Say Hello
Quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick (6-percent owned, Yahoo!), Tampa Bay. Bucs coach Dirk Koetter confirmed Monday that Fitzpatrick gets the Week 9 start against Carolina. Tampa Bay benched Jameis Winston in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Bengals after he threw his fourth interception of the game. It was returned for a touchdown as the Bengals took a 34-16 lead and went on to win. Winston has thrown six TDs to 10 INTs on the season and can’t throw an accurate deep ball. Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, ranks first in adjusted yards per attempt (10.4), air yards per attempt (7.5) and deep ball completion percentage (65-percent). Winston’s deep ball completion percentage? 29.4-percent. Fitzpatrick also ranks No. 1 in fantasy points per dropback. His return breathes new life into DeSean Jackson, who asked to be traded last week.
Did I mention Fitzpatrick holds a killer press conference?
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Ryan Fitzpatrick did his press conference in DeSean Jackson’s clothes: pic.twitter.com/hWVQQRBCqM
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 17, 2018
The Bucs would be smart to stick with Fitzpatrick, who’s thrown 13 TDs to five INTs, going forward. Fitz nearly rallied the Bucs back against Cincinnati, throwing two TDs and adding a two-point conversion to Chris Godwin in relief of Winston. Lock Fitzpatrick, who finished as the overall QB1 in Week 1 and scored more than 30 fantasy points twice, back into lineups.
Wide Receiver
D.J. Moore (15-percent owned, Yahoo!), Carolina. Moore’s recent performance positions him to be a difference-maker down the stretch on a playoff contender. In Week 8 he caught five of six targets for 90 receiving yards. The targets, receptions and yards were all season highs. Moore tied for the team lead in targets with Christian McCaffrey, while Devin Funchess saw three targets. The Panthers also got Moore involved in the run game with two carries for 39 yards, a good sign that they intend to involve him heavily in the offense. He benefits from Torrey Smith’s (knee) absence, but Moore’s play speaks for itself and he should supplant Smith as a starter.
DeVante Parker (13-percent owned, Yahoo!), Miami. Parker packs the punch of a true No. 1 wide receiver, something the Dolphins desperately need. He showed why against Houston while posting a 6-134-0 line on nine targets. At 6-3, Parker’s height means QB Brock Osweiler gets a big target to throw to. Parker dwarfs diminutive teammates Danny Amendola (5-10) and Jakeem Grant (5-6). While tensions ran high between Parker and the team heading into Week 8, his performance seemed to have eased them. Coach Adam Gase said on Monday that it’s unlikely that Parker will be traded.
Courtland Sutton, (11-percent owned, Yahoo!), Denver. With the Texans reportedly acquiring Demaryius Thomas on Tuesday ahead of the trade deadline, his old role in Denver’s offense now belongs to rookie Sutton. It’s a big boost for Sutton and means he’s in line to garner the bulk of Thomas’ 19.6-percent target share moving forward. Sutton averages 18.5 YPR and sports an average target distance of 14.7. He’s caught 17-of-37 targets for 324 yards and two TDs.
Running Back
Josh Adams (1-percent owned, Yahoo!), Philadelphia. He led the Eagles in carries (nine) and rushing yards (61) in Week 8, and has been more efficient than his teammates. While Wendell Smallwood (3.0 yards per carry) and Corey Clement (1.5 YPC) struggled on the ground, Adams averaged a healthy 6.8 YPC. That kind of efficiency helps the Eagles establish the run game, which they haven’t been able to accomplish without Jay Ajayi. Based on Adams’ recent usage he should see the bulk of the carries going forward. Smallwood slides back into the change-of-pace option, a role he’s better suited for, leaving Clement to fight for leftovers.
Tight End
Jack Doyle (25-percent owned, Yahoo!), Indianapolis. Doyle ruled in his return from injury, scoring a TD and catching six passes for 70 yards. The Colts appear capable of producing two fantasy relevant tight ends, as Eric Ebron scored his seventh TD of the season while catching three passes for 37 yards. The two TEs will each cancel out some of the other’s target share, but at a shallow fantasy position Doyle’s return is welcomed. He can’t help you this week though, as the Colts have a bye. For emergency lineup purposes consider Jets TE Chris Herndon, who’s scored in three straight games.
Waive Goodbye
Quarterback
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay. Winton’s epic fall from grace culminated in his Week 8 benching, erasing him from fantasy relevance. The Bucs named Ryan Fitzpatrick the starter for Week 9, and he’s likely to hold onto the starting job barring any Fitztragic collapses.
Wide Receiver
Cameron Meredith, New Orleans. Meredith hasn’t seen a target in two straight games while Tre’Quan outsnaps him. Unless the current situation changes, he’s not worth a roster spot even in deeper leagues.
Running Back
Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay. Peyton Barber has reclaimed his hold on the Bucs backfield, and Jones injured his hamstring in Week 8. He’s expected to miss time, and his lack of involvement in the offense makes Jones droppable.
Tight End
Jesse James, Pittsburgh. Playing behind Vance McDonald, James hasn’t scored more than seven PPR points since Week 2.
