For the first of two times this season, six NFL teams are on their bye. Week 9 is a tense week for many fantasy football managers for that reason. Navigating such a heavy week of byes, as well as injuries, makes setting a lineup that much more difficult. As a result, it may take banking on a bold prediction or two to pull off a win this weekend.
You’re going to start your studs of course week in and week out. It’s undeniable, though, that you will run into a few lineup decisions that could make or break your week this season. Our team at Fantrax is here to help. These weekly bold predictions are meant to tip the scale in favor of the players below. We believe they have a chance to help win you the week and put up big numbers. The bold predictions won’t always have a 100% success rate but do provide a well-educated guess for the ceiling each player can achieve each week.
Be sure to follow all of these bold predictions and more @Fantrax on Twitter and @fantraxsports on Instagram!
2022 NFL Week 9 Bold Predictions for Fantasy Football
A.J. Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
Bold Prediction: 15 rushes, 80 yards, 1 touchdown
14.0 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Colin McTamany, @Colin_McT on Twitter
Colin’s Breakdown: In what feels like a must-win game for the Green Bay Packers, the key to victory in Week 9 is establishing the run. My bold prediction is that A.J. Dillon will record his second double-digit fantasy performance of the season. It will be his first since scoring 20.1 points in Week 1.
Green Bay is heading to Detroit to take on the Lions who are giving up the most points per game to opponents in 2022. A big reason for that is the league-leading 11 rushing touchdowns allowed to opposing running backs. Mind you, that’s in just seven games played. Given the state of the Packers pass-catching group, I think Aaron Rodgers will be busy handing the ball off to both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon quite equally. We should see the two backs combine for nearly 30 total rushing attempts.
I think my bold prediction is a modest one. The point being that I think A.J. Dillon is worth starting in Week 9 after seven straight weeks of lackluster performances. In order to maintain possession, kill the clock, and move the ball effectively this Sunday, both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon will have to carry the load. Start both up with confidence.
Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Bold Prediction: 8 receptions, 90 yards, 1 touchdown
23.0 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Lauren Auerbach, @lkauerbach on Twitter
Lauren’s Breakdown: I’m rolling with Joshua Palmer for my Week 9 bold prediction. Mike Williams is out with a high-ankle sprain, and Keenan Allen is hampered by a lingering hamstring injury. That means more targets should be heading Palmer’s way this week. The matchup against Atlanta is expected to be one of the highest-scoring games on the Week 9 slate, making Palmer’s upside too hard to ignore.
On the season, the Falcons are one of the leakiest units against wideouts. They’re allowing the most passing yards to the position league-wide. They’ve also surrendered the second-most passing touchdowns to wide receivers (12) through eight weeks. The Chargers have a pass-happy offense and are no strangers to scoring through the air. The stars are aligned for Joshua Palmer to have a big game in Week 9.
Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
Bold Prediction: 5 receptions, 70 yards, 1 touchdown
18.0 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Bradlee Kilgore, @SirBradleeK on Twitter
Bradlee’s Breakdown: Bengals pass defense? Not that good. P.J. Walker? Good! While D.J. Moore is the unquestioned number one receiver in Carolina, Terrace Marshall Jr. continues to emerge as the unquestioned number two since Robbie Anderson’s departure. Last week, Marshall saw nine targets, including two incomplete force-fed end zone fades. He turned that into four catches for 87 yards.
The game script against the Bengals promises a similar output for the young wide out. At the end of the day, fantasy football is about putting yourself in the best position to succeed. Locking in nine or more targets per week, especially off of the waiver wire, is doing just that. Lock and load on Marshall Jr for Week 9.
Kenyan Drake, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Bold Prediction: 14 rushes, 75 total yards, 2 touchdowns
19.5 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Michael Quintero, @WeekendMike on Twitter
Michael’s Breakdown: After a few weeks of a running back carousel, it looks like Kenyan Drake will be Baltimore’s lead back in Week 9. On the Monday Night Football prime time stage, I think he makes the case to command the lead role moving forward. My bold prediction is that Kenyan Drake notches two rushing touchdowns, paying off big time for fantasy managers who are considering plugging him into their lineups.
Just this week, the Ravens placed wide receiver, Rashod Bateman, on Injured Reserve. Tight end, Mark Andrews, the teams’ leading target, continues to deal with ankle, knee, and shoulder issues, as well. With both Bateman and Andrews expected to sit out Monday night, I think the Ravens will feed Kenyan Drake against the New Orleans Saints. Drake is set up nicely to have a season-high in touches and fantasy points in Week 9.
Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
Bold Prediction: 7 receptions, 66 yards, 2 touchdowns
25.6 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Kai Haskins, @HaiKaskins on Twitter
Kai’s Breakdown: Like Lauren’s bold prediction for Joshua Palmer above, I, too, am looking at the Chargers to make my Week 9 selection. After a hot and cold fantasy season thus far, I’m banking on Gerald Everett to have his best game yet. For those willing enough to hang onto him during the Chargers’ bye last week, it will pay off come Sunday.
It’s well-known by now how short-handed the Chargers are on offense. Mike Williams is out with an ankle injury, Keenan Allen is unlikely available with a hamstring issue, and even Austin Ekeler is popping up on this week’s injury report with a vague abdominal injury. That said, Everett is naturally going to step up for Justin Herbert this Sunday. The Atlanta Falcons allow the most targets, second-most receptions, and yards to tight ends. Everett is the next guy up to take full advantage of his matchup against them.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Tennessee Titans
Bold Prediction: 300 passing yards, 33 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns
27.3+ fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Reese Jones, @PotPharma on Twitter
Reese’s Breakdown: Naturally I love me a good revenge game, but this one feels a little different. This one feels like there’s actual tension in the air. This game feels like one where Kirk Cousins is going to explode. Sunday’s game will only be the second time that Cousins has gone up against his former team. He’ll look to put in a much better performance than the last time.
In 2019 Cousins completed 23 of 26 passes, for 285 yards and no touchdowns. The 88.5% completion percentage speaks to how dialed in he was against his former squad. Fast forward to the 2022 season and Cousins is now averaging 37 pass attempts per game. He now also has a very good supporting cast in Justin Jefferson, Adam Theilen, and Dalvin Cook. Not to mention newly acquired tight, T.J. Hockenson. This time around Kirk Cousins to dripping in playmakers. My bold prediction is that he puts up extremely fantasy-friendly numbers against the Washington Commanders. You like that?
Make sure to check out our Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings