The NFL trade deadline, combined with yet ANOTHER Byepocalypse in Week 9, is shaping up to be a bit of a headache for dynasty managers. We will have to dig even deeper than usual on many of our rosters, and some of the choices we face might be less than optimal.
Never fear!
I have scoured the rankings and previewed the matchups to bring you some solid gems for your lineups to help you on your march toward the fantasy playoffs!
First, let’s hit a quick recap of last week’s picks.
Hits
Mack Hollins
There may be panic in the streets in Vegas after the Saints completely shut out the Raiders. However, there is only dancing in the streets for those who kept the faith and plugged Mack into their lineups. Hollins was on the field for 91% of snaps, more than any other Vegas wide receiver. He also led the receiver corp in targets and receptions. Mack Daddy gave the faithful a generous stat line of seven receptions on eight targets for 64 yards. A solid flex play that gave 13.4 PPR points and ended up as WR27 on the week.
D’Onta Foreman
You most likely won your matchups if you listened to me last week about Foreman. He wasn’t just a decent flex play; he was the RB5 on the week with 31.8 points! Foreman bossed the backfield with 26 rush attempts for 118 yards and three touchdowns while he was at it. Will his un-challenged domination continue when Hubbard returns to the lineup? We will have to wait and see.
Michael Gallup
Michael Gallup was a player I recommended benching in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. Sadly, it was the correct call. The Cowboys nearly dropped a 50 burger on the Bears, yet Gallup only recorded four receptions for 49 yards. He did play the same amount of snaps as Lamb, so brighter days may be in store.
Misses
Parris Campbell
I tried my best to give Sam Ehlinger and Frank Reich the benefit of the doubt. It did not go well. In a close and fairly ugly contest, Parris only received two targets. Campbell managed a fairly respectable stat line thanks to catching both targets and adding a 28-yard rush to the mix. A total of 9.1 PPR points is a sad case of close but no cigar for Parris this week.
Zay Jones
The reality is you were only happy starting one pass-catcher for the Jags last week. His name started with an “E” and ended with a “van Engram.” My prediction of how the game would go was pretty accurate, but the outcome was not. The Jags did end up trailing and did need to pass the ball to try and win. Unfortunately, T Law had a rough game and couldn’t make the big plays. Jones was on the field 99% of the snaps and only saw three targets. He did haul in all three targets for a total of 28 yards. Yuck!
As the year marches on, I now sit at a 21-12 record on the start-sit calls in this series. That is a solid 64% hit rate. That is a fairly respectable percentage considering the circumstances. By the time Week 17 rolls around, my goal is to be over 70%!
As a reminder, I am only choosing from wide receivers outside the top 36 and running backs outside the top 24 based on FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rank for the week. The scoring setting I am basing this on is full PPR.
Week 9
Terrace Marshall Jr. CAR WR50 FantasyPros Expert Consensus
It is the time so many dynasty truthers have been waiting for. It’s Terrace Time!!! Marshall has been sneakily getting more and more involved in Carolina in the post-Rhule era. In last week’s heartbreaking defeat to the Falcons, Marshall played 92% of the team’s snaps and received nine targets. TMJ only ran one fewer route than DJ Moore and actually posted a marginally better PFF grade in Week 8!
This week the Panthers take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the battle of the big cats. The Bengals have had a very stout defense and are ranked seventh in Pass DVOA. However, Chidobe Awuzie suffered a torn ACL on Monday Night Football last week and is done for the season. He was by far their highest-rated corner, according to PFF. The Panthers are playing exciting football and have nothing to lose. I think you can light up your Terrace Marshall Jr. shares this week and hope for some good things.
Deon Jackson IND RB55 FantasyPros Expert Consensus
In the words of the legendary Bob Dylan, “the times they are a-changing.” Sam Ehlinger is the quarterback, Marcus Brady is gone, and Jonathan Taylor is missing practices like there is no tomorrow. Oh yes, and Nyheim Hines was traded on deadline day to the Buffalo Bills.
Having said all that, Deon Jackson could be just the flex hero your team needs. If JT misses this week, you can plug Jackson into your lineups. The Patriots are one of the juicier matchups for running backs, giving up 126 yards per game on the ground. Jackson also showed he was a capable pass catcher in Week 6 when he recorded a perfect ten receptions on ten targets. While I do NOT expect a performance like that, I think he is a solid flex play if JT is not a full go.
Kenyan Drake BAL RB25 FantasyPros Expert Consensus
Drake will never be a sexy option at this stage in his career. He could be a FLEX-Y option for you this week, though. (See what I did there?!) Gus Edwards is still not practicing on Thursday (at the time of writing). Justice Hill has been O-K’ish, but Drake stepped up when the Ravens needed some juice.
The Saints are a tricky matchup, and they looked very good against the Las Vegas Raiders last week. Let us not forget this is the same defense that let Eno Benjamin run all over them in Week 7 and gave Kenny Walker III his breakout party in Week 5. Vegas has currently given the game a 48.5 over/under, so they expect points to be scored. Lamar will undoubtedly do his thing, but with Andrews banged up, Edwards not at full capacity, and Rashod Bateman set to miss a couple more weeks, the Ravens will need some other playmakers to step up.
DeAndre Carter LAC WR57 FantasyPros Expert Consensus
Carter is a super interesting deeper league play this weekend. Keenan Allen seems set to miss yet another week with his neverending hamstring issues. Mike Williams is dealing with a high ankle sprain that will cause him to miss at least the next couple of weeks. The next man up, Josh Palmer, has only just cleared concussion protocol, and it is unclear if he is 100% healthy.
The Chargers are coming off their bye, and they get to face the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta gives up the MOST fantasy points to the wide receiver position in the entire NFL. They give up the most points to the outside receiver and the second most points to the slot receiver. You get my point. No matter where Carter lines up, he should have the opportunity for a decent game.
Allen Lazard GB WR48 FantasyPros Expert Consensus
Lazard missed out last week due to a shoulder injury he picked up in Week 7. He practiced on Thursday in full pads and seemed to be trending in the right direction for Sunday. With Green Bay sitting at 3-5 and a very winnable Detroit Lions matchup on schedule for Week 9, I think Lazard will push to play.
Lazard has scored double-digit fantasy points in five of his six games played this season. The Lions are tough on outside wide receivers but give up the eighth-highest amount of fantasy points to the position as a whole. Lazard does tend to play an outside role more often than not. On the season, he has run 37% out of the slot, so it is possible to see him there if needed. With a 49-point over/under and the Lions being dead last in defensive DVOA, if Lazard is active, I am playing him.
Conclusion
There you have it. Five flex plays to consider for Week 9. It is a pretty mad week with injuries and half the league on bye, so here’s to hoping you get the rub of the green you need to smash your opponents in Week 9!
If you have any questions about anything I covered or if you want to chat about anything fantasy football related, you can catch me on Twitter @FFEvanlution, or you can check out my podcast Dynasty Debates (@DynastyDebates) on all major podcast listening platforms.
Good luck this week!