Week 9 Fantasy Football Studs
With 6 teams on bye in Week 9, fantasy owners needed their few remaining studs to put the rest of their rosters on their shoulders and carry them to victory. Here are the Stud Muffins that helped their owners withstand victories this week. The full breakdown of the previous week’s action can be heard on the podcast each Monday.
Quarterbacks
Matt Ryan vs TB
–344 passing yards, 4 TDs
Marcus Mariota @ SD
-313 passing yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 14 rushing yards, TD
Aaron Rodgers vs IND
–297 passing yards, 3 TDs, INT, 43 rushing yards
Drew Brees @ SF
–323 passing yards, 3 TDs
With the usual suspects out of the way, let’s take a look at a few surprises.
Eli Manning vs PHI
-257 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs
Baby Peyton lucked into production in this one. He repeatedly overthrew wide open receivers or threw them into double coverage.
Dak Prescott @ CLE
-247 passing yards, 3 TDs, 20 rushing yards
Cleveland looked like the OK Corral after Dak shot the place up.
Jameis Winston vs ATL
-261 passing yards, 3 TDs, 14 rushing yards
Tampa Bay got boat raced in this one and 4 of their RBs were sidelined with injuries. The game script was perfect for fantasy production through the air.
Blake Bortles @ KC
–252 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT, 54 rushing yards
Might I suggest a spoonful of sugar if you have to swallow starting Bortles.
Colin Kaepernick vs NO
-398 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT, 23 rushing yards
This isn’t a fantasy football world that I want to play in anymore.
Running Backs
Latavius Murray vs DEN
-20 carries, 114 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 1 reception, 13 rushing yards
The Oakland Raiders played 6 offensive linemen early and often in this game. Denver got absolutely road graded.
Melvin Gordon vs TEN
-32 carries, 196 rushing yards, TD, 4 receptions, 65 receiving yards
Where can I get one of these so-called microfracture surgeries? I want super powers too.
Mark Ingram @ SF
-15 carries, 158 rushing yards, TD, 2 receptions, 13 receiving yards, TD
The San Francisco 49ers are the cure for what ails RBs.
Ezekiel Elliott @ CLE
-18 carries, 92 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 1 reception, 5 receiving yards
If you saw that Alfred Morris got 17 carries in this game, you might be concerned about Elliott. Don’t be, this game was just that EZ.
Frank Gore @ GB
-19 carries, 60 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 2 receptions, 11 receiving yards
Get off his lawn already!
Jay Ajayi vs NYJ
–24 carries, 111 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 9 receiving yards
Ajayi is making his case to be a must-start RB1 the rest of the season.
DuJuan Harris vs NO
–10 carries, 59 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 83 receiving yards, TD
If you were one of the savvy owners who saw the Hyde reports Sunday morning, you were rewarded by DuJuan Harris.
Matt Forte @ MIA
-12 carries, 92 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 5 receiving yards
Just when I think I have Forte figured out as a high-volume grinder, he puts up 97 yards on 13 touches.
Tim Hightower @ SF
-23 carries, 87 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 15 receiving yards
Start every RB you can get your hands on against San Francisco. They have no interest in playing defense.
DeMarco Murray @ SD
-14 carries, 51 rushing yards, TD, 7 receptions, 29 receiving yards
Murray is going to have to play through his sore toe if Henry missed any time. The Titans need him to carry the load.
Wide Receivers
Mike Evans vs ATL
–11 receptions, 150 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 17 targets
Mike Evans is an absolute beast. He made the catch of the year on Sunday. He is also practicing on Monday, so he should be good to go for Week 10.
Michael Thomas @ SF
-5 receptions, 73 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 8 targets
In a world without Ezekiel Elliott, Thomas would be the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Rishard Matthews @ SD
-6 receptions, 63 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 10 targets
Because fantasy football doesn’t have to make sense.
Julio Jones @ TB
-8 receptions, 111 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
Who!
Mike Wallace vs PIT
-4 receptions, 124 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets
The longest play from scrimmage in Baltimore Ravens history will do good things for your fantasy numbers.
Golden Tate @ MIN
–11 receptions, 79 receiving yards, TD, 12 targets
If you missed Golden Tate’s tightrope walking heroics, you owe it to yourself to watch the highlights.
Jordy Nelson vs IND
-7 receptions, 94 receiving yards, TD, 13 targets
Jordy has been seeing more snaps in the slot, and it is helping create separation for Rodgers’ favorite target.
Odell Beckham Jr. vs PHI
-4 receptions, 46 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 10 targets
OBJ’s superstar athleticism saved his fantasy day as he scored his two TDs by sheer will.
Antonio Brown @ BAL
–7 receptions, 85 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
The Steelers were flying dead stick for the better part of 3 quarters in Baltimore, but Brown’s final stat line doesn’t look too bad.
Allen Robinson @ KC
–7 receptions, 76 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
76 yards and a TD is the new standard for success for A-Rob.
Tyrell Williams vs TEN
–6 receptions, 65 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
The Chargers wide receivers feel like a roulette wheel, but it seems to keep coming up Williams.
Tight Ends
Jason Witten @ CLE
–8 receptions, 134 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
What year is this?
Antonio Gates vs TEN
– 5 receptions, 75 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
…2007. It must be 2007.
Vance McDonald vs NO
-3 receptions, 84 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets
Vance McDonald has made a name for himself in the fantasy community with his big play potential.
Zach Ertz @ NYG
–8 receptions, 97 receiving yards, 8 targets
Damn you Zach Ertz. Just when I was ready to quit you, you pull me back in.
Greg Olsen @ LA
–5 receptions, 52 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
This game was a slugfest. Olsen’s TD salvaged his day.
Kickers/DST
Matt Bryant @ TB
-3 FGs (1-50+), 4 PATs
Jason Moore’s Iron Clad, Loaded and Locked, Boom Boom Kicker of the Week paid off this week. Now we just need Mike Wright to make a drop for the show.
Matt Prater @ MIN
More of a real-life shout out than a fantasy football one: Prater has ice in his veins. He has had his struggles, but nailing that 58-yarder at the end of regulation was clutch.
Honorable Mentions
Philip Rivers vs TEN
-275 passing yards, 2 TDs
Chris Ivory @ KC
–18 carries, 107 rushing yards, goal line fumble
Taylor Gabriel vs TB
–5 receptions, 52 receiving yards, 2 carries, 24 rushing yards, TD
Stefon Diggs vs DET
-13 receptions, 80 receiving yards, 12 rushing yards
Cole Beasley @ CLE
–6 receptions, 56 receiving yards, TD
Quinton Patton vs NO
-6 receptions, 106 receiving yards
Eli Rogers @ BAL
-6 receptions, 103 receiving yards