Fantasy Football Week 9 Worksheet

Week 9 features six teams on bye week, so let’s hit the 13 games this weekend bullet point style….

• Drew Brees has thrown for 300 yards or thrown multiple touchdowns in every road game this season.
• Jimmy Graham has scored in five consecutive games against Carolina with six touchdowns total in those games.
• Per Pro Football Focus, Brandin Cooks had two targets of 20 or more yards downfield last week after having two over the first six games.
• Mark Ingram has three top 10 scoring weeks in his four games played.
• Ingram is first in rushing points per attempt (0.98) out of all backs with 50 or more carries.
• New Orleans leads the league in fantasy rushing points per attempt (0.79) while Carolina allows the most rushing points per attempt (0.73) as a defense.
• The 79 rushing yards by Jonathan Stewart last week were the most he’s had in a game since week 17 in 2011.
• Cam Newton has thrown multiple touchdowns in one of six games facing the Saints in his career.

Trust: Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Kelvin Benjamin

Bust: Kenny Stills, Jonathan Stewart

Reasonable Return: Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Brandin Cooks, Marques Colston

• Browns running backs have carried 51 times for 100 yards (1.96 YPC) over the past two games without Alex Mack. They carried 151 times for 715 yards (4.74 YPC) the previous five games.
• Brian Hoyer has completed just 50 percent (43 of 86) of his passes the past three weeks, lowest of all starting quarterbacks.
• Vincent Jackson has reached 80 yards receiving in just three of his past 17 games played.
• In the six games in which both Jackson and Mike Evans have been active, Jackson averages 3 receptions on nine targets for 36 yards with two touchdowns.
• In those games, Evans has 25 receptions on 42 targets for 336 yards and two touchdowns.
• Evans has at least four receptions in every game this season.
• Every team defense except Jacksonville has finished outside of the top 20 facing Cleveland this season.
• Tampa Bay’s average point differential at the start of each drive is -11.8, worst in the league.
• Doug Martin has 325 rushing yards on his past 112 carries (2.9 YPC).

Trust: Andrew Hawkins, Brian Hoyer, Mike Evans

Bust: Vincent Jackson, Mike Glennon, Jordan Cameron

Reasonable Return: Ben Tate, Bobby Rainey, Austin Seferian-Jenkins

• The Bengals have only seven passing touchdowns this season, tied for the second fewest with the Jets (Minnesota is last with five).
• Andy Dalton has completed just 39 percent (nine of 23) passes in the red zone, lowest percentage of all players with 20 red zone attempts.
• All three of Titans’ quarterbacks have more or equal amount of red zone passing touchdowns as Dalton’s two this season (teammate Mohamed Sanu has only one fewer).
• The Jaguars have allowed the sixth most drives to reach the red zone (28 total), but have the second best touchdown conversion rate at only 43 percent (12 of 28).
• Outside of a week 7 run in with Vontae Davis, Sanu has been a top 30 weekly performer every week since week 2 and has four top 20 finishes in his past six games.
• Every defense facing the Jaguars has been a top nine scoring unit that week.
• Gio Bernard had 21.8 percent of the team targets through three weeks, but has 11.3 percent in the four games since then.
• Denard Robinson is the first Jacksonville running back to have back to back 100-yard rushing games since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011.
• Allen Robinson has four or more receptions in seven straight games.
• Blake Bortles has thrown an interception on 17 percent of the Jacksonville drives the past four weeks.
• The Jaguars have allowed only three offensive touchdowns over their past four games, fewest in the league. Opponents have scored a touchdown on three of 42 drives.

Trust: Mohamed Sanu, Clay Harbor

Bust:  Cecil Shorts

Reasonable Return: Allen Robinson, Denard Robinson, Andy Dalton, Jeremy Hill, Jermaine Gresham

• Nick Foles has one game this season in which he’s had a yards per attempt average over 8.0 yards, he had only one start under 8.0 Y/A in 2013.
• Foles’ nine interceptions are the most by a Eagles quarterback through seven games since Randall Cunningham‘s nine in 1989.
• Foles ranks 31st in passing points per attempt, but is 13th in passing points per game based on volume. He has only 18 fewer attempts through seven games than he had all of 2013.
• The Eagles have turned the ball over on 19.1 percent of their drives this season, highest in the league.
• Philadelphia has converted a league low 33 percent (eight of 24) of their red zone trips into touchdowns.
• 73 of LeSean McCoy‘s 137 (53 percent) carries have gone for two yards or less.
• McCoy is last in rushing points per attempt (0.41) out of all backs with 50 or more carries.
• Opponents are completing only 57.3 percent of their passes against the Eagles, lowest in the league.
• Through the first six weeks, Andre Johnson had 34.2 percent of the Texans targets while DeAndre Hopkins had 20.9 percent. Over the past two weeks, Johnson has 31.3 percent while Hopkins has 29.8 percent.
• Hopkins has five top 30 scoring weeks on the season while Johnson has just two.

Trust: DeAndre Hopkins, Arian Foster, Jeremy Maclin, Riley Cooper

Bust: LeSean McCoy, Zach Ertz

Reasonable Return: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Nick Foles, Darren Sproles, Andre Johnson, Jordan Matthews

• Arizona is last in the league in sack percentage of opposing dropbacks at 2.4 percent.
• Arizona has allowed five 100-yard receivers this season and six receivers to have seven or more receptions in a game, both tied for the most in the league.
• Dez Bryant has scored 28 touchdowns in his past 32 games played.
• DeMarco Murray‘s lowest scoring week in PPR has been RB7. The Cardinals have allowed only two top 20 running backs this season and the highest has been Darren McFadden at RB17.
• The Cardinals have punted on 53 percent of their drives since Carson Palmer returned, tied for third most in the league.
• Palmer is averaging 18.86 passing points per game, which ranks 6th out of all quarterbacks.
• Andre Ellington has 20 or more touches in five consecutive games, with 25 or more over the past three weeks.
• Ellington ranks 46th in rushing points per attempt (0.46).
• Michael Floyd now has three top 24 scoring weeks and three weeks with less than three points.
• Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd have yet to have top 30 scoring weeks in the same week.

Trust: Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray, Tony Romo, Jason Witten

Bust: Larry Fitzgerald

Reasonable Return: Terrance Williams, Carson Palmer, Michael Floyd, Andre Ellington

• The Jets average 4.2 yards per offensive play over the past three weeks, fewest in the league.
• The New York defense has just one interception, their lowest total through eight games in franchise history.
• The Jets have converted just six of 43 (14 percent) passing plays for touchdowns in the red zone, lowest percentage in the league.
• Jace Amaro‘s 18 receptions are the fourth most for all tight ends over the past three weeks.
• The Jets are the only team that has allowed multiple touchdown passes in every game this season with five consecutive quarterbacks topping 20 points when facing them.
• Alex Smith hasn’t passed for 300 yards in 22 regular season games with the Chiefs.
• Dwayne Bowe‘s last 100-yard receiving game in the regular season came in week 4 of 2012.
• The Chiefs have allowed only four top 30 scoring receivers, tied with Cincinnati for the fewest in the league.
• Outside of Denver, no team has scored a touchdown on more than 20 percent of their drives facing Kansas City.
• Kansas City leads the league in sacks on percentage of drop backs at 10.0 percent.
• The Jets have allowed nine touchdowns to tight ends over their past six games and multiple touchdowns to the position in four of those weeks.

Trust: Alex Smith, Dwayne Bowe, Travis Kelce

Bust: Eric Decker, Mike Vick

Reasonable Return: Jamaal Charles, Jace Amaro, Percy Harvin

• Antonio Gates has scored once every 5.6 targets, second best behind Julius Thomas (4.7) of all tight ends with 30 or more targets.
• Gates has 18 games with multiple touchdown receptions, the active leader and tied with Tony Gonzalez for the most ever by a tight end.
• Targeting Gates has accounted for 32 percent of Philip Rivers‘ fantasy passing output, the highest percentage any tight end this season.
• Keenan Allen‘s 2.1 PPR points per receptions ranks last of the top 50 scorers at wide receiver this season.
• Miami has allowed only one top 10 quarterback this season (Aaron Rodgers).
• 15.6 percent of Mike Wallace‘s catches have been touchdowns, good for 7th best of all receivers. His career TD/Rec. percentage entering this season was 12.0 percent.
• Lamar Miller‘s last four PPR finishes: RB7, RB11, RB13, RB18.

Trust: Lamar Miller, Mike Wallace

Bust: Charles Clay, Branden Oliver, Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd

Reasonable Return: Ryan Tannehill, Antonio Gates, Philip Rivers

• The Vikings have allowed only 17 of 93 (18 percent) opposing drives to reach the red zone, lowest percentage in the league.
• Jordan Reed ranks 46th out of tight ends in PPR points per reception (1.9).
• Reed has seen 25 percent of the Washington targets since returning from injury, most on the team.
• During the same stretch, Pierre Garcon has seen just 16.7 percent of the team targets, fourth most behind Reed, Andre Roberts and DeSean Jackson.
• Jerick McKinnon has the most touches in the league (93) without a touchdown yet.
• The last rushing attempt the Vikings had in the red zone was week 5.
• Minnesota has scored on just 10 of 52 drives (19 percent) the past four weeks and only three touchdowns (6 percent), both lows in the league.

Trust: Jordan Reed, Alfred Morris, DeSean Jackson

Bust: Teddy Bridgewater, Greg Jennings

Reasonable Return: Cordarrelle Patterson, Jerick McKinnon, Robert Griffin, Pierre Garcon

• The Rams are allowing the most points per play in the league at 0.491 per play.
• The Rams are last in the league in opposing completion percentage (70.2 percent) and have allowed multiple touchdowns (passing or rushing) to opposing quarterbacks in every game except one.
• In his three games versus the Rams as a member of the 49ers, Anquan Boldin has topped 90 receiving yards and five receptions every game with two touchdowns. For his career, he’s had 85 or more yards facing the Rams in 11 of 16 games with eight scores.
• Stevie Johnson has been targeted on 31.3 percent of his routes, highest percentage of all receivers and is third amongst all receivers in points per target (2.3).
• Johnson has played just 60 total snaps over the past four weeks.
• Jared Cook has the most targets in the league (48) without a touchdown.
• Austin Davis has really performed as game script allows. In leading situations, he’s completed 40 of 52 passes (76.9 percent) with a 4:1 TD/INT ratio and 8.9 Y/A. While trailing, he’s 91-152 (59.9 percent) with a 4:4 ratio and only 6.8 Y/A.
• Five of the seven teams to face St. Louis have been a top seven scoring defense that week.

Trust: Colin Kaepernick, Anquan Boldin

Bust: Vernon Davis, All STL running backs, Austin Davis

Reasonable Return: Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Jared Cook, Kenny Britt

• Only 23.4 percent of the offensive yardage gained by Oakland this season has been rushing, lowest percentage in the league.
• Seattle has two team rushing attempts inside the 5-yard line this season, tied for the fewest in the league with San Diego. They were tied for third in the league in that category in 2013 with 24.
• Marshawn Lynch‘s 248 rushing yards ranks 17th in the league over the past four weeks.
• Russell Wilson ranks 21st in passing points per game (13.94) and 16th in overall passing points out of all quarterbacks.
• Andre Holmes has been a top 20 scoring WR every other week for his past five games.
• Holmes has scored once every 10.3 targets, 5th best for all receivers.

Trust: Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch

Bust: Darren McFadden, Derek Carr

Reasonable Return: Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, James Jones, Andre Holmes

• The Patriots are averaging .605 points per play over the past three weeks, best in the league. In perspective, Denver led the league last season at .506.
• Opponents facing Denver over the past three weeks have thrown the ball on 74.7 percent of their offensive plays, highest in the league.
• New England is tied with Cincinnati for the league lead with 17 rushing attempts inside the opponents’ 5-yard line, but have converted just three for touchdowns.
• Patriots target distribution over their past four games: Gronk 27 percent, Edelman 23 percent, LaFell 18 percent and Vereen 13 percent.
• Over the past four weeks, Rob Gronkowski‘s 411 receiving yards are 156 more than the next closest tight end (Greg Olsen).
• Denver is allowing 47.8 rushing yards per game over the past four weeks.
• The Patriots have allowed eight top 20 PPR backs this season, tied with Cincinnati for the second most in the league.
• The Patriots have allowed five backs to rush for 90 or more yards against them this season and have allowed 146.3 rushing yards per game over their past three games, the second most in the league over that stretch.
• Ronnie Hillman over the past three weeks has carried 58 times for 283 yards and two scores. Montee Ball over his first three full games carried 49 times for 165 yards and one touchdown.
• Julius Thomas has more seen than six targets in only two games this season.

Trust: Rob Gronkowski, Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman, Peyton Manning, Emmanuel Sanders, Ronnie Hillman

Bust: Brandon LaFell, Jonas Gray, Wes Welker

Reasonable Return: Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Tom Brady

• The past three quarterbacks to face the Steelers have averaged over 8.0 Y/A, the first time three consecutive quarterbacks have done that facing Pittsburgh since 2009.
• Steve Smith has converted none of his 10 red zone targets for a touchdown this season.
• After averaging 107.3 receiving yards per game over his first four games, Smith has averaged only 61.5 yards in his past four.
• Ben Roethlisberger has 23 completions of 25 yards or more, most in the league.
• Roethlisberger has scored 20 points versus the Ravens in only two of 15 career regular season meetings and thrown multiple touchdowns in only one of his past nine facing them.
• Le’Veon Bell has 99 or more yards from scrimmage in all three games versus facing the Ravens and has over 100 YFS in every game this season.
• On just 12 targets, Martavis Bryant has nearly generated more points for Roethlisberger (16.9) than Markus Wheaton (17.7 points) on 45 targets.

Trust: Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Justin Forsett

Bust: Heath Miller, Ben Roethlisberger,

Reasonable Return: Martavis Bryant, Joe Flacco, Steve Smith, Torrey Smith

• Andrew Luck is tied for the league lead in red zone passing touchdowns with Jay Cutler (15) and Hakeem Nicks is the only Colts receiver with a red zone touchdown this season (two).
• Indianapolis has already run 76 percent of the red zone plays (105) that they ran all of 2013 (138).
• Luck has passed for 300 yards in six consecutive games, which is a Colts franchise record (all time record is nine straight games by Drew Brees on two occasions).
• Ahmad Bradshaw has five weeks as a top 13 scorer in PPR leagues, with no week below RB26.
• 67.4 percent of Bradshaw’s PPR output has been from receiving, the highest percentage of any back in the top 20 scorers on the season.
• Bradshaw has scored on average once every 13.4 touches this season, best in the league of all backs with 40 or more touches.
• The Colts have allowed six top 12 scoring tight ends, second most in the league behind Dallas.
• Eli Manning has gone three straight games without throwing an interception for the first time since 2008. He’s never gone four games without throwing an interception.
• Even though he’s yet to hit 100-yards in any game, Rueben Randle has nine or more targets in five consecutive games.

Trust: Andrew Luck, Ahmad Bradshaw, T.Y. Hilton, Larry Donnell, Andre Williams

Bust: Dwayne Allen, Donte Moncrief, Hakeem Nicks

Reasonable Return: Eli Manning, Rueben Randle, Odell Beckham

Context Key:

Trust = Set him in your lineups this week

Bust = Player to underperform season average

Reasonable Return = On par with seasonal average

*Statistics provided by ProFootballFocus, Pro-Football-Reference, NFLData.com. All Vegas Lines Provided by 5Dimes

Rich Hribar Fantasy Football Analyst

Rich Hribar is a husband, father, sports meteorologist and a slave to statistics. A lifelong sports fan and fantasy gamer. Follow @LordReebs

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