Tyrone Tracy Jr. cleared the concussion protocol Friday and will play Sunday against the Commanders. That's great news for the Giants and Fantasy managers, and Tracy is worth starting as a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
Tracy has become the best running back for the Giants, and hopefully he stays hot against Washington. He's coming off an impressive game in Week 8 at Pittsburgh with 20 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 5 yards on three targets, and the Giants should keep feeding him the ball.
He's had at least 17 carries and 19 total touches in three of his past four games, and he scored at least 14 PPR points in all of those outings. And this is a favorable matchup against the Commanders.
For the season, six running backs have scored at least 16.5 PPR points against Washington, including Devin Singletary in Week 2 when he was the lead running back for the Giants. Singletary had 16 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown and one catch for no yards on one target in that game.
Tracy has proven to be more explosive than Singletary, which is why he's taken over New York's backfield. We're thrilled Tracy is able to play in Week 9, and he's a great sleeper to use in all leagues.
More Week 9 content:
- Full Week 9 Fantasy Projections
- Fantasy Football Start 'Em and Sit 'Em
- Fantasy Football Lineup Decisions
- Week 9 Fantasy Football Trade Chart
- QB Fantasy preview | RB Fantasy preview | WR Fantasy preview | TE Fantasy preview
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Week 9 Sleepers
Week 9 Preview
Sleepers
Sleeper QBs
We had Nix as a sleeper last week, and he delivered with 35.8 Fantasy points against Carolina. Hopefully he'll stay hot in Week 9 against the Ravens, who are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Four quarterbacks in a row and five of the past six against Baltimore have scored at least 24.9 Fantasy points, and Nix has now scored at least 24.7 points in three of his past four games.
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The Colts are starting Flacco in Week 9 at Minnesota, and hopefully he can take advantage of this matchup with the Vikings, who are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Three of the past four quarterbacks have scored at least 22.8 Fantasy points against Minnesota, including two in a row. And Flacco has scored at least 19 Fantasy points in two of three appearances this season.
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It would be nice for Carr to return in Week 9 at Carolina after missing the past three games with an oblique injury because this is a dream matchup. The Panthers are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and five guys have scored at least 23.6 Fantasy points against Carolina this year, including Carr in Week 1 with 27.3. Carr is a great streaming quarterback in Week 9.
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Sleeper RBs
I'm hopeful Mattison keeps the lead role for the Raiders, but coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday that he wants to get Zamir White more involved heading into Week 9 at Cincinnati. That's disappointing for Mattison, who has scored at least 15.3 PPR points in two of his past three games, and he has 13 catches on 13 targets over that span. I'm still willing to use Mattison as a low-end starter or flex in all leagues, and the Bengals have allowed a running back to score a touchdown or gain at least 100 total yards in every game this season.
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Dowdle missed Week 8 at San Francisco with an illness, but he's expected to return in Week 9 at Atlanta. I like him as a flex in all leagues against the Falcons, and hopefully he continues his role as the lead running back for the Cowboys. Prior to Dallas' bye in Week 7, Dowdle scored at least 13.1 PPR points in two of his previous three games, and Atlanta has allowed four running backs in the past three games to score at least 15.3 PPR points. The Falcons are No. 4 in most receptions allowed to running backs, and I hope Dowdle is a factor in the passing game in Week 9.
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De'Von Achane is headed for a big game against the Bills, who are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs and No. 1 in most receptions allowed to the position. But Mostert should be considered at least a flex in all leagues. With Tua Tagovailoa back from his four-game absence with a concussion in Week 8 against Arizona, Mostert scored two rushing touchdowns with nine carries for 19 yards and one catch for 11 yards on two targets. The Bills have allowed seven total touchdowns to running backs, and Mostert should be considered a threat to score any time Tagovailoa is on the field.
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This could be an interesting game for Hill since the Broncos are No. 5 in most receptions allowed to running backs. In the past two games against New Orleans and Carolina, Denver has allowed eight receptions to the Saints backfield and nine receptions to the Panthers backfield. Hill has three games this season with at least 11.5 PPR points, and in each of those outings, he has caught at least three passes. Hill is worth using as a flex in PPR.
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Tyjae Spears (hamstring) was ruled out Friday, and Tony Pollard (foot) is listed as questionable after not practicing all week. We could see Chestnut as the starting running back for the Titans in a great matchup against the Patriots, which would make Chestnut at least a flex option in all leagues. Chestnut has gotten increased playing time of late with Spears out for the past two games, and Chestnut had seven carries for 32 yards in Week 8 at Detroit. If he gets the chance to start then Chestnut would be facing a New England defense that is No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and seven running backs have scored at least 14.1 PPR points against the Patriots this season. In the past three weeks, New England has allowed six total touchdowns to running backs, and Chestnut could be one of the better surprises in Week 9.
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Sleeper WRs
Doubs didn't have a big outing in Week 8 at Jacksonville with three catches for 72 yards on six targets, but Jordan Love (groin) was injured in the second quarter and eventually forced out of the game. In his previous two games, Doubs scored at least 17.4 PPR points in each contest against Arizona and Houston, and I like Doubs as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 9 against Detroit since Love is expected to play. Nine receivers have scored at least 13.1 PPR points against the Lions this season, and Doubs had nine catches for 95 yards against Detroit in Lambeau Field last season.
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DK Metcalf (knee) and Noah Fant (groin) are both out in Week 9 against the Rams, which should help Smith-Njigba continue to make plays. I like Smith-Njigba as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues. In Week 8 against Buffalo with Metcalf out, Smith-Njigba had six catches for 69 yards on seven targets. He has five games this season with at least seven targets this season, and he scored at least 12.9 PPR points in four of them. The Rams have allowed five receivers to score at least 13.7 PPR points this season, and I expect Geno Smith to lean heavily on Smith-Njigba in Week 9 with Metcalf and Fant out.
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Shakir and Keon Coleman are worth using as No. 3 Fantasy receivers in Week 9 against Miami. The Dolphins secondary hasn't been tested much this season, but in Week 8 against Arizona, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson each scored at least 14.1 PPR points. Shakir has scored at least 13.5 PPR points in each of the past two games since Amari Cooper joined the Bills, and Coleman has scored at least 16.5 PPR points in each game over that span as well. Josh Allen is leaning on Shakir and Coleman more than Cooper right now, and the younger receivers should continue to excel against Miami in Week 9.
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McConkey just had a breakout game in Week 8 against New Orleans with six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns on six targets, and hopefully that's a sign of things to come. He has at least six targets in five games in a row heading into Week 9, and the Browns have allowed eight receivers to score at least 12.6 PPR points in their past four games. If there's one receiver to trust for the Chargers right now it's McConkey, and he's worth starting in all three-receiver leagues.
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Cedric Tillman has more upside based on what we've seen in the past two games since Amari Cooper was traded to Buffalo, but Moore has quietly done well in those outings against Cincinnati and Baltimore. He has 18 targets over that span for 14 catches and 126 yards, and he scored 16.5 PPR points against the Ravens in Week 8. Most of the attention from the Chargers should go to Tillman, who has 15 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets in the past two games, and David Njoku, while Moore can still be a reliable weapon for Jameis Winston. I don't mind using Moore as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in Week 9.
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DeAndre Hopkins is likely still trying to adjust to life with the Chiefs, while hopefully Worthy is starting to understand his role in Kansas City for Patrick Mahomes. Worthy has eight targets in each of his past two games against the 49ers and Raiders, and he had four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown at Las Vegas. Hopefully he'll produce at a higher level moving forward, and he has a great matchup in Week 9 against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and I would use Worthy as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 9 given the matchup.
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I wish Andy Dalton (thumb) was starting in Week 9 against the Saints when it comes to Legette, but he can still be used as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in deeper leagues. With Diontae Johnson traded to Baltimore, Legette should be the No. 1 receiver for the Panthers, and he just had a solid game with Young in Week 8 at Denver. Legette had four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown on seven targets against the Broncos, and he's now scored a touchdown in three of his past five games. The Saints are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and I hope Young and Legette can connect again for solid production in Week 9.
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Sleeper TEs
Ferguson has struggled for the past two games against Detroit and San Francisco with a combined nine catches for 34 yards and no touchdowns on 12 targets, but he should snap out of his slump in Week 9 at Atlanta. The Falcons have allowed three tight ends in their past five games to score at least 10.5 PPR points, and Dak Prescott should continue to lean on Ferguson in this game.
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Tee Higgins (quad) is listed as doubtful and not expected to play in Week 9. That makes Gesicki a borderline starter in all leagues. In his last two games without Higgins, Gesicki has combined for 14 catches for 164 yards, and he scored at least 12.3 PPR points in each outing against Kansas City in Week 2 and Philadelphia in Week 8. Joe Burrow likes to use Gesicki as the No. 2 option in the passing game behind Ja'Marr Chase anytime Higgins is out, so this is a good week to trust Gesicki if you need a tight end.
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Hockenson will make his 2024 debut in Week 9 against the Colts, and hopefully he's ready to make a strong contribution for the Vikings and Fantasy managers right away. Indianapolis is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, and four tight ends have scored at least 12.4 PPR points against the Colts this year. Hopefully, Hockenson doesn't need to shake off the rust from the knee injury he suffered in Week 16 last season, and he could return as a weekly starter for Fantasy managers to close out the year.
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Kendre Miller (hamstring) is out for Week 9 at Carolina, and Jamaal Williams (groin) is listed as doubtful. We could see Hill as the No. 2 running back for the Saints behind Alvin Kamara, and the Panthers lead the NFL with the most rushing touchdowns allowed with 13. Hill should also be a factor catching the ball with Derek Carr (oblique) back after a three-game absence, and Hill is a sneaky option to use at tight end in Week 9.
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Defense/Special Teams
Commanders (at NYG)
Bengals (vs. LV)
Eagles (vs. JAC)
Kickers
Jake Elliott (vs. JAC)
Will Reichard (vs. IND)
Blake Grupe (at CAR)
