Week 9 Fantasy Football Studs
Week 9 marked the kick off of the NFL’s Salute to Service Campaign. The members of the U.S. Military are the true studs. Their sacrifices and dedication afford us opportunities like sitting in front our various media devices and taking in as much football as possible. With any luck, the fantasy teams we were keeping tabs on were comprised of a different kind of stud: Fantasy Stud Muffins. Let’s take a look at these gridiron warriors from Week 9.
Editor’s Note: Get the full breakdown on today’s podcast, and read up on the Week 9 Duds.
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff @ NYG
311 passing yards, 4 TDs
Count me amongst the Jared Goff truthers. I loved seeing this stat line from the sophomore QB. However, it is worth noting that he accomplished this feat on just 14 completions. The Rams are the best offense in the NFL, but this kind of efficiency is unlikely to become a trend.
Carson Wentz vs DEN
199 passing yards, 4 TDs
It is appropriate that Goff and Wentz would go 1-2 on this list. Wentz’s performance, though technically the lesser of the two, probably deserves more praise as his numbers came against the vaunted Denver defense. He now leads the NFL with 23 TDs.
Tyrod Taylor @ NYJ
285 passing yards, 2 TDs, 35 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
T-Mobile, TyGod, or whatever you want to call him, has been a trendy QB in the fantasy community lately. This performance will only embolden those believers and for good reason. With several favorable matchups in the coming months, Tyrod is approaching ‘must start’ territory.
Dak Prescott vs KC
249 passing yards, 2 TDs, 27 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
Kansas City just isn’t the same on defense these days. Dak went on the attack, taking full advantage of this reeling defense. The Cowboys offense seems in a state of limbo each week as the Zeke watch continues, but Dak Prescott remains unphased.
Russell Wilson vs WAS
297 passing yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 77 rushing yards
The game in Seattle was a disaster for the first 3 quarters. However, much in the way Wilson and the Seahawks get better as the season goes on, they got better as this game went on. 2 TDs in the 4th quarter salvaged Wilson’s day and his owners live on for another week.
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara vs TB
10 carries, 68 receiving yards, TD, 6 receptions, 84 receiving yards, TD
On Sunday, we saw textbook New Orleans Saints RB play from Kamara. He even did the fumble bit.
Corey Clement vs DEN
12 carries, 51 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 1 reception, 15 receiving yards, TD
Wow, Clement looks good. This stat line isn’t nearly as much good news for Clement though, as it is bad news for Smallwood and Blount. With their value already in freefall following the Ajayi trade, this performance from Clement might be the final straw.
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Matt Forte vs BUF
14 carries, 77 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 4 receptions, 19 receiving yards
Forte helped owners get their week started on the right foot with two scores on TNF. This Jets offense has been a pleasant surprise and should be good enough to keep Forte relevant.
Todd Gurley @ NYG
16 carries, 59 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 2 receptions, 45 receiving yards
Gurley was the ultimate benefactor of an ideal game script. Rams good. Giants bad. Gurley good.
Ezekiel Elliott vs KC
27 carries, 93 rushing yards, TD
Another week for Zeke.
Adrian Peterson @ SF
37 carries, 159 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 8 receiving yards
Adrian Peterson is like 82 years old and yet somehow received more touches than he has candles on his birthday cake.
Carlos Hyde vs AZ
12 carries, 41 rushing yards, 9 receptions, 84 receiving yards
…and one disqualification for taking a stand against bullying.
Marshawn Lynch @ MIA
14 carries, 57 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 2 receptions, 6 receiving yards
This game was well on it’s way to another disaster for Lynch owners, he was getting stuffed at the line and the backups were stealing touches as they are prone to do. But the Raiders kept after it, eventually wearing out the Dolphins defense and Lynch punched in his goalline opportunities.
Wide Receivers
T.Y. Hilton @ HOU
5 receptions, 175 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 9 targets
Hilton now has 3 games with more than 24 PPR points and 6 games with single-digits. Godspeed Hilton owners.
Alshon Jeffery vs DEN
6 receptions, 84 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 11 targets
The late scratch of Zach Ertz is probably what led to the increase in targets for Alshon Jeffery. He made them count against a tough secondary.
Robert Woods @ NYG
4 receptions, 70 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 5 targets
Somebody should lose their job for this. Robert Woods racked up 52 of his yards and a score on a completely busted play on 3rd down and a mile. Not unlike the “Hill Mary” pulled off by Tyreek Hill in Dallas.
Tyreek Hill @ DAL
2 receptions, 64 receiving yards, TD, 4 targets, 9 rushing yards
Hill actually had as many rushing attempts (4) as he had targets (4). His day was saved by the aforementioned “Hill Mary” in which he took a desperation screen pass to the house against a lackadaisical prevent defense.
Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Doug Baldwin vs WAS
7 receptions, 108 receiving yards, TD, 12 targets
Doug Baldwin was so good, Brooks actually put “77 receptions” in the notes. It certainly felt like 77, as Baldwin was all over the field and scored one of the Seahawks two scores late.
Ted Ginn Jr. vs TB
4 receptions, 59 receiving yards, TD, 5 targets
For years we have seen the WR 2 or 3 in a Drew Brees offense be productive. Brees is the ultimate distributor which will lead to production for Ginn some weeks, in others, not so much.
Terrance Williams vs KC
9 receptions, 141 receiving yards, 9 targets
Don’t go chasing this waterfall of points.
Cole Beasley vs KC
4 receptions, 24 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 6 targets
…Or this one for that matter. The Beasles is highly contagious and can result in unpredictable symptoms.
Tight Ends
Evan Engram vs LAR
4 receptions, 70 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
Engram reminds me of Marques Colston in his rookie season. It is borderline unfair to have a WR with TE eligibility, though I doubt his fantasy owners mind.
Travis Kelce @ DAL
7 receptions, 73 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
Zeus doing Zeus things. Only now he’s actually scoring TDs.
Honorable Mentions
Jacoby Brissett @ HOU
308 passing yards, 2 TDs, 12 rushing yards
Drew Brees vs TB
263 passing yards, 2 TDs
Matt Ryan @ CAR
313 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT
Christian McCaffrey vs ATL
15 carries, 66 rushing yards, TD, 5 receptions, 28 receiving yards
Javorius Allen @ TEN
7 carries, 21 rushing yards, 7 receptions, 44 receiving yards, TD
Jay Ajayi vs DEN
8 carries, 77 rushing yards, TD
Deonte Thompson @ NYJ
7 receptions, 81 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
DeAndre Hopkins vs IND
6 receptions, 86 receiving yards, TD, 16 targets
Marqise Lee vs CIN
8 receptions, 75 receiving yards, TD, 12 targets
Demaryius Thomas @ PHI
8 receptions, 70 receiving yards, TD, 12 targets
Julio Jones @ CAR
6 receptions, 118 receiving yards, 12 targets
Trey Burton vs DEN
2 receptions, 41 receiving yards, TD, 4 targets
Jack Doyle @ HOU
8 receptions, 63 receiving yards, 9 targets