I had a pretty good week, too, when it came to my Week 8 likes. Too bad I didn't pick Drew Brees or Eli Manning!
Here's a recap of Week 8's best performers and my Week 9 likes.
Week 8 Top Performers
QB – Drew Brees, New Orleans –Brees tied two NFL records, seven passing touchdowns and two career 500-yard games, as he totaled 505 yards and seven scores.
RB – Todd Gurley, St. Louis –He was my No. 1 running back last week, and he continued his dominance, rushing for 133 yards and one score.
WR – Odell Beckham, Jr., N.Y. Giants –Julio Jones and A.J. Green were in my top-three last week, but it was Beckham, Jr. that outplayed them all, as he recorded three touchdowns and 130 receiving yards.
TE – Benjamin Watson, New Orleans –When your quarterback throw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns, you get yours, too. Watson totaled 147 yards on nine receptions with one touchdown.
Defense/Special Teams – Houston Texans –For a group that has been awful all season, the Texans forced three turnovers, has seven sacks and held the Titans to six points.
K – Justin Tucker, Baltimore –Tucker made all five field goals, including three from 40 yards, and both extra points for a total of 20 fantasy points.
Week 9 Likes
Quarterbacks
Andy Dalton vs. Cleveland –Dalton had his worst game of the season last week. Tonight, he gets to face the Browns who have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in five games this season.
Eli Manning at Tampa Bay –Tampa Bay has allowed 11 passing touchdowns in its last four games. Manning threw six last Sunday.
Derek Carr at Pittsburgh –Carr faces a defense that has given up at least one passing touchdown in five straight games. Also, Pittsburgh could be without two of their starting safeties.
Running Backs
Todd Gurley at Minnesota –Gurley has four straight 100-yard games. Though Minnesota is a top-10 rush defense, fantasy wise, no one has stopped him in a month.
Jeremy Langford at San Diego –San Diego gives up an average of 27 points per game to opposing running backs. Langford should shine with an additional workload.
DeAngelo Williams vs. Oakland –Williams was fantastic in the first two games this season filling in for Le'Veon Bell. I think he picks up right where he left off this Sunday.
Wide Receivers
A.J. Green vs. Cleveland –I don't think the Browns have a chance to cover Green in this game. Last week, Cleveland allowed nearly 300 yards and two scores to Arizona's wide receiving group.
Brandon Marshall vs. Jacksonville –Marshall leads the league with five 100-yard games. Jacksonville has allowed two touchdowns in two straight games to opposing wide receiving units.
Martavis Bryant vs. Oakland –I think the Raiders will keep Antonio Brown in check, which means Bryant will have the opportunities to take the top off the defense.
Tight Ends
Vernon Davis at Indianapolis –In three straight games, the Colts have allowed a tight end to record a touchdown. Davis, with his new team, has a great chance to make that four in a row.
Larry Donnell at Tampa Bay –The Buccaneers have given up 200 yards and three touchdowns to opposing tight ends the last two games.
Heath Miller vs. Oakland –Miller has always done well against the Raiders. This season, Oakland gives up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
Defense/Special Teams
Denver at Indianapolis –Andrew Luck is a turnover machine. Denver's defense/special teams groups have produced double-digit points in every game this season.
Atlanta at San Francisco –Blaine Gabbert is the 49ers' starting quarterback, and the team's running back unit has been crushed by injuries.
Saint Louis at Minnesota –The Rams' defense/special teams groups have totaled 37 fantasy points in the last two weeks, allowing just 12 total points to opposing teams in that span.
Kickers
Stephen Gostkowski vs. Washington –He's recorded at least 11 fantasy points in six straight games.
Caleb Sturgis at Dallas –Sturgis has averaged 12 fantasy points per game in his last three outings.
Nick Folk vs. Jacksonville –Folk has not recorded less than seven fantasy points in a game this season.
