Most leagues are more than halfway through their regular season and have sights set on the playoffs. You’re either looking to maintain your winning ways, make a push or in desperation mode. If you’re winning, you may not need to be here. Otherwise, let’s roll.
Most teams are in good shape with only two NFL teams finding themselves on a bye week. It’s one of the few remaining weeks with little to no byes – snag a win while you can. Roto Street Journal is here to recommend sneaky replacements, with a large pool to choose from.
In its second season, Roto Street Journal presents the top five sleepers of each week. Maybe it’s guys you haven’t heard of. Maybe they’re new to the NFL or on a new team? Maybe they’re filling in for an injury? Regardless, these picks ended up on the right side of the ball more often than not last season.
Let’s be honest, do you really need to be told to start guys such as Tony Pollard who’s going up against a horrendous Patriots rush defense with his own struggling quarterback? Or to sit someone such as Isaiah Likely who’s best week remains as Week 1 in an offense that added another offensive weapon?
But what you may need is that extra oomph to start someone you’re on the fence with. You also may have taken a gamble in the draft and feel depleted at a position and are looking to slide someone in this week slyly. And let’s be honest, this happens most weeks.
Last week, we saw Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa, Buccaneers’ RB Rachaad White, Bears’ WR Keenan Allen, Browns’ WR Cedric Tillman and Ravens’ TE Mark Andrews make the list.
Four out of five is back to what we’re talking about!
Editor’s Note: These selections rank Tier 4 or lower on The Wolf’s Week 9 Rankings.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
@ Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta has only kept opponents under 20 points in one game so far this season.
Dak Prescott has the chance for a second consecutive successful fantasy week. Prescott has either not thrown an interception or tossed multiple in each game so far this season. While the Falcons have forced an interception in five of eight games, they’re vulnerable and have only held opponents under 330 yards once.
The thought on starting Prescott is Dallas being in a winnable game, the Cowboys needing to pass and he being able to make up any possible interceptions with yards and touchdowns.
Prescott should also have a variety of reliable weapons at his disposal – at least three receivers and possibly two tight ends.
Three of the last four quarterbacks have scored 22 points against Atlanta, too.
Prescott ranks in Tier 4 (QB 22) on The Wolf’s Week 9 Rankings.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
vs New Orleans Saints
Running backs have scored seven touchdowns against New Orleans in the team’s previous four games, making them allow the ninth-most points to backs so far this season.
Chuba Hubbard is averaging 74 yards on the ground per game, and he may be the only good thing going in Carolina right now. Which, if he can help it, won’t change even with the whispers of Jonathan Brooks nearly ready to make his season debut.
Hubbard almost finished as the best running back in the NFL to end last season (final four games) when every Panther was essentially playing to show he could save his job. This isn’t unfamiliar waters for Hubbard, and quarterback Bryce Young who’s making his second straight start since getting benched, needs him.
Hubbard has double-digit carries in all but one game this season, regardless of quarterback, and that should not change on Sunday.
New Orleans is far removed from its 2-0 start, and much is due to its inability to stop the run.
Plus, I like knowing that teams that are exactly 7.5-point underdogs at home are covering 90% of the time.
Hubbard ranks in Tier 4 (QB 24) on The Wolf’s Week 9 Rankings.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
@ Cleveland Browns
With Cleveland’s change at quarterback, I don’t think this will be as low-scoring of a game as initially thought.
Quietly, Ladd McConkey has at least six targets in five games in a row heading into this week. He also surpassed the century mark for the first time in his NFL career and added two scores.
I like McConkey more in PPR format, but his volume and ability to handle the duties of a No. 1 wideout as a rookie can’t be ignored.
It’s also unclear whether D.J. Chark will be activated for Sunday’s game – Los Angeles could opt to wait at least until Week 10. Even if Chark does play, he’s not a threat to McConkey’s deep plays yet.
Quentin Johnston should also return in Week 9, making the Browns’ defense at least remain honest in both the passing and rushing game.
McConkey ranks in Tier 4 (WR 23) on The Wolf’s Week 9 Rankings.
Amari Cooper, WR, Buffalo Bills
vs Miami Dolphins
As a Dolphins fan, I know how often Bills players perform better against Miami than they should.
This week’s talk is about Josh Allen favoring Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman in the passing game. Okay? Wouldn’t you? Allen has practiced with Amari Cooper for two weeks, not two years.
It was James Cook who stole the show the first time these two teams met in Week 2, scoring three touchdowns. But the passing game for Buffalo was in flux to begin the season and it’s more established now.
There’s a reason the Bills went after the 30-year-old wideout – they know he can make an impact. He has recorded more than 1,000 yards in seven of his 10 full seasons played. This is a week that could be high-scoring for these AFC East rivals, and a breakout game for Cooper would be a much-needed initiation into Buffalo.
Cooper ranks in Tier 4 (WR 32) on The Wolf’s Week 9 Rankings.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
@ Atlanta Falcons
Wouldn’t it be great if Prescott and Jake Ferguson both had monster weeks for your fantasy teams?
Ferguson is the No. 2 option in Dallas’ offense and I like him more in PPR against the Falcons than any other format. Five straight games have seen tight ends score double-digit PPR points, and if this game is going to be as high-scoring as the analysts predict, those scores are more likely to come through the air for Dallas.
Just like with Prescott above, this is matchup-based. Ferguson is still searching for his first touchdown of the year, but with running backs being basically non-existent for the Cowboys, moving the ball will need to come aerially, something that favors Ferguson in passing and blocking.
Ferguson ranks in Tier 2 (TE 10) on The Wolf’s Week 9 Rankings.
