Each week there are some obvious starts and sits in fantasy football. Other decisions are not quite so simple. Here are some of my picks for Week 9 in the latest edition of Studs, Duds & Sleepers.
STUDS
QB: Joe Burrow (CIN vs. BUF): Burrow was up to his old tricks last week as he turned in his best performance of the season as the Bengals snapped the 49ers’ 11-game home winning streak. The Bills have been stingy vs. fantasy signal callers most of the season, but with a total in the high 40’s expect Burrow to approach top five numbers.
RB: Breece Hall (NYJ at LAC): After a slow start to the year, Hall has eclipsed 20 PPR points in three straight contests. A big part of the production has been an increased role in the team’s passing attack as he’s pulled in 14 of his targets in that span. This week he faces the Chargers, who have ceded the 8th most fantasy points (23.8 ppg) to running backs on the season.
WR: Jaylen Waddle (MIA vs. KC): It will be hard to keep any players from this MIA vs. KC game out of your lineups this week with a total set at 51 points. Waddle is coming off his best effort (7/121/1) of the season last week vs. the Patriots and should thrive here. The Chiefs have allowed 12 wideouts this season to hit double digit PPR points.
TE: Dalton Kincaid (BUF at CIN): Kincaid benefited from Dawson Knox being placed on IR and has now seen 15 targets and double-digit PPR days twice over the last two weeks. This week’s matchup vs. the Bengals is favorable. No team has allowed more than the 15.7 PPR points per game that Cincinnati has to tight ends in 2023.
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DUDS
QB: Kenny Pickett (PIT vs. TEN): Pickett is trying to tough things out and play vs. the Titans despite dealing with a rib issue, but playing on a short week leaves me a bit concerned. The second-year signal caller has failed to crack the top 20 at QB in five of his 7 games and has yet to finish a week inside the top 15 at the position.
RB: A.J. Dillon (GB vs. LAR): With Aaron Jones getting back into the mix the volume that was feeding Dillon’s fantasy value has been diminished. He saw a season-high five targets last week to keep him productive, but with just eight targets in his previous six games fantasy managers shouldn’t count on that production.
WR: Joshua Palmer (LAC at NYJ): Palmer is another player on my Duds list this week that is also dealing with a bit of an injury issue. His knee left him dicey for last Sunday night’s contest vs. the Bears and also forced him from part of the game. Add to it a matchup with a Jets’ secondary that is yielding the fewest fantasy points to wideouts per game this season and you can find a better WR3 / flex play this week.
TE: Tyler Higbee (LAR at GB): It was nice to see Higbee get back involved last week with five catches on seven targets. However, that game was a blow out and the Rams had to chuck it up early and often. Add to it the fact Matthew Stafford is dealing with a thumb injury and he’s facing a Packers’ D that has seen only one tight end reach double digits all year vs. them makes Higbee a hard sit for me.
SLEEPERS
QB: Will Levis (TEN at PIT): It will be hard to top last week’s impressive debut, but the rookie quarterback is definitely worth a flier as a streamer in Week 9 with all the byes and injuries fantasy managers are faced with. The Steelers are ranked 24th in the league in passing yardage, leaving hope for more good things ahead.
RB: Chuba Hubbard (CAR vs. IND): Hubbard has surpassed Miles Sanders in the Panthers’ pecking order and should have a nice day vs. an Indy defense that has shown its fair share of holes during the first half of the season. He makes for a nice RB2/flex option across all formats in Week 9.
WR: Demario Douglas (NE vs. WAS): The Commanders have been shredded through the air most of the season and just traded away their best two pass rushers. Look for Mac Jones to have a solid day and Douglas is the receiver to benefit the most with Kendrick Bourne (knee) now out for the season.
TE: Trey McBride (ARI at CLE): McBride was the number two overall tight end and a DFS darling a week ago. Despite the change at quarterback and a brutal matchup with the Browns this week he still ranks inside my top 10 plays this weekend at the position.
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