3) CeeDee Lamb vs. Cardinals
Lamb has looked great since returning from a high ankle sprain two weeks ago. Last week, he had a rather pedestrian game by his standards, with just 74 yards on 7 receptions, but it came against the Broncos and their top-ranked pass defense. This week, he gets a far less stingy Cardinals D that is ranked 25th in the league against the pass. More importantly, Lamb will still be playing on the same team as the Dallas defense that simply can’t stop anybody from scoring. The Cowboys will have to win by outscoring their opponents, and this Monday night has all the makings of a shootout. Play Lamb and George Pickens, and even Jake Ferguson if you have them.
For more fantasy football analysis, check out our Week 9 Quarterback Rankings!
4) Justin Jefferson vs. Lions
I really wrestled with this one as J.J. McCarthy does make me nervous, but in the end, I just trust Jefferson too much. He is the best receiver in the league, and if he had an actual good quarterback and was able to get a crazy target share like Ja’Marr Chase has been getting, there’s just no telling what kind of stats he would put up every week. I think McCarthy is going to feed Jefferson heavily, and it’s very likely that it will be Jordan Addison who suffers from the quarterback change. The Lions will most likely jump out in front of the Vikings this week, and I expect McCarthy to have to throw the ball much more than Kevin O’Connell would like. Jefferson will get double-digit targets, and hopefully, we will finally get to see him hit the gritty in the end zone. It’s something he wasn’t able to do while Carson Wentz was under center, so maybe the switch back to the younger QB is just what we all need. I believe the J.J. to J.J. connection will pay off big this week.
5) Puka Nacua vs. Saints
We have had to live without Puka for two and a half weeks now, but this week he should return from the ankle injury that knocked him out of the Week 6 game against the Ravens. Injuries have always been a bugaboo for Nacua, as he has been dinged up in almost every single year of his career, dating back to his college days. When he plays, he’s an elite talent, and he’s a must-start fantasy option. Look for him to get back on the field this week against the Saints and move back into his role as Matthew Stafford’s top target. If he is unable to go, Davante Adams moves up to a top-10 option. The only thing holding Adams out of the top 12 with Nacua active is the potential for a heavy run script in a game that the Rams should win easily.
