Gather round, boys and girls, as I regale you with more bone-chilling tales from “Fantasy Whiplash!”. The fantasy football news and notes do not take a break for the spooky season, so don your scariest garments! We’ll take a look forward to the treats awaiting us in Week 9 while leaving the tricks of Week 8 behind.
Beware of recurring musings and observations around every corner, scary player values and downright terrifying injury news. Are you headed to a costume party this year? As you sip from the punch bowl of “Witches Brew” (loaded with Everclear, probably), you’ll need something to talk about with the scantily-clad “Freudian Slip” and poorly done “Fire Marshall Bill.” Never fear; below, you’ll find a few icebreakers suitable for party talk as a fantasy football expert.
It’s time to hug the turns and see the sights! Leave your attention span at home; it will be as useless to you as Lt. Dan’s legs. I don’t know if his costume is real, but it’s about as lifelike as the knowledge we’re dropping on this virtual highway to hell. Strap into the “Mystery Machine,” and let’s get to the good stuff: Week 9, here we come.
Fantasy Football News & Notes for Week 9
Fantasy Football News
Bo Radley
Bo Nix rookie QB ranks in October
Rank
Pass TD 7 1st
Pass TD/INT 7/1 1st
Pass Yards 870 1st
Rush TD 2 1st
Wins 3 t-1st pic.twitter.com/NYM1PaB235— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 28, 2024
Flush with top-notch quarterback performances in Week 8, perhaps one near the top of the list is Denver Broncos’ rookie Bo Nix. While not entirely surprising against the cellar-dwelling Carolina Panthers, Nix’s QB2 overall finish on the week certainly turned some heads exorcist-style, but without all the mess. In fact, he is pacing rookie signal-callers, including Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, in passing stats and wins in October. He’s also finished in the top 10 of fantasy quarterbacks in three of the last four weeks.
Maybe these are the performances Nix needs to prove he’s not just a superstition like Radley. Maybe it will make fantasy football managers sit up and take note. He is currently rostered in just 36% of ESPN fantasy leagues, far under some other underperforming quarterbacks. Mr. “Radley” has been a relative ghost this season, but his presence has been felt throughout. Next up, a special concoction is bubbling in the cauldron suitable to kill a mockingbird… or even a Raven.
The Salem Switch Trial
It wasn’t so much a “switch” as a hand forced, but Jameis Winston‘s performance on Sunday against Baltimore answered a lot of questions… for now. In short, Cleveland fans got what they’ve been begging for in a quarterback change. Fantasy football managers got what they wanted in a return to relevance for Cleveland players. Winston completed 65.9% of his passes for 344 yards and a trio of touchdowns. The Browns had been left for dead before making it a Nightmare on Lerner Way for the ghosts of Browns’ past.
Fantasy relevance came in the ghostly form of Winston, Cedric Tillman (seven catches, 99 yards and two TDs) and Elijah Moore (eight receptions for 85 yards). Jerry Jeudy (five receptions for 79 yards) and tight end David Njoku (six receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown) got into the act, too. Considering any number of these names have been dropped over the weeks, expect all of them to get looks on the waiver wire before their home date with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Winston is the catalyst and will throw the ball at will for the remainder of the season.
The Continued Haunting of 2024
Overall, there seemed to be fewer injuries league-wide during Week 8. However, those that did occur were more detrimental for some fantasy squads. San Francisco suffered two more as Deebo Samuel and Jordan Mason both exited the contest with Dallas. Initial indications suggest the bye week could be all the healing time they each need, though there have been no formal announcements from the team.
According to Adam Huschison of Footballguys, Jordan Love (groin) looks likely to avoid additional time, whereas D.J. Moore (ribs) and Gabriel Davis (shoulder) await word on how much, if any, is missed. Quarterback Drake Maye is in concussion protocol, which is rarely passed before the following week. He may be out until Week 10.
Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is expected to miss between two and four weeks, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Meanwhile, that “Ch-Ch-Ch-Ah-Ah-Ah” you’re hearing is the Reaper of ’24 coming. Stefon Diggs‘ ACL dialed “M” for Murder, and then he passed the phone to Christian Kirk, who broke his collarbone. Both are done for the season.
Around the Punch Bowl
Impress the freaks, friends and football addicts with your knowledge of Week 8 tidbits from beyond the grave!
Did you hear the one about the pylon?
- I created a monster after dragging Marvin Harrison Jr. through the proverbial swamp last week. The rookie caught six balls for 111 yards against a stingy Miami pass defense and added a touchdown when the Dolphins had only allowed three previously to wideouts. Contact me if you’d like me to put a reverse hex on one of your players. The service is available for a nominal fee.
- CeeDee Lamb has risen from the dead! OK, it wasn’t that bad, but Lamb could not find the end zone with a treasure map. Well, cue the hoop earring and eyepatch because the Cowboys’ wide receiver came away with 13 catches and a pair of touchdowns’ worth of booty (Someone always dresses like a pirate at these things).
- The Philadelphia Eagles were the most recent team to hammer a nail into the Cincinnati Bengals’ coffin with an emphatic 37-17 victory on the banks of Ohio. Jalen Hurts zombie-walked his way to paydirt three times, raising his league-leading seventh quarterback touchdown on the ground.
- Sunday was National Tight Ends Day, and how fitting that such a disappointing fantasy football position this season gets a spotlight. The big men delivered, though, registering a monstrous 177 receptions for 16 touchdowns. That’s the most receptions by tight ends on a single day ever. The usual suspects, like George Kittle, Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce and Evan Engram, were getting in on the act. Ghoulish performances from Kyle Pitts and Cade Otton (each with two touchdowns) were also a fantasy boon.
What to Watch for Around the NFL
If you’ll simply follow me as we descend this rickety staircase, I’ll pull the curtain back on all of the macabre that awaits you in Week 9.
The Trouble Is You Think You Have Time
The NFL Trade Deadline is quietly lurking, hiding in the shadows until summoned by contenders. As if called forth by a Ouija board with the voice of the departed John Madden, the likes of the Chiefs, Bills, Jets, Ravens and others have already rung the supernatural doorbell. Other teams hoping for treats include San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. Those fielding calls from the precipice of death feature the Panthers, Bengals, Jets and Raiders. The bell tolls at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Fantasy managers will need to check and re-check their lineups on Sunday morning; Some players may wind up a healthy scratch if terms are reached.
“I’ll Be Right Back”
With a host of lurid top-heavy divisional matchups, perhaps the most intriguing matchup features the Detroit Lions at the Green Bay Packers. The Lions (6-1) have rattled off five wins in a row, including a 52-14 drubbing of Tenessee last week. The Packers (6-2, 3-1 at home) are victorious in four straight. They escaped Jacksonville 30-27 on Sunday, setting up this matchup for the NFC North lead in which Detroit is a 3.5-point favorite.
It’s alarming to say the next two are the division’s top teams, but the Buffalo Bills are hosting the Miami Dolphins in an AFC East tilt. The game has some underlying storylines, too. It was against Buffalo in Week 2 that Tua Tagovailoa suffered his latest major concussion. That game was lost 31-10 in the process, and Miami has now dropped 14 of the last 16 games against their rivals. With the Bills installed as 6.0-point early favorites, the Dolphins are looking down the frightening prospect of being 2-6 with little to play for.
Taking a Stab in the Bay Area
Ricky Pearsall after getting 77 yards off of five touches in his first NFL win ⬇️
“Obviously having BA down, there’s going to be a little bit more opportunity for me to go out there and run some routes and get the ball in my hands… it’s only up from here.” pic.twitter.com/Sr5z7ztLYb
— KNBR (@KNBR) October 28, 2024
There isn’t much to watch for on the field in San Francisco, as the team has a much-needed bye. There will be plenty of headlines, nonetheless. Christian McCaffrey is expected to hit the training and practice regimen hard in the hopes of returning from injury in Week 10. Deebo Samuel (pneumonia, ribs and wrist) also needs time to heal from his nagging maladies, and Juaun Jennings (hip) is in the same boat.
There is also the matter of replacing Brandon Aiyuk, who was lost for the season. Candidates abound, but all signs likely point to rookie Ricky Pearsall (seven catches in two games played). With a full week of practice to be installed, Pearsall has the opportunity to thrive in the short game. This is all assuming that the 49ers do not explore a trade, which would be quite a surprise.
Quick Hits
Starting Russell Wilson is a lot like eating Candy Corn.
It’s pretty good when you don’t listen to all the people that are telling you how nasty it is all the time
— Optimus Fantasy Football (@OptimusFantasy) October 28, 2024
- The Indianapolis Colts have switched horses to Joe Flacco at quarterback. This immediately makes Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs trade targets. In Downs’ case, he is a must-add if available on the waiver wire (rostered in 48% of ESPN leagues).
- The loss of Baltimore may have opened the door for Pittsburgh to make the AFC North a sprint. The Steelers had already been doing it with defense, and the switch to Russell Wilson has opened up the downfield options of George Pickens, Calvin Austin and their tight end duo. They might not be done trick-or-treating before the deadline either.
- The Ray Davis backers will have to wait. James Cook is still the vampire in Buffalo, feasting on defenses. Sunday, he sank his teeth into the Seahawks, rumbling for 111 yards, two TDs and another three catches for 22 yards through the air.
- If Cook was a vampire, then Matthew Stafford did his best werewolf impression as the moon replaced the sun on Thursday. Stafford set the pace of the four-quarterback club while also throwing for 279 yards.
- How disappointing was that Bears/Commanders game? There was only great play, but it was the killing blow! Go crazy, Washington.
Looking Forward…
- When McCaffrey comes back, will he “stay” back? If his bilateral Achilles tendonitis stops his comeback as quickly as it begins, Isaac Guerendo becomes a must-stash. Jordan Mason is expected to return after the bye after re-aggravating an existing left shoulder sprain. With McCaffrey and Mason nursing injuries, Guerendo (85 yards, TD on Sunday) is one bad hit away from a serious boost in value.
- Is another Texans injury (this time to Stefon Diggs) finally what takes to unlock Tank Dell?
- The Jaguars are running out of wide receivers quickly. Is it Parker Washington season?
- The Falcons (5-3) are starting to look like a spookily complete team. No one should want to face them right now, and fantasy football managers should note that they have a nice schedule down the stretch.
Sunday Bloody Sunday
That’ll do it for this week, you ghouls and goblins. Go forth and wreak havoc on the town, “Whiplash!”-style. Let reckless abandon run wild and scare the living shit out of everyone in sight. The freaks come out at night, so join in the fun.
Best of luck with all of your waiver claims! Remember: Sometimes, the best move is no move at all. Put your Thursday Halloween players into your positional spots in case you need those flex spots on Sunday, and check for last-minute Sunday inactives. As always, when in doubt, go with your gut. If you need last-minute help, I’ll see you on Twitter/X from 10 a.m. ET until the games start to answer your start/sit questions. You can also find me here at In-Between Media (IBT) again on Friday with prop bets for Sunday’s games!
Check out all of our Week 9 fantasy football content:
- Fantasy Football Whiplash! | Week 9 News & Notes (2024)
- Week 9 Fantasy Football Advice Mailbag (2024)
- Week 9 NFL DFS Picks & Lineup Advice (2024)
- Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Targets (2004)
- Week 9 Shore Thing Sleepers (2024)
- Week 9 In the Scope Targets (2024)
- PropKings: NFL Week 9 (2024)
Thanks for checking out my Week 9 fantasy football news and notes! Track me down on Twitter/X @BuyAndSellYou for more redraft and dynasty fantasy football content.
*Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports*
