Fantasy Football Player Notes
Week 9 Half PPR Rankings
23.
Kareem Hunt
RB - (vs . TB)
Hunt has been a top 24 back in each of his three full starts as "the guy" for Kansas City (RB5, RB11, RB23). He has averaged 24.6 touches with only 81 total yards. Volume has been king for Hunt, while efficiency has been harder to come by. Among 43 qualifying backs, he ranks 28th in missed tackles forced per attempt and 34th in yards after contact per attempt. He still hasn't managed one explosive run with his 84 rushing attempts. Hunt has another good matchup on the ground this week to rack up volume against. The Bucs have allowed the highest explosive run rate, the 13th-most rushing yards per game, and the 11th-highest missed tackle rate.
|
43.
Travis Kelce
TE - (vs . TB)
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.
|
66.
Xavier Worthy
WR - (vs . TB)
Worthy has been a hollow source of volume since Rashee Rice went down. Last week, it was much the same. He had a 64.3% route share, a 21.1% target share, a 29.5% air-yard share, and a 33.3% first-read share, with only 37 receiving yards to show for it. Maybe this is the week he finally converts the strong usage into fantasy points. Time is running out because once Hopkins is fully integrated into this offense, I think he will take the WR1 crown and compete weekly with Travis Kelce for the team lead in targets. Tampa Bay has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game and the tenth-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.
|
75.
DeAndre Hopkins
WR - (vs . TB)
Last week, Hopkins only had a 33.3% route share and a 7.9% target share. His route share likely climbs this week, but like with Amari Cooper, we can't be too aggressive with our ramp-up expectations. Asking wide receivers to absorb complex playbooks quickly and ascend to full-time roles immediately is a bit much. Could Hopkins have a 70% route share this week? It's possible. It's also possible that he is sitting in the 40-50% range with a target share in the mid-teens, and you're praying that he scores a touchdown to save you from a poor fantasy lineup decision. Sit Hopkins again this week, as we need to see how his role expands in Week 9 before starting him with confidence.
|
157.
Noah Gray
TE - (vs . TB)
|
168.
Samaje Perine
RB - (vs . TB)
|
174.
Justin Watson
WR - (vs . TB)
|
187.
Carson Steele
RB - (vs . TB)
|
194.
Mecole Hardman Jr.
WR - (vs . TB)
|
275.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
WR - (vs . TB)
|
341.
Peyton Hendershot
TE - (vs . TB)
|
352.
Montrell Washington
WR - (vs . TB)
|
358.
Jared Wiley
TE - (vs . TB)
|
365.
Anthony Firkser
TE - (vs . TB)
|