Fantasy Football Picks: Week 9

Mike’s Fantasy Football Forecast is back! For expertly picked booms and busts of the week, continue reading below and WIN your fantasy football league!

Previous Weeks: 

Week Six, Week Seven, Week Eight

How I was Last Week

Booms

Carson Wentz: 18.34 ppr

Darrell Henderson: 22.3 ppr

Stefon Diggs: 15 ppr

Hunter Henry:  4.3

Busts  

Tua Tagovailoa: 15.2 ppr

Leonard Fournette: 7.3 ppr

Julio Jones: DNP

Mike Gesicki: 9.8 ppr

Booms of the Week 

Quarterback:  

Joe Burrow: After missing time due to injury his rookie season, Joe Burrow has erupted his second season. Burrow has a 67.9% completion percentage on the season, with 20 touchdowns. He has also averaged 276.8 yards per game. On Sunday, Burrow will be facing the Browns, who have not rattled quarterbacks this season. The Browns have allowed the third most passing touchdowns this season, so expect Burrow to light up the scoreboard against the Browns. 

Running Back:  

Myles Gaskin: Myles Gaskin has been somewhat quiet for the Dolphins this year. He has recorded only 269 rushing yards but has three receiving touchdowns. However, when he faces Houston this week, he has great Boom potential. The Texans have allowed the most running back rushing yards in the league, and have also allowed 8 rushing touchdowns. 

Wide Receiver:  

Cooper Kupp: After the addition of Matthew Stafford in the offseason, Cooper Kupp has been on a tear. He already has 10 touchdowns through 8 games, tying his career-high for a season. He also averages 115.5 receiving yards per game, on pace for nearly 2,000 yards this season. The hot streak will continue against the Titans, who have an abysmal pass defense. The Titans have allowed the second-most touchdowns to wide receivers, 12. They have also allowed the most receiving yards to wide receivers, 1728, and allowed 216 wide receivers receiving yards per game.

Tight End:  

Dallas Goedert: After Zach Ertz was traded to Arizona, Dallas Goedert firmly cemented his position as starting tight end. In two games without Ertz, Goedert has averaged 4.5 catches for 71 yards. Against the Chargers, he has the chance to keep the hot streak going. The Chargers have allowed the fifth most yards to tight ends this season, and are tied for the fifth most tight ends touchdowns allowed. 

Busts of the Week   

Quarterback:  

Matt Ryan: Matt Ryan has had a rough first season with Arthur Smith as coach. The Falcons have a 3-4 record and Ryan has thrown 6 interceptions in 7 games. It will only get tougher for Ryan, when he has to face a phenomenal Saints defense. The Saints have allowed only 18.3 points per game, and have forced more interceptions than allowed touchdown passes. 

Running Back:  

James Robinson: James Robinson has been one of the only bright spots for the Jaguars. Robinson has averaged 68.8 rushing yards per game and has 5 total touchdowns on the season. However, a lingering heel injury and a rough Bills rushing defense may hold him back. Robinson suffered a heel injury against Seattle, which held him out for most of the game and is now considered day-to-day. If he plays, the heel injury may hold him from being 100%. Furthermore, the Bills defense has been one of the best in the league defending the run, allowing the third least running back, rushing yards and only three running back rushing touchdowns total. 

Wide Receiver:  

DeVonta Smith: The rookie and former Heisman winner DeVonta Smith has been off to a hot start his rookie campaign. Smith has recorded 33 receptions for 421 yards and a touchdown. However, his matchup against the Chargers could stir him some troubles. The Chargers have allowed the fewest wide receiver receptions in the league, as well as the fewest wide receiver receiving yards in the league. 

Tight End:  

Kyle Pitts: Kyle Pitts has had an up-and-down rookie season thus far. Weeks 2, 5, and 7, Pitts averaged 118.3 yards per game and 7 catches. However the other weeks combined, he has averaged only 3 catches for 32.25 yards. This will be one of those down weeks. The Saints have held tight ends to only 4.5 catches a game for 37.57 yards. The Saints have also allowed zero total tight end touchdowns this season.

Statistics via:

Fantasy Football Scoring Leaders. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2021, from https://fantasy.espn.com/football/leaders?leagueId=0

Pro Football Statistics and history. Pro. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2021, from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/.