The dark tunnel at the end of the light is getting closer as we hit Week 9. With playoff seeding very far from locked in yet, a fantasy win is as important as ever. Make sure your lineup is as strong as possible with The Wolf’s Week 9 rankings.
Tier 1 – Potential Top Scorers
1) Greg Olsen (CAR) @ LA
Tier 2 – Locked in TE1s
2) Kyle Rudolph (MIN) vs. DET
3) Travis Kelce (KC) vs. JAC
4) Jimmy Graham (SEA) vs. BUF
5) Delanie Walker (TEN) @ SD
Tier 3 – Lower end TE1s
6) Cameron Brate (TB) vs. ATL
7) Gary Barnidge (CLE) vs. DAL
8) Coby Fleener (NO) @ SF
9) Eric Ebron (DET) @ MIN
10) Jason Witten (DAL) @ CLE
11) Dennis Pitta (BAL) vs. PIT
12) Jack Doyle (IND) @ GB – Dwayne Allen returned to practice, and Doyle’s outlook will be fairly bleaker should Allen play. TY Hilton is also banged up, and his target share would help offset Allen’s return if the burner misses the game. In sum, Doyle’s value is far from locked in, and could drop even further if both surrounding teammates return, or skyrocket should both miss time.
13) Hunter Henry and 14) Antonio Gates (SD) vs. TEN – As Gates gains health, Hunter loses value. The rookie tight end has faded recently, but has a path to a big game against Tennessee’s eighth worst defense versus the position. Henry gets the nod for his higher ceiling, but Gates is also a fair bet for a TD.
Tier 4 – Living my life in a slow hell
15) Austin Hooper (ATL) @ TB
16) Julius Thomas (JAC) @ KC
17) Ladarius Green OR Jesse James (PIT) @ BAL – Green has returned to practice and reportedly “impressed” head coach Mike Tomlin. If you’re sinking this low anyways, go with the team that should score a few TDs. Green’s schedule the next few weeks is pure cake as well, so even if he’s taken along slowly in Week 9, he could be a major factor down the stretch.
18) Lance Kendricks (LA) vs. CAR
19) Virgil Green (DEN) @ OAK
20) Zach Ertz (PHI) @ NYG
21) Vance McDonald (SF) vs. NO
22) Richard Rodgers (GB) vs. IND
