This week in fantasy football is challenging to say the least. Between Derrick Henry’s foot injury, Henry Ruggs’ vehicular crash, and Aaron Rodgers testing Covid-19 positive, it’s a tougher week than most to just simply play the game of fantasy football. It’s important at times like these to control what you have control over. For me and the analysts below, that means continuing on with our bold predictions and preparing as best as we can for Week 9.
Each week, our Fantrax staff writers make their fantasy football bold predictions for you to get excited about, help sway those lineup decisions, and take your team to the moon!
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More fantasy football fun for Week 9: Waiver Wire | FAAB Guide | Start & Sit | Loves & Hates | Stock Watch | Sleepers & Streamers | D/ST Streamers
2021 NFL Week 9 Bold Predictions for Fantasy Football
Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles Running Back
Bold Prediction: 11 rushes, 50 yards; 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 touchdown
21.0 PPR fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Colin McTamany, @Colin_McT on Twitter
Colin’s Breakdown: My bold prediction has Boston Scott finishing as a top running back for the second straight week. In Week 8, Scott tied rookie, Kenneth Gainwell, in running back opportunities (13) against the Detroit Lions. It was Scott, however, who out-produced Gainwell, turning his 12 carries and one target into 60 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
In Week 9, the Eagles host the Los Angeles Chargers who are allowing more rushing yards per game than last week’s Lions. In fact, the Chargers allow a league-high 159.4 rushing yards per game. Given Scott’s speed and sneaky stature, his career 4.4 yards per carry average should, at a minimum, factor into carving up this defense on Sunday.
Aside from Scott’s ability to carry the ball, his experience in the league, specifically as a pass-catcher, should also come in to play against the Chargers. They’re averaging just over 24 points per game and currently sit as 1.5-point favorites on the road in Philadelphia in Week 9. Jalen Hurts is going to have to throw far more than the 14 times he did last week. Boston Scott should see the most targets out of the backfield.
I expect Boston Scott to lead this backfield in snap count, touches, and fantasy points this Sunday. He will be a key piece to keeping the Eagles in what will be a much tighter game than last week.
Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Kicker | D/ST | PPR | Flex
Tajae Sharpe, Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver
Bold Prediction: 7 receptions, 104 yards, 1 touchdown
23.4 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Mike Omelan, @mikeomelan on Twitter
Mike’s Breakdown: Given the state of things with byes, injuries, and other instances, Sharpe is an intriguing play in Week 9 and possibly beyond. With just over 100 career receptions in five seasons to his name, this is definitely the biggest bold prediction of the week. However, the Atlanta Falcons will again be without star wide receiver, Calvin Ridley, due to undisclosed personal reasons. It’s unclear if he will return to the team at all this season which presents a tremendous opportunity for Sharpe to shine.
In games this season in which Ridley has sat out, Sharpe benefits the most from a playing time standpoint. In fact, 57.5% of Sharpes 172 snaps this season have come in Weeks 5 and 8 where Ridley was inactive. In those two games, Sharpe has totaled nine receptions for 111 receiving yards on 11 targets, averaging 10 fantasy points per game.
With Ridley’s inactive status clearer and earlier ahead of Week 9, my bold prediction suggests Sharpe will have a more defined role Sunday. I fully expect him to see a season-high number of targets and even find the end zone on the road against the Saints who are the favorites by a touchdown. Don’t hesitate to plug Sharpe into your lineups in 12 or more team leagues this weekend.
Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns Wide Receiver
Bold Prediction: 8 receptions, 100 yards, 1 touchdown
24.0 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Ahaan Rungta, @AhaanRungta on Twitter
Ahaan’s Breakdown: One of the ickiest situations in the NFL right now, the status of Odell Beckham Jr., remains in limbo. He might have played his last game for the Browns franchise. Meanwhile, Jarvis Landry moves into the number one role for the Cleveland pass-catching group.
In eight games last season without Beckham in the lineup, Landry averaged 5.4 receptions, 59.1 yards, and 0.5 touchdowns. In Week 9, the Bengals will look to rebound from a brutal loss against Mike White and the Jets. With that said, Cincy will likely have the beaten-up Browns playing from behind early on the road.
Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins Running Back
Bold Prediction: 15 rushes, 76 yards; 5 receptions, 27 yards, 2 total touchdowns
27.3 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Lauren Auerbach, @lkauerbach on Twitter
Lauren’s Breakdown: For this week’s bold prediction, I’m rolling with Myles Gaskin. Gaskin hasn’t exactly been the most reliable running back this season. In fact, he’s been very hit-or-miss, especially in the past four games. However, I think he will “hit” this week in a tasty matchup against the Houston Texans.
The Texans have allowed the most rushing yards to running backs through eight games. They’ve also given up eight rushing touchdowns on the season, tied for fourth-most. Further, Gaskin is involved in the Dolphins’ passing game and should see an overall boost in production with fellow running back, Malcolm Brown, on Injured Reserve. In fact, Gaskin’s added value as a receiver helps cement Tua Tagovailoa as a top-1o option in my Week 9 quarterback rankings.
The Dolphins are favored to win by 6.5 points and could end up leaning on the run in this one. Favorable matchup? Check. Increased workload? Double-check. Trust Gaskin this week, and put him in your lineup!
Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders Wide Receiver
Bold Prediction: 9 receptions, 98 yards, 1 touchdown
25.8 fantasy points
Fantrax Writer: Mick Ciallela, @themick23 on Twitter
Mick’s Breakdown: Over the last three weeks, the Giants have allowed Cooper Kupp and Tyreek Hill to finish as top-five fantasy wide receivers. Certainly, they are not the only NFL team to be victimized by those two particular wideouts. But, the pair’s success should offer a blueprint for the Las Vegas Raiders on how to attack the Giants’ secondary.
Kupp and Hill line up in the slot roughly 60 percent of the time, as does Hunter Renfrow. Of the 21 combined receptions that Kupp and Hill had against the Giants in recent weeks, only one was on a pass thrown more than 20 yards downfield. Most of them (11, to be exact) were caught within five yards of the line of scrimmage. This is the area of the field where Renfrow does most of his damage. His 6.69 aDOT is third-lowest among receivers with at least 40 targets this season. That’s third-lowest, by the way, if you count Cordarrelle Patterson as a wide receiver.
Renfrow may not quite be on the level of Kupp and/or Hill, but he is quite underrated. His 77.4 overall PFF grade is 17th among 121 qualifiers at the position, and his 1.93 yards per route run is 22nd among wide receivers. He leads the Raiders in targets this season and should be plenty busy against middling slot corner Darnay Holmes. Renfrow has an extremely high floor for someone who is generally being ranked outside the top-30. My bold prediction centers around the idea that he has WR1 upside in this matchup. Get him in your Week 9 lineups.
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