Dez Bryant made his triumphant return to the fantasy football world in week 8. He’ll be an interesting high-ceiling player to watch in the coming weeks to see if he can stay in that top-tier group of receivers.
Bryant went for 113 yards receiving and one touchdown in the week 8 win against Philadelphia. What’s most important, though, is that he attracted 14 targets. He was still a little rusty, pulling in only four of those targets, but as he gets more comfortable with quarterback Dak Prescott, the amount of catches should increase.
But will that comfort level come sooner rather than later? He has some dream matchups awaiting him with Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Washington in three of the next four weeks. He’s a must-start at this point, but will he generate the kind of value we expected him to have before the season began?
Only time will tell. For more of those questionable receiver decisions, here’s the week 9 wide receivers start ’em, sit ’em guide for fantasy football.
Start
Donte Moncrief vs. Green Bay Packers
Another injured player with a high-ceiling is a good start this week. Moncrief had high expectations heading into the season, but an injury derailed most of the first half of the season.
But he’s back and the Colts are bad enough that he should get plenty of attention.
We should all start to rethink Andrew Luck’s place in the pantheon of quarterbacks. Luck is showing some fantasy value, but his play for the majority of games has me scratching my head.
He’s becoming a garbage-time quarterback and in week 9, that’s what I’m expecting again. That’s why Moncrief has tremendous value, because it’s likely that Green Bay will get up early, forcing the Colts to air it out.
And with injuries to TY Hilton and Phillip Dorsett possibly influencing their ability to get open, Moncrief is suddenly looking like the best option.
Moncrief was targeted nine times in the week 8 loss and if he’s going to see that much action, he will put up solid fantasy points against a Green Bay defense susceptible to the pass.
Davante Adams vs. Indianapolis Colts
I told you that Aaron Rodgers liked Adams for some reason.
I traded for Adams last season thanks to his above-average targets. He didn’t produce because he couldn’t catch the ball, but there’s just something about his relationship with Rodgers that allows him plenty of opportunities to score.
And in the last two weeks, he’s been a target monster.
He came home with 14 targets in week 8 against Atlanta after his 16-target effort against the Bears in week 7. He hauled in 12 catches in week 8 for only 74 yards, but that kind of volume is impossible to ignore.
Adams continues to be a favorite of Rodgers and this week’s matchup with the Colts presents the opportunity of even more volume. The Colts own the second-worst pass defense in terms of yards allowed in the NFL at 287. They’ve also allowed 14 touchdowns, compared to only two interceptions.
There will be plenty of balls to be spread around in Green Bay on Sunday. Adams will get several opportunities to score for your fantasy team.
Tyrell Williams vs. Tennessee Titans
San Diego’s top option at receiver, Travis Benjamin, is nursing an injury and his status is unclear for week 9.
That opens up plenty of opportunities for Williams, who will square off against an injured Titans secondary at home.
Williams disappointed in week 8 against Denver, but I can’t anticipate many were surprised with that result. Williams was still targeted six times in the loss, bringing his total to 16 targets during the last two weeks.
With Benjamin possibly out or at least limited against the Titans, Williams should see double-digit targets once again versus the Titans. While Tennessee has been decent against the pass this year, it was dissected in the second half in week 8 against Jacksonville. Part of that was a prevent-style approach, but the part of it has to be the injury bug creeping up on Tennessee.
Two of the four starters in the secondary were out in week 8 and it’s unclear what their availability will be in week 9. Williams offers plenty of upside with several receivers sitting out in week 9 due to a bye.
Sit
Golden Tate vs. Minnesota Vikings
Do you really believe the Lions will have room to breathe in week 9?
Minnesota has looked awful in the last two weeks and return home for the first time in two weeks. While everyone’s calling for Minnesota’s demise, we should all realize NFL teams aren’t near as good or bad as they look in the previous week.
Minnesota has shown consistently to be more than competent against the pass this season, and that will be on display once again versus the Lions. Detroit is a different team on the road and that will show in week 9.
And while Tate has been more involved in the offense, there’s not room for two starting fantasy receivers against the Vikings. Marvin Jones is healthy again and should get the green light from the Lions.
Tate’s catches are close to the line of scrimmage and he won’t have the ability to break any of those open for long gains. It’s OK to start Jones, but Tate should get the sit this week.
Quincy Enunwa vs. Miami Dolphins
The week 9 matchup for the Jets versus the Dolphins is all about the run.
Miami is horrendous against the run once again and so Matt Forte should get all your attention. That will take away some targets from Jets receivers, and while Enunwa saw a season-high 11 targets in week 8 against Cleveland, I expect his targets to shrink, while Brandon Marshall’s will rise.
And even though Enunwa had 11 targets, he still only hauled in four catches, with one of those being a 57-yarder. He’s consistently targeted less than eight times per game, with a combined nine targets in weeks 6 and 7.
I expect that to be more of the norm for Enunwa as opposed to his 11-target day in week 8.
The Dolphins also are surprisingly pretty good against the pass, ranking 10th in the NFL in that department. The Jets are trying to limit their turnovers, holding back Ryan Fitzpatrick. That’s a good strategy for success, meaning Enunwa will see less production in week 9.
Terrelle Pryor vs. Dallas Cowboys
Pryor has been a pleasant surprise this season, but that doesn’t mean he’s matchup-proof.
He had another big output in week 8 against a terrible New York Jets passing defense, with six catches for 101 yards. He was targeted 13 times, giving him double-digit targets for the second time in three games.
That’s the good with Pryor.
Now for the bad.
Wide receiver Corey Coleman is coming back in this game and will undoubtedly steal some targets from Pryor. Pryor has emerged as the Browns’ No. 1 receiver, but Coleman showed flashes of brilliance earlier this season when he was healthy.
What also hurts Pryor is that Dallas is fairly stingy against opposing wide receivers. Dallas has allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points to receivers this season and against the Browns pitiful passing game, that should only get better.
Pryor will still have some solid outings in his future. But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be evaluated based on his weekly matchup. If you have room on your bench, make a seat for Pryor this week.
