NFL Target Analysis Week 9

Week 10 is definitely the toughest so far in terms of injuries and bye weeks thinning out the field of useful fantasy players. Fortunately, we had a bunch of noteworthy Week 9 performances, and with a little bit of luck, perhaps we can use some of those players to fill the holes in our fantasy lineups.

Target Analysis

• The biggest question coming out of Week 9 of the NFL was if the 49ers’ newfound passing attack on Thursday night was an aberration against a weak opponent or a sign of things to come now that they have a legit number one wide receiver. Emmanuel Sanders caught seven of nine targets Thursday for 112 yards and a touchdown. My guess is San Francisco will have a more balanced attack going forward, much like the Vikings have shown, but even if that isn’t the case, Sanders is a strong WR2 at home against Seattle and Arizona the next two weeks.
• I don’t want to overreact to one week, but I don’t know that I can consider Allen Robinson an every-week fantasy starter after he caught just one of five targets for six yards. He tied with Tarik Cohen for the team lead in targets, but Mitchell Trubisky only attempted 21 passes in a game the Bears never led and trailed by as many as 19. Robinson had been super consistent coming into Sunday, and every receiver is allowed a bad game or two, but I might trade him if someone else in my league thinks he’s a no-doubt WR2.
• Our faith in Zach Ertz finally paid off with a good game. It seems like we’ve talked about him every week in this space, as he continues to rack up targets and receptions without many yards or touchdowns to show for it. On Sunday he put it all together, leading his team in targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns. Your window to buy low on Ertz has almost certainly closed.
• Tyler Lockett and Mike Evans dueled it out on Sunday, with Lockett catching 13-of-18 targets for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while Evans caught 12-of-16 targets for 180 yards and one touchdown. At this point, I think they are awfully similar players for fantasy. Both players have huge ceilings but fairly low floors, though you pretty much have to start them both every week, even with Seattle playing at San Francisco Week 10.
• Jacob Hollister certainly looks like the new Will Dissly , at least on paper. If you've been streaming tight ends, Hollister is worth a shot. I don't think he's a special athlete, but even an ancillary weapon can be quite valuable with as well as Russell Wilson is playing.
• Jaylen Samuels may just be a flash in the pan, as James Conner practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday and has a chance to play Sunday. I don’t love relying on a player and an offense that I think are probably below average at best, but Samuels had 13 receptions in Week 9, and that cannot be ignored. Hopefully, you’ve handcuffed Conner with Samuels, because Samuels is a pretty clear starter with a high floor in PPR but likely a pretty low ceiling.
• Zach Pascal has been great two of the last three weeks, and it seems like if any receiver is going to step up while T.Y. Hilton is out, it will be Pascal. I’m just skeptical that anyone will emerge in this offense, especially while Brian Hoyer is the quarterback. Pascal should be owned in most 12-team leagues, but I’d have to be desperate to start him.
• As has been much discussed all week, Noah Fant’s 75-yard touchdown was the result of pretty poor tackling. Of course, Fant has the speed to take advantage of that tackling and go all the way to the end zone, and not a lot of other tight ends do. Fant also has the draft pedigree and the opportunity with Emmanuel Sanders gone. My biggest concern for Fant, other than that he simply isn’t ready to be a fantasy starter as a rookie, is his upcoming schedule. After the Week 10 bye, he faces Minnesota, Buffalo and the Chargers. I would much rather have Jacob Hollister than Fant going forward.
• Darren Waller caught just two passes for the second week in a row, and he did it on just two targets. He went for 52 yards but did not get in the end zone. It's too soon to think about benching Waller, but I might consider trading him. Every tight end goes through ups and downs, but this might be worse than that.