Texans’ CJ Stroud breakouts out! This is the Two Minute Drill: Fantasy Musings Week 9!
C.J. Stroud Superstar
CJ Stroud has been impressive all season long, but Week 9’s performance puts his fantasy trajectory on a whole new level. Stroud finished with 470 passing yards to go along with five TD passes. He tied the record for most TD passes in a game by a rookie and set the record for passing yards. Houston came back and won the game 39-37. The Texans are set at the QB position for years to come. Stroud is a superstar in the making, and Houston has already surpassed their win total from last season.
Houston has all but abandoned the run game (53 rushing yards), and Stroud had 42 pass attempts. His strong play elevated his teammates: Tank Dell is currently WR1 overall on the week, pending Sunday and Monday Night Football, and Dalton Schultz is the TE1 overall. This has been a dream start for Houston Texans fans and fantasy managers alike.
Rachaad White Sets Fantasy Highs
White rushed for 73 yards and two TDs and added four catches for 46 yards. Tales of his impending demise were vastly exaggerated. He dominated the RB touches, with Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Chase Edmonds combining for only eight touches. White’s 27.9 PPR points are a career high, and he is currently RB1 overall on the week. With this usage, White is locked in mid-RB2.
Diontae Johnson’s TD Drought Ends
Pittsburgh won a critical Thursday night game against Tennessee, improving their record to 5-3. The Steelers are in the AFC North mix and AFC playoff chase. Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris both played well, combining for 189 combined yards. Each player produced a 20+ yard run. But the story of the day for fantasy football was Diontae Johnson. Johnson managers suffered through a statistical abnormality last season, as Johnson was targeted 147 times (86 catches) and inexplicably scored 0 TDs.
The drought finally ended, as Johnson caught a three-yard go ahead touchdown with four minutes to go. Since his return from injury, Johnson has been impressive. Johnson has posted 20 catches and 254 yards in three games played. He has out-targeted George Pickens 29-18.
Raheem Mostert Saves Fantasy Managers
The Miami-Kansas City game was an utter disappointment for fantasy managers. Kansas City won 21-14, but the fantasy results were abysmal. Neither Patrick Mahomes nor Tua Tagovailoa exceeded 200 passing yards. Tyreek Hill had eight catches for 62 yards and a costly fumble. Travis Kelce was invisible. However, Raheem Mostert bailed out his fantasy managers with a 13-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Mostert has now scored 13 TDs on the season. How he finishes the year remains to be seen, but he has been one of the best ADP values in fantasy football all season long.
Philadelphia Wins the Game, but CeeDee Lamb Steals the Show
CeeDee Lamb continued his torrid post-Bye Week pace and is putting up some of the best numbers of his entire career. In Week 8, Lamb finished with 12 catches for 158 yards and two TDs. Against Philadelphia in Week 9, Lamb’s sequel was almost as good as the original. Lamb finished with 11 catches for 191 yards.
Dallas has focused their entire offensive game plan on getting Lamb the ball early and often, targeting him an incredible 30 times. Self-scouting during the bye week has become a fantasy manager’s best friend.
Cole Kmet
Kmet entered Week 9 as the TE7 overall and continued to shine. He mossed Tyrann Mathieu on the Bears opening drive and added another first-half TD. Kmet has had strong performances with both Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent behind center. He is a threat to finish as a top 5 performer at the position.
The Gus Bus Continues to Run Right Into the End Zone….
Gus Edwards tied a Baltimore Ravens record with his sixth rushing touchdown in three games. Edwards has now scored seven TDs on the season and is living in RB2 land. His fantasy scoring is TD-dependent. However, based on the quality of the Ravens offense, Edwards will continue to be at least a flex play option for many fantasy managers. He has already set a career high in rushing scores and could be this year’s Jamaal Williams.
Keaton Mitchell Breaks Out
Edwards was not the only Raven RB to make a fantasy impact. Mitchell broke out with 138 rushing yards, including two breakaways runs for 60 and 40-yards respectively. The 40-yarder went for a TD. Mitchell is only 21 years old, and his speed and dynamic ability are a welcome addition to a Baltimore offense trending up.
Edwards and Justice Hill (13 carries) have had their moments, but Mitchell getting more and more work as the season moves along will make Baltimore even more dangerous during the NFL playoffs.
Joshua Dobbs is a Legend
Minnesota traded for Dobbs at the trade deadline. This move filled a need after Kirk Cousins was lost for the season. Dobbs was forced into early action this week when Jaren Hall went down with an injury and had a remarkable and memorable performance. He not only played but led Minnesota to a huge 31-28 win. Dobbs finished with three combined TDs and 224 yards. He did not know most of the playbook or many of his new teammate’s names but still was able to make play after play. Dobbs quick start is an intriguing development as he is sitting on most waiver wires. The Vikings improved to 5-4 on the season.
Josh Jacobs Shades of 2022
New head coach Antonio Pierce sang Jacobs praises this week to the media, and Jacobs backed it up. The Raiders won going away with a dominant 30-6 win. Jacobs had bell cow usage, with 26 carries for 98 yards and two TDs. With Las Vegas firmly in control, Jacobs was not needed in the passing game. A whole lot of Jacobs, sneaky strong defense, and ball control could be the formula for Vegas the rest of the season. Jacobs is a locked-in RB1,
Dalton Kincaid SZN Has Arrived, and It Ss Glorious
Kincaid continued his impressive three-game run with a 10-catch, 81-yard performance in Buffalo’s loss to Cincinnati. He led Buffalo in catches and targets (11). The 10 catches were the second most ever from a Bills rookie and the most since 1961. Only Mark Bavaro and Jeremy Shockey had more catches in a single game as rookies. With 25 more receptions, Kincaid will break the Bills rookie record for receptions held by Sammy Watkins.
Sam LaPorta dominated the first half of the season, but Kincaid is challenging him for top rookie TE. They are both top 5 TEs in dynasty and set to have massive fantasy impacts in the second half of the season.
