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Below are my picks for Week 9 of the Over/Under Challenge sponsored by BetMGM.
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Tom Brady (QB – TB) vs NO – Over 20.2
With Michael Thomas set to return to the Saints’ lineup for this Week 9 NFC South showdown, plenty of offensive firepower exists in this game. Brady gets his roommate receiver back for the first time since their debut together during Week 2 of the 2019 season. Brady, Brown, & Co. will have no problem finding the end zone against a Saints defense that has given up the most passing touchdowns (19) in the NFL so far in 2020. Brady should face little resistance to achieving the over in this likely shootout between 5-2 division rivals.
Deshaun Watson (QB – HOU) @ JAX – Over 22.8
Coming off a Week 8 bye, Watson will look to continue his fantasy dominance of late. Having scored 24.16, 32.00, 26.86 fantasy points over his last three games, Watson faces a Jaguars defense for the second time out of his past four games. The aforementioned Jaguars defense serves as a weekly welcomed sight for opposing quarterbacks, ranking 28th and 26th in passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed. But don’t you worry, the defensive shortcomings don’t stop at defending the pass, Jacksonville ranks 28th and 29th in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns allowed. Watson will run up the fantasy score against a nonexistent Jacksonville defense.
Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN) vs DET – Over 19.9
Coming off a massive four-touchdown performance against the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers in Week 8, Cook welcomes the Lions defense with open arms as they visit U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. Having ranked 31st in rushing touchdowns allowed, it’s fair to assume that Cook finds pay dirt multiple times in Week 9. It’s worth noting that Cook has hit 24.9 fantasy points or more in three of his past four games. When healthy (which too many times is simply not the case), you’d be hard-pressed to find a better fantasy running back.
James Robinson (RB – JAX) vs HOU – Under 17.0
In a Week 5 defeat at Houston, the undrafted rookie Robinson was held to 13 carries for only 48 yards and five receptions for 22 yards. Robinson also lost a fumble in the contest. While I don’t expect Robinson to hit the over in his rematch against the Texans, I’m expecting a much better output in Week 9. With Houston ranking 31st in rushing yards allowed, Robinson should just barely miss achieving the over on Sunday.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL) vs PIT – Under 13.9
It appears that Ezekiel Elliott will be sitting out Week 9 due to a recent hamstring injury. Regardless of his playing status for Sunday’s matchup against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, Elliot and/or Pollard have no shot at reaching this projection with essentially their entire offense in shambles.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR – ARI) vs MIA – Over 15.8
Averaging just over 10 targets a game accompanied by a massive 30.9% target share of Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray’s “Arizona Raid” offense, Hopkins just might be the most dangerous receiver not named Davante Adams in fantasy football. Coming off the bye and going up against a bottom-half pass defense in the Miami Dolphins, the current NFL leader in receiving yards (704) is shaping up to drop another bomb on the fantasy landscape in Week 9. Nuk the over.
Chase Claypool (WR – PIT) @ DAL – Over 11.0
Is Dallas still dead last in points allowed? Check.
Are the Cowboys still a bottom feeder (27th) in passing touchdowns allowed? Check.
Is Mike Nolan still coordinating this train wreck of a defense? Check.
Fire up the over. This one gets ugly. And fast.
I expect to see plenty of brown grocery bags and cowboy hats inside Jerry’s World on Sunday. Yeehaw.
Antonio Brown (WR – TB) vs NO – Over 10.4
If Week 2, 2019 showed us anything, it’s quite obvious that Tom Terrific has no hesitation in going out of his way to get his new All-Pro receiver acclimated with the offense. While I think Antonio Brown’s return to the NFL might be a bit premature, it’s impossible to deny Brown’s likely immediate impact with this Bruce Arians Tampa Bay offense led by the most accomplished quarterback of all-time. I can’t be the only one that is almost expecting triple-digit yardage and a score, right?
Robby Anderson (WR – CAR) @ KC – Under 12.2
With Christian McCaffrey returning to Matt Rhule and Joe Brady’s offense in Week 9, one would guess that the All-Pro running back will be the focal point of the offense against the World Champion Chiefs. Despite Rhule and Brady’s advanced scheme, just like their opponent on Sunday, they simply can’t match the offensive weaponry that resides on that opposing sideline. On top of the likely game plan for Week 9, Anderson is going up against a Chiefs defense that is a league leader in passing yards allowed (3rd), passing touchdowns allowed (2nd), and interceptions (8th). This Kansas City defense is not to be messed with at Arrowhead Stadium.
T.J. Hockenson (TE – DET) @ MIN – Under 9.9
With WR1 Kenny Golladay sitting out Week 9’s contest in Minneapolis, Hockenson’s role in Detroit’s passing hierarchy only grows that much more. Without Golladay at Indianapolis last week, the second-year tight end was the recipient of double-digit targets, hauling in seven grabs for 65 yards. Whether he crosses the goal line or not against Mike Zimmer’s defensive bunch, you have to like Hockenson’s chances of reaching 10 points in his revamped role sans Golladay.
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Rob Searles is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Rob, check out his archive and follow him @RobBob17.
