The heat is on! Fantasy managers are starting to feel the angst of making sure their fantasy lineups are airtight as the remainder of the games left in the fantasy season is starting to dwindle. But try not to overthink your moves. Always be sure to look at carries and targets for players that you want to set in your lineups to help you out. If you have a hot player, you may want to lean on them in your lineups unless there's a major change in said player's situation. And of course, make sure you check out the latest article from Fantasy Football Calculator for some suggestions for your lineups. Now let's see what we can get cooking for Week 9's lineups for fantasy managers.
Joe Burrow vs. BUF (57.6% Start)
It looks like Joe Burrow is back. Coming out of the bye week, Burrow put out another 20+ fantasy point performance after roasting the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5. Burrow took it to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8 for 283 yards and three touchdowns and now gets the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. The Bills have been pretty solid against the pass but have allowed 250+ passing yard games against MIA, JAX, and NE.
Derek Carr vs. CHI (8.6% Start)
Derek Carr finally got back on the good side of fantasy managers as he finished Week 8 as a top-15 quarterback. Carr was the QB13 with 18.3 fantasy points, throwing for 31 0 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts and now gets a reeling Chicago Bears defense that was cooked by Justin Herbert and the Chargers passing attack. The Bears are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season making it an optimal matchup for fantasy managers.
Aaron Jones vs. LAR (62.1% Start)
While the official word has been that Aaron Jones, who was dealing with a hamstring injury has been cleared to play, he hasn't received his usual workload since he's returned. If the Packers want to help Jordan Love out, getting the versatile running back going should be the move going forward. Jones is averaging just 12.5 total touches over the last two games and produced under 10 fantasy points in his last two contests. Jones should be looking to bounce back against the Rams, who are a middle-of-the-pack defense
Chuba Hubbard vs. IND (7.9% Start)
Chuba Hubbard has quietly overtaken Miles Sanders in the Panthers' backfield over the last few weeks. Hubbard now has a 50.1% snap share to Sanders's 42% snap share. Sanders has also had to deal with injuries earlier on in the season and hasn't been able to produce when he has been on the field. In Week 8, Sanders got just two carries in the game, playing behind Hubbard and running back Raheem Blackshear. If this keeps up, Hubbard's role in the offense should continue to grow. The Colts are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs and giving up the eighth-most receiving yards to running backs as well.
Michael Pittman vs. CAR (55.7% Start)
The Colts take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 and this should be an interesting game. The Panthers slowed down the Houston Texans offense and held leading wide receiver Nico Collins to just 30 receiving yards. Michael Pittman comes into Week 9 averaging 66.1 yards per game and the Carolina Panthers are giving up just over 30 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. While this may seem like a low amount of points, keep in mind that Pittman is seeing nearly 10 targets per game (9.75/g). With that kind of volume and quarterback Garner Minshew constantly throwing the ball, Pittman at his floor is still a solid play most weeks.
Diontae Johnson vs. TEN (33.2% Start)
Diontae Johnson returned from his hamstring injury that had him placed on IR earlier this season but he's already back to seeing a high target share. Johnson has seen 20 targets in his first two games off injured reserve and could continue to see high target shares as a 1-2 punch with George Pickens at the wide receiver position. The Steelers face off against a Titans defense that is giving up 188 yards/g to enemy wide receivers and nearly 40 FPPG.
David Njoku vs. ARI (29.8% Start)
Under backup quarterback PJ Walker, Njoku has excelled in the Browns passing game. Seeing 21 targets over the last three games with Walker as the starter, Njoku is averaging about 5.6 targets over that span. Njoku has three double-digit fantasy point performances in three of his last four games. Now Njoku gets the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9. with the Cardinals giving up the second-fewest fantasy points per game at just over eight points per game. Njoku should still be one of Walker's favorite targets, as mentioned earlier, so don't sleep on this potential play this week.
Sit'EM
Daniel Jones vs. LVR (4.9% Start)
Daniel Jones is returning from a neck injury that forced him out of a couple of games this season. Under Jones, the Giants offense has been one of the worst in the league with the offense ranking at the bottom in points per game at 11.9 and averaging just 267 total yards a game which is also at the bottom of the league. The Raiders' defense presents a significant challenge as Jones has been sacked 28 times already behind the Giants' oline, good for second-most behind Commanders Sam Howell. Darren Waller is also dealing with a hamstring injury so that's one less weapon that may be available this week. Avoid Jones until further notice.
Alexander Mattison vs. ATL (51.2% Start)
Alexander Mattison hasn't had a breakout game this season and it only seems like it will get tougher for him this season with Kirk Cousins out for the season behind a torn Achilles injury he suffered against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. Mattison is averaging just 3.7 y/a on the ground heading into Week 9 and the Falcons present a challenge as they have been one of the better units against the rush this season as they've allowed a 3.8 y/a average on the season. The Falcons are giving up just 15.5 FPPG to opposing running backs, tied for the second-fewest in the league.
Marquise Brown vs CLE (44% Start)
Now this one is a bit shaky, even I can admit that. But the Cardinals are sitting in quarterback limbo as they could be with Kyler Murray this week against the Cleveland Browns. Josh Dobbs was traded to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the trade deadline so now Clayton Tune and Kyler Murray are up next to be under center this week. Murray would add more upside to Brown's fantasy value ahead of the matchup but we'll have to be close to the practice reports ahead of Week 9. Should Tune get the start, that puts a dent in Marquise Browns' upside against a hungry Browns' defense. The Browns are giving up the third-fewest fantasy points and the fewest passing yards per game heading into the matchup. Watching the QB situation will be key but if Tune is under center this week, Brown is on the bench for me.
Logan Thomas vs. NE (21% Start)
Thomas has been on the upswing as of late seeing 5+ targets in three of his last four games and averaging 10.5 FPPG heading into the Week 9 matchup against the New England Patriots but the Patriots have been sturdy against the tight end position this season. The Patriots are holding opposing tight ends to 9.7 FPPG this season and 44 receiving yards per game.
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