“Shore Thing Sleepers” isn’t your ordinary fantasy football Week 9 start/sit article. Instead, our analyst duo of Seth Woolcock and Eric Romoff highlight lower-valued players that can provide starting-caliber production for a specific week. These are usually players near the end of your bench or even on the waiver wire/free agency. You can catch an additional sleeper pick live at the end of our weekly in-season Friday podcast episode.
Rostership percentages are based on ESPN Points Per Reception (PPR) redraft fantasy football leagues.
Week 9 Start/Sit Consideration: Shore Thing Sleepers
Brandin Cooks (WR, Dallas Cowboys) | 53.7% Rostered
Brandin Cooks might not be seeing an abundance of targets, but he’s been making the most of his opportunities. He lit up the fantasy scoreboard as the PPR WR20 in Week 6 and followed it up as WR29 last week, showcasing his efficiency with seven catches on eight targets, resulting in two touchdowns.
In Week 9, Cooks and the Cowboys take on the Philadelphia Eagles, whose secondary has struggled all season long. The Eagles have allowed the most PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers, a trend that extends over the entire season, the last month and even the past two weeks. This generous defense has given up an average of 1.5 touchdowns and 191 yards per game to the wide receiver position. With the Eagles likely to focus their coverage on CeeDee Lamb, Cooks could be in for a big day, making him a sneaky strong Week 9 start/sit consideration. – Woolcock
Khalil Shakir (WR, Buffalo Bills) | 2.7% Rostered
Khalil Shakir had a strong showing in his first game with an expanded role, catching all six of his targets for an impressive 92 yards. His performance becomes even more critical, with Dawson Knox sidelined due to a broken wrist. This injury is forcing the Bills to alter their offensive approach, shifting away from 12 personnel and embracing a more pass-heavy 11 personnel.
In Week 9, the Buffalo Bills face off against a formidable opponent, which sets the stage for a high-scoring contest. Their matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals boasts the highest over/under on the slate at 50.5, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. With a potentially explosive game on the horizon, expect Shakir to be a key part of the Bills’ offensive strategy. Keep him on your radar for your Week 9 start/sit decisions. – Romoff
Thanks for reading our “Shore Thing Sleepers” to consider in your Week 9 start/sit decisions. Check out more of our fantasy football and other written content here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
*Photo Credit: Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports*