best weapon doesn’t beat them; Ridley should stay in volatile FLEX territory despite a big day last week.
Sit: Jaylen Waddle (@ BUF)
Waddle has had some success against the Bills in his career with 100+ receiving yards in both 2022 matchups, but he’s been held in check recently with 46 or fewer receiving yards in each of the past three matchups (including playoffs). Furthermore, Waddle only has one career touchdown versus Buffalo, and he’s still seeking his first score of 2024 while failing to surpass 46 receiving yards in all six games since the opener. There is always upside based on his ability in Mike McDaniel’s offense, but Waddle is a risky start.
Sit: Diontae Johnson (v DEN)
Perhaps the Ravens weren’t the best landing spot for Johnson ahead of the trade deadline, but it’ll be easier for fantasy owners to live with a quiet game in a loaded offense rather than dealing with a maddening situation in Carolina. For this week, Johnson will almost certainly be a part-time player, and Denver’s excellent cornerback trio would make him an option to avoid anyway. We’ll see if Johnson becomes more of a central part of the passing attack next Thursday night for a better matchup against the Bengals.
Sit: Marvin Harrison Jr. (v CHI)
Harrison came through last week for those who stuck with him against the Dolphins by going for a 6/111/1 line that included a touchdown on Jalen Ramsey—and he remains a definite WR2 option. Sunday brings another tough matchup, though, and Chicago’s secondary should be focused after how last week ended in the loss to Washington. For the most part, Harrison will see a lot of Jaylon Johnson, but all three of Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, and Kyler Gordon (if he plays with a hamstring injury) have the size to match the rookie.
Others: Keon Coleman (v MIA), Wan’Dale Robinson (v WAS)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: T.J. Hockenson (v IND)
As stated last week before Hockenson ended up remaining out, he is flying way under the radar after a 95/960/5 line across 15 games last season, and the star tight end is set to make his debut against an Indy defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to the position (11.7). I expect a huge game from Justin Jefferson and for Jordan Addison to be more involved, but Hockenson should instantly be in the TE1 ranks.
Start: Isaiah Likely (v DEN)
Denver has been better defending tight ends in recent games, but it’s been a historical weakness for Vance Joseph’s scheme—and Likely feels due for a big game to me after catching all four of his targets for 47 yards last week. Dating back to Week 12 of last season, Likely has gone for a season-long pace of 55 receptions, 720 yards, and 10 touchdowns in 14 games, so I’m hopeful that he will be given enough opportunities to come through as a top-12 option on Sunday.
Start: Taysom Hill (@ CAR)
Hill returned to the lineup last week and did everything for the Saints with four carries, two receptions (on four targets), 41 combined rushing/receiving yards, a three-yard completion, a tackle for loss, and forced fumble—so it’s safe to say he’s healthy. The Saints getting Derek Carr should improve the offense and boost the ceiling for everyone, and Hill should be a borderline TE1/TE2 with upside.
Sit of the Week: Mike Gesicki (v LV)
This is under the assumption that Tee Higgins (quad) is back after Gesicki was tremendous last week (seven receptions for 73 yards)—as the Bengals went away from him when Higgins was back earlier this year and could do the same again. Also, Cincinnati not really featuring Gesicki in scoring territory by not even having him on the field at times limits some of the appeal, and the Raiders had done a nice job containing tight ends for the most part until Travis Kelce (10/90/1) went off in Week 8.
Sit: Colby Parkinson (@ SEA)
Parkinson has remained the clear top tight end for the Rams, but the return of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua could make him more of an afterthought—and it’s not like Matthew Stafford was playing through him to begin with outside of the 13-target game in Week 5. With the former Seahawk still seeking his first touchdown with Los Angeles (which was supposed to be a major part of his fantasy appeal), he falls outside the top 24.
Sit: Tucker Kraft (v DET)
Kraft stayed hot with 78 yards and a touchdown last week to give him five scores over the past five weeks—but Detroit is allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends (5.3), and Jordan Love’s status being up in the air adds a layer of uncertainty. With the position looking to be in good shape this week, Kraft could be more of a high-end TE2 rather than a TE1.