Mick Ciallela
Fantrax
Twitter: @themick23
Website: https://www.fantraxhq.com/
Player Note on Cade Otton (TE - TB)
With Tampa Bay missing both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, tight end Cade Otton became Baker Mayfield's go-to target. Otton posted the second multi-touchdown game of his NFL career while catching a career-high nine passes. Now Otton will face a Kansas City Chiefs team that serves up the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends on the year. Otton may not be the best tight end on the field Monday night, but he should be treated like a weekly fantasy starter until further notice.
Player Note on Evan Engram (TE - JAC)
Evan Engram posted his second top-12 weekly finish in three weeks by scoring a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter in a game the Jacksonville Jaguars would ultimately lose. This week Engram will face a Philadelphia Eagles team that ranks in the top-five defensively against tight ends. Engram is a safe bet for volume, and thus always a reliable top-12 option. However, I have him a couple of spots lower than the consensus this week because of the difficult matchup.
Player Note on Trey McBride (TE - ARI)
Trey McBride continues to flash efficiency that is virtually unmatched at the tight end position. The Cardinals tight end has now hauled in 75 percent of his targets and has three top-five weeks on his ledger. It will be interesting to see if he can add another in Week 9. The Chicago Bears have one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. However, they are about league average in terms of limiting tight end production. McBride is another tight end who has been elite despite a lack of touchdowns. That is one trend that fantasy managers would like to see reversed this week.
Player Note on David Njoku (TE - CLE)
David Njoku is tied for third among tight ends in total fantasy points over the last two weeks as the Cleveland Browns navigate life without Deshaun Watson and Amari Cooper. Quarterback Jameis Winston has targeted his tight end often, resulting in Njoku's recent hot streak. The volume does not figure to end anytime soon given the relative lack of pass catchers that the Browns have. This may not be the best matchup for Njoku, however. The Los Angeles Chargers rank in the top 10 in passing defense and against tight ends based on DVOA. Njoku's volume should keep him afloat as a TE1 in 12-team leagues, but the touchdown upside is less than it has been in recent weeks.
Player Note on Travis Kelce (TE - KC)
Travis Kelce finally caught his first touchdown pass of the 2024 season last week. What is more encouraging is that it was the third game in his last four in which Kelce had at least seven receptions and at least 70 receiving yards. That volume should keep Kelce in the mix for overall TE1 honors again this week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been decimated by tight ends in recent weeks. They have allowed six different tight ends to accumulate more than 40 yards in their last five games. Tampa Bay has also given up multi-touchdown performances to opposing tight ends in each of their last two games. Travis Kelce is set up for another huge game in Week 9 and will want to show out in front of big brother Jason on Monday night.
Player Note on Brock Bowers (TE - LV)
It felt like Brock Bowers was the only elite tight end not to bust out on National Tight Ends Day this past Sunday. Bowers was not awful by any stretch. He caught all five of his targets for 58 yards. But he failed to score a touchdown, which has been the rookie's Achilles' Heel early in his career. Bowers will hope to turn that around against a Cincinnati defense that has given up four touchdowns to tight ends on the year. Only two NFL teams have allowed more. Even if Bowers does not score, he will be an elite fantasy option in this matchup.
Player Note on Garrett Wilson (WR - NYJ)
Garrett Wilson is shaping up to be this season's "Volume is King in Fantasy Football" flagbearer. Wilson enters Week 9 as the overall WR9 in total points despite finishing inside the top 18 just twice in eight games. Wilson has remained the top target of Aaron Rodgers even after the acquisition of Davante Adams. Time will tell if that holds over the next two months. For now, however, Wilson should at least continue to post starter-worthy numbers in most weeks. This week's matchup versus the Houston Texans has been difficult on wide receivers, however. I would lower expectations for Garrett Wilson a bit this week.
Player Note on Cooper Kupp (WR - LAR)
Cooper Kupp returned to action last week after being out since Week 2 with an ankle injury. Kupp caught a touchdown as part of a five-catch, 51-yard performance. However, he was upstaged by Puka Nacua to a degree. With their offense now looking whole again, the Rams can keep Kupp, Nacua, and running back Kyren Williams among the elite fantasy options at their respective positions. That means Kupp and Nacua are likely top-15 or so weekly options in all formats, especially those that incorporate scoring for receptions. That should remain the case this week versus a Seattle Seahawks defense that performs more poorly in zone coverage. Both recently returned Rams receivers should be able to find holes in Seattle's defense on Sunday.
Player Note on Terry McLaurin (WR - WAS)
Terry McLaurin has methodically moved his way up the ladder among fantasy wide receivers following a slow start to the season. McLaurin has finished no worse than WR27 in his last six games and has been a top-20 fantasy wideout in five of those six outings. This week McLaurin gets a New York Giants defense which has performed at average levels across the board. New York did limit McLaurin to 22 receiving yards in Week 2. But that was before the longtime Commanders wide receiver solidified his connection with standout rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. I would be willing to bet that McLaurin has a much better game against the Giants this time around.
Player Note on Puka Nacua (WR - LAR)
Puka Nacua surprised many by returning to action last week for the first time since Week 1. Nacua looked like he hadn't missed a beat. He caught seven of nine targets for 106 yards and added two carries. With Nacua and fellow Rams wideout Cooper Kupp back in the mix, fantasy managers should view them as they had at the beginning of the season. That means both are firmly in the mix to be weekly WR1s more often than not.
Player Note on Cade Otton (TE - TB)
With Tampa Bay missing both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, tight end Cade Otton became Baker Mayfield's go-to target. Otton posted the second multi-touchdown game of his NFL career while catching a career-high nine passes. Now Otton will face a Kansas City Chiefs team that serves up the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends on the year. Otton may not be the best tight end on the field Monday night, but he should be treated like a weekly fantasy starter until further notice.
Player Note on Evan Engram (TE - JAC)
Evan Engram posted his second top-12 weekly finish in three weeks by scoring a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter in a game the Jacksonville Jaguars would ultimately lose. This week Engram will face a Philadelphia Eagles team that ranks in the top-five defensively against tight ends. Engram is a safe bet for volume, and thus always a reliable top-12 option. However, I have him a couple of spots lower than the consensus this week because of the difficult matchup.
Player Note on Trey McBride (TE - ARI)
Trey McBride continues to flash efficiency that is virtually unmatched at the tight end position. The Cardinals tight end has now hauled in 75 percent of his targets and has three top-five weeks on his ledger. It will be interesting to see if he can add another in Week 9. The Chicago Bears have one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. However, they are about league average in terms of limiting tight end production. McBride is another tight end who has been elite despite a lack of touchdowns. That is one trend that fantasy managers would like to see reversed this week.
Player Note on David Njoku (TE - CLE)
David Njoku is tied for third among tight ends in total fantasy points over the last two weeks as the Cleveland Browns navigate life without Deshaun Watson and Amari Cooper. Quarterback Jameis Winston has targeted his tight end often, resulting in Njoku's recent hot streak. The volume does not figure to end anytime soon given the relative lack of pass catchers that the Browns have. This may not be the best matchup for Njoku, however. The Los Angeles Chargers rank in the top 10 in passing defense and against tight ends based on DVOA. Njoku's volume should keep him afloat as a TE1 in 12-team leagues, but the touchdown upside is less than it has been in recent weeks.
Player Note on Travis Kelce (TE - KC)
Travis Kelce finally caught his first touchdown pass of the 2024 season last week. What is more encouraging is that it was the third game in his last four in which Kelce had at least seven receptions and at least 70 receiving yards. That volume should keep Kelce in the mix for overall TE1 honors again this week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been decimated by tight ends in recent weeks. They have allowed six different tight ends to accumulate more than 40 yards in their last five games. Tampa Bay has also given up multi-touchdown performances to opposing tight ends in each of their last two games. Travis Kelce is set up for another huge game in Week 9 and will want to show out in front of big brother Jason on Monday night.
Player Note on Brock Bowers (TE - LV)
It felt like Brock Bowers was the only elite tight end not to bust out on National Tight Ends Day this past Sunday. Bowers was not awful by any stretch. He caught all five of his targets for 58 yards. But he failed to score a touchdown, which has been the rookie's Achilles' Heel early in his career. Bowers will hope to turn that around against a Cincinnati defense that has given up four touchdowns to tight ends on the year. Only two NFL teams have allowed more. Even if Bowers does not score, he will be an elite fantasy option in this matchup.
Player Note on Garrett Wilson (WR - NYJ)
Garrett Wilson is shaping up to be this season's "Volume is King in Fantasy Football" flagbearer. Wilson enters Week 9 as the overall WR9 in total points despite finishing inside the top 18 just twice in eight games. Wilson has remained the top target of Aaron Rodgers even after the acquisition of Davante Adams. Time will tell if that holds over the next two months. For now, however, Wilson should at least continue to post starter-worthy numbers in most weeks. This week's matchup versus the Houston Texans has been difficult on wide receivers, however. I would lower expectations for Garrett Wilson a bit this week.
Player Note on Cooper Kupp (WR - LAR)
Cooper Kupp returned to action last week after being out since Week 2 with an ankle injury. Kupp caught a touchdown as part of a five-catch, 51-yard performance. However, he was upstaged by Puka Nacua to a degree. With their offense now looking whole again, the Rams can keep Kupp, Nacua, and running back Kyren Williams among the elite fantasy options at their respective positions. That means Kupp and Nacua are likely top-15 or so weekly options in all formats, especially those that incorporate scoring for receptions. That should remain the case this week versus a Seattle Seahawks defense that performs more poorly in zone coverage. Both recently returned Rams receivers should be able to find holes in Seattle's defense on Sunday.
Player Note on Terry McLaurin (WR - WAS)
Terry McLaurin has methodically moved his way up the ladder among fantasy wide receivers following a slow start to the season. McLaurin has finished no worse than WR27 in his last six games and has been a top-20 fantasy wideout in five of those six outings. This week McLaurin gets a New York Giants defense which has performed at average levels across the board. New York did limit McLaurin to 22 receiving yards in Week 2. But that was before the longtime Commanders wide receiver solidified his connection with standout rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. I would be willing to bet that McLaurin has a much better game against the Giants this time around.
Player Note on Puka Nacua (WR - LAR)
Puka Nacua surprised many by returning to action last week for the first time since Week 1. Nacua looked like he hadn't missed a beat. He caught seven of nine targets for 106 yards and added two carries. With Nacua and fellow Rams wideout Cooper Kupp back in the mix, fantasy managers should view them as they had at the beginning of the season. That means both are firmly in the mix to be weekly WR1s more often than not.
Nothing found for News
Nothing found for Featured Pros
Go to the Fantasy Accuracy Reports to see how this expert stacks up.