Bold NFL Predictions for Week 9
Last week’s rookie Halloween edition of Bold Predictions proved to be quite unsettling. Except for Will Levis’ breakout performance, my other predictions fell flat. They’re called ‘bold’ predictions for a reason; the likelihood of them happening is roughly 30%. So, while the trends suggest they fall within the range of possible outcomes, these predictions are still longshots. Nevertheless, apart from being fun topics to discuss, there is still a practical aspect to bold predictions. They can aid in making lineup decisions by identifying players with massive upside or those who might disappoint. While the predictions can sometimes be hyperbolic, they often correctly indicate the direction a player is headed for the week.
Now, it’s time for five more bold predictions that challenge conventional wisdom and hopefully assist in your fantasy football decisions.
Stroud Goes ‘Buc Wild’ in Tampa
C.J. Stroud has had a strong rookie season. Even after losing to the Panthers last week, I can’t help but think that Carolina might regret not selecting Stroud with the first pick. However, despite his initial success, it’s been a challenging few weeks for him. In the last three games, Stroud has only completed 57% of his passes and averaged 196 passing yards. His hot start has cooled, but I still believe he has potential. This week, the Texans face the Buccaneers in Houston. The Bucs’ defense ranks 28th in passing yards allowed and has given up 299 yards per game in their last three contests. Although this game has a low total at 39.5, I project the Texans to gain the 9th most yards this week. Passing yards account for 72% of their total yards, so I think Stroud is in for a fine day, and he could surpass 300 yards for the first time since Week 4.
Trey McBride-zilla’s Breakdown
This was supposed to be a big week for fantasy football’s ‘darling of the week.’ After taking over from Zach Ertz in Week 8 and finishing as the overall TE-1, many fantasy owners were excited. I even managed to pick him up off waivers in my league. While I believe he’s a low-end TE1 for the rest of the season, I don’t think he will perform well this week. Not against the Cleveland Browns, who are allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. Additionally, the Cardinals will have either Clayton Tune or Kyler Murray starting this week. Murray hasn’t played in nine months, and Tune has only attempted one pass this year. I lack confidence in any Arizona player this week. As for McBride, I expect him to deliver a TE-15 performance or lower.
Browns Pound the Ground, Cards Unwound
I’ll stick with the Browns-Cardinals game for my next prediction. Cleveland has had an up-and-down season and should feel reasonably content with their 4-3 record. If Deshaun Watson had met the Browns’ expectations (and he still might), they would be legitimate contenders in the AFC. However, Watson hasn’t lived up to his billing, and the Browns have had to rely on their running game and defense. In fact, the Browns gain the highest percentage of total team yards through rushing in the league, with 45% of their yards coming from the ground. They only trail Miami in rushing yards per game. Over the last three games, Arizona has allowed the 4th most rushing yards in the league. Cleveland is a heavy home favorite and may run the ball even more than usual this week. I believe they have a great chance to gain 200 yards on the ground.
Jonathan Taylor Swift Against the Wonderstruck Panthers
Could this be the week when Jonathan Taylor regains his dominance in the fantasy football landscape? I think it is. Over the past four games since his return, Taylor’s usage has steadily increased. Last week, for the first time this season, he led the Colts’ backfield in rushing attempts. Taylor has only delivered one RB1 performance this year, but this week’s matchup against the Panthers could change that. Carolina allows the second most fantasy points to running backs and gives up 139 rushing yards per game. Indianapolis is a 2.5-point favorite, so they should be able to run the ball throughout the game. This seems to be the perfect opportunity for Taylor to shine this week, and that’s why I predict he will be the overall RB-1 for Week 9.
Adams Headlines the Vegas Fantasy Show
There’s been a lot of drama in Las Vegas this week with the firing of their head coach and GM in the middle of the night. Antonio Pierce takes over as the interim head coach, and he has the rest of the season to prove himself. His first order of business was benching Jimmy Garoppolo in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell. It’s a bold move, but not unwarranted. Garoppolo is having his worst season as a starter, leading the league in interceptions, and the Raiders haven’t scored more than 21 points in any game this season. Many people believe the move to O’Connell is bad news for Adams, but I disagree. Adams has only managed 142 yards and one touchdown over the last four games; it can’t get much worse than that. The Giants allow 18.1 PPR fantasy points to the opposing WR1. Additionally, O’Connell has targeted Adams on about 33% of his throws. The Raiders have the second-highest passing play percentage in the league, so Adams should see plenty of targets. I’m betting that he can turn those targets into fantasy points and catapult into a top-three WR this week.
