Roundtable: Desperation Plays

We all face weeks during a fantasy season when we're forced to rely on a fringe option to deliver for us. Who are some of those candidates this week?

Welcome to Week 9 of the 2024 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.

This week's roundtable features these four topics:

• Week 9 Desperation Plays (see below)
• Good Things Ahead or Just One Good Week?
• 5 Players Being Written Off Too Soon
• Considering Nix, McConkey, and Bigsby

Let's roll. 

Week 9 Desperation Plays

Matt Waldman: The players listed below have the potential for a productive week but are not considered fantasy starters. 

• Parker Washington
• Jermaine Burton
• Raheem Mostert
• Kimani Vidal
• Rome Odunze
• DJ Turner
• Dalvin Cook

Pick one player from the list and make your best argument as to why they have a shot to deliver as a desperation play in Week 9. 

Ryan Weisse: I'll take Raheem Mostert, and I'm not even sure it's that big of a desperation play. If Miami can return to form under Tua Tagovailoa, it should mean more high-value opportunities. Mostert scored 21 touchdowns in this offense last season and just found the endzone twice in Tagovailoa's first game back. He also only had one less carry than De'Von Achane.

While Achane is the lead back, Mostert might be the goal-line favorite, and that could lead to more multi-touchdown weeks, including against a Buffalo team in Week 9 that gives up the second-most fantasy points to running backs on the season. 

Matt Montgomery: Despite our feelings about Mostert as a player in the later stages of his career, he is still a running back in an offense that heavily features this position. The injury contributed to this slow start since he's been back, but I expect him to get better as the season progresses. He has the highest ceiling out of the players on this list.  

Sean Settle: Parker Washington is walking into a big spot for the Jaguars this week. Christian Kirk was lost for the season, Brian Thomas Jr. left last week with an injury, and his status for week 9 is up in the air. The only real pass-catching threat left to contend with is Evan Engram. Washington has played well as a punt returner and had a solid preseason. This is the week to step up and carve out a bigger role in the offense