![What You Need to Know From Week 9](https://footballguys.imgix.net/nfl-action-photos/CousKi00_H.jpg?auto=format,compress&w=730)
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PHI @ HOU
- Dallas Goedert took a turn as the top target for Jalen Hurts. He’s squarely in the top five tight ends going forward.
- Kenneth Gainwell had a score and got seven touches in his best fantasy game of the season. He should be on your desperation play waiver wire list.
- The game was tied at halftime with a more competitive effort from the Texans than expected, thanks mostly to inspired running from Dameon Pierce. His value is defying the Texans' bottom dweller status.
IND @ NE
- Sam Ehlinger looked completely overwhelmed, and the Colts fired Frank Reich after the game. This offense and team could be collapsing as Ehlinger is starting again this week against the Raiders.
- Deon Jackson got banged up and wasn’t productive in place of Jonathan Taylor. It’s not clear when Taylor will be ready to play and the team going into tanking mode is bad for Taylor’s 2022 value.
- No Colt pass-catcher is worth playing as long as Ehlinger is the quarterback.
- Mac Jones was mediocre, leaving open the idea that he could be replaced by Bailey Zappe at some point.
- Rhamondre Stevenson didn’t dominate with Damien Harris out, but he did make a sweet one-handed touchdown catch to salvage something for his fantasy teams.
- Jakobi Meyers was the best play on short-range pass volume, but this is back to looking like an offense full of underachievement.
GB @ DET
- Aaron Rodgers moved the ball well despite losing Romeo Doubs (ankle) and Christian Watson (concussion) during the game. Rodgers also threw three picks, with two coming at the goal line. It could be a rough week against the Cowboys for the whole offense. Doubs is droppable with a 4+ week timeline to return to the field. Samari Toure is worth monitoring in deep leagues with a larger opportunity, at least for now.
- Aaron Jones left with an ankle injury. He wanted to get back in the game, so there’s a chance he’ll play this week. A.J. Dillon was lackluster and failed to convert multiple goal-line chances, but if Jones is out vs. Dallas, Dillon will be a solid RB2.
- Josiah Deguara was more involved than Robert Tonyan Jr, which really means there’s no clear tight end play here, even though the position should be more involved because the wide receiver group is thin.
- DAndre Swift was tackled at the one, and his sporadic involvement kept him from doing more in this game. He is getting healthier and should have a larger impact going forward.
- Brock Wright was a dud in his first game as the starter. He didn’t catch a ball, with rookie James Mitchell getting the tight end touchdown instead.
LAC @ ATL
- Justin Herbert wasn’t a fantasy force against a depleted Falcons secondary, but he was without his top two receivers. Josh Palmer was a strong play, but it’s unclear if that will carry over against a better San Francisco defense in Week 10 if both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams can’t go.
- Cordarrelle Patterson was only in on a little over â…“ of the snaps, but he scored twice and should be the automatic option inside the five. He also had a 38-yard touchdown called back by penalty. He’s a strong RB2 against the Panthers Thursday night.
- Tyler Allgeier looked better than he has all year as the second back behind Patterson. He’s worth carrying with the Falcons running game in full effect.
- Kyle Pitts was open for a long score, but Marcus Mariota missed him. Whether this is a reason to keep playing him or look elsewhere is a function of who else you have at tight end. Chances are, it’s best to keep playing him.
- Drake London had the ball taken from him by Khalil Mack in the red zone. His hot start is a distant memory. He’s only worth holding on your bench as a desperation pay until/unless this passing game generates some momentum.
BUF @ NYJ
- Josh Allen injured his throwing elbow in this game. We’re waiting to hear more, but he’ll probably play against the Vikings this week, but with lower expectations.
- Gabe Davis had a chance to make a big play at the end of the game, but he was interfered with. He remains a boom/bust WR3/Flex.
- Nyheim Hines wasn’t on the field much in his first game as a Bill, but if Allen has to rely on more short passing, his value could grow.
- Zach Wilson played safe football, and while it won’t do much for his fantasy value, it is the winning recipe for this team. He also showed he can support Garrett Wilson’s value on low pass volume.
- Both Michael Carter and James Robinson were solid plays. This offense should run through the backfield the same way it did when Breece Hall was healthy. Both are solid RB2/Flex plays going forward.
- Tyler Conklin went back to being an afterthought and isn’t worth carrying through the bye. Sadly, Elijah Moore is behind Denzel Mims and also not worth carrying through the bye in redraft.
MIN @ WAS
- Kirk Cousins led a second-half comeback in his first game back in Washington since he was the starting quarterback, but the Washington defense is improving.
- Dalvin Cook didn’t get much going in the running game but saved fantasy teams with a nice touchdown catch.
- T.J. Hockenson was a big part of the passing game in his first contest as a Viking and might be a top-five fantasy tight end going forward.
- Taylor Heinicke limited mistakes, but no one had a good game in the Washington offense outside of Curtis Samuel catching a long touchdown in triple coverage because an official got in the way and no one touched him down.
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