Fantasy Preview : Week 9 Early Slate Part 1

  • Chargers (-3) @ Falcons (+135): O/U: 49.5

    Dolphins (-4) @ Bears (+165): O/U: 45.5

    Panthers (+265) @ Bengals (-7.5): O/U 42.5

    Packers (-3.5) @ Lions (+160): O/U: 49.5

     

    Chargers @ Falcons 

    Key Storylines/What to Watch

    The Chargers return from their bye and will look to gain ground in the AFC West, taking on a surprising first place NFC South team in the Falcons. Fantasy managers will be without Keenan Allen and Mike Williams again as they recover from injuries but they have other receiving options that we’ll get into in the sections below.

    We will welcome back Justin Herbert and Austin Ekeler as staples at their positions as we navigate around a tough week for byes. Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson makes his return to practice but will be a game-time decision, rendering Tyler Algeier and Caleb Huntley useless if he plays. Marcus Mariota and his weapons: Kyle Pitts and Drake London, are intriguing options as they showed last week that they can be willing to throw if they have to, and in this matchup they will have to.

     

    Top Starts

    RB Austin Ekeler: We will hope Ekeler picks up where he left off before their bye, catching passes at an elite level and scoring touchdowns. Ekeler will be the top option at running back this week and is a must-start option.

     

    QB Justin Herbert: The league leader in pass attempts is back in our lineups as a top-12 option at his position this week, even without his top wideouts. While our expectations should be tempered, the volume Herbert provides will keep us afloat for fantasy purposes.

     

    TE Kyle Pitts: Has Pitts been unlocked? We finally saw what Pitts can do in this offense last week when the Falcons were pressured into passing against the Panthers. With how thin the tight end position is, Pitts is back in our lineups while we hope this trend continues.

     

    Boom/Bust Dart-Throw

    WR Joshua Palmer/DeAndre Carter: The top adds at their position off the waiver wire this week will look to replace the starters to the best of their ability. Both Palmer and Carter enter the fray as WR3s with the added benefit of playing against a Falcons team missing their starting defensive options in the secondary.

     

    QB Marcus Mariota: We saw the Falcons be more pass-happy in their matchup last week and we saw Mariota throw for over 250 yards and three touchdowns with 43 rushing yards. If he can replicate those numbers against a very forgiving Chargers defense, we could be looking at a top-10 QB for fantasy this week.

     

    Want to read the rest of our fantasy preview while you’ll also get access to the rest of our premium content? You’ll need to have a FANTASYPASS membership. Click here to learn more and sign up! 

    Dolphins @ Bears

    Key Storylines/What to Watch

    Premium Access Required:

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x