1) Ja’Marr Chase vs. Bears<\/h3>\n![\"ja'marr](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/02\/USATSI_25116955_168400545_lowres-1024x653.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSince Joe Flacco got to town, Chase has been targeted on a mind-boggling 40+% of the Bengals’<\/a> passes. He has already been targeted 99 times through 8 games and will soar past 200 during the fantasy season at his current pace. The bad news is that Joe Flacco left last week’s game with a shoulder injury, but he says he should be good to go this week against Chicago<\/a>. While I hope that’s true, the dude is over 40 years old, and it’s crazy to think he’s going to last until Burrow comes back with the way Cincinnati’s offensive line blocks. Chase was drafted as the top WR overall, and while he doesn’t need 20 targets a game to be dominant, he’s going to remain a fixture at the top of this list as long as the volume stays anywhere close to where it’s been. Chicago is much weaker against the run than they are against the pass, but the Bengals aren’t likely to change their game plan very much. Chase is an every-week starter, and you didn’t need me to tell you that.<\/p>\n2) Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Commanders<\/h3>\n![\"week](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/week-6-wide-receiver-rankings-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOh, how we missed JSN last week. Smith Njigba and the Seahawks<\/a> return from their bye to take on a Commanders<\/a> team that was just shredded by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs<\/a> on Monday Night. The Washington defense is ranked 27th overall and 26th in the league against the pass. They will be hard-pressed to slow down Sam Darnold and his favorite target this Sunday, and I expect JSN to pick right up where he left off with his 4th consecutive game of over 25 fantasy points. JSN is on a short list of players that will certainly be on a good portion of league-winning rosters when all is said and done this year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
3) CeeDee Lamb vs. Cardinals<\/h3>\n![\"CeeDee](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27003428-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nLamb 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<\/a> and their top-ranked pass defense. This week, he gets a far less stingy Cardinals<\/a> 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n
\nFor more fantasy football analysis, check out our Week 9 Quarterback Rankings<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n4) Justin Jefferson vs. Lions<\/h3>\n![\"Justin](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/09\/USATSI_27037055_168402708_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI 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<\/a> will most likely jump out in front of the Vikings<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n5) Puka Nacua vs. Saints<\/h3>\n![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/02\/Kevin-Dotson-Contract-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Yannick Peterhans-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWe 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<\/a>. 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<\/a> 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<\/a> should win easily.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
6) Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Vikings<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/07\/USATSI_25199646_168402708_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Lions return home after their Week 8 bye to face their division rival Vikings, this weekend. The Vikings will have J.J. McCarthy under center, and that could be a bit bumpy in the early going. The Lions will most likely look to jump out to an early lead and then pound the leaky Minnesota run defense, so we will need Amon Ra to get his points early in this one. He’s an elite talent and has a scoring floor that’s as good as any receiver in the league, so he’s a must-start. At worst, he is going to get around 8 targets with 7 catches for 70 yards with a high probability for a touchdown. The Sun god has scored in 4 of his 7 starts so far this season with a total of 7 touchdowns on the year.<\/p>\n
7) Rashee Rice vs. Bills<\/h3>\n![\"Chiefs](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/11\/USATSI_21980782-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt should come as a surprise to nobody that since his return from a six-game suspension, Rice has been the Chiefs’ best receiver. He leads the team with 19 targets over the last two weeks with a target share of 28.1% (Anything over 25% is considered elite). We are willing to overlook that his yards per catch and air yards per target are a couple of yards lower than it was in his previous two seasons, since volume and the touchdown equity are what we are looking for, and both have been very strong. This game against the Bills<\/a> should be a fun one to watch with plenty of scoring to go around. While we typically like to target the Bills run defense, the Chiefs have been using Rice as an extension of their run game with quick passes and will likely be forced to do so even more this week with Isaiah Pacheco due to miss time with a knee injury.<\/p>\n8) Nico Collins vs. Broncos<\/h3>\n![\"Texans](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/04\/USATSI_19515312_168400539_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCollins, much like Puka Nacua, is an incredibly talented receiver who has been plagued by nagging injuries in every season of his young career. When he is on the field, he is one of the league’s best pass catchers. The injury bug got to him again this season as he missed last week’s game due to a concussion. The issues have been somewhat compounded this season as C.J. Stroud struggled early in the season, as it took some time for offensive coordinator Nick Caley to scheme plays that could mask their shaky offensive line play. Stroud was able to break out a bit last week with over 300 yards passing for the first time this season, but Nico wasn’t there to join in on the fun. He should clear the concussion protocol and take the field this weekend against a Broncos defense that is currently ranked #1 in the league against the pass. Ordinarily, this isn’t a matchup we would target, but Denver will be without their all-pro cornerback, Patrick Surtain, for the foreseeable future, so that should create enough space for Collins to have a solid day. The bigger concern for Houston<\/a> will be Denver’s top-ranked pass rush, so look for a good amount of quick, short passes to Collins, who still remains Stroud’s favorite target.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
9) Michael Pittman vs. Steelers<\/h3>\n
![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2022\/08\/Michael-Pittman.jpeg\")
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If somebody asked you to name the top 7 receivers in the league this year, would you include the name Michael Pittman? It’s true, he’s in the top 7. OK, he’s #7. I’ve always found it amusing when people tell you where a player is ranked by saying that they are one of the X# best or in the Top X# of anything, you can usually figure that they are ranked at the bottom of that list. But I digress. Pittman has been one of the main beneficiaries of Daniel Jones and the high-flying Colts’ breakout this season. He has scored a touchdown in six of the Colts’ eight games and, along with Tyler Warren, has emerged as the focal point of Jones and the Colts’<\/a> passing attack that ranks in the top 5 in the league in total yards (you guessed it, they’re #5). This week they square off against a Steeler<\/a> defense that is ranked in the bottom 1 of the league against the pass. This collection of household names has been getting shredded each and every week, and this week should be no different. Fire up and Colts receivers you may have, and Pittman is the best of the bunch.<\/p>\n10) Jaylen Waddle vs. Ravens<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/08\/USATSI_22287517_168414004_lowres-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWaddle was left as the last man standing when Tyreek Hill went down for the season, and for the most part, he has been a solid WR2 in most formats. In the first two games post-Tyreek, Waddle saw his targets jump from 6 per game up to 9 and 8, respectively, over the next two contests, where he posted 12 catches and 205 yards with a score in that span. Then he had a down week against a tough Cleveland<\/a> defense in sloppy, wet conditions before bouncing back with 5 grabs for 99 yards and a score last week. The targets dropped back to 6, but we may just chalk that up to the fact that Miami was able to blow out Atlanta and didn’t have to force the issue. This week against Baltimore, they will need to throw the ball to keep pace with Lamar and the Ravens, and Waddle should see his targets approach the double digits. The matchup is a good one, even though Baltimore’s pass defense is starting to get healthier. I’m expecting Waddle to have a big game on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
Since Joe Flacco got to town, Chase has been targeted on a mind-boggling 40+% of the Bengals’<\/a> passes. He has already been targeted 99 times through 8 games and will soar past 200 during the fantasy season at his current pace. The bad news is that Joe Flacco left last week’s game with a shoulder injury, but he says he should be good to go this week against Chicago<\/a>. While I hope that’s true, the dude is over 40 years old, and it’s crazy to think he’s going to last until Burrow comes back with the way Cincinnati’s offensive line blocks. Chase was drafted as the top WR overall, and while he doesn’t need 20 targets a game to be dominant, he’s going to remain a fixture at the top of this list as long as the volume stays anywhere close to where it’s been. Chicago is much weaker against the run than they are against the pass, but the Bengals aren’t likely to change their game plan very much. Chase is an every-week starter, and you didn’t need me to tell you that.<\/p>\n Oh, how we missed JSN last week. Smith Njigba and the Seahawks<\/a> return from their bye to take on a Commanders<\/a> team that was just shredded by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs<\/a> on Monday Night. The Washington defense is ranked 27th overall and 26th in the league against the pass. They will be hard-pressed to slow down Sam Darnold and his favorite target this Sunday, and I expect JSN to pick right up where he left off with his 4th consecutive game of over 25 fantasy points. JSN is on a short list of players that will certainly be on a good portion of league-winning rosters when all is said and done this year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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<\/a> and their top-ranked pass defense. This week, he gets a far less stingy Cardinals<\/a> 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n For more fantasy football analysis, check out our Week 9 Quarterback Rankings<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 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<\/a> will most likely jump out in front of the Vikings<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. 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<\/a> 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<\/a> should win easily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Lions return home after their Week 8 bye to face their division rival Vikings, this weekend. The Vikings will have J.J. McCarthy under center, and that could be a bit bumpy in the early going. The Lions will most likely look to jump out to an early lead and then pound the leaky Minnesota run defense, so we will need Amon Ra to get his points early in this one. He’s an elite talent and has a scoring floor that’s as good as any receiver in the league, so he’s a must-start. At worst, he is going to get around 8 targets with 7 catches for 70 yards with a high probability for a touchdown. The Sun god has scored in 4 of his 7 starts so far this season with a total of 7 touchdowns on the year.<\/p>\n It should come as a surprise to nobody that since his return from a six-game suspension, Rice has been the Chiefs’ best receiver. He leads the team with 19 targets over the last two weeks with a target share of 28.1% (Anything over 25% is considered elite). We are willing to overlook that his yards per catch and air yards per target are a couple of yards lower than it was in his previous two seasons, since volume and the touchdown equity are what we are looking for, and both have been very strong. This game against the Bills<\/a> should be a fun one to watch with plenty of scoring to go around. While we typically like to target the Bills run defense, the Chiefs have been using Rice as an extension of their run game with quick passes and will likely be forced to do so even more this week with Isaiah Pacheco due to miss time with a knee injury.<\/p>\n Collins, much like Puka Nacua, is an incredibly talented receiver who has been plagued by nagging injuries in every season of his young career. When he is on the field, he is one of the league’s best pass catchers. The injury bug got to him again this season as he missed last week’s game due to a concussion. The issues have been somewhat compounded this season as C.J. Stroud struggled early in the season, as it took some time for offensive coordinator Nick Caley to scheme plays that could mask their shaky offensive line play. Stroud was able to break out a bit last week with over 300 yards passing for the first time this season, but Nico wasn’t there to join in on the fun. He should clear the concussion protocol and take the field this weekend against a Broncos defense that is currently ranked #1 in the league against the pass. Ordinarily, this isn’t a matchup we would target, but Denver will be without their all-pro cornerback, Patrick Surtain, for the foreseeable future, so that should create enough space for Collins to have a solid day. The bigger concern for Houston<\/a> will be Denver’s top-ranked pass rush, so look for a good amount of quick, short passes to Collins, who still remains Stroud’s favorite target.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If somebody asked you to name the top 7 receivers in the league this year, would you include the name Michael Pittman? It’s true, he’s in the top 7. OK, he’s #7. I’ve always found it amusing when people tell you where a player is ranked by saying that they are one of the X# best or in the Top X# of anything, you can usually figure that they are ranked at the bottom of that list. But I digress. Pittman has been one of the main beneficiaries of Daniel Jones and the high-flying Colts’ breakout this season. He has scored a touchdown in six of the Colts’ eight games and, along with Tyler Warren, has emerged as the focal point of Jones and the Colts’<\/a> passing attack that ranks in the top 5 in the league in total yards (you guessed it, they’re #5). This week they square off against a Steeler<\/a> defense that is ranked in the bottom 1 of the league against the pass. This collection of household names has been getting shredded each and every week, and this week should be no different. Fire up and Colts receivers you may have, and Pittman is the best of the bunch.<\/p>\n Waddle was left as the last man standing when Tyreek Hill went down for the season, and for the most part, he has been a solid WR2 in most formats. In the first two games post-Tyreek, Waddle saw his targets jump from 6 per game up to 9 and 8, respectively, over the next two contests, where he posted 12 catches and 205 yards with a score in that span. Then he had a down week against a tough Cleveland<\/a> defense in sloppy, wet conditions before bouncing back with 5 grabs for 99 yards and a score last week. The targets dropped back to 6, but we may just chalk that up to the fact that Miami was able to blow out Atlanta and didn’t have to force the issue. This week against Baltimore, they will need to throw the ball to keep pace with Lamar and the Ravens, and Waddle should see his targets approach the double digits. The matchup is a good one, even though Baltimore’s pass defense is starting to get healthier. I’m expecting Waddle to have a big game on Thursday night.<\/p>\n2) Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Commanders<\/h3>\n
3) CeeDee Lamb vs. Cardinals<\/h3>\n
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\n4) Justin Jefferson vs. Lions<\/h3>\n
5) Puka Nacua vs. Saints<\/h3>\n
6) Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Vikings<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n7) Rashee Rice vs. Bills<\/h3>\n
8) Nico Collins vs. Broncos<\/h3>\n
9) Michael Pittman vs. Steelers<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n10) Jaylen Waddle vs. Ravens<\/h3>\n