Welcome to the 2023 Week 9 Fantasy Football Recap.
It was hard to swallow that the fantasy football regular season was halfway done after week 7’s match-ups. It’s even harder to accept that the conclusion of Monday Night’s Chargers-Jets games means the NFL regular season is also halfway through.
It seems like it was just last week that we were drafting our teams or making the final touches to our dynasty rosters after a productive offseason and rookie draft. Now we’re getting into the stretch of the season where we see if all that work we put in over the offseason paid off.
Most fantasy leagues have five regular season match-ups left, and a trade deadline looming in the next few weeks. Now is the time to make the risky, swing for the fence trade if you’re sitting at 4-5 and just outside of the playoff picture.
With only four teams on bye this week that means there is a lot of action to sort through to get ready for next week. Let’s get to the Week 9 Fantasy Football Recap.
2023 Fantasy Football Week 9 Recap
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Steelers 20 - Titans 16
Diontae Johnson (7-90-1) finally broke a 600+ day slump when he hauled in a TD pass for the first time since Ben Roethlisberger played QB for the Steelers. Najee Harris (16-69-1, 2-7) had one of his most productive fantasy days, but still looked far less explosive than his counterpart Jaylen Warren (11-88, 3-25) who went over 100 total yards.
DIONTAE JOHNSON SCORED A TD
IT HAS BEEN 668 DAYS
pic.twitter.com/AkPuGEEviL— Crumbletakes (@Crumbletakes) November 3, 2023
Will Levis (22/39-262-0-1) didn’t match last week's 4-TD performance in his first career start, but he has never seen a throw he doesn’t think he can make and has brought a much-needed shot of energy to the Titans. Levis’s emergence as a passer should make things easier on Derrick Henry (17-75-1, 3-27) moving forward, who has a normal Derrick Henry game with 100+ yards and a TD.
Chiefs 21 - Dolphins 14
It wasn’t the normal Chiefs attack we are used to seeing in their London game victory against the Dolphins as no pass catcher went over 35 yards on the day. Isiah Pacheco (16-66) led the backfield with 66 yards while Patrick Mahomes (20/30-185-2, 6-24) tossed two TDs as KC moved to 7-2.
The Dolphins almost got blown out, but battled back with 14 second-half points to make it close. Tyreek Hill (8-62) led the team in catches and receiving yards but lost a key fumble that the Chiefs took back to the house. Raheem Mostert (12-85-1) had a big second half and continues to be arguably the best draft-day value at the RB position.
Vikings 31 - Falcons 28
Joshua Dobbs (20/30-158-2, 7-66-1) became a member of the Vikings six whole days ago and is already making an impact. I’m not worried at all about T.J. Hockenson (7-69) or Jordan Addison (5-52) with Dobbs under center, as he’s shown he’s more than capable of running an NFL offense.
JOSH DOBBS TO BRANDON POWELL!!! #SKOL #VIKINGS pic.twitter.com/jSNwvhANOK
— KOC Enthusiast (@garfunkel_iii) November 5, 2023
The Falcons offense looked better with Taylor Heinicke (21/38-268-1-1, 3-20) but it was still a frustrating day for fantasy GMs who roster Bijan Robinson (11-51, 3-20) and Kyle Pitts (4-56) as they were both out-touched by their counterparts in Tyler Allegier (12-39-1, 2-(-9)) and Jonnu Smith (5-100-1) yet again.
Browns 27 - Cardinals 0
Deshaun Watson (19/30-219-2, 3-22) returned to the lineup and looked much healthier, snapping off two TD passes as the Browns cruised. Amari Cooper (5-139-1) was the primary focus in the passing game while Jerome Ford (20-44, 5-33) handled the bulk of the touches out the backfield.
The Clayton Tune (11/20-58-0-2, 5-28) experiment in Arizona got off to a brutal start, permanently eliminating any idea of Kyler Murray potentially sitting out the rest of the season. Until Murray returns, I don’t feel awesome starting anyone on this team, as Marquise Brown (4-24) led all RBs and WRs with 24 total yards.
Packers 20 - Rams 3
Aaron Jones (20-73-1, 4-26) found the end zone and handled a big workload, showing his hamstring is healthy enough for him to move back into the weekly RB2 conversation. Luke Musgrave (3-51-1) grabbed Jordan Loves’ (20/26-228-1) only TD pass and is a dynasty trade target for me, especially in TE premium leagues.
Great to see Aaron Jones moving at 100%.
Looks way more like himself than the last few games. Wheels up ?
pic.twitter.com/gi603Czme1— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) November 5, 2023
You have to keep starting Cooper Kupp (2-48) and Puka Nacua (3-32), but it’s hard to feel good about anyone in the Rams offense until Matt Stafford is back under center. Royce Freeman (12-32) and Darrell Henderson Jr. (10-19, 2-16) each had 12 touches, and I want no part of this Rams backfield in redraft or dynasty.
Commanders 20 - Patriots 17
Jahan Dotson (4-69-1) has come on strong the last few weeks and that continued Sunday as he hauled in Sam Howell’s (29/45-325-1-1, 5-27) only TD pass of the day. It doesn’t look pretty, but Brian Robinson Jr. (18-63-1, 1-4) found the end zone and continues to showcase a solid floor as a flex play or deep league RB2.
Rhamondre Stevenson (9-87-1, 4-42) had one of his best games of the season and finally looked more like the guy we saw last year. It’s hard to trust anyone in a passing game led by Mac Jones (24/44-220-1-1) but Demario Douglas (5-55) looks like he will have PPR flex value most weeks and is an interesting upside target in dynasty leagues.
Saints 24 - Bears 17
Alvin Kamara’s (9-26, 4-44) blazing-hot start finally cooled off against the Bears on Sunday, as it was Taysom Hill (1/1-3-1, 11-52, 4-13-1) who led the team in rushing while also throwing and catching a TD pass. Chris Olave led the way for the Saints pass catchers, (6-46-1) hauling in six of eight targets for 46 yards and a TD.
First Taysom Hill catches a TD. Then Taysom Hill throws a TD. pic.twitter.com/Z43X8rAfvG
— Hunter Miller (@MillerHHunter) November 5, 2023
The Bears offense looked decent with Tyson Bagent (18/30-220-2-3) under center for 2.5 quarters, but he turned the ball over multiple times in the 3rd and 4th quarters and could head back to the bench as soon as next week if Justin Fields is cleared. Even with Roschon Johnson (2-6, 1-9) back it’s clear that D’Onta Foreman (20-83) is the unquestioned lead-back until Khalil Herbert returns from IR.
Ravens 37 - Seahawks 3
Rookie RB Keaton Mitchell (9-138-1) looked crazy explosive in his breakout performance, but it was Gus Edwards (5-52-2) who got the goal line work and vultured two TDs when the game was still close. Mark Andrews (9-80) had another strong performance despite Lamar Jackson’s (21/26-187, 10-60) relatively quiet fantasy day.
The regression train has hit Geno Smith (13/28-157-0-1) hard a few weeks this season, and this was definitely one of them. The main positive I can find from this beatdown is that Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6-63) caught six of seven targets and appears to be settling into a role that has deep-league PPR flex value. DK Metcalf (1-50) took his only catch for 50 yard and was the only other player to gain 35 or more yards on the day.
Texans 39 - Buccaneers 37
CJ. Stroud (30/42-470-5) continues to impress in his outstanding rookie season, lighting up a solid Tampa Bay defense for 470 yards and five TD passes. Noah Brown (6-153-1), Tank Dell (6-114-2), and Dalton Schultz (10-130-1) each went over 100 receiving yards, while Nico Collins (3-54-1) saved his fantasy day with a TD catch. Devin Singletary (13-26) needs to remain on your bench even if Dameon Pierce misses another game.
CJ STROUD FOR THE WIN TO TANK DELL.
5 TDS FOR STROUD. pic.twitter.com/QYLt7gax8E
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 5, 2023
Baker Mayfield (21/30-265-2) and Rachaad White (20-73-2, 4-46) did everything they could to keep TB in this one but ultimately came up just short. Mike Evans (4-87) caught four passes for 87 yards while Cade Otten (6-70-2) secured two TD catches and is a good target for those who need some TE help.
Colts 27 - Panthers 13
Jonathan Taylor (18-47, 5-22-1) was mostly bottled up but caught five passes, one of which he took to the house to save his fantasy day. Better days are ahead as he is the clear RB1 in the Colts backfield moving forward. Josh Downs (1-10) reaggravated the knee injury he was nursing in practice this week, pouring some water on his recent breakout.
Bryce Young (24/29-173-1-3) was intercepted three times as the Panthers offense largely struggled to get anything going in this one. Adam Thielen (5-29) came back down to earth but remains a must-start WR3 moving forward unless this lack of production continues. Chuba Hubbard (16-58, 4-9) got 20 touches in his first game as the team's RB1 but failed to impress with that workload.
Raiders 30 - Giants 6
The firing of Josh McDaniels last week appears to have an addition-by-subtraction effect, as the Raiders played inspired football in their 30-6 beat down of the Giants. Josh Jacobs (26-98-2) was a big part of the offensive attack, responding with 98 yards and two TDs. Rookie Aidan O’Connell (16/25-209) looked decent in his first start, but it may be tough to start any Raiders WR for the next few weeks.
What a BOMB from Aidan O’Connell ?
pic.twitter.com/SEzgbpRUcH— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 5, 2023
The Giants nightmare season went from bad to worst-case possible Sunday afternoon, as they got a beat down and lost QB Daniel Jones (4-9-175-1-2) for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. That contract was already looking rough before this injury, add that to the fact the Giants failed to get any value back in a trade for SaQuon Barkley (16-90, 3-33) at the deadline last week and you have to imagine the Giants front office wishes they could do things a little differently as they sit with a 2-7 record.
Eagles 28 - Cowboys 23
Jalen Hurts (17/23-207-2, 10-36-1) was ultra-efficient and finished with three total TDs as the Eagles took down the Cowboys. A.J. Brown (7-66-1) and Devonta Smith (3-51-1) each reeled in a TD catch, but Brown out-targeted Smith 9-3 and continues to be the clear number one option in this offense. Brown now joins Tyreek Hill as the only two players to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark as we cross the halfway point of the season.
Dak Prescott (29/44-374-3, 6-24) had his best performance of the season in a loss that can largely be chalked up to questionable coaching decisions in the 4th quarter. He has shaken off his slow start and is looking like a quality low-end QB1 with weekly upside in redraft and dynasty leagues. Tony Pollard (12-51, 3-12) struggled again while CeeDee Lamb (11-191) and Jake Ferguson (7-91-1) carried the weight of the offense, combining for 18 catches that went for 182 yards and a TD.
Bengals 24 - Bills 18
I predicted this would be the Tee Higgins (8-110) week on our Sunday Social YouTube show and boy did he come through, bringing in eight of nine targets for 110 yards. I highlighted him as a dynasty buy-low each of the past two weeks, but that window is likely closed after tonight's explosive performance. Joe Burrow (31/44-348-2) threw for 348 yards and two scores and has the Bengals rolling after a slow start.
Tee Higgins didn't have to do him like that. ? #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/VM1oJoDGE8
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 6, 2023
Dalton Kincaid (10-81) lost a critical fumble but was otherwise outstanding, anchoring the Bills passing attack for most of the night. Stefon Diggs (6-86-1) had a decent game but was able to boost his fantasy numbers with a late TD and two-point conversion. Josh Allen (26/38-258-1-1, 8-44-1) added 10 fantasy points on the ground to go with 248 passing yards and passing TD.
Monday Night Football PredictionÂ
Chargers 23 - Jets 20
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