Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 9 of the 2023 NFL Season

Sunday’s amalgam of injuries and opportunities has opened doors and shut some others for would be fantasy fillers. We’ll suss out what’s what going into Week 9 of the NFL season…

 

Patriots – 17 @ Dolphins – 31

• Both Kendrick Bourne(knee) and DeVante Parker(concussion) left the game with injuries, leaving rookie Demario Douglas to lead the Pats in both snaps(41 of 53) and targets(7). If both or either Bourne or Parker can’t play this week, Douglas(6/29) would have some juice against a flailing Commanders secondary.

 

• Jeff Wilson Jr.(7/37) saw just his 2nd action this season, playing behind a hobbled Raheem Mostert(13/46/1). Salvon Ahmed(6/17) also worked in, potentially capping any upside Wilson might have had. As long as Ahmed is getting these kind of touches, Wilson is a bench stash only.

 

Jets – 13 @ Giants – 10

• The Jets offense runs almost entirely through Breece Hall(18/93/1) and Garrett Wilson(8/106), and they’re the only Jets skill players worth rostering right now. I suppose Allen Lazard(3/45) deserves an honorable mention for his 6 targets, but the Jets were playing the Giants.

 

• Tyrod Taylor sustained a rib injury that could force Daniel Jones back into action this week, unless the Giants feel they have a lost season on their hands, in which case Tommy DeVito could be under center in WK9. In that case, Saquon Barkley(39/128) is the only Giant you can start in fantasy.

 

Jaguars – 20 @ Steelers – 10

• Kenny Pickett is doubtful to play on a short week after sustaining a rib injury on Sunday. Mitch Trubisky(15/138/1/2) was pretty abysmal as his replacement, but he did target Diontae Johnson(8/85) 14 times, which is great for Johnson owners and no one else.

 

• TE Connor Heyward(5/24) was 2nd in targets(6) behind Johnson on Sunday. With Pat Freiermuth sidelined for the indeterminate future, Heyward is worth a look as a possible safety valve for Trubisky this week and beyond.

 

Falcons – 23 @ Titans – 28

• Taylor Heinicke(12/175/1) actually wasn’t that bad in relief of Desmond Ridder, who’d be taken out of the game for a potential concussion. Ridder allegedly could’ve come back in the 2nd half of the game Sunday, but the team was playing it safe.

 

• KhaDarel Hodge(3/75) led the Falcons in receiving, with Drake London dealing with a groin issue. Hopefully London doesn’t miss time, but Hodge could be a dart throw DFS play if he does.

 

• Will Levis(19/238/4) made a strong case for the starting job in Nashville, playing better than Ryan Tannehill has in years it seems. Levis will get another start on the short week in the injured Tannehill’s stead in a middling matchup with Pittsburgh. He’s a top waiver add this week.

 

• With the trade deadline looming, Tyjae Spears could be a hot pickup this week, as Derrick Henry is a rumored candidate to move. We’ve been imploring you to add him for weeks now anyway.

 

Texans – 13 @ Panthers – 15

• Dameon Pierce(12/46) and Devin Singletary(12/43) had almost identical lines Sunday, though neither could get much going against what should have been a porous Panthers front. Neither player will be an appealing option against a much better Buccaneers defense this week.

 

• Noah Brown(3/57) led the Texans in receiving on a day that Houston couldn’t get anything going on offense. Robert Woods was out, and probably will be for the next couple of weeks, so Brown could get decent targets in WK9.

 

• Miles Sanders(2/0) has lost his starting job to Chuba Hubbard(17/54) and potentially the backup role to Raheem Blackshear(5/31). Sanders is a hold, as none of the backs were particularly effective on Sunday, but you can’t put him in your lineups.

 

Rams – 23 @ Cowboys – 40

• Darrell Henderson(15/85) out-touched Royce Freeman(9/44/1) 15 to 9, but it was Freeman who found the end-zone. Henderson is still the higher priority, but Freeman will retain value as the preferred goal line option.

 

• Brandin Cooks(3/49/1) still has a ways to go to recoup the value we’d assumed he’d have coming into the season, but Cooks has scored in 2 straight games now for Dallas. He’s an upside play this week against a piss poor Eagles secondary.

 

• Jake Ferguson(4/48/1) scored his 2nd TD of the season on Sunday. He’s up and down, but so are 95% of TEs these days. He needs to be owned in more than 58% of leagues.

 

Vikings – 24 @ Packers – 10

• Kirk Cousins(achilles) is gone for the season, leaving rookie Jaren Hall and eventually Nick Mullens as the 2 QB options in Minnesota. Cam Akers(10/25/1) needs to be added in all formats, as the Vikings are destined to go run heavy for the near and potentially distant future.

 

• Kj Osborn(8/99) led the Vikings in receiving Sunday, though he’ll be highly volatile now that Cousins is out for the year. He’s probably the only starting Viking pass catcher still available in leagues though, so he’s worth an add in PPR formats.

 

• Jayden Reed(4/83) led the Packers in receiving after scoring his 3rd TD of the season last week. Both Romeo Doubs(4/18/1) and Christian Watson(3/33) had more targets than him, but Reed has earned a role as the Packers’ 3rd WR and should be owned in most formats.

 

Saints – 38 @ Colts – 27

• It’s pretty interesting that as soon as the Saints got Jamaal Williams(7/38( back, Taysom Hill(10/77/2) became their no.2 RB. In any case Hill looks like he could retain weekly value and should be owned in all formats.

 

• Rashid Shaheed‘s(3/153/1) target share is frightening, but his weekly upside is palpable. He needs to be owned in most formats and could do some real damage this week against Chicago.

 

• Josh Downs(7/72) led the Colts in receiving once again, and though Michael Pittman(8/40/1) is still the clear no.1 option based on his 13 targets, Downs has developed into a solid WR3 with upside who needs to be owned in all formats.

 

Eagles – 38 @ Commanders – 31

• Julio Jones(1/8/1) found the end-zone in his 2nd game with Philly, but it was literally his only reception. It’s still business as usual for the Eagles primary skill players.

 

• A week after leading the Commanders backfield in touches, Chris Rodriguez didn’t log a single carry in WK8. He can go back to waivers.

 

• Curtis Samuel was forced from the game with a toe injury that could keep him out of WK9’s contest with the Patriots. Jamison Crowder(7/95/1) had an excellent line in his stead and would be a decent PPR flex this week if Samuel misses time.

 

• Jahan Dotson has had his 2 highest yardage totals over the last 2 games, and he could continue to flourish this week, especially if Samuel is out. Owned in 51% of leagues, it’s time to grab him if you can.

 

Browns – 20 @ Seahawks – 24

• Jerome Ford(10/39) probably would’ve been better off sitting out on Sunday, as he didn’t do his owners any favors as the 3rd back for the Browns. Cleveland was probably just monitoring his touches after his ankle injury, but it may have put him in jeopardy for this week’s game. Kareem Hunt(15/67/1) and Pierre Strong(11/82) played ahead of him, and both could be in line for most of the touches this week against a beatable Arizona defense.

 

• Zach Charbonnet(7/64) had only 2 fewer touches than Ken Walker(9/70) on Sunday and only 6 fewer yards. Walker had been battling a calf injury he sustained in WK7, and Charbonnet’s usage could have something to do with that. In any case, it’s something to monitor.

 

• Both Jaxon Smith-Njigba(3/36/1) and Jake Bobo(3/26/1) scored this week, but their targets(4 and 2) leave something to be desired. They have limited upsides unless DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett sustain injuries.

 

Ravens – 31 @ Cardinals – 24

• Gus Edwards(19/80/3) continues to plow ahead as the Ravens’ lead back. Congrats if he’s still available in your league – He’s still unowned in 22% of leagues. The Ravens’ success on the ground limited their need to throw in this one.

 

• Ok it looks like Emari Demercado(21/79) is sticking as the Cardinals lead back for the time being. He’ll have his hands full versus Cleveland this week, but there are few better waiver adds this week.

 

• Hopefully you adhered to the Garbage Grab on Sunday and played Tre McBride(10/95/1) if you needed a TE. The talented rookie is a must add, especially while Zach Ertz is on IR. Even against a stifling Browns defense, McBride is worth streaming. He’s that good.

 

Chiefs – 9 @ Broncos – 24

• The Chiefs just couldn’t get anything going on Sunday afternoon, so there aren’t really any takeaways other than the fact that you need to have added Rashee Rice(4/56) by now. He’s the Chief’s no.1 WR.

 

• Jaleel McLaughlin(6/39) had some good runs, but this backfield is Javonte Williams‘(30/98/1) for now. Now close to fully healthy, Williams will have a big 2nd half coming out of the WK9 bye.

 

Bengals – 31 @ 49ers – 17

• Tyler Boyd(3/40/1) had a nice line, but he was still 4th in targets. His upside is severely limited.

 

• George Kittle(9/149) erupted on Sunday, but with Deebo Samuel set to return after the bye and a grueling gauntlet of a schedule for TEs ahead, I’d be trying to sell him high right now.

 

Bears – 13 @ Chargers – 30

• Tyson Bagent(25/232/0/2) had a lackluster performance in a matchup that was arguably the best in the league on Sunday. Set to face a Saints defense that is exponentially better than the Chargers’ this week, it’s best to avoid all Bears pass-catchers not named Cole Kmet(10/79).

 

• D’Onta Foreman(10/36) and Roschon Johnson(9/31) had similar lines against the Chargers Sunday night. They should both flirt with double-digit touches this week, though their upsides will be capped against a smothering Rams defense. Darrynton Evans(7/40/1) will also continue to mix in, making this a backfield I want to avoid in WK9.

 

• Joshua Palmer(3/24) re injured his knee on Sunday, though he was able to finish the game. He may be more decoy than anything this week if he can go. It’s worth noting that Quentin Johnston(5/50) had his best line of the season. If the Chargers rest Palmer, Johnston would have an unenviable matchup versus the Jets this week.