Week 9 is upon us, and we are quickly approaching November. Injuries have started to pile up with guys like Stefon Diggs, Brian Thomas, Jordan Mason, Christian Kirk, and Jordan Love all getting hurt in Week 8. In saying that, some players are ready to step into bigger roles. A number of players will be returning from injury soon and could prove to be league winners. There are only about three weeks before the trade deadline, and there are deals to be made.
Buy Low
MIN Sam Darnold (QB): If you’re a fantasy manager in need of a quarterback and don’t want to spend a fortune on one, Darnold is your guy. Despite Minnesota’s two straight losses, he played relatively well. Through Week 8, the standout ranks seventh in touchdown passes, sixth in big-time throws, and eighth in average depth of target. Looking ahead at his schedule, Darnold has matchups against Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Arizona, and Atlanta in the next six weeks. All those teams rank in the bottom 10 in the NFL in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. There’s no harm in taking a flyer on him, especially if he’s on your league mates bench.
SF Christian McCaffrey (RB): All pre-season long, McCaffrey was the consensus number-one overall pick in almost every fantasy football league. Little did anybody know that the former Stanford Cardinal had Achilles tendonitis and would be out for more than half the season. Reports coming out of San Francisco are that he looks much better in practice and can potentially return after their Week 9 bye. The 49ers offense has looked much less explosive without him and is desperate to have him back. He could get his workhorse role back immediately with the number of skilled position players injured. It’s worth trying to pry him away from any impatient owners looking to sell ahead of the trade deadline.
DEN Javonte Williams (RB): Coming into 2024, Williams’ preseason outlook had him as an RB3 with RB2 potential. Through the first several weeks, it looked like the 24-year-old was shaking off some rust from his injury last year. He failed to top 23 rushing yards through the first three weeks and averaged a mere 2.28 yards per carry. Weeks 4-8 saw Williams score at least ten or more fantasy points three times in that stretch. His production in the passing game can’t be ignored, either. He’s had three or more receptions in seven games and at least 20 receiving yards in four. Denver’s offense has seen vast improvements overall as quarterback Bo Nix gets more in-game reps. The former North Carolina Tar Heel is a prime buy-low candidate for the second half of the season.
MIA Jaylen Waddle (WR): Waddle has severely disappointed fantasy owners in 2024. He has not surpassed 50 yards since Week 1 and doesn’t have a single touchdown on the season. To make matters worse, he ranks outside the top 50 in yards per route run and outside the top 100 in average depth of target. The good news is that he has Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) throwing him the ball once again. Combine that with several favorable matchups in the next few weeks, and Waddle looks like a prime candidate for a late-season breakout.
SF Jauan Jennings (WR): When any of the 49ers wide receivers have been out, Brock Purdy has targeted Jennings a TON. The 27-year-old has been out the last two games with a hip injury. With Brandon Aiyuk (knee) out for the season and Deebo Samuel’s health concerns, it wouldn’t be farfetched to believe he could be the WR1 for this team down the stretch. Many fantasy managers have forgotten his monster production earlier in the season. Now is the perfect time to capitalize, with the 49ers going into their bye week and not seeing Jennings on the field since Week 6.
NYJ Davante Adams (WR): Adams has had two dud performances since being traded from the Raiders to the Jets. He’s recorded seven receptions on 15 targets for 94 yards and zero touchdowns. Gang Green has now fallen to 2-6 and has little to no margin of error for the rest of 2024. Throughout his career, we’ve seen Aaron Rodgers go on historic runs in the back half of the season. Adams has been a part of some of those runs, and I expect their connection to only strengthen as we enter November and December. New York will have several friendly matchups in the coming weeks; buy low on Adams now while you still can.
Jaylen Waddle’s last 17 games with Tua:
➖122 Targets
➖85 Receptions
➖1,380 Yards
➖6 TD’sThat’s 259.0 fantasy points which would’ve been the WR13 last season.
LEAGUE WINNER pic.twitter.com/XBVD4YLPcG
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) October 25, 2024
Sell High
KC Patrick Mahomes (QB): The Kansas City Chiefs currently sit at 7-0 and look primed for another deep playoff run. You look at that and think Patrick Mahomes is in MVP form…. right? Wrong! The reigning Super Bowl MVP has had his worst statistical season in his eight-year career. At the time of this writing, Mahomes has eight passing touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also has yet to crack 40 passing attempts in a game this season. Kansas City is no longer the high-flying offense from years past. Their priority has been running the football and playing great defense. It’s safe to assume that recipe for team success will not change anytime soon. With the addition of Deandre Hopkins at wide receiver, it’s possible someone in need of a quarterback may bite.
KC Kareem Hunt (RB): The 29-year-old reunited with the team that drafted him back in 2018. Since joining Kansas City back in Week 6, hes averaged 21 carries, 77 rushing yards a game, and has four rushing touchdowns. Great numbers for a guy that wasn’t even on a roster to begin the season. However, his role is contingent on the fact that Isaiah Pacheco (fibula) was on IR. Pacheco has progressed well through his rehab and looks to return sometime in November. Considering he was a waiver wire pickup, anything you could get for him would be a plus before he gets demoted.
DAL Rico Dowdle (RB): Dowdle (illness) was a late popup on the injury report in Week 8 and ultimately ended up being downgraded to out. The 26-year-old has only received 10+ carries twice this season and has zero rushing touchdowns. To make matters worse, it sounds like the coaching staff wants to give Dalvin Cook an increased role. The Dallas offense has struggled to score points this season, and many have pointed to a need for a consistent running game. Game script has also yet to be kind to Dowdle owners, as Dallas has been down big in the first half of several games. The time is right now to exercise any value you can for him.
BUF Khalil Shakir (WR): Shakir has been a pleasant surprise in the 2024 season. In the last two games alone, he has accounted for 16 receptions on 17 targets for 172 receiving yards. There was no considerable draft capital used to take him, so fantasy managers got a bargain drafting the former Boise State Bronco. That said, that type of production will be next to impossible to continue. The Buffalo Bills offense simply has too many mouths to feed with the addition of Amari Cooper via trade. Although I’m not suggesting you MUST trade him, his price has never been higher. One of your league mates in desperate need of a wide receiver may pay a higher price for him.
IND Michael Pittman (WR): Outside of Week 5, Pittman has fallen way short of expectations thus far in 2024. As long as Anthony Richardson is starting for the Indianapolis Colts, the production will be inconsistent across the board. However, if Richardson continues his poor play, we could see head coach Shane Steichen elect to revert back to Joe Flacco which would instantly raise his value.
TEN Calvin Ridley (WR): Poor quarterback play has been the story for Ridley and the Tennessee Titans offense in 2024. He’s coming off his best performance in Week 8, recording ten catches on 15 targets for 143 yards against the Detroit Lions. Prior to that, his last game with even four receptions and 50 yards was back in Week 2. Ridley has some great matchups coming up but the mediocre quarterback play still makes him an reliable fantasy option. Whether it’s Mason Rudolph under center or Will Levis, it doesn’t matter. Sell Ridley ASAP and take advantage of his value while it’s hot.
All stats are from Pro Football Focus unless otherwise mentioned.