Following the Monday Night Football game in Week 9, the National Football League’s regular season has reached its halfway mark.
The Dallas Cowboys‘ starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, sustained a multiweek injury, impacting the fantasy values of various receivers and potentially the running game.
Reflecting on the MNF game, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton continues to impress, ascending into the must-start category. It’s worth noting that in the tight end role, significant production shifts can occur with minimal output.
Recent trades also have led to changes in fantasy values for certain players, affecting both their new teams and their former squads.
The Monday game between the Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs was not only entertaining but also provided valuable insights for fantasy football enthusiasts. After all, that’s why we’re here, right?
Looking ahead to Week 10, with the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks on bye weeks, the dynamic landscape of fantasy football becomes even more crucial to navigate.
Carolina Panthers wide receivers
The Carolina Panthers have been a mess, but there is a sliver of hope. QB Bryce Young is back under center after QB Andy Dalton suffered a sprain two weeks ago during a car accident.
The quarterback change has affected the wide receiver position. And, the trade of Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens has affected the spot, too.
The new No. 1 wide receiver in Charlotte is Xavier Legette, at least for now. The Panthers traded back into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft to scoop up Legette, and that move is starting to bear fruit.
Legette had four receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown with six targets against the Saints in a 23-22 win in Week 9. He has 41 targets, which leads all current Carolina receivers.
Adam Thielen is slowly making his way back from a hamstring injury. The 21-day window opened in late October for the veteran to return. The window closes Nov. 13, so time is ticking. There also is a potential he is moved to another organization. If Thielen returns, the veteran would be outstanding on short to intermediate routes, good for PPR fantasy managers, and a boon to Young, by the way.
Legette is proving he can be useful for fantasy managers because of his work in the red zone. He has touchdowns in three of the past four outings, including the past two games. And, really, don’t we want to see the rookie score more for the “Dolla Bill” scoring celebration, in honor of his pet horse. Legette has emerged as a low-end WR3 in standard fantasy play as well as TD-only leagues and DFS play.
Jalen Coker also is in the mix, and he is a WR4 in most leagues of 12 or more teams. He showed glimpses in Denver two weeks ago with 78 yards and a score. Perhaps the future in Carolina isn’t so gloomy after all.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers
It was expected the Los Angeles Chargers would run, run, run. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman love to jam the ball down people’s throats. But, they have a top-tier quarterback, and Justin Herbert is starting to get healthy. That, in turn, is helping a couple of young receivers rise up the rankings.
Rookie Ladd McConkey had five receptions for 64 yards on seven targets in a win at Cleveland in Week 9, and he has four or more catches in five straight outings to emerge as a strong PPR option in most leagues. He also has 44 or more receiving yards in six straight games, so he hasn’t really hurt fantasy managers with a total stinker yet.
Quentin Johnston is quickly emerging as a fantasy weapon. He racked up four receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown on five targets in Cleveland. Let’s pump the brakes on “Q-Money,” though. Prior to Week 9, he had just four grabs for 31 yards in the previous two games. He showed what he is capable of, and the ceiling is so very high, but his production has been erratic. McConkey, while he is just a rookie, has been far more consistent, even if he hasn’t had a triple-digit yardage game like QJ quite yet.
McConkey can be trusted as a low-end WR2 in PPR formats, with less appeal in standard play. Johnston is still more of a low-end WR3 or flex play in most formats, but he has the ability to rise very quickly.
Washington Commanders wide receivers
The Washington Commanders won a game two weeks ago on a Hail Mary from QB Jayden Daniels to WR Noah Brown. That huge, game-winning score against the Chicago Bears appears to have snapped Brown back on track.
The 28-year-old receiver had been a bit erratic through the first five games, including three games with 29 or fewer yards. He was on his way to another before his fortuitous, 52-yard miracle catch Oct. 27. Brown followed that game up with a season-high five receptions with 60 yards against the New York Giants on Sunday, and just like that, he is back in the conversation as a WR4 or flex fantasy option in leagues of 12 or more teams.
Terry McLaurin had two receptions for 19 yards and two touchdowns against the G-Men. He is still the No. 1 option in the nation’s capital, and a must-start fantasy option, but there is plenty of room for another receiver to step up.
Dyami Brown is there. Olamide Zaccheaus is there. Brown is there and can be useful, especially as a streaming option when bye weeks or injuries hurt your team.
Atlanta Falcons wide receivers
Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London had two receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, but he left with a hip injury. Head coach Raheem Morris said London is day to day.
If and when London sidelined, Darnell Mooney is front and center in the Atlanta offense. He stepped up with five receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown with nine targets. He has back-to-back games with 86 or more yards and a TD. Mooney posted three or more receptions in eight straight outings, making him a must-start in PPR leagues, too, even when London is healthy.
But, if London sits, Mooney has WR2 fantasy value, and he could very well rack up double-digit targets against the New Orleans Saints.
Ray-Ray McCloud also could have some fantasy appeal in deeper leagues. He has three or more catches in five of the past six games, making him useful in PPR leagues. If he starts opposite Mooney in Week 10, should London sit, he could be worth a look as a WR3 or flex option even in standard play.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs went out and rescued WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans following the injury to WR Rashee Rice.
Hopkins was limping along in Nashville and looked disinterested. He didn’t really have an NFL-caliber quarterback. Now, he is working with a future Hall of Famer, and is starting to make up for lost time.
Hopkins rolled up eight receptions, 86 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets in his second game with the Chiefs on Monday night against the Buccaneers. He looks rejuvenated playing with QB Patrick Mahomes, and it’s obvious the quarterback deeply trusts the receiver.
Having a quality receiver like Hopkins opens things up for others, too. Suddenly, TE Travis Kelce isn’t seeing as many double teams, opening up one-on-one matchups that he’ll win more often than not. And Hopkins is back as a WR2 in all fantasy leagues.
