A bountiful smorgasbord of fantasy football points were scored in Week 9. If you’re scoring at home (or even if you're by yourself), here’s the point production breakdown (before SNF / PPR):
Fantasy Injury Report Headlines
For the second time this season, Ben Roethlisberger was knocked out of a game due to injury. On an Aldon Smith sack, Big Ben immediately got up and grabbed his foot. Media reports Sunday evening suggest it’s a mid-foot sprain and he’ll miss a few weeks. Before he left the game early in the fourth quarter, Roethlsiberger posted his second-best fantasy performance of the season 335 passing yards, two touchdowns with an interception – 25.4 FP.
Heading into Week 9, the Patriots Dion Lewis ranked RB5 in PPR scoring among running backs – 18.5 points per contest. He was on his way to another productive Sunday against the Giants before he was knocked out due to a knee injury. He’ll have an MRI on Monday. Regardless of the timeline, expect LeGarrette Blount and Brandon Bolden to get the touches for New England.
LeSean McCoy’s hamstring injury - which lingered from training camp on into the regular season - cost him two games earlier this season. He pledged not to return to the field until he was 100 percent. Some expected that to be a month. McCoy returned three weeks later. Over the past two games, he looked fresh and averaged just under 15 fantasy points per week. His 112 rushing yards on 16 carries this week was his best ground game in nearly a year, but a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins forced him to the sideline again. McCoy says he’ll be ready on the short week for the Bills’ game Thursday against the Jets. Karlos Williams posted 110 yards on nine carries with two touchdowns in his first game back since a concussion a month ago. So, the Bills may elect to hold McCoy out should the shoulder pains continue.
Probably one of the scariest plays of the NFL season:
Marcus Mariota – 41.4 FP vs. Saints
Bridgewater getting nailed while sliding. #Dirtyrams pic.twitter.com/NVHwG7If7J
— Kevin (@kbuck1984) November 8, 2015
Raise your hand if you would like to take a shot at the Saints defense.
Coming off an injury and coaching change, Mariota posted a new career-high in passing yards – 372 - and matched his Week 1 four-touchdown performance. Not to play Debbie Downer, but Mariota’s two monster fantasy performances have come against two of the three worst fantasy pass defenses – the Buccaneers and Saints. In his other four games, he's has averaged just under 15 fantasy points per game with five touchdowns and five interceptions.
DeAngelo Williams – 38.5 FP vs. Raiders
That didn’t take long. In three games where Williams has filled in for Le’Veon Bell this season, he’s averaged 23 carries for 125 yards with five touchdowns. He chipped in 55 receiving yards against the Raiders. Williams’ 225 total yards are a career high.
Lamar Miller – 33.1 FP vs. Bills
Since the Dolphins BYE week and head coaching change – a total of four games - Miller has:
Antonio Brown - 47.7 FP vs. Raiders
The math, chemistry and history is pretty simple. Brown and Roethlisberger are the best duo in the game.
Through the first three weeks of the season, Brown averaged 28.9 fantasy points, 10 receptions and 145 receiving yards per game with two touchdowns. When Big Ben missed four games dues to a knee injury, Brown averaged unspeakable averages with Mike Vick before Landry Jones and Brown toasted the Chiefs poor pass defense for six receptions and 124 yards.
However, Week 9’s stat line against the Raiders changed the game. Brown caught 17 of 23 passes for 284 yards with two rushes for 22 yards. Roethlisberger is expected to miss at least a few games, but the good news is Jones and Brown face the Browns pass defense next week before a Week 11 BYE.
Michael Crabtree – 29.8 FP vs. Steelers
After back-to-back 20+ fantasy point performances, his ownership percentage jumped 30 percent from Week 8 to 9 – fifth-highest positive change among the skill positions. Heading into Week 9, Crabby ranked WR26 in fantasy points per game – 15.2. His seven receptions for 108 yards with two touchdowns marks the first time he’s scored twice in the same since Week 17 of Colin Kaepernick’s breakout campaign.
Sammy Watkins – 30.8 FP vs. Dolphins
What-if Watkins could stay healthy? He’s averaging 17.1 fantasy points in games where he’s recorded a reception. The 168 receiving yards are a career high and the eight receptions on eight targets marks the first time Watkins has caught every pass thrown his direction in a game.
Allen Robinson / Hurns – 41.3 FP vs. Jets
One of the great, under-appreciated tandems in the league. Robinson and Hurns have scored double-digit fantasy points in all but one game this season. Robinson is averaging 21.7 fantasy points per game over his last four.
Delanie Walker – 30.5 FP vs. Saints
The circus-is-in-town, tip-drill touchdown aside, Walker finished with seven receptions on eight targets for 95 yards with two touchdowns. It marked the first time in his 10-year NFL career that Walker scored twice in the same game.
Tyler Eifert – 28.3 FP vs. Browns
This guy leads the NFL in touchdown receptions with nine. Andy Dalton has found his confidence with the third-year tight end out of Notre Dame.
Cole Beasley - 32.2 FP vs. Eagles
Jordan Matthews - 28.3 FP vs. Cowboys
Ryan Tannehill
His running back is trending upwards, but after averaging 27.5 fantasy points per game in the two games following the head coaching change, Tannehill has only averaged 10 fantasy points per game in his last two.
Jeremy Hill
The Bengals running back by committee aside, Hill’s lack of fantasy production this season stems from Andy Dalton’s confidence in the passing game. Tyler Eifert and, to some extent, Marvin Jones were not part of the equation last season. To those true believers, let’s not forget Hill’s major production didn’t come until the second half of the 2014 season. So, there is still time for the weather to turn cold and Hill to see an increased workload. I’m just not holding my breath.
Stefon Diggs
Played hurt. Underperformed to the tune of three receptions for 42 yards. If Teddy B. is to miss any time due to his concussion, Diggs’ value takes a serious hit.
Ted Ginn
It’s hard to find a reason to start Ginn unless he hauls in a homerun pass from Cam Newton. The Panthers scored 38 points and Ginn finished with one reception for 20 yards. It’s just not there.
Eddie Lacy
After five carries for 10 yards against the Panthers, Lacy has now rushed for less than 50 yards in six out of eight games this season.
Alfred Morris
No touchdowns this season and no more than 21 rushing yards over his past four games. Morris is only 26 years old and rushed for over 1,000 yards with eight touchdowns last season for the Redskins.
Charles Clay
One catch for six yards is Clay’s worst game of the season. What makes it an even tougher pill to swallow for fantasy owners is Clay posted five receptions for 92 yards with a touchdown against the Dolphins earlier this season.
