Fantasy Football: Week 9 Sunday Superlatives

Dishing out awards for the best and worst fantasy performances on the Sunday of Week 9.

Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

The ninth Sunday of the NFL season saw the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots lose for the first time since Week 15 of 2018 at the hands of dynamic QB Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The young signal-caller sliced and diced the league's best defense with his arm and his legs. We also witnessed a day where the New York Jets hit a new franchise-low losing to one of the worst teams in NFL history, the Miami Dolphins. Owners happily saw Eagles TE Zach Ertz return to fantasy relevance while star RB Christian McCaffrey and WR Mike Evans likely carried fantasy owners to league wins.

Let's take a look back at the week that was:

Welcome Back Party

RB Jaylen Samuels, Steelers

The second-year back, who hadn't played since Week 5 due to a knee injury, got the start in place of the injured James Conner. Samuels did his damage against the Colts as a receiver hauling in all 13 of his targets for 73 yards. Samuels, who set a Steelers franchise record for catches by a running back, led the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards. In Week 10, Samuels will be a low RB1 against the Rams, assuming Connor is forced to miss a second straight game. 

Surprise of the Week

RB Adrian Peterson, Redskins

Peterson, who was on many fantasy benches in Week 9, surprised everyone with his second 100-plus rushing game of the season on Sunday on the road against the Bills. The veteran 12-year back now has posted double-digit PPR fantasy points in three of his last four games and has become a viable flex option heading towards the fantasy playoffs.

Biggest Busts

RB Aaron Jones, Packers

What a difference a week makes. Jones was the best running back in Week 8 against the Chiefs posting 41.6 PPR fantasy points in the SI Fantasy Football World Championships. This week, Jones, who entered Week 9 with seven touchdowns in his previous three games, disappointed his owners on Sunday, only posting four PPR points against the Chargers. Jones, who has become a weapon as a receiver with 15 receptions for 205 yards and three scores over in his last three games, only managed one catch for minus-one yard in Week 9. Jones will look to return to his dominance in Week 10 when the Packers return home to face a Panthers defense that just surrendered both a rushing and a receiving touchdown to Tennessee's Derrick Henry.

WR Stefon Diggs, Vikings

Diggs entered Week 9 as arguably the hottest wide receiver thanks to a three-game streak of seven receptions and 143-plus receiving yards. However, on Sunday, Diggs caught just one of four targets for four yards. Diggs will look to rebound from season lows in receptions and yards, next Sunday night when the Vikings go on the road against the Dallas Cowboys

Top Quarterback

QB Russell Wilson, Seahawks

The veteran signal-caller was superb on Sunday against the Buccaneers, throwing for 378 yards and five touchdowns en route to a Week 9 best 43 fantasy points. Wilson, who has now thrown 14 touchdowns in his last five games, will look to carry over his torrid streak into Monday Night's NFC West showdown with the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.

Top Running Back

RB Christian McCaffrey, Panthers

The best player in fantasy football was sensational once again on Sunday against the Titans rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns, while adding three receptions for 20 yards and a score through the air. McCaffery, who led all fantasy running backs with 37.6 PPR points, now has a league-leading 13 total touchdowns in eight games.

Top Wide Receiver

WR Mike Evans, Buccaneers

Evans stays in this spot for the second straight week after grabbing 12 of 16 targets for 180 yards and a touchdown on the road against Seattle. The star wideout has torched opposing secondaries in the last three games posting 20-plus PPR fantasy points in consecutive weeks. Evans’ owners will be looking forward to another monster performance in Week 10 when Tampa Bay plays host to an Arizona defense that has surrendered a league-worst 24 passing touchdowns.

The New Sheriff In Town

WR Zach Pascal, Colts

The second-year wideout filled in admirably for the injured TY Hilton grabbing five of six targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. Pascal, who posted his second-largest yardage output of the season, has now quietly posted double-digit PPR fantasy points in four of his last six games. As long as Hilton is out, Paschal should be considered the Colts top passing option on the outside. Pascal, owned in less than 21% of leagues, will be among the hottest waiver adds with a plus-matchup against a porous Dolphins secondary in Week 10.

Burned By Injury

WR Adam Thielen, Vikings

After sitting out last week due to a hamstring injury sustained in Week 7 against the Lions, fantasy owners were excited to insert the star wide receiver back into starting lineups. However, on the Vikings first drive, Thielen re-injured his hamstring attempting to haul in his only target of the game. Posting a dreaded zero in the point column likely doomed owners who were depending on the sixth-year veteran.

QB Jacoby Brissett, Colts

Brissett, who has played well since taking over for the retired Andrew Luck, was forced out of Sunday's game against Pittsburgh after only posting 3.35 fantasy points due to a knee injury sustained in the first quarter. Brissett is headed for an MRI on Monday, but fantasy owners could be looking at a sizeable absence.

Stop and Take Notice

RB Devin Singletary, Bills

As we highlighted in last week’s streaming options, the rookie took full advantage of his plus-matchup with the Redskins on Sunday. Singletary, who was unable to play in Weeks 3-6 due to a hamstring injury, seems to have finally taken over lead-back duties from aging veteran Frank Gore. In Week 9, he rushed for a career-high 95 yards and a score while adding three receptions for 45 yards. Singletary is line for a third consecutive double-digit PPR fantasy point performance in Week 10 when Buffalo faces off with the 27th-ranked Browns run defense.

WR DK Metcalf, Seahawks

Another player we recommended as a reliable streaming option last week, Seahawks WR DK Metcalf (27 PPR fantasy points) posted career-highs in receptions (6) and receiving yards (123). Metcalf, who now has four touchdowns in his last five games, won’t find things so easy in Week 10 when Seattle faces off with the top-ranked San Francisco defense.

TE Zach Ertz, Eagles

Zach Ertz, who was among the top two players off the board at his position in every draft this year, finally broke out of his season-long slump against the Bears. The star tight end posted his first 100-plus receiving yard effort since Week 16 of last year and found the endzone for the second time this season. Unfortunately, the turnaround may not last long as the Eagles come out of their bye in Week 11 with a home date against New England. The Patriots have only allowed two touchdowns to opposing tight ends all season. 

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