Week 9 is here ... and the second half of the NFL regular season is about to be underway. But for fantasy football owners, there's only six more games until the playoffs. With every game having severe postseason ramifications, you may want to follow these tips, so you're doing your best touchdown dance by the end of Monday Night Football. Your game-winning drive starts now.
Bye-Week Teams: Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans
Starters You'll Need to Replace
Lions: As bad as Detroit has been, Calvin Johnson is still managing to put up respectable numbers this season. Still, perhaps a bye week is much needed for these struggling Lions.
Chiefs: After back-to-back solid weeks, which saw Kansas City running back Charcandrick West rush for 110 yards and a touchdown and 97 yards and a TD, this bye week couldn't have come at a worse time for owners who were lucky enough to scoop him up.
Cardinals: Arizona is flat-out one of the best teams in the NFL. You'll likely need to replace starters such as quarterback Carson Palmer, rejuvenated veteran rusher Chris Johnson, and wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and even Michael Floyd, who has been producing strong fantasy numbers.
Seahawks: Find subs for QB Russell Wilson and one of the most violent rushers in the game in Marshawn Lynch this week, as Seattle is off, sitting at 4-4 on the season.
Ravens: Is Joe Flacco having a quiet 2015 season or what? If you have been using him as your starter, you'll need a replacement this week.
Texans: After Arian Foster was injured, you might have rolled the dice on back-up rusher Alfred Blue...and given Houston's struggles this season, even that might be a stretch.
Need a Running Back? Claim Them Off Waivers Now: DeAngelo Williams, C.J. Spiller, Kendall Gaskins, Jeremy Langford
This is a no-brainer, but the facts that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell tore his MCL in what was known as 'Bloody Sunday' around the league November 1 and went as high as the No. 1 draft pick in many fantasy leagues this year — leaves DeAngelo Williams as a must grab off the waiver wires this week.
That's if you could get the running back. He's owned in about 70 percent of CBS Sportsline leagues, but you want to do your due diligence and see if he's available. Adding him on your roster might have you reaching paydirt, as Pittsburgh still has the tools to make a serious run this season. Not only do we like the veteran's chances of battering the Oakland Raiders in Pittsburgh in Week 9 action, but we also like his projections beyond that.
Remember C.J. Spiller? The veteran running back spent most of the season being buried in the New Orleans Saints' backfield, but with fellow-rusher Khiry Robinson being lost for the season due to a leg injury, Spiller could see an increased workload this week at home against the Tennessee Titans and beyond. Also, we like the timing of the Saints' offense coming alive. Spiller could over achieve.
With Carlos Hyde continuing to nurse an injury and Reggie Bush lost for the season with a freak torn ACL injury on the sidelines, San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Gaskins has a legit chance to shine in the backfield this week against the Atlanta Falcons, who are giving up 21 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. It's a roll of the dice because San Fran looks that lost on the field this season, but the gamble could pay off nicely if Gaskins emerges as the feature back over veteran Pierre Thomas.
In yet another case of an injury sparking an opportunity, with Matt Forte still out with an injury, Chicago Bears rookie rusher Jeremy Langford could see increased carries out of the backfield this week against the San Diego Chargers and beyond. The Chargers are giving up 23 fantasy points per game to rushers this season, making Langford an exciting option.
Need A Wide Receiver? Claim Them Off Waivers Now: Steve Johnson, Marques Colton, Michael Crabtree
With Keenan Allen out indefinitely with a kidney injury, expect Philip Rivers to target veteran wideout Steve Johnson more to make up for Allen's absence on the San Diego Chargers. Although the Chicago Bears' secondary isn't too bad, the Chargers aren't going to abandon the pass just because Allen is out— not with Rivers as their QB, at least. Tabbing Johnson this week might be a good one-week solution. More than that? We'll see.
Here's a name you probably haven't heard in a while — Marques Colston. The longtime New Orleans Saints wide receiver was targeted a season-high nine times, hauling in eight catches for 114 yards and one touchdown for 17 fantasy points in the Saints' ridiculous 52-49 win over the New York Giants in Week 8. In CBS Sportsline leagues, Colston's owned percentage is only 46 percent. He might be able to produce another solid game against the Tennessee Titans this week.
The Oakland Raiders — yes, the silver and black — have a real offense this season. Although Raiders rookie wideout Amari Cooper is the most dynamic weapon in the offense, veteran Michael Crabtree continues to have a strong fantasy season. He's owned in 70 percent of CBS Sportsline leagues, so if he's available in your league, add him to the roster.
Anticipated Letdowns: Dez Bryant, Derek Carr, Blake Bortles
Yes, Dez Bryant is back, but the state of the Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks is still poor. With the Philadelphia Eagles coming off a bye week, I don't expect Bryant to explode for fantasy points at all. In my league for example, I'm continuing to bench him, opting to start Julian Edelman, Antonio Brown and Amari Cooper at wideout instead.
Although Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr has been airing it out for huge fantasy gains pretty consistently this season, that could end this week on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I could be wrong, but just don't be surprised if this Carr gets parked on a rough Sunday.
Like Derek Carr, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has had a fairly successful fantasy season. But with the New York Jets secondary and overall defense coming off a poor, sloppy performance against the Raiders last week, Tech Times fully expects the Jets to shut down Bortles and any thought of the Jags putting up some serious points — especially via the air.
Sleeper Picks: DeSean Jackson, Kendall Gaskins
It sounds crazy to call DeSean Jackson — who was one of the top receivers in the game only a couple years ago — a sleeper. Yet, the Washington Redskins wide receiver is set to make his 2015 season debut against the New England Patriots, who have been vulnerable against the pass at times. He might be worth a start, especially if you have a Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald on a bye week.
We mentioned him earlier, but young Kendall Gaskins could have himself a day against the Atlanta Falcons for the San Francisco 49ers.
Confusion By Committee: Denver Broncos tight ends Owen Daniels and Vernon Davis
Can Vernon Davis spark some confusion by committee for the undefeated Denver Broncos? It's possible. After landing the veteran tight end in a trade, he could very well become a target for Peyton Manning. That could spell a target split for the Broncos' Owen Daniels and Davis. If it's not confusion just yet, it could grow to that...and quickly.
Trade Value For Dez Bryant
(Photo : Ronald Martinez | Getty Images Sport)
I warned you to try to get rid of Dez Bryant last week. If you weren't able to, you wound up with a weak two points from the dynamic Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, coming off an injury. Still not playing with injured Tony Romo, Bryant is going to be hard-pressed to make serious impact. If there's any way to deal him and target a need, do so and don't look back. Dez won't make your season at this point.
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