Targets are paramount when it comes to evaluating pass-catchers for fantasy football. There are no receiving yards, touchdowns, or receptions without a target. We want the players on our rosters in fantasy football who will earn these targets because targets are the most important thing to look at when trying to separate one pass-catcher from another on a base level. Sure, the player that earned 160 targets may be a better fantasy option than the player who earned 110, but that doesn’t take into account the offenses these players are in, the target share percentages on their particular team, how deep down the field these targets were earned, and so on. Each week, we’ll take a weekly team-by-team look into these target earners and separate the wheat from the chaff. 

We're through eight weeks of the NFL season, and we had our largest group of teams on bye in Week 9 with six. We'll go through some team and player usage tendencies here in our Target Report, but before we get into the Target Report for Week 9, let's dive into a legend of terms we'll be referencing:
 

Bye Weeks:

Week 8: Chiefs, Chargers

Week 9: Browns, Cowboys, Broncos, Giants, Steelers, 49ers

Week 10: Ravens, Bengals, Patriots, Jets

Week 11: Jaguars, Dolphins, Seahawks, Buccaneers

Week 13: Cardinals, Panthers

Week 14: Falcons, Bears, Packers, Colts, Saints, Commanders

NOTE:

Start Your Studs: Players you should be starting in all formats, regardless of matchup. Use your judgment in shallower leagues where players who are typically startable are plentiful.

Keep Them Rostered: Players that should be rostered in all formats assuming 12-team leagues with six-player benches. League size designations or other designations (bench stash, etc.) will be in parenthesis next to players for deeper leagues. As always, this is a general recommendation; depending on your league, use your best judgment.

Example: Terrace Marshall (14), Alexander Mattison (bench stash).

Dump ‘Em: Players that you should be dropping from your rosters. Use your judgment in deeper leagues where players with usefulness on waivers aren’t as plentiful.

NFL Week 9 Target Report

Arizona Cardinals

The two-high safety look that’s been sweeping the football nation over the last year or so was in full effect here as the Cardinals did put a bit of a clamp on DeAndre Hopkins (4-36-1, five targets), but he still scored a touchdown to salvage his day. Almost 55% of the team’s total targets went to underneath options like Zach Ertz (5-40-1, eight targets) and Rondale Moore (8-69, 10 targets, 91% routes).

Moore has at least eight targets in four of his last five contests with top-24 PPR performances in three of them. He’s got to be started at this point as he’s been an integral part of the offense and should continue to be.

Robbie Anderson (1-(-4), three targets) shot up to 86% routes essentially supplanting A.J. Green’s outside receiver role, but that role figures to be pretty boom-or-bust with spotty production. I can’t recommend him as anything more than a desperate half-court heave for fantasy purposes.

Week 9 Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: DeAndre Hopkins, James Conner (when healthy), Kyler Murray, Zach Ertz, Rondale Moore

Keep Them Rostered: Eno Benjamin (handcuff), Robbie Anderson

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Atlanta Falcons

It’s the same story with the Falcons almost every week. They’re going to run the air out of the ball whether you like it or not. We don’t like it, especially for fantasy but it’s what we have to live with. 

Only 23 Marcus Mariota pass attempts and only two pass-catchers with more than two targets in this one; with both catching less than half of their targets. Kyle Pitts (2-27, seven targets, 70% routes) led the NFL in air yards in Week 9 (208) and JUST missed a 70+ yard touchdown if Mariota didn’t overthrow him. They actually did try and get Pitts some deep shots but none came to fruition.

Drake London (3-23, seven targets, 89% of routes) would be a star on any other team but he’s hamstrung by his team’s offense. It’s not his fault; Arthur Smith is just trying to find a time machine to go back to his time in 1920’s based on the style of offense they’ve ran so far. They did get Cordarrelle Patterson back and he promptly ran in two touchdowns. He’s an auto-start, but Tyler Allgeier still came one yard shy of 100 yards rushing as well, so you can start him too as with the sheer volume of rush attempts, Allgeier will get a ton of chances for fantasy production.

Week 9 Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Cordarrelle Patterson

Keep Them Rostered: Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Tyler Allgeier, Marcus Mariota (deep 12 & 14)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Baltimore Ravens

Week 9 was THE lowest scoring week of fantasy football so far this season, and games like this were a big culprit, as are injuries to top players like Mark Andrews. Isaiah Likely (1-24, five targets) filled in, running 80% of routes and scoring a touchdown almost immediately. That would be Likely’s only reception of the night. That seems like the perfect cherry on top for this week.

No Raven has more than two receptions or 24 yards receiving. A returning 35-year-old DeSean Jackson did hit the trifecta: a long pass, a receptions, and he left the game with an injury. Par for the course. Yikes.

Week 9 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Mark Andrews (when healthy), Lamar Jackson, Isaiah Likely (should be started with Andrews out, a deep-league stash otherwise)

Keep Them Rostered: Devin Duvernay, Kenyan Drake, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill (deep 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Buffalo Bills

The biggest story from this week’s games has been the ulnar collateral ligament of Josh Allen, the most scrutinized ligament in recent memory. 

For those who are unfamiliar, it’s typically an injury for pitchers in baseball, where the relatively unnatural of repetitive arm motion throwing a pitch can strain or rupture the tendon, requiring surgery and a long layover. The Bills have to be careful with their most prized asset so him not playing against the Vikings in Week 10 could be an option. This is obviously a fluid situation here, so we’ll definitely have more news in the coming days. That said, Allen did throw a ball 70 yards on the final play of Week 9’s loss to the Jets.

All in all, it was a pedestrian day for one of the highest-flying offenses in the NFL as Allen only threw for 205 yards and two interceptions. Stefon Diggs put up the only thing resembling a solid fantasy day with a 5-93 line on 10 targets.

If it’s Case Keenum in for Allen at quarterback, this offense tanks quite a bit.

We can’t have nice things, not in this economy.

Week 9 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Josh Allen (if healthy), Stefon Diggs

Keep Them Rostered: Gabe Davis, Devin Singletary, Dawson Knox, Nyheim Hines, Isaiah McKenzie (deep 12-& 14 team), Khalil Shakir (deep 14-team) 

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers were “Mixon’d” in Week 9, as they were down 35-0 at halftime. Seems #bad.

It was pretty lackluster for the Panthers in all facets, which is pretty normal for them. “Status quo”, even.

Baker Mayfield came in for P.J. Walker in the second half and that went about as well as one would expect, but neither didn’t throw to DJ Moore (2-24, six targets) as much as they should. It’s like a team goes out of their way to not feature him. It’s uncanny.

Terrace Marshall (3-53-1, six targets) caught a late touchdown and has run 95%+ routes each of the last three weeks. If he’s not added in leagues, I don’t mind stashing him on my bench. He’s been a top-30 fantasy wide receiver the last two weeks.

Week 9 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Nah.

Keep Them Rostered: DJ Moore, D’Onta Foreman, Terrace Marshall, Chuba Hubbard (deep 12-& 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Chicago Bears

If anything, the Bears made one hell of a valiant effort to stick with the Dolphins, but this game for Chicago was all about the full-on ascension of Justin Fields. 178 yards (an NFL record for quarterbacks), four total touchdowns, and his fourth-consecutive QB8 or better performance in fantasy.

His huge day was mostly on the ground, but he did throw three touchdowns — two of those to Cole Kmet (5-41-2, six targets, 82% of routes). Darnell Mooney (7-43-1, eight target, 92% of routes) caught the other touchdown and led the Bears in all receiving categories minus touchdowns. Chase Claypool (2-13, six targets, 42% of routes) ran a limited number of routes in his first game but his TPRR (37.5%) was through the roof because he only ran a total of 16 routes. 

We’ll get more into the players that were traded from one team to another, but T.J. Hockenson was the anomaly coming right in to run over 84% of routes in his first game. Some teams are able to throw a lot of things at a player and some teams have to spoon-feed the concepts and scheme to a player. It’s a case by case basis, so expecting Claypool to run a 90% routes share (which he’ll no doubt get to soon) right out of the gate is a bit unfair.

Week 9 Chicago Bears Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Fields

Keep Them Rostered: David Montgomery, Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, Khalil Herbert

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon scored FIVE touchdowns and with Cincinnati up 35-0, this game was essentially over by halftime. There was at least some decent volume by Tee Higgins (7-60, eight targets), Tyler Boyd (5-44, six targets), and Hayden Hurst (5-35, five targets), but the lone receiving touchdown went to (WHO ELSE?) Mixon.

Predictably, the snap counts on the main players were depressed because of how lopsided the game script was.

Week 9 Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Ja’Marr Chase (when healthy), Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow

Keep Them Rostered: Tyler Boyd, Hayden Hurst, Samaje Perine (14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cleveland Browns

Bye in Week 9.

Week 9 Cleveland Browns Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amari Cooper, Nick Chubb, David Njoku

Keep Them Rostered: Kareem Hunt, Deshaun Watson (if you have room on your roster)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Dallas Cowboys

Bye in Week 9.

Week 9 Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard

Keep Them Rostered: Dalton Schultz, Michael Gallup

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Denver Broncos

Bye in Week 9.

Week 9 Denver Broncos Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Greg Dulcich

Keep Them Rostered: Russell Wilson, Latavius Murray, Chase Edmonds, Melvin Gordon, KJ Hamler (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Detroit Lions

The Lions weren’t even that good from an “eye-test”, a box-score, or any kind of descriptor you want to throw in there, but they scored 15 points and beat the Packers. 

After trading T.J. Hockenson, the tight ends were something I wanted to see how it would shake out, and the two passing touchdowns went to the second and third-string tight ends Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell. Zylstra ran 31% of routes and Mitchell ran half of that. The presumptive (and actual) starting tight end Brock Wright had one catchless target on 69% of routes, but if you’re looking for the next great waiver wire find at fantasy’s thinnest position, you’re likely not finding anything consistent here.

D’Andre Swift played all of 10 snaps and was targeted on 4-of-7 pass routes as he works his way into more playing time. This is probably going to be a slow process for the next couple of weeks.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (4-55, nine targets, 100% route participation) led the Lions in targets and was his typical target-dominant self, especially when you remove Hockenson and some of the injured or more limited pieces of the offense.

Week 9 Detroit Lions Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amon-Ra St. Brown, D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams (if Swift is out)

Keep Them Rostered: DJ Chark, Jared Goff, Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds, Jameson Williams (priority hold), Brock Wright (14 team), James Mitchell (14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Green Bay Packers

Romeo Doubs? One catch, one snap, one pass route and a high ankle sprain that will sideline him for at least a month.

Aaron Jones? In a walking boot in the post-game presser after hurting HIS ankle in the second half.

Christian Watson? He returned and then left with what was thought to be a concussion but has practiced this week and is not in concussion protocol.

As if Aaron Rodgers’ demonstrative demeanor can take anymore weapons being off the field. He still has Allen Lazard (4-87-1, 10 targets, 96% routes) as the pass-catcher he can lean on. Boy is he going to need him. I’m not sure the cadre of unproven (Samari Toure, Amari Rodgers) and dusty (Sammy Watkins) weapons can sustain even meager production the Packers have produced this season.

Since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach for the Packers in 2019, they’ve averaged a robust 2.67 points per drive in games Rodgers has started — the second-best mark in the NFL over those two seasons. In 2022? The Packers are the seventh-WORST team with 1.60 yards per drive. That’s in company with such offense stalwarts as the Texans and Panthers.

This offense has been atrocious. With injuries, it doesn’t figure to get much better.

Week 9 Green Bay Packers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Aaron Jones, Allen Lazard

Keep Them Rostered: Aaron Rodgers, Romeo Doubs, AJ Dillon, Sammy Watkins (14 team), Samori Toure (14 team)

Dump ‘Em: Christian Watson

Houston Texans

Unless you’re an absolute degenerate (or Colby Conway, noted Texans fan), you weren’t likely to have picked up any of the Texans’ pass-catching options once wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins were ruled out prior to their Thursday night tilt with the Eagles.

In a game-script that was honestly closer than expected, Davis Mills still only threw the ball 22 times. Naturally, that doesn’t lend itself to much passing volume unless it’s ultra-concentrated to one or two players.

I guess if we’re being technical, almost half of the targets went to two players: Phillip Dorsett and Chris Moore. Both had five targets and ran routes per dropback in the 72-80% range. Moore (4-43-1) even scored and Dorsett (3-69) led the team with 49% of air yards and a 15.4-yard aDOT.

I wrote too many words on the Texans here but one more note is tight end Brevin Jordan took a big leap in routes run from Week 8’s 46% to Week 9’s nice 69%. Jordan has a really nice athletic and receiving profile from his college days at Miami, so we can only hope this is something consistent as he was pretty useful for fantasy towards the end of last season and is now healthy.

Week 9 Houston Texans Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Dameon Pierce

Keep Them Rostered: Brandin Cooks, Rex Burkhead, Brevin Jordan (deep 12 & 14 team), Nico Collins (deep 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are out here flipping light switches trying to get something to work and after the change to Sam Ehlinger at quarterback, which has been an abomination so far, the next light switch to flip was firing head coach Frank Reich this week and installing former Colts great Jeff Saturday as interim head coach. Perplexing.

As far as fantasy is concerned, it’s really hard to put any of these options in your fantasy lineup, and that includes Michael Pittman (3-22, six targets). Perhaps Saturday will go back to Matt Ryan at quarterback to safe a little face, but this team is a fantasy disaster right now and you can't trust any of them outside of Jonathan Taylor once he's healthy. Even THAT is a dicey proposition.

Week 9 Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Jonathan Taylor (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Michael Pittman, Deon Jackson (now the contingent back if Taylor is out), Alec Pierce

Dump ‘Em: Probably for the best to dump Parris Campbell in this severely depressed offensive environment.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Over the last three weeks, Travis Etienne (81% snaps, 67% routes — ELITE) has absolutely taken over this backfield, necessitated the trade of James Robinson, put up three top-10 fantasy performances with four touchdowns, and three consecutive 100-yard performances to boot. That dawg in him, Etienne has. He’s an RB1 and one could argue a top-five option rest of season only behind (for me) Austin Ekeler, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley.

This offense condensed to Christian Kirk, Marvin Jones (5-48, six targets), and Zay Jones (5-40, five targets) as no Jaguars other pass-catcher notched more than two targets. Kirk’s 8-76-1 line on 94% of routes per dropback easily paced the team in all categories. Kirk has been a nice find for fantasy managers after a lot of the top receivers went off in drafts as he’s somehow WR10 despite not having a huge blowup game to his credit so far after nine weeks of the fantasy season. 

Week 9 Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk

Keep Them Rostered: Evan Engram, Trevor Lawrence, Zay Jones (deeper 12 & 14 team), Marvin Jones (14 team), JaMycal Hasty (14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Kansas City Chiefs

On the opposite side of the Titans avoiding passing the ball like the plague, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs passed the ball 68 times — the most pass attempts by an NFL team this season.

You can only imagine that there were huge target numbers across the board and there was, with four Chiefs players reaching eight or more and two (Travis Kelce and JuJu Smith-Schuster) cracking double-digits.

Kelce (10-106, 17 targets) and Smith-Schuster (10-88, 12 targets) both carried almost half of that huge volume for the Chiefs, but Mecole Hardman (6-79-1, nine targets, 58% routes) scored the lone passing-game touchdown. Hardman has scored in three consecutive weeks, but this is the first week he’s carried actual target volume en route to that score. His route percentages the last three weeks (45%, 57%, 58%) leave a little to be desired but Hardman is being used creatively. Beggars can’t be choosers with fantasy production, especially when it’s coming from the potent Chiefs offense, so Hardman is not in “must-start” territory by any means, but he’s startable.

Making his Chiefs debut, Kadarius Toney (2-12, two targets, 8% routes) caught the first pass of the night for the team and then caught one more to round out his night. He’s going to be a chess piece for the team but I’m honestly not sure how he works into this established rotation of pass-catchers. Especially with Hardman on such a good run right now as the “gadget” guy.

Week 9 Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, JuJu Smith-Schuster

Keep Them Rostered: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kadarius Toney, Jerick McKinnon, Isiah Pacheco (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Las Vegas Raiders

Davante Adams is #good as he had a 9-146-2 line heading in halftime. He caught one more ball for zero yards in the second half in the ultimate tease. He could have had a record-setting day but of course, in typical Raiders fashion, they blew a 17-0 lead for the third time this season — this time to the Jaguars.

Adams’ 17 (!) targets easily led the team (I should hope so!) with only five other pass-catchers even earning a target. It wasn’t pretty. It never is with the Raiders.

Maybe Darren Waller can play an NFL game in 2022; wouldn’t that be something?

Week 9 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Hunter Renfrow, Derek Carr, Mack Hollins (deep 12 team), Foster Moreau (should be rostered with Waller out, dropped when Waller returns)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers were down a ton of their pass-catchers (Mike Williams, Keenan Allen’s hamstring saga continuing) but they still make it work as Justin Herbert was able to feed some target volume to the receivers still there. Four Chargers had at least eight targets, including Josh Palmer’s team-leading 10 for an 8-106 line on 98% routes.

Austin Ekeler (7-24, nine targets, 62% routes) caught the lone touchdown for the Chargers but he caught a ton of short dump-offs to pad the stats here. The volume from most of these players sans Palmer was a bit hollow as they were predominately short and never really broke off for anything, which ended up keeping the score close in the end.

Another possible development was Isaiah Spiller (seven carries) flipping Sony Michel (one carry, one target) in workload. I’m not sure if it’s quite the huge deal quite yet but it’s interesting as the team gets Spiller more work and opportunity to see what they have, especially if something happens to Ekeler.

Week 9 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Austin Ekeler, Justin Herbert, Mike Williams (when healthy), Keenan Allen (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Gerald Everett, Josh Palmer, DeAndre Carter (deeper 12 & 14 team), Isaiah Spiller (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Rams

What a hilarious stat line from the Rams in this one, where it’s plainly obvious who the top target is (Cooper Kupp: still #good at football) as Kupp pulled in 127 of Matthew Stafford’s 165 total passing yards. That left a total of 38 passing yards for everybody else. Allen Robinson saw five of those targets for a 3-24 line. Van Jefferson saw FIVE catchless targets, but did see 134 air yards which is cool if you’re into that. Tyler Higbee saw one target and couldn’t catch it.

What a mess. The Rams are down bad.

Week 9 Los Angeles Rams Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Cooper Kupp

Keep Them Rostered: Tyler Higbee, Darrell Henderson, Matthew Stafford

Dump ‘Em: When can you ever trust Allen Robinson? Unless you’re in a very deep league where you’re anchored to him out of lack of depth on the waiver wire, you’re cutting bait.

Miami Dolphins

If there’s one thing you can set your watch to in fantasy, it’s the Miami Dolphins offense condensing at the top with Tyreek Hill (7-143-1, eight targets, 90% routes) and Jaylen Waddle (5-85-1, seven targets, 84% routes). Both receivers combined for 52% of the targets and 87% of the air yards in this one; both with touchdowns. These two have been the skeleton key to unlocking fantasy this season; separately for fantasy and together for this potent, efficient offense.

The other big story in this surprisingly back and forth game with the Bears is Jeff Wilson immediately turning the Dolphins’ backfield into a 50/50 split committee. Wilson and Raheem Mostert are both startable, but the upside from this offense being so potent is gone as it’s going to likely be cut in half. Both are former backs under Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel when he was offensive coordinator in San Francisco, so both are very familiar with the Shanahan offensive system.

Week 9 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Tua Tagovailoa

Keep Them Rostered: Raheem Mostert,  Jeff Wilson, Mike Gesicki

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Minnesota Vikings

The most interesting part of this game wasn’t the Justin Jefferson (7-115-1, 13 targets, 100% route participation and snaps) blowup game; although that was pretty great. It was T.J. Hockenson not missing a step in his first game after being traded to the Vikings. The narrative that a player “needs time to digest the playbook” apparently didn’t apply to Hockenson as he put up a 9-70 line on nine targets and a robust 84% of routes immediately.

I think it’s very bullish for somebody to step into that role immediately and Hockenson vaults into the top-five conversation of fantasy tight ends. I’m not going to see he’s going to put up nine catches every week, but the immediate rapport there with Jefferson stretching the field up top further strengthens this passing attack.

Week 9 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen

Keep Them Rostered: Kirk Cousins, Alexander Mattison, K.J. Osborn (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New England Patriots

Patriots/Colts, the old rivalry from the AFC East decades ago (I just aged myself big time here), was a rather bleak affair, but at least the Patriots put up 26 points to make it not much of a game. New England only put up 203 total yards here, which you can just imagine how great that much have made the fantasy-relevant pieces here.

Rhamondre Stevenson (3-10, team-high seven targets) had the lone offensive touchdown on 70 total yards and 71% of routes without Damien Harris. J.J. Taylor worked his way into some routes but it was Stevenson out there for the most part on 73% of snaps too. Four field goals and a defensive touchdown rounded out the scoring and… well, yeah. That was about it. Boring. Milquetoast.

Jakobi Meyers (5-42, six targets) ran routes on 91% of dropbacks and Kendrick Bourne (3-11, four targets) hit a season-high 88% of routes here as well.

Week 9 New England Patriots Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Jakobi Meyers, Rhamondre Stevenson

Keep Them Rostered: Damien Harris, DeVante Parker (when healthy), Hunter Henry (deeper 12 & 14 team), Tyquan Thornton (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New Orleans Saints

Unless it was involving targeting Chris Olave (6-71, nine targets, 97% routes), Andy Dalton was #notgood on Monday night. It was primarily short passing with some of the intermediate shots to Olave. Only Marquez Callaway (3-24) had more than four targets amongst the Saints pass-catchers.

The injuries to Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry are really taking their toll on the bottom line as Alvin Kamara (62 total yards, three receptions) and Olave can’t do the heavy lifting themselves. Luckily, it’s looking like Landry might just be back for Week 10. It’s still early, but it’s a useful body that they desperately need.

Week 9 New Orleans Saints Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave

Keep Them Rostered: Jarvis Landry, Taysom Hill (total wild card but totally startable in 12 team leagues if you’re not risk-averse), Andy Dalton (deeper 12 and 14 team), Mark Ingram (deeper 12 and 14 team), Juwan Johnson (deeper 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New York Giants

Bye in Week 9.

Week 9 New York Giants Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Saquon Barkley

Keep Them Rostered: Wan’Dale Robinson, Daniel Jones, Darius Slayton (deep 12 & 14 team), Tanner Hudson (deep 12 and 14 team), 

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New York Jets

The Jets beat the Buffalo Bills in a game where Zach Wilson threw only 25 times, for 154 yards, and one touchdown. No Jets receiver had more than 16 yards or four targets, except for Garrett Wilson.

Wilson (8-92, nine targets, 97% routes) was sublime as he’s been the only thing in this passing game that’s been working the last two weeks with top-16 fantasy performances in both weeks. Keep this going!

Elijah Moore is doing his best “early-season 2021 Brandon Aiyuk” impression as he went without a target on 48% of routes in Week 9. He and the Jets head into the bye week with news that Moore will be working in the slot for now, which elicits some hope, but Moore clearly has that doghouse in him.

Week 9 New York Jets Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Garrett Wilson

Keep Them Rostered: Michael Carter, James Robinson, Elijah Moore. Tyler Conklin (deeper 12 & 14 team

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are who they are and they’re very, very consistent about it. It’s the main three of AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert running the majority of pass routes and snaps. The rest fill in the gaps and while one might pop off in a given week, they’re not very relevant for fantasy purposes.

Brown (4-59-1, six targets) did catch a touchdown to cap off a solid week, but it was Goedert (8-110-1, nine targets, 79% routes) that did the most damage here. The fly in the ointment here is Smith (2-22, two targets, 100% route participation), who has a combined seven catches for 45 yards in his last two games since the Week 7 bye. Compared to Goedert and Brown, Smith seems like the “boom/bust” option of the trio, We know he can blow up; his Week 3 effort (8-169-1, 12 targets) proves that, but the Eagles haven’t been in many scenarios at all that necessitate an increased use of the pass game. The Eagles have only averaged 30 pass attempts a game (sixth-lowest in 2022) while averaging the second-most rush attempts per game. It’s an offense predicated on efficiency and while it’s been there, it’s going to need some volume for Smith to be a consistent weekly fantasy producer.

Week 9 Philadelphia Eagles Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: AJ Brown, Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Miles Sanders

Keep Them Rostered: Kenneth Gainwell (deep 12 & 14 team), Boston Scott (14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

San Francisco 49ers

Bye week in Week 9.

Week 9 San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk

Keep Them Rostered: Elijah Mitchell (slots in as the main spell to CMC once he returns), Jimmy Garoppolo (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Seattle Seahawks