Time keeps on slipping into the future. Except this weekend when we change our clocks back. In which case, are we going back into the past? And in the spring do we go back to the future? The point is that the clock is ticking on your fantasy teams to make a move -- either for a better playoff spot or just any spot at all.
But there have been several wrenches thrown into the ointment. A few files in the gears. Some big-name receivers have changed teams. Others are injured and out for the year. We've got quarterback changes, IR players returning and rookies starting to find their stride.
Alas, we wade through this muddied landscape to find gold where we can. That is the plight of the Sleepers column. Finding value where it may never have been. Or where we thought we'd once lost it. Which is a really obnoxious way to tell you I'm going to help you find some starts that you should really consider this week. Plus there's a really big name near the top of it. It deserves a little fanfare.
And can we stop this daylight saving madness? Please?
OK, here are some names.
QUARTERBACK
This is where we are with Mahomes this season. The greatest quarterback of this generation is sliding into a fantasy sleepers column in Week 9. That’s what happens when you’ve just scored 18 fantasy points in a game for the first time since last Thanksgiving. Also, when you have more interceptions than touchdowns. That doesn’t matter much to the 7-0 Chiefs. But it has been a source of irritation to fantasy managers.
So far, the matchups haven’t really mattered for Mahomes’ fantasy fortunes. Here’s hoping this week changes that. The Tampa Bay defense has been very quarterback friendly. In the past four weeks, the Bucs have surrendered 327 pass yards per game and 14 total touchdown passes. I’m not sure the Chiefs offense is built to post those kinds of numbers, but we could see Mahomes put up consecutive quality fantasy outings for the first time in awhile.
Welcome back, Derek Carr! And not a moment too soon. The Saints offense has fallen into an abyss since the team's hot start to the season. New Orleans has scored fewer than 14 points in four of its last six games. They’ve tallied 10 or fewer in back-to-back contests. On top of Carr being out, the Saints lost Rashid Shaheed (knee) for the season and had to play a game without Chris Olave, who was in concussion protocol. But now the band is (partially) back together. The Saints’ playoff hopes are hanging by the slimmest of threads. What better way to kickstart a resurgence than against the division-rival Panthers?
It hasn’t mattered what on-field adjustments the Panthers have made this season; they keep getting pummeled. They have the NFL’s worst-ranked defense overall. They’re slightly better against the pass -- ranking just 27th in that category. When these teams met in Week 1, Carr threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns, posting 21.3 fantasy points in the process. Considering the Panthers secondary hasn’t shown any real improvement, an encore performance isn’t an unreasonable idea.
Last week, I became a Bo-liever in advance of Denver’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Nix did not disappoint, posting a season-high 284 passing yards and four total touchdowns (three passing). That makes three 20-point fantasy performances in the past four weeks and the fourth time Nix has tallied 19-plus points in six contests. While the rookie didn’t have that many rushing yards (four) against Carolina, he did run for his fourth touchdown of the season -- making him the fantasy quarterback we thought Anthony Richardson would be.
The difficulty level will be ratcheted up this week ... but not quite to impossible. Baltimore's pass defense has not been the immovable object we’ve become accustomed to. In fact, the Ravens have been one of the best matchups for fantasy signal-callers this season. They’ve allowed multiple touchdown passes in five of their last six games. They’ve also given up more than 300 passing yards in three of their last four contests. Nix and the Broncos might not hit the same heights they did in Week 8, but in a potentially pass-heavy game script, the rookie has deep-league value.
RUNNING BACK
Welcome back, Tua Tagovailoa! The Dolphins didn’t get a victory on the field last week, but fantasy managers felt like they were winning. Miami scored at least 20 points for the first time since Week 1. It was also the first time in several weeks that fantasy managers received usable production from the Dolphins running backs. Both De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert were among the top 15 RBs heading into the Sunday night game.
With Achane having a solid grip on the starting job, Mostert will have to make do with the remainder of the opportunities. That could still be profitable this week against the Bills. Buffalo enters the matchup with the NFL’s 15th-ranked run defense, and in their last meeting in Week 2, Miami had a nice day running for 139 yards in a game that Mostert missed with a chest injury. Now that the band is fully back together, Mostert should get a chance to get some touches in a big game for Miami’s flickering playoff hopes.
The Titans offense has been a struggle to rely on this year. The quarterback play has been underwhelming. And until this past week, most fantasy managers were ready to give up on any of Tennessee’s wide receivers. (Thanks for renewing our hope, Calvin Ridley.) The only piece we’ve been able to have any faith in is Pollard. While he has had to share snaps when Tyjae Spears has been healthy, there’s been very little comparison in usage between the two.
Coming into the season, the Patriots defense looked like one to avoid. They were one of 2023’s best stop units, ranking fourth against the run. This year has been a different story. New England is in the bottom third of the league against opposing ground games. It has allowed at least one rushing score every week. The past six weeks have been particularly awful. The Pats are surrendering nearly 160 rushing yards per game. Against that backdrop, look for the reasonably productive Pollard to be even better than normal for fantasy managers.
WIDE RECEIVER
Last week, a quarterback switch in Cleveland led to renewed hope for anyone with a Browns pass catcher. Here’s to hoping a QB switch in Indianapolis does the same for those of you carrying Colts receivers. Downs has been the Indy wideout fantasy managers can count on, regardless of signal-caller. But Joe Flacco could truly unlock him. Downs has had nine or more targets in four of his last five outings and has four of the Colts’ top seven single-game receiving totals. Expect more of the same. Only with more catchable targets.
For all the praise heaped on the Vikings defense this year, it’s been the best matchup for fantasy wideouts in 2024. Minnesota has allowed at least one top-20 fantasy receiver in each of its last six games. One of the commonalities has been that the receivers have done most of their damage on short or intermediate targets. With more than 60 percent of Downs’ targets coming within nine yards of the line of scrimmage, he’s a prime candidate to get plenty of work against Brian Flores’ defense. Consider him a low-end WR2 for Week 9.
With Diontae Johnson now getting DoorDash in Baltimore, there’s a void for the top target in Charlotte. Xavier Legette, whom the Panthers selected 32nd overall in April's draft, is a popular candidate to take over that gig. But what if he wasn’t? Coker has arguably done just as much with half of Legette’s opportunities. The undrafted rookie has 12 catches on 15 targets for 186 yards and a touchdown. Just 25 yards behind Legette -- with 20 fewer targets. Put a star on Coker's sideline catch against Denver in Week 8.
This week’s game against the Saints could be a showcase for Coker. New Orleans has been giving up a lot of shots downfield recently. Which is a thing that happens when you have one of the lowest QB pressure rates in the league. As long as Carolina’s offensive line can keep a clean pocket for Bryce Young, look for him to target Coker on a few intermediate and deep shots.
TIGHT END
Yeah, we’re chasing this dragon again. Fant as a streaming tight end is like a fun-sized bag of candy. Not as much return as you’d like. But not so little as to swear him off completely. He maintains a consistent weekly target share in a pass-heavy offense. And he’s turned in double-digit fantasy points twice in three weeks. Not bad for a potential bye week fill-in. I’m looking at you, George Kittle managers.
Into Seattle comes the Rams defense. It’s a young group that has played well the last couple of weeks, but they’re having trouble with tight ends. Tucker Kraft and Brock Bowers stung them in consecutive weeks. Last week, Minnesota's Josh Oliver caught a touchdown --- the fourth score by a tight end versus the Rams this year. Fant’s ceiling isn’t as high as Kraft's or Bowers', but he should see more work than Oliver (or Johnny Mundt, for that matter). Another double-digit fantasy day is possible. A touchdown would be a welcome bonus.
Welcome back, T.J. Hockenson! He was amid a fantastic season when he tore his ACL late in 2023. After almost being activated last week, all signs point to him playing on Sunday night. Even with the recent boom in tight end production (how nuts was National Tight End Day?!), it’s nice to see the return of a high-level fantasy producer.
He comes back with a soft-landing spot against the Colts. Apart from giving up big weeks to Cole Kmet and Jonnu Smith, Indy was a high-water mark for the underperforming Dalton Schultz and Pat Freiermuth. Don’t be surprised if Hockenson is on a snap count this week. Be equally unsurprised if he’s heavily targeted when he is on the field.
DEFENSE
It’s been a rough year for the Patriots. Since their surprise win over Cincinnati in Week 1, they've lost six straight. They ended the skid last week by being the latest team to grind their feet on the Jets’ couch. But through it all, New England’s defense has been anything but stout. Losing Josh Uche to a trade with the Chiefs isn’t going to help matters.
The good news is that the Titans offense hasn’t threatened anyone all year. The unit ranks near the bottom in several categories, including yards per game, points per game and third-down conversion rate. They also have a propensity for turning the ball over. They’ve given it away 16 times this season -- second only to the Raiders. Even Mason Rudolph wasn’t immune, with two interceptions in Week 8. Even with a big player taken out of the pass rush, the Pats should be able to make some plays against this offense.
Marcas Grant is a fantasy analyst for NFL.com and a man who doesn't love having to stash Halloween candy next to his desk. Though he also kinda loves it. Send him your late-night snacks or fantasy football questions on Twitter @MarcasG or TikTok at marcasgrant.
