FanEx Sports Fantasy Advice: NFL Week 9

Welcome to week 9 of the NFL season. We are right in the thick of it and matchups are getting a little easier to decipher. Below are some of the guys I’ll be playing where I have a chance. Good luck everyone!

 

Quarterbacks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Romo: The Vikings rank 29th against the pass averaging 287.9 yards per game, allowing 16 passing touchdowns with just seven interceptions and 14 sacks. Eli Manning has really been the only quarterback to have a down game against them and he was playing conservatively with Josh Freeman completing about 40% of his passes. Romo has been very inconsistent, but he still has Dez Bryant on his team and that’s good news.

Cam Newton:  Over the last three games Newton is 58-of-75 for 667 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions and this week he takes on an Atlanta Falcons pass defense that hasn’t kept an opposing quarterback from throwing less than two touchdowns all season. They’re giving up a 66% completion percentage and are second in passing touchdowns allowed with 16. If you add that he’s averaging 10 rushing attempts over each of the last three games you have the recipe for a whole bunch of points.

Terrelle Pryor: Pryor hasn’t looked strong as a passer of late, but has also taken on the Chiefs and the Steelers in his last two after putting up good numbers against the Chargers in Week 5. He should have better luck against the Eagles how are giving up 316 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks. If you factor in his running ability you have a very high ceiling for Pryor this week.

 

Running Backs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Mathews: Mathews is finally starting to get into a groove as the early down back and has had 20+ carries and 100+ rushing yards his last two games. He’ll still split time with Danny Woodhead (who is also a good start), but should continue to see a healthy amount of carries as long as he continues to run with purpose. The good news is that opposing running backs has been gashing Washington. On the season they are giving up 104.6 yards per game to running backs at a 4.4 yards per carry rate. And they are giving up the most rushing touchdowns per game at 1.29.

Chris Ivory: This call is as risky as it gets, but I love that Ivory is facing his old team who is also giving up 4.5 yards per carry. The Jets will try to get him going to help slow down Drew Brees and the Saints highflying offense.

Eddie Lacy: This is a no brainer play, but Lacy isn’t just playing well, he also gets a very nice matchup against the Bears in primetime. Before the bye the Bears gave up a three touchdowns to Roy Helu and 200+ yards rushing. On the season they are giving up 100+ yards rushing per game to running backs and Lacy is averaging over 110 total yards in his last four games.

 

Wide Receivers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keenan Allen: Allen has averaged eight receptions for 92 yards with two touchdowns in his last four games. Washington is giving up the fourth most yards receiving to wide receivers with 201.4 per game and over one receiving touchdown per game. Allen is the no doubt #1 receiver for Philip Rivers who has rejuvenated his career under new head coach Mike McCarthy.

Kendall Wright: Wright has averaged over six receptions per game since week 2. The only thing holding him back are his lack of touchdowns. St. Louis has given up 11 touchdowns to wide receivers this season; the third most, and Jake Locker is back from his hip injury and has been playing well this season.

Denarius Moore: Moore was shut down by the Steelers’ pass defense for just two receptions for 32 yards, but the four games before that he was putting up great numbers. This week he faces an easier pass defense from Pennsylvania. The Eagles are giving up 14 touchdowns to wide receivers this season and a league high 218.6 yards.

 

 

Tight Ends

Greg Olsen: There aren’t many great tight end matchups this week, so Olsen against the Falcons is looking like one of the better ones.  The Falcons have given up five touchdown passes, sixth most in the league, to opposing tight ends.

Antonio Gates: Washington has given up six touchdown receptions to tight ends this season and Gates is the 1a to Keenan Allen’s 1b receiver.