Hungry For More: The Fantasy Footballers’ Predictions for Week 9
By this point of the season, all fantasy managers want to add a little unexpected spice to their rosters as we head towards the playoffs. Whether you’re dealing with injuries, Bye Weeks or are still fighting to stay alive in the hunt for the postseason, being able to find a player who can take the next step can be the difference in your entire season! Ahead of Week 9, Andy, Mike & Jason are each cooking up players who we’re ready to see more from in Hungry For More presented by Uber Eats!
Each week the Ballers will pick a player who super-sized their game in the past week and decide if they’ll continue to eat at the big guy’s table or go back to the kid’s table. Of course, I’ll give you an extra side dish or two to go along with Andy, Mike, and Jason’s main course! Let me know if you think we’re cooking up a high-end meal or if it’s more like gas station sushi!
RB – Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens
| Week 8 | Carries | Rushing Yards | TD |
| 19 | 80 |
3 |
Andy is hopping on the Gus Bus this week after Gus Edwards turned in an RB1 overall finish in Week 8 against the Cardinals. Last week’s big game marks back-to-back weeks that Edwards has finished as the RB6 or higher on the week. Despite still splitting snaps in the Baltimore offense with Justice Hill, Edwards’s involvement in the Ravens offense has been in elite company. Over the last 3 weeks, Edwards has seen 13 Red Zone carries, which is tied with Alvin Kamara and behind only Saquon Barkley and Joe Mixon.
For fantasy managers looking to go back to the RB buffet with Edwards, getting the Seahawks’ defense at home in Week 9 might be a tough matchup to get another top-12 RB finish. Seattle has given up the 7th-fewest rushing yards in the league this season and just 3.6 rushing yards per carry. With a strong running game and plenty of Red Zone work, Edwards could be a strong fantasy asset down the stretch of the season.
WR – Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
| Week 8 | Receptions | Receiving Yards | TD |
| 5 | 63 |
1 |
We just finished Halloween, but Jason is getting scary with Scary Terry McLaurin. After a slow start, McLaurin has picked things up for fantasy managers. Over the last 3 weeks, McLaurin has seen a 26% target share in the Commanders’ offense that’s turned into WR26, WR20, and WR15 finishes. What could be more encouraging for McLaurin’s continued fantasy output is the recent moves Washington made at the trade deadline, dealing key defensive players which could only increase their need for the offense to score.
The next 3 games for the Commanders should provide plenty of opportunity for McLaurin to keep his hot streak rolling. Four of McLaurin’s next 5 opponents rank in the bottom half of the league against fantasy WRs including a Patriots defense in Week 9 that’s given up the 11th-most passing yards in the league. As long as McLaurin can continue his 10 target per week average he’s seen over the last 3 weeks, he should continue to provide tasty treats for fantasy lineups.
QB – Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
|
Week 8 |
Passing Attempts | Passing Yards | TD |
| 19/29 | 238 |
4 |
In what was one of the most surprising fantasy outputs of the season, Mike is ready to see more from Titans rookie QB Will Levis this week. Levis stepped in for Ryan Tannehill and threw 4 TDs, bringing life to a Tennessee offense that had all the flavor of a watered chestnut so far this year. In just one game, Levis doubled the passing TDs for Tannehill on the season while completing 66% of his passes on in his debut.
The Fantasy Hitman’s interest in Levis’ continued success has more to do with the surrounding pieces in Tennessee like Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins. If Levis can continue to give the Titans’ offense life through the passing game, it can only mean better things for all of the weapons that fantasy managers were excited about heading into the year and could add more options if players like Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo can get in on the excitement.
RB – Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
|
Week 8 |
Carries | Rushing Yards | TD |
| 5 | 53 |
0 |
After 7 weeks of waiting, fantasy managers finally got to see more of Seahawks rookie Zach Charbonnet last week and it left me wanting to see more! Charbonnet saw a season-high in snaps in Week 8 and turned it into a career-high 53 yards averaging 10.36 yards per carry. While Seattle may have given their 2nd-round pick more run due to Kenneth Walker being limited in practice all week leading up to Sunday, the fact that they still chose to lean on Charbonnet more with Walker active could mean they’re looking for ways to get him worked into their offense more down the stretch of the season.
For fantasy managers wanting more from Charbonnet, Week 9 might not be the best time to begin relying on him with a tough matchup against the Ravens. Seattle doesn’t run the ball a ton with the 9th-fewest rushing attempts in the league through 8 games, so Charbonnet getting involved in the Seahawks’ passing game may be where fantasy managers can see his value increase enough to begin being a FLEX option down the stretch of the season.