Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Joe Flacco, Tyjae Spears, Michael Wilson, T.J. Hockenson
Here are some sleepers you should consider if you need someone to start for Week 9.
Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
Winston is a quarterback that I love for fantasy football. Your heart will skip a few beats if you start him, but it's always an exciting ride with Jameis and usually works out pretty well in the end.
With all the turnovers and dumb plays come all the deep bombs and huge plays. When you roll with Winston, you're rolling with a true gunslinger, which always gives you a ton of upside. This is a quarterback who you can probably put in the sleeper section every week for the rest of the year simply because of his style of play and how polarizing that makes him.
Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
When Flacco gets in the game, he plays well. We've seen this for two seasons now. He's productive and makes all the players around him productive as well.
The Vikings' defense could scare some fantasy owners off, but we wouldn't be afraid to get him into your lineup if you're in a pinch. His upside may not be what it once was, nevertheless, the old man can still sling it with the best of them when you give him a few seconds in the pocket. This is because he understands who he is at this stage in his career and plays both within himself and within the system.
Running Backs
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
If you listen to reports out of Tennessee, it sounds like there is a good chance that Spears suits up this week and Tony Pollard does not. If that is the case, Spears becomes an interesting option.
The Titans have been running the ball fairly well this season and fantasy owners have been waiting a long time to see Spears get his shot in an every-down or lead role. This could be the week. However, even if this scenario does play out as we hope, he will be coming off a hamstring injury, which always makes a player a bit more risky because it comes with such a high re-injury risk.
Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints
Gross, we know. Nevertheless, Williams goes up against the Carolina Panthers this week and it sounds like Kendre Miller is trending in the wrong direction for Week 9 with another hamstring injury.
The Panthers are a defense that we've seen team after team have success with multiple running backs in games, especially when Bryce Young is under center. As a matter of fact, Williams has had one game all season in which he was fantasy-viable. It came against these Panthers, when he carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards and a TD and caught a 13-yard pass. Those aren't amazing numbers, but also won't kill you if you're desperate.
Wide Receivers
Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers
This is a name we wanted to get out there. Diontae Johnson is gone, Adam Thielen is hurt, and Xavier Legette is questionable for Week 9. Last week, we saw Coker catch four of six targets for 78 yards and a TD.
There is a chance he emerges out of this group to become a fantasy-relevant player both this week and for the remainder of the season. However, the thing to remember is that with Young under center, there doesn't necessarily have to be anyone that emerges at all.
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
The Bears have a tough defense and it is headlined by their star corner Jaylon Johnson. He will likely be locked up on Marvin Harrison Jr., which should open up opportunities for Wilson.
Wilson has caught a TD in two of his last three games and has averaged five targets per game over his last six games. The matchup lines up in his favor and makes him a sneaky flex option for Week 9.
Tight Ends
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
Hockenson could return this week and has a great matchup against the Colts, who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the position. There is a chance that he is able to explode out of the gate. However, also understand the risk of starting him.
We have seen this work out in some cases and not so much in others. He could come out and see six targets or he could come out and play six snaps. In this situation, you have to measure the risk with the reward, nonetheless, he's worth considering assuming he's out there. It will be important to listen to reports as well leading up to the game.
