Week 9 is in the books, and Colin’s Review has got answers to all of your fantasy football-related questions. Which players are trending up? What skill groups are trending down? Is Garrett Gilbert the greatest quarterback of all time? Read about the fantasy impact from all of Sunday’s 4 o’clock games, and don’t forget to check out the Thursday Night Report for more in-depth analysis about the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.
Jump to a matchup below:
Chargers vs. Raiders | Cowboys vs. Steelers | Dolphins vs. Cardinals
Las Vegas Raiders 31 @ Los Angeles Chargers 26
The Chargers passing offense has evolved into one of the league’s most dangerous units. Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen are must-starts in every format, while deep threats like Mike Williams deserve FLEX consideration. This offense has the potential to go off every week.
However, fantasy numbers don’t win games. Just ask the Las Vegas Raiders. Derek Carr loves to spread the ball around, which means there isn’t a single Raiders WR worth a fantasy roster spot. Nelson Agholor has scored five times this season, but he only averages around three targets per game. He’s a sneaky DFS play that can be had for cheap. Guys like Hunter Renfrow and Henry Ruggs are essentially non-factors.
The only pass catcher on the roster with any real fantasy value is Darren Waller. Although he only had 22 yards, he led the team in targets (10) and receptions (5). He also found the endzone for the third time in four games. Continue to start him with confidence.
Herbert’s potential game-winning touchdown was overturned, but the biggest fantasy heartbreak of this game was the status of Chargers RB Justin Jackson. Jackson has been a serviceable RB3 in the absence of Austin Ekeler, and he had real RB2 potential heading into this matchup, but he suffered a pre-game leg injury and only played a couple snaps. Fantasy managers had to suffer as Kalen Ballage stumbled his way to 14.4 points. That hurts.
The silver lining is, if Kalen Ballage can put up numbers in Justin Herbert’s offense, just imagine what Austin Ekeler can do if/when he returns. How many of you are banking on him to save your season?
Stock Watch
- Mike Williams 📈
- Raiders WRs 📉
- Justin Jackson 📉
Pittsburgh Steelers 24 @ Dallas Cowboys 19
Always beware the home underdog, no matter the matchup. Case in point: the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers were two-touchdown favorites against a 2-6 Dallas team starting a fourth-string quarterback. They nearly lost outright, and ended up only winning by five.
The Steelers fell in a hole early, which made James Conner a complete non-factor. This allowed Ben Roethlisberger to put together his best performance of the season (25 fantasy points). All three WRs — Juju Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool — flourished from a PPR standpoint. As long as the Steelers keep winning, their skill guys can be deployed with confidence, although Conner is more dependent on positive game script.
Ever since Dak Prescott’s injury, the skill guys for the Dallas Cowboys have been downgraded. Even Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott are questionable starters. But has Garrett Gilbert changed all that? The former AAF QB is certainly much more poised than Andy Dalton and Ben DiNucci.
Heading into a bye week, I need to see how Gilbert does in two weeks against Minnesota before declaring him an NFC East savior. If he can make CeeDee Lamb fantasy relevant again, then Jerry Jones needs to lock him up long-term.
Stock Watch
- Steelers WRs 📈
- CeeDee Lamb 📈
- Home underdogs against the spread 📈
Miami Dolphins 34 vs. Arizona Cardinals 31
Kyler Murray is one of the most exciting players in the league, and from a fantasy perspective, he’s actually playing better than 2019 Lamar Jackson. Midway through the season, Murray is on pace for 4,000 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards and 48 total TDs. He’s absolutely setting the league on fire.
Murray’s favorite target over the last three games? Christian Kirk. He’s scored five touchdowns and is averaging 18.2 points. And that’s in standard! Although DeAndre Hopkins is clearly the superior receiver, Kirk needs to be added to your roster right away. He is the TOP WAIVER WIRE PICK-UP OF THE WEEK, if he’s still available. Three great games in a row is not a fluke.
Two weeks ago, the top waiver wire pick-up of the week was backup RB Chase Edmonds. He’s flashed talent all season, and seemed set to capitalize after Kenyan Drake got injured. His first game as starter was underwhelming to say the least. Edmonds turned 25 carries into 70 yards. That’s not the “Mr. Steal Your Job” stat line that we expected. The Cardinals’ most talented runner isn’t Edmonds or Drake — it’s Kyler Murray by a mile.
And isn’t Tua Tagavailoa just a younger, more left-handed Kyler Murray? This Miami Dolphins offense is only going to get better as the season goes on. That means hold onto Devante Parker. And monitor the health of Preston Williams (day-to-day, foot).
Stock Watch
- Christian Kirk 📈📈
- Kyler Murray 🔥🔥
- Chase Edmonds 📉
- Devante Parker 📈
- Tua Tagavailoa 📈
