Welcome to the Week 9 of Trust or Bust. The trade deadline has come and gone. Other than the Von Miller trade, the deadline was anticlimactic as usual. However, Week 9 was weird….almost spooky. Jordan Howard rose from the grave and put up a top fifteen performance, while Kenneth Gainwell sucked the life out of fantasy managers lineups. If that wasn’t scary enough, three backup quarterbacks started, won a game, and finished as QB1s.While you’re stealing candy from your children’s stash, let’s get into it.
OK, let’s get started, but first! Before we move forward, I’d like to remind the readers what exactly this article is intended for.
Every week I select players inside the FantasyPros Consensus Top 12 that I think will finish outside the top 12 and players outside the top 12 that I like more.
This is NOT a ‘start/sit’ article per se. This is more or less how I feel about a player, why I feel that way, suggesting what I would do, what to expect, and who I like more.
I know when offering advice and analysis, accuracy and accountability are important. Not just to you guys but to me as well. Every week I like to keep track and share my previous week’s picks that I got right and wrong.
Accountability Report
QB Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Week 8 Ranking 11th
Prediction- Outside
Week 8 Finish 16th
Thursday night games are always weird and last week was no different. Leave it to Rodgers to find a way to win a game even though he was missing his top three receiving options and of course Kyler Murray doesn’t score a touchdown with all of his receivers healthy.
RB Johnathan Taylor (IND)
Week 8 Ranking 6th
Prediction- Outside
Week 8 Finish 3rd
Taylor’s usage or lack thereof in the Colts’ offense is confusing and Frank Reich is to blame. As hard as he tries, even Reich can’t stop JT from producing.
WR D.J. Moore (CAR)
Week 8 Ranking 12th
Prediction- Outside
Week 8 Finish 41st
Despite a win, it was another disappointing week from Moore and the Panthers’ offense. It brings me no joy being right about Moore, as much as I enjoy helping you guys. I want Moore to return to his early-season form.
TE Ricky Seals-Jones (WAS)
Week 8 Ranking 20th
Prediction- Outside
Week 8 Finish 37th
In a game where less than thirty points were scored, finding any player that produced in fantasy is a hard task. Heinecke and the Football Team have scored thirty-three total points the last three weeks combined. Yuck!
This week was better than last week thankfully. Let’s run the numbers.
Week 8 Results- 3 for 4 75%
Correct
17
Wrong
15
Week 9 Inside/ Outside Picks
QB Justin Herbert (LAC)
@PHI
Current Ranking 10th
AVG Points per Game 22.0
Week 9 ranking 7th
I’m as surprised as you are to see Herbert make the ‘Outside’ list this week. He’s averaging close to twenty-three points per game over his last four starts but the Eagles’ defense is holding quarterbacks to less than fourteen points per game over their last four. The Eagles’ defense has only given up two QB1 finishes all season.
Who I like More
QB Carson Wentz (IND)
v NYJ
Week 9 ranking 16th
Wentz and the Colts’ offense is frustrating. Wentz is not known for his decision-making ability, evidenced by Week 8. In 2021 Wentz has ONE single-digit scoring week, has ten total touchdowns the last four games, and faces a Jets’ defense that allows twenty-two points per game to quarterbacks.
RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL)
@NO
Current Ranking 8th
AVG Points per Game 19.2
Week 9 ranking 12th
Patterson has taken the fantasy world by storm and while I’m here for the ride, this train will be taking an unexpected detour this week. After losing Jameis Winston for the season and a game-ending pick-six, the Saints defense is here to stay. New Orleans has allowed less than seven hundred total yards and only six total touchdowns to running backs this season.
Who I like More
RB Damien Harris (NE)
@CAR
Week 9 ranking 15th
At this time Damien Harris is the RB16. Over his last four games, he’s averaging sixteen points per game, has five touchdowns, and he’s doing it all without any receiving work. Now he gets to face a Carolina defense that allows over seventeen points per game to running backs!
WR Keenan Allen (LAC)
@PHI
Current Ranking 25th
AVG Points per Game 15.2
Week 9 ranking 11th
First Herbert and now Allen. Is the Eagles’ defense really that good? According to the numbers, yes they are. Philadelphia’s secondary hasn’t given up a single WR1 finish all season and they’re fourth in the league in passing yards allowed.
Who I like More
WR Marquise Brown (BAL)
v MIN
Week 9 ranking 18th
Did you watch the Cowboys/Vikings game? Of course, you did! If Cooper Rush can pass for over three hundred yards and BOTH Amari and CeeDee Lamb can go over a hundred receiving yards, imagine what Lamar and the Ravens will do after a week off.
TE Kyle Pitts (ATL)
@NO
Current Ranking 6th
AVG Points per Game 12.5
Week 9 ranking 3rd
I’m going back to the well here, but I’m telling you the Saints defense is for real. There aren’t any tight ends like Pitts in the league. However, when a defense holds tight ends to less than nine points per game, and zero touchdowns all year, you better take notice.
Who I like More
TE Tyler Conklin (MIN)
v MIN
Week 9 ranking 15th
onklin was on this list last week and here he is again. When you’re top twelve in targets, top ten in receptions, and have multiple double-digit scoring weeks like Conklin, big things are on the horizon. With the Ravens defense next on the schedule, Conklin is staring into the sun in Week 9.
That’s gonna do it for this week’s piece. I hope you found the info useful and actionable.
Thank you for reading. Just a reminder, my fantasy podcast: The ATB Fantasy Show records a new episode every Thursday. You can find the podcast on most major platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Here’s a link to the most recent episode.
If you use the hashtag #AskATB or send us a DM, we’ll be sure to answer any and all of your fantasy questions.
If you’re a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, I host a Dallas Cowboys themed podcast and you can find that on most major streaming platforms as well. Here is a link to the most recent episode
There you have it! Any questions, or want some more specific help for your league on who to drop, just reach out. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. And checkout out rankings for each Week.
Image Credit: Robert Hanashiro – USA TODAY Sports
