With Kayla taking a bye week alongside the 49ers, Broncos, Jaguars, and Lions, your boy CJay is back to give you the top fantasy football Week 9 sleepers and streamers.
I have my work cut out for me after Kayla nailed Kareem Hunt (1), Dak Prescott (4), and Kendrick Bourne (1) touchdowns last week. But the past is the past, and we’re #OnToWeek9. With 3.25 key fantasy teams on the bye this week (sorry, Broncos), sleepers and streamers are more crucial than ever.
Let’s get it!
Week 9 Bye Weeks: 49ers, Broncos, Jaguars, Lions
Note: Roster % based on Yahoo!
WR TANK DELL, HOUSTON TEXANS (46% ROSTERED)
VS BUCCANEERS
Tank Dell really blew it last week when he put up an absolute dud in a juicy spot against the Panthers last week, totaling only 31 yards on six touches. But with his roster percentage less than 50% still, we’re going back to Tank after leading Texans’ receivers with 44 snaps last week.
This week, he gets a favorable matchup against the Bucs, who have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to receivers. The Panthers dared the Texans to run last week, and they took the ball out of CJ Stroud’s hands. It was a learning experience for a young squad and they should go back to chucking the football this week in what could be a sneaky shootout against the Bucs.
With a handful of fantasy-relevant pass-catchers out of the lineup this week, put your faith in a bounceback week for Tank.
WR DEMARIO DOUGLAS, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (18%)
VS COMMANDERS
The sixth-round rookie out of Liberty will have an extended role for the rest of the season after the Patriots lost Kendrick Bourne, Mac Jones’ No. 1 target, to an ACL tear. It’s tough to ask for much out of a tiny late-round slot receiver, but Bill O’Brien and the Patriots always find a way to move the chains with that type of player.
In Week 8, Douglas led Patriots’ wideouts in snaps (41), tied a season-high with seven targets, and had a season-high of five receptions. Jones will want to get the ball out quickly, and Douglas has a knack for creating separation out of the slot.
Could Pop Douglas see a 10-target game against a Commanders’ secondary that’s allowed the second-most points to receivers? It’s quite possible. I mean, who the hell else is Mac going to target on the perimeter this week?
RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (44%)
VS COMMANDERS
Not one, but two Patriots highlighting a fantasy football article in the year 2023?! The Patriots’ dismal offensive line was set to square off against one of the most talented defensive lines in the league, but that changed once the Commanders decided to part ways with Montez Sweat and Chase Young during Tuesday’s trade deadline.
With the Commanders’ defensive line undermanned, Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott should be able to make some noise on the ground and control time of possession to limit Sam Howell & co. Prior to last week’s game against Miami, when the Patriots were playing catch up for most of the afternoon, Elliott found the end zone in Weeks 6 and 7, making him a formidable streamer.
The Commanders’ run defense was in the middle of the pack with Sweat and Young, so expect Elliott to find the end zone on Sunday afternoon.
RB LEONARD FOURNETTE, BUFFALO BILLS (27%)
RB LATAVIUS MURRAY, BUFFALO BILLS (15%)
AT BENGALS (SNF)
This week’s streamer of these two Bills’ RB2s should be Latavius Murray while Leonard Fournette gets back to game shape — although he may already be at that point after posting these NSFW photos on Wednesday.
With Murray getting goal-line carries and a boost in touches since Damien Harris’ injury, he’s been a somewhat popular streaming option. However, he hasn’t done anything with his extended chances because he hasn’t scored since Week 3.
Thus, they brought in Lombardi Lenny to take over Murray’s role — and maybe more. Not only will he be in line for those duties, but he could also take some third-down work from James Cook after totaling 73 and 69 receptions over his last two seasons. While Fournette is not the most efficient back and has lost some steam as a runner, he’s a prime stash ahead of Sunday Night Football with some touchdown upside if he gets elevated to the active roster.
If Murray is active and Fournette is still working himself into the offense, he’s a decent streamer in what should be a high-scoring affair against the Bengals. Maybe he’ll find the end zone and catch a few balls.
QB, TAYLOR HEINICKE, ATLANTA FALCONS (6%)
VS VIKINGS
Our old friend and gunslinger, Taylor Heinicke, is back in action this week. This time, he’s starting under center in Atlanta in favor of Desmond Ridder — finally. After suffering through 7.5 weeks of Mid-der, it’s time for Heinicke to unlock Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson.
Make no mistake about it. Heinicke isn’t some savior who will turn the Falcons into the Greatest Show on Turf. He will likely lose a lot of games, but he’ll run around, take some deep shots, and elevate the fantasy players on the roster. In one half of football last week against the Titans, Heinicke put up 12.4 fantasy points. In nine starts last season with the Commanders, Heinicke put up four top-15 fantasy QB numbers — with a QB15 finish (14.7 pts) against the Vikings.
The Vikings’ defense has improved this season, giving up the 13th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Still, it should be a smash spot for the Falcons at home against a rookie quarterback, and Justin Jefferson sidelined. The Wolf is way too low (QB23) on Heinicke this week — especially with Trevor Lawrence, Brock Purdy, Jared Goff, and Russell Wilson out of action.
TE GERALD EVERETT, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (24%)
AT JETS (MNF)
After practicing in full last Friday, Gerald Everett was ruled out (hip) following a game-time decision on Sunday. However, one should expect Everett to suit up on Monday Night Football against the Jets, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends. With Mike Williams out for the season, Everett has stepped up as a red zone target, scoring touchdowns in back-to-back games before missing last week’s contest.
With the Jets locking up the perimeter with Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed, and Michael Carter, the Jets’ linebackers and safeties have had trouble with opposing tight ends. Excluding last week’s Giants’ passing debacle, opposing tight ends accounted for 18 receptions over the past three games. To make matters more in our favor, the Chargers signed run-blocking tight end Nick Vannett and waived Tre’ McKitty on Wednesday.
Expect season-highs in receptions and yards, plus a touchdown on MNF.
