Fantasy Football Week 9 Matchup Winners

I dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to this series, and I take pride in my ability to identify players likely to outperform expectations each week. This article is designed to assist you with your Fantasy Football lineups and DFS plays, giving you a competitive advantage in your leagues.

Every week, I conduct a thorough analysis of all NFL matchups. This includes examining Fantasy points per game (PPG) allowed, yards allowed, and player performances. I then identify which players can capitalize on these statistics in their upcoming matchups. I hold myself accountable for my successful picks and those that do not pan out.

Some of the misses from last week’s article include Rashod Bateman, Anthony Richardson, CJ Stroud, Jordan Love, Drake London and Kenneth Walker III.

Some of the bigger hits were:

• Cooper Kupp – 16.1 Fantasy Points
• David Njojku – 17.1 Fantasy Points
• Calvin Ridley – 22.6 Fantasy Points
• James Conner – 14.9 Fantasy Points
• Cade Otton – 29.1 Fantasy Points
• Jalen Hurts – 35.1 Fantasy Points
• Ja’Marr Chase – 20.4 Fantasy Points
• JK Dobbins – 16.8 Fantasy Points
• Dalton Kincaid – 13.1 Fantasy Points
• Kareem Hunt – 13.3 fantasy Points

“Hi(t)s and misses, like the married folks” – Drake. I feel confident in this series through eight weeks, and do feel it has led to the reader having an edge in their contests for the week. You leave this article with plenty of information to apply to Fantasy Football and DFS. My intention from day one as a content creator has always been to “Help YOU Play 2 Win”. So let’s do just that.

Fantasy Football Week 9 Matchup Winners

Texans vs. Jets (Thursday Night Football)

• Nico Collins may be back in Week 10, and Stefon Diggs unfortunately tore his ACL in Week 8, which leaves a ton of vacated wide receiver targets up for grabs. I am not saying to play John Metchie this week, but I am saying to stash him if you have the roster space. Metchie caught three of four targets last week for 29 yards. This is a former second-round talent out of Alabama who had seasons of 916 / 1,142 receiving yards, battled leukemia once entering the NFL, and has a nice opportunity at hand. I am rooting for this guy.
• Week 9 is where we finally see Davante Adams ball out as a Jet. Adams has been targeted 15 times across the last two weeks but has failed to reconnect with Aaron Rodgers. Through eight seasons Adams has caught 615 balls for 7,529 yards and 68 touchdowns. The Texans currently allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season, and present a matchup for Adams to flash the Green Bay connection with his veteran quarterback.

Cowboys vs. Falcons

• Dak Prescott is averaging 37.4 passing attempts per game and 263.6 passing yards per game, which is not far off from the 34.7 / 265.6 he averaged in a big season last year. One of the biggest differences from last year to this year is the touchdown total, with Dak throwing 36 in 17 games last year vs the 10 through seven games this year. Dak also has thrown eight interceptions so far this season which is one less than last year’s total. 16 Fantasy PPG this season ranks 17th. The Falcons allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and present a week for Dak to get back on track for moving forward in a positive direction. Baker Mayfield with a depleted wide receiver room still managed 330 passing yards with three passing touchdowns just last week.
• The Cowboys currently allow the second-most Fantasy PPG to running backs and are tied for the most rushing yards per game allowed, which screams another huge Bijan Robinson week. Across the last three weeks, Bijan has scored 25.5, 23.3, then 23.6 Fantasy Points. During this three-game span, Robinson has had rushing totals of 95, 103, and 63 with three rushing touchdowns along with 40+ receiving yards in each of his last two games with one receiving touchdown. The dual-threat talent has been on full display as of late, and the Cowboys offer a great matchup to stay hot.

Broncos vs. Ravens

• Bo Nix is quietly the QB9 in total Fantasy Points, averaging 17.3 PPG which ranked 13th for the position. So many will hype the likes of Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams but give little love to Nix who has far fewer weapons surrounding him. The Broncos are 5-3, and Nix has been displaying true upside. Nix is coming off a game he threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns, paired with a rushing touchdown. In Weeks 6/7, Nix rushed for 61/75 yards. Nix is putting his dual-threat skillset on notice. The Ravens allow the third most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the most passing yards per game this season, which is a matchup Nix can stay hot in as a quarterback who has scored over 20 Fantasy Points in three of his last four games.
• Diontae Johnson was traded to the Ravens this week. There have been a lot of Fantasy Football takes regarding how this downgrades the pass-catchers due to the added competition. While I do agree that Rashod Bateman’s role likely takes a massive hit, I do not think this trade was necessarily a bad thing for either of Diontae Johnson or Zay Flowers. Lamar Jackson is averaging 29.5 passing attempts per game, which is more than his 28.6 from last season where he threw for a career-high in attempts. Jackson is also averaging 262.4 passing yards per game this year, which is more than the 229.9 attempts per game he averaged last year where he threw for a career-high in yards. So this narrative that the passing volume is going to hurt DJ and Zay is a bad take in my opinion. I believe both Johnson and Flowers will eat. Diontae has historically been a guy who is elite at getting open, with three seasons ranging from 144-169 targets. Flowers has his touches schemed by Baltimore and he is utilized creatively, as a receiver who has earned double-digit targets four times and 12 targets twice this season. Both players can be featured. Not the typical notes here by important ones regardless.

Dolphins vs. Bills

• De’Von Achane bounce-back for Fantasy Football last week rushing 10 times for 97 yards and catching six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown for 26.7 Fantasy Points. Tua Tagovailoa being back will slowly but surely lift this entire offense that struggled greatly without him. Achane now steps into a favorable Bills matchup against a defense allowing the third most Fantasy PPG to running backs which presents an opportunity to stay hot, especially if he stays highly involved in the passing game like he was in Week 8.
• After a down Week 7, James Cook bounce-back for Fantasy Football with a big Week 8 where he rushed 17 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns as well as caught three passes for 22 yards. 28.3 Fantasy Points was a major difference-making score in matchups last week. Cook had a similar score back in Week 2 with 28.5 and has scored 17+ points now across four weeks of football. The Dolphins are not very Fantasy-friendly to quarterbacks, wide receivers, or tight ends but have allowed the ninth most Fantasy PPG to running backs. Cook has an opportunity to stay hot after a big Week 8.

Saints vs. Panthers

• Alvin Kamara signed a two-year, $25.5 million contract extension with the Saints, which cleared up recent trade rumors. Kamara has had a very strong Fantasy Football campaign so far this year, with five weeks of 17+ Fantasy Points, three weeks of 22+ Fantasy Points, and a massive 44-point score in Week 2. Kamara is coming off of a game where his dual-threat upside was very evident by averaging 6.7 yards per carry for 67 rushing yards and catching six passes for 55 yards. Kamara has caught five or more passes now for five straight weeks and leads the position in the stat. The Panthers allow the most Fantasy PPG to running backs and we may see Derek Carr return, which could turn into another big Kamara week.
• Xavier Legette has a huge opportunity at hand in Carolina following the Diontae Johnson trade to become the team’s WR1. The first-round rookie is coming off of a productive week, catching four of his seven targets for 34 yards and a touchdown for 13.4 Fantasy Points. Week 8 was the third time across the last five weeks that Legette scored double-digit Fantasy Points and also the third time through this span he has scored a touchdown. Back in Week 4, we saw Legette’s potential upside with a stat line of six receptions on 10 targets for 66 yards and score for 19.6 Fantasy Points. The Saints allow the seventh-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the fifth-most passing yards per game this season which presents a good matchup to serve as a FLEX option in Week 9.

Raiders vs. Bengals

• 10.8 Fantasy Points felt like a “down week” for rookie Brock Bowers in Week 8, after he scored 19.3, 16.1, and 23.7 Fantasy Points in his previous three games. Bowers could essentially have the best rookie tight end season of all time, attached to average to below-average quarterbacks in an iffy Raiders system. Bowers has finished with three weeks over 92 receiving yards, has earned double-digit targets in three of his last four games, and has scored 16+ Fantasy Points four times this year. The Bengals allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and will be a matchup I expect Bowers to earn 10+ targets in for Week 9.
• The Raiders gave the Chiefs a game last week with a 20-27 loss but one that forced Patrick Mahomes to throw the ball 38 times for 262 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. This could possibly mean a high passing-volume day again for Joe Burrow, who threw the ball 37 times last week and for 234 yards but finished with one touchdown and one interception. Back in Week 5, Burrow threw for 392 yards and five touchdowns against Baltimore, and in Week 3 he threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns against Washington. Burrow has the upside, and it could pop once again if the Raiders can create another tight contest.

Chargers vs. Browns

• Ladd McConkey had his best game of the season in Week 8 catching all six targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns for 29.1 Fantasy Points. Season-highs in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns scored, and Fantasy Points last week could be the start to a positive trend upward. Ladd had a solid Week 4 as well, catching five balls for 67 yards and a touchdown for 17.7 Fantasy Points. The second-round rookie has earned seven or more targets across four weeks and is a vital part of this Chargers offense. An explosive Week 8 could be a sign for bigger days to come. The Browns allow the fifth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season.
• The Chargers rank 25th or worse in PPG allowed to every Fantasy position besides tight ends where they rank 13th. David Njoku has caught Fantasy Football fire the last two weeks, with scores of 23.6 then 17.1 points. Njoku has earned 21 targets during this span (14/7), finished with 76/61 receiving yards, and scored in each game. Jameis Winston stepped in to throw 11 times in Week 7 with his lone touchdown going to Njoku, then threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns in his full start for Week 8. Winston is lifting this offense, specifically David Njoku.

Commanders vs. Giants

• The Chicago Bears rank 31st in Fantasy PPG allowed to quarterbacks, but Jayden Daniels still managed 22.24 Fantasy Points against them in Week 8 coming off of an injury. Daniels’ 56-yard touchdown to win the game did come on a hail mary, but he still put up 326 total passing yards and also rushed for 52. 326 passing yards was Daniels’ season-high total, which beat his 269 season-high from his last full game played. Daniels has rushed for 50+ yards now across four weeks of football, keeping that upside in his back pocket. The Giants allow the 11th most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks this season, which presents Daniels with an opportunity to do what he does best – score Fantasy Points. Daniels’ 20.4 Fantasy PPG so far this year ranks fourth for the position.
• Malik Nabers was targeted 13 times on Monday and caught seven of those for 71 receiving yards. Nabers took a solid leap forward in production following a four-for-41 for 41 outing the week prior. In Weeks 2-4 prior to his concussion, Nabers was targeted 18, 12, then 15 times and produced 127, 78, then 115 receiving yards with three touchdowns during that span. Nabers was on absolute fire for Fantasy Football with scores of 28.7, 28.2, then 23.1 points during this span. The Commanders rank 13th in Fantasy PPG allowed to wide receivers this season.

Patriots vs. Titans

• Rhamondre Stevenson rushed 20 times last week, and while the yards per carry number was rough for 48 yards he did score two touchdowns. 23.5 Fantasy Points was a season-high. The Titans present another matchup this week where Stevenson could see plenty of work on the ground, even if the defense is not the most friendly to running backs. This is a case of two average offenses facing one another which could mean game management should one team take the lead over the other.
• As of Wednesday, we are not sure if it will be Mason Rudolph or Calvin Ridley as the Titans’ starting quarterback. I will note that I hit big last week on saying Calvin Ridley was a FLEX option, as he caught 10 of his 15 targets for 143 yards which was 22.6 Fantasy Points. I am hoping that regardless of who the quarterback is, with DeAndre Hopkins now gone to Kansas City, we see more Ridley performances like this. Especially with the volume he has been earning the last three weeks (eight, nine, and 15 targets). The Patriots allow the 11th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the 10th most passing yards per game.

Bears vs. Cardinals

• D’Andre Swift has been one of the hottest running backs in the NFL for Fantasy Football, with scores of 29.5, 20, 21.9, and 18.9 Fantasy Points across Weeks 4-8 (BYE in Week 7). Swift just rushed for a season-high 129 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 8, which makes the fourth straight game with a rushing touchdown and the third time across four weeks Swift has rushed for over 90 yards. We know Swift is a capable pass-catcher, which was evident back in Week 4 with his seven receptions for a 72-yard stat line. The Cardinals allow the fifth most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the seventh most rushing yards per game this season. A great matchup on paper for Swift to remain hot.
• James Conner is a workhorse that produces Fantasy Points regularly, which are the two best qualities to have as a running back for Fantasy Football. Conner has finished four weeks with over 20 touches, three weeks with over 100 rushing yards, four weeks with a rushing touchdown, five weeks with multiple receptions, six weeks with 14+ Fantasy Points, and three weeks with 17+ Fantasy Points. The Bears are not a great matchup on paper for any specific position when it comes to Fantasy Football, but they did just allow Brian Robinson Jr., Jayden Daniels, and Austin Ekeler to combine for 169 rushing yards last week.

Jaguars vs. Eagles

• On paper, the Eagles are a horrible matchup for Fantasy tight ends as they allow the 31st most Fantasy PPG to them. The Jaguars just lost Christian Kirk due to a collarbone issue and likely will be without rookie Brian Thomas Jr. for a few weeks, leaving them with the likes of Parker Washington and Gabe Davis (banged-up shoulder). I would not be shocked if Engram earned 12+ targets this week.
• The Jaguars allow the second-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks, sixth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs, fourth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers, fifth-most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and second-most passing yards per game this season. I can plug one Eagle, or I can simply say play your Eagles in Week 9. Any one of them could have a massive week against the Jacksonville defense.

Lions vs. Packers

• Sam LaPorta had his best Fantasy week of the season in Week 8 catching all six targets for 48 yards and a touchdown for 16.8 Fantasy Points. LaPorta has now scored a touchdown in two of his three last games played following the Week 5 BYE, and just six targets was actually his season-high so far as well. LaPorta has been disappointing vs expectations after leading the position in Fantasy Points his rookie season. Week 8 could be a good sign of more big Fantasy weeks to come, which will be needed in this huge matchup against the Packers who allow the 10th most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season.
• Week 9 will be the Fantasy Football bounce-back of Jayden Reed as long as Jordan Love (groin injury) plays this week. Reed has had two down weeks in a row, but I believe context would point to his nagging ankle injury that is no longer on his injury report. Reed has produced 138/139 receiving yards and a touchdown in each of Weeks 1/4 with Love and is the most versatile player on the roster. Reed led wide receivers in rushing yards in Weeks 1-5 this season. 55 receiving yards on just two catches last week could point towards the direction of a big Week 9 against a Lions defense allowing the third most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and sixth most passing yards per game this season.

Rams vs. Seahawks

• Kyren Williams has scored a touchdown in every single game played this year, with 10 total through seven games. Across Kyren’s last four games, he has rushed for 94, 102, 76, and then 97 yards and is coming off of a game catching a season-high five passes. Williams’ 19.9 Fantasy PPG ranks sixth for the position. Up next in Week 9 is a Seahawks defense allowing the seventh-most Fantasy PPG to running backs and fourth-most rushing yards per game this season.
• Noah Fant has some streaming potential for Week 9 against a Rams defense allowing the third-most Fantasy PPG to tight ends. Fant has earned six, four, and then four targets across the last three weeks with two of those games resulting in 63/65 yards. Geno Smith has finished two weeks with over 50 passing attempts and four weeks with 40+ attempts so if this game turns into a shootout there is an increased shot at Fant scoring double-digit points.

Colts vs. Vikings (Sunday Night Football)

• There has been a lot of hype surrounding Josh Downs now that Joe Flacco was named the starter, but I like Michael Pittman Jr. to have a big Week 9. MPJ has actually scored a touchdown in both of Flacco’s full games this season and is a player we forget produced 1,152 receiving yards and 15.6 Fantasy PPG just last season. The Vikings allow the most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and third-most passing yards per game, and with the upgrade at quarterback through the air MPJ is a must-start.
• Sam Darnold is coming off of a solid 18.2 Fantasy Point outing in a game where he threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Darnold has been throwing at an efficient rate following the BYE with games completing 81.5% and 72% of his passes. 14 touchdowns through seven games paces Darnold to smash his career-best season total and 17.4 Fantasy PPG (#12) has made Darnold not just a streamer but a weekly starter for Fantasy Football. The Colts allow the 12th most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the ninth most passing yards per game this season.

Buccaneers vs. Chiefs (Monday Night Football)

• With Chris Godwin out for the remainder of the regular season and Mike Evans also banged up, Cade Otton has been a focal point of this Buccaneers offense. Otton has been targeted 10 times in both of his last two games, caught 17 of those 20, finished with 100 then 81 receiving yards, scored twice in Week 8, and finished with 18 then 29.1 Fantasy Points. Major volume paired with major production makes Otton a top tight end option right now for Fantasy Football. The Chiefs allow the second-most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season which could mean a third-straight dominant Fantasy performance out of Otton.
• Xavier Worthy has earned eight targets in back-to-back games but has caught just seven of those 16 targets with under 40 receiving yards in each week. Worthy did score a touchdown in Week 8, which propelled him to 13.7 Fantasy Points. Worthy has scored double-digit Fantasy Points four times this season, and with the recent volume you would expect the big-play threat to click with Patrick Mahomes on more big plays. The target volume and then touchdown last week can foreshadow a big week against the Buccaneers defense allowing the sixth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and fourth most passing yards per game this season.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!