The Week 9 schedule sets up pretty favorably for a number of our usual fantasy heroes. It also sets up nicely for quarterbacks in the midst of a rebound (Matt Cassel) and those whose fantasy totals to date have been underwhelming (Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers). After the games of Week 8, NFL fans are seeking some excitement and, in theory, they’ll be treated to some instant classics (at least a few performances that aren’t vomit-inducing at the water cooler).
Which receivers will step up in support of their quarterbacks? Let’s separate the good, bad and ugly for Week 9.
Exclude: Wes Welker, Mike Wallace, Greg Jennings, Andre Johnson (GTD again), Roddy White, Dwayne Bowe, Hakeem Nicks (GTD), A.J. Green (looks like he made it!), Miles Austin, Larry Fitzgerald, Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, Vincent Jackson, Marques Colston
Bye Weeks: Jacksonville, Detroit, Carolina, Minnesota
Click here for Harmon’s Week 9 QBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 9 RBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 9 TEs
Week 9 WR Heroes
Victor Cruz, NYG at NE: This man has a flair for the dramatic, and he likely assumes a larger role in Week 9 if Hakeem Nicks is, indeed, sidelined. With the exception of a weak effort against the Bills in Week 6, Cruz has been a fantastic find for fantasy owners on the wire. He’s recorded at least 98 receiving yards in four of the past five games.
Eli Manning is playing at a high level right now and this is a prime spot against the 31st-ranked Patriots pass defense. The Patriots have changed out a ton of parts of late, and that’s a recipe for disaster here.
Brandon Lloyd, STL at ARI: Lloyd registered six receptions in each of his first two games as a member of the Rams (74 and 53 receiving yards, respectively). He’s a fantastic play against the Arizona secondary this week. Sam Bradford may return, but that doesn’t matter. Throw it up and let him make plays against the 30th-ranked Arizona pass defense (298 yards per game).
Anquan Boldin, BAL at PIT: Baltimore fans and radio hosts are still wondering why Boldin doesn’t take over games more frequently following his second-half heroics against Arizona. In the past three weeks, Boldin has logged 19 receptions, 317 receiving yards and a touchdown (132 yards, 40 yards and a touchdown and 145 receiving yards).
Boldin produced four receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against the Steelers. I don’t expect a similar result in the game, but Boldin shan’t be shut down. He’s tied for 11th in total targets with 63.
Julio Jones, ATL vs. IND: Jones makes the list with a huge asterisk. He’s been sidelined for several weeks because of a hamstring injury but expects to return to action against the Colts. Jones has been limited in mid-week practices, so this bears watching on game day. However, the potential for a huge day is there if he’s cleared. I ranked Jones 19th in my wide receivers list for Week 9.
Mario Manningham, NYG at NE: As expected, Manningham delivered a score against the Dolphins. Unfortunately, his yardage total didn’t make the dramatic leap that owners had anticipated. I’ll get past it. Manningham has recorded five or more receptions in three consecutive games (56 or more receiving yards) and will have his chances downfield against the scuffling New England secondary. He’s tied for 47th in targets this season with 45.
Jordy Nelson, GB at SD: The reemergence of James Jones has cut into Nelson’s weekly target count and made him a more inconsistent play. Still, this smacks of a fantastic opportunity coming out of the Bye. Secondary receivers have thrived against the Chargers (Jonathan Baldwin of the Chiefs being the most recent, following Braylon Edwards’ huge Week 7 output).
Sidney Rice, SEA at DAL: Rice welcomes Tarvaris Jackson back to the lineup in Week 8 and promptly topped 100 receiving yards (102), his second 100-yard game of the season. Rob Ryan’s defense will be flying around after that Week 8 debacle against the Cowboys, thereby opening opportunities downfield in man-to-man coverage.
* Rice was held out of Thursday’s practice because of a foot injury. He’s expected to be available for Sunday’s tilt.
Michael Crabtree, SF at WAS: Crabtree has come alive in the past two weeks, posting 14 receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown. He’s a solid WR3 play this week against the banged-up Washington secondary. The attention afforded San Francisco’s power running game will create opportunities downfield. Alex Smith will need to play with his head on a swivel against the Washington pass rush.
Antonio Brown, PIT vs. BAL: Brown posted a fantastic effort against the Patriots as expected (nine receptions for 67 yards with a touchdown). He’s become a fixture in the Pittsburgh passing game as the No. 2 option opposite Mike Wallace. Brown caught four or more passes in five of the Steelers’ first eight games, producing 67 or more receiving yards in those contests.
Brandon Marshall, MIA at KC: Marshall’s high weekly target count (67 in seven games) keeps him on the radar as a WR2 candidate despite the miserable production from the quarterback position. Marshall has averaged 5.4 receptions and 76.9 yards per game. It’s not world-beating, but he’s consistent.
The Kansas City defense plays fast and aggressively. That leads to mistakes and opportunities downfield. I’ll take my chances with the mercurial receiver.
Week 9 WR Ninja Alerts
Early Doucet vs. STL: Obviously, owners need to be reaching deep to push Doucet into the mix with John Skelton under center. However, it is interesting to note that Doucet is currently tied for 37th in targets with 48. He has the speed to break open deep, and the Rams will obviously spend ample time working to shut down Beanie Wells and Larry Fitzgerald. Doucet might have a chance to break one deep in man-coverage.
Jonathan Baldwin, KC vs. MIA: Baldwin made a big splash on Monday night with his 39-yard touchdown reception from Matt Cassel (five receptions for 82 yards overall). He missed the first five games of the season following a locker room fracas with Thomas Jones.
Baldwin represents a solid plug-in option this week against the heretofore woeful Miami pass defense. The Dolphins have surrendered 282.1 passing yards and two touchdowns per game. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown multiple touchdown passes against the Dolphins in five of seven games. Philip Rivers threw one touchdown pass. Mark Sanchez passed for a touchdown and run for another.
Mike Williams, TB at NO: Williams rates as one of the year’s biggest Flops to date, a veritable poster boy for the term “sophomore slump.” However, Williams has caught four or more passes in six of his seven starts, including a six-reception, 59-yard performance against the Saints in Week 6.
The return of LeGarrette Blount and the reestablishment of the power running game will avoid Josh Freeman time in the pocket. Williams recorded 59 or more receiving yards in three of his past four starts. I look for a breakthrough game coming out of the Bye.
Jason Avant, PHI vs. CHI: He’s in the news because of “bandwagon” comments made during the week, so the anonymity/sneaky play angle is gone. Avant has become one of Michael Vick’s most trusted targets. He can break off a longer gain (receptions of at least 20 yards in five games) and works well on intermediate routes. Avant’s caught three or more passes in six of seven games while averaging 58.9 receiving yards per game.
The youthful Chicago safeties will be challenged to contain DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin deep and Brent Celek down the seams. That creates a lot of operating space for Avant.
Damian Williams, TEN vs. CIN: Nate Washington is going to draw coverage from Leon Hall, thereby forcing Matt Hasselbeck’s attention elsewhere. Williams has emerged as the No. 2 option in the past several weeks, producing 11 receptions for 131 yards with a touchdown (he scored in the week prior on his lone reception from four yards out).
The 2010 third-round pick out of USC makes for an intriguing WR4 plug-in play.
Week 9 WR Flop Alerts
Stevie Johnson, BUF vs. NYJ: Johnson has been limited to 58 or fewer receiving yards in four consecutive games with one touchdown reception. He’s still performed beautifully for owners in PPR leagues with four or more receptions in all seven of the Bills’ games. Alas, that run may come to an end on Sunday as Johnson matches up with Darrelle Revis. He’ll be shadowed all day long, thereby pushing Johnson down into the WR3 ranks.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK vs. DEN: If you only paid attention to the headlines, you’d believe that Tim Tebow was the lone player employed by the Broncos. The Denver squad is a mess overall, as much as some would like to lay blame solely at the feet of Tim Tebow. He’s not exactly getting a ton of support from either the Broncos’ offensive line or the Denver defense.
However, a healthy Champ Bailey presents a formidable challenge for Heyward-Bey on the outside. Owners can expect to see signs of a rapport between Carson Palmer and Heyward-Bey coming out of the Bye week, but this is a formidable one-on-one matchup.
Nate Washington, TEN vs. CIN: Washington starred for the Titans with a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown (Chris Johnson owners can shake their fists now) in Week 8 to overcome meager yardage totals (34 receiving yards on four receptions). He’s registered 69 or fewer receiving yards in four consecutive games.
This time out, he draws coverage from Leon Hall. Hall’s been fantastic for the ninth-ranked Cincinnati pass defense (227.4 yards and 0.86 touchdowns allowed per game). As mentioned above, I might be tempted to take my chances with a secondary receiver out of the Tennessee lineup and avoid Hall.
Santonio Holmes, NYJ at BUF: Don’t get me wrong. Holmes still rates as a low-end WR2 or high-WR3. You can just count me among the many loudmouths confused about how the Jets have used Holmes this season. He’s tied for 66th among all receivers with 41 targets and has logged just 22 receptions.
Holmes has yet to eclipse 70 receiving yards in a single game this season, though he has scored three touchdowns. Don’t be sucked into the Bills’ overall stats. Remember, that four of the ten touchdowns allowed this season came against Tom Brady. The Buffalo defense has played much more aggressively and effectively in the secondary of late.
FOX Fantasy Football Homepage | Football Chat Central
