It’s the return of the Fantasy section on DNA of Sports, every Saturday find our tips, our favorites, and the pitfalls to avoid.
The absents
Week 9 or the nightmare of fantasy managers. With 6 teams at rest, many points providers are absent. At the first of which we find Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley. Among receivers, Ceedee Lamb, Deebo Samuel and the Courtland Sutton-Jerry Jeudy duo are also on vacation this week.
On the injury side, Jonathan Taylor will once again be forfeited, while Mark Andrews and D’Andre Swift are very uncertain.
Quarterbacks
The safe bet: Aaron Rodgers. The time has come to trust the reigning double MVP. Facing the worst NFL defense, the matchup is ideal for the future Hall of Famer to have a great night and make a stat record worthy of his rank.
The bet: Marcus Mariota. Faced with the friable defense of the Chargers, the quarterback of the Falcons could surprise. With 19 points on average in the last 4 matches, the former 2nd draft pick is far from ridiculous, thanks in particular to his ability to also gain yards on the ground. If your holder is on bye week, it’s probably the right week to try the Mariota bet.
Avoid: Tom Brady. Over the last 6 games, the Rams defense has offered less than 12 points on average to the opposing quarterback. When you know that Brady is not in the best shape of his career, it is wiser to leave it aside.
Running back
The safe bet: D’onta Foreman. Impressed last week with 3 touchdowns and the bar of 30 points passed, the Panthers runner should continue his momentum. With his sidekick Chubba Hubbard out, his role will be even more important and fundamental in the attack.
The bet: Deon Jackson. For his only tenure of the season, the young runner had reached 28 points (PPR), bringing both on the ground and in the air. This week, with Taylor out, Jackson will be the Colts’ backfield leader, and an ideal No. 2 in your line up.
Avoid: Darrell Henderson. The Rams’ running game is far from their strong point. When they also challenge the Tampa defense, it could be a tough night for Henderson, even as the No. 1 option.
Receivers
The safe bet: Terry McLaurin. Since Heinicke took control of the attack, McLaurin is clearly his number 1 option. With an average of 17.5 points in the last two games, having also faced solid secondary, the Vikings (7th worst defense against the WR) should offer him the opportunity to continue his momentum, see even better.
The bet: Rondale Moore. Excellent against the Vikings last week, Moore showed his quarterback that he could be a credible option behind Hopkins. On his way, he could shine again. In week 6 against the same defense, he had already captured 6 balls. In a flex or WR 3 position, his candidacy for a starting position in your team is more than credible.
Avoid: Kadarius Toney. Beware of the temptation to get carried away by the arrival of the speedster in the attack on Mahomes and Reid. With only 5 days to discover the game book, its role could remain limited this week.
Tight-end
The safe bet: Gerald Everett. Deprived of his two favorite targets, Justin Herbert should largely rely on his tight end to move the chains. A large number of receptions to be expected which could quickly increase the score in the PPR leagues.
The bet: Mike Gesicki. Faced with the Bears who lost in quick succession Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith, the addition could be scathing against the explosiveness of the Dolphins. Better and better in this attack, Gesicki could again bring his stone to the building and give a reliable intermediate solution to Tua.
Avoid: Taysom Hill. Faced with a Ravens defense reinforced by Roquan Smith, Hill could be watched like milk on fire and be contained.
Top 5 waivers of the week
1. Deon Jackson – RB
2. Rondale Moore – WR
3. Josh Palmer – WR
4. Isaiah Likely – TE
5. Kenyan Drake – RB
The Griz’League
The Griz’LeagueIn the duel at the top between the two leaders, Tiffany left Antoine no chance, beating him 180 to 99. A beating in order that sends a message when we have just passed the mid-season. This suits Eliot who has a sixth victory in a row and remains in the wake of Tiffany with the same record of 6-2.
Alain returns to the podium after having the red lantern Grégory. He is asserting himself more and more by seriously claiming the playoffs. Taking advantage of the rout of Romain who recorded the lowest score of the season with 52 points, Victor returned to the game with a balance sheet. The Waddle-Henry duo carried Marc to victory against Xavier handicapped on his side by Zeke’s package.
Pollard’s huge game allowed Alex to stop the bleeding and stay on the chasing car thanks to victory over Brice. After 8 weeks of games, 9 teams stand in 2 matches from 3rd to 11th place. Only Gregory seems off the hook for the moment but a comeback is still possible.
