Syndication: The Enquirer
The NFL kicked off November with some of the biggest divisional matchups of the season: a former underdog evened the score in the AFC East, the dominant team took the lead in the NFC West, and that Steelers-Ravens game was a real nail-biter right up until the last second.
FindBet s3.amazonaws.com
The #Steelers now own the second-best #SuperBowlLV odds after beating the #Ravens to improve to 7-0.… https://t.co/2TV3fazOpg— Steelers Now (@Steelers Now)1604429236.0
Lamar Jackson said that the #Chiefs are the #Ravens "kryptonite" - what does it make the Steelers? Lamar's career… https://t.co/Sc6PC3vYYM— Dov Kleiman (@Dov Kleiman)1604421264.0
If you're competing for your own divisional title in your fantasy league, here are the drops, swaps and shops to make in Week 9.
Drop
Mo Alie-Cox
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
Colin Boyle/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Alie-Cox had promising performances in Weeks 2-4, but after a knee injury sidelined him in Week 5, he hasn't been much of a fantasy factor since then. While he recently returned in Week 8, his workload has gone to Jack Doyle and Trey Burton, meaning Alie-Cox is third in line for tight end work. He's only rostered in three percent of ESPN Leagues, but if Mo Alie-Cox is still on your roster, it's best to leave him on the wire.
Also, some notes on the Colts' target share since Burton's return in Week 4: Frank Reich was literally showing Bu… https://t.co/b5dQX8MICM— Isaiah Sirois (@Isaiah Sirois)1603156609.0
Swap
Corey Davis
Syndication: The Enquirer
Kareem Elgazzar via Imagn Content Services, LLC
After a bye week and two weeks out with injury, Corey Davis was sitting on waiver wires everywhere until last week—he was picked up in 30.4 percent of leagues, and he's now rostered in 52.4 percent of them. Chances are 50/50 as to whether he's available or not, but do whatever you have to land the number one receiver in the Titans offense. In Week 8, Davis landed eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, so it looks like this guy is back on track for a significant season.
Conversely look at the difference for Corey Davis. Again small sample but he has performed SIGNIFICANTLY better wit… https://t.co/RvwTHpDfYN— Jordan Richards (@Jordan Richards)1604423138.0
DJ Moore
NFL: Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Don't let his fantasy points fool you: DJ Moore is a high risk, high reward play, but he's been pretty high reward the past few weeks. Three weeks in a row, Moore turned four or five passes into 93 yards each game, scoring three touchdowns in that three-game spread. While he doesn't get a lot of targets per game, Moore is a deep threat that sees a lot of opportunities, especially for touchdowns, so he's an ideal flex for the remainder of this season.
Receiving Yds #NFL 1. DeAndre Hopkins 704 2. Stefon Diggs 695 3. Robby Anderson 688 4. DK Metcalf 680 5. Calvin Ri… https://t.co/TjL0wAVLp4— El Ovoide (@El Ovoide)1604416111.0
Chase Edmonds
NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports
Coming off a bye week, Chase Edmonds is ready to run the Arizona backfield as the top RB option in Week 9. With Kenyan Drake expected to be out for the next few weeks, Edmonds could be someone you want to trade for if you have a few extra wide receivers and lack RB depth. Edmonds is a pass-catching back, which bolsters his fantasy value enough to make him a safe bet as long as he starts.
@Rotoworld_FB Oh really, I was only expecting to ride Chase Edmonds to glory the next few weeks. I’m just gonna go… https://t.co/xE71IXJ7Q4— Flex RB (@Flex RB)1604328579.0
Shop
Zack Moss
NFL: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
In a game prediction I wrote for PatriotMaven, I predicted that Bill Belichick would force the Bills to rely on the run. While that turned out to be true, what I didn't anticipate was that Zack Moss would be so good at it. In his highest amount of snaps this season, Moss took 14 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns. It seems more and more like Moss is the future of the Bills backfield—if he's available in your league, invest in him for the remainder of the Bills' season.
@thadbrown7 Zack Moss be like. https://t.co/fWBp9ndPRu— #BILLSMAFIA-TJDMCR (@#BILLSMAFIA-TJDMCR)1604425044.0
Kendrick Bourne
NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
As we said in Week 7, the 49ers roster is like a revolving door: each week, a new player gets injured, and a new guy comes to take his place. With Deebo Samuel and George Kittle out, Nick Mullens is likely to rely on Bourne, who is owned in only 9.3 percent of ESPN leagues. As with many NFL teams at this point in the season, Bourne is a sure bet because… he's the only one left to bet on.
WR Pickups: Owned in less than 50% of leagues Curtis Samuel Mecole Hardman Marvin Hall Jakobi Meyers Denzel Mims… https://t.co/MdsF0gTDlR— TheFantasyInsiders (@TheFantasyInsiders)1604419683.0
Logan Thomas
NFL: Washington Football Team at New York Giants
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
If you are reeling from the loss of Kittle and Bourne isn't right for your roster, consider picking up Logan Thomas. While his target share is concerning, Thomas made the most of his catches by scoring a touchdown in each of his last two games. Although he got four targets, he scored second in most major receiving categories in Week 7, and he stands to benefit against the Giants in Week 9 and from being in football's worst division this year.
TE Pickups: Owned in less than 50% of leagues Eric Ebron Trey Burton Jordan Reed Logan Thomas Ross Dwelley Albert… https://t.co/FD5oS4L4JR— TheFantasyInsiders (@TheFantasyInsiders)1604436361.0
The Lakers looked lost in the Valley
The Phoenix Suns are just a win away from sending LeBron James home in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in the King's illustrious career.
After stating that "These shoulders were built for a reason," James referring to facing the challenge of taking on added responsibilities after Anthony Davis was ruled out for Game 5, the Lakers and LeBron disappointed in a big way Tuesday night. L.A. started off hot jumping out to a 10-5 lead behind a couple shots from James and a three from Davis' replacement Markieff Morris. But it didn't take long for the wheels to completely fall off for the defending champion Lakers as they spent most of the first half trying to remember how basketball works.
LeBron looking on during Game 5Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Two numbers stick out in the Game 5 loss for the Lakers and those are 34.5 and 12. Los Angeles shot 34.5% from the field on Tuesday night and were minus 12 in turnover ratio. No matter who's on your team, if you can't shoot and you can't protect the ball, the outcome is already determined.
The Suns weren't simply beneficiaries of a poor performance however as the Suns put it on the Lakers early and often and they never let their foot off the pedal for 48 minutes. Phoenix ended with 15 more assists, had seven more combined steals and blocks, and outscored L.A. in the paint by 12 points. Devin Booker and Cameron Payne were spectacular and they seemed to hit big shots every time the Lakers appeared to threaten a comeback. Mikal Bridges was effective on both sides of the ball adding three steals and two blocks to help electrify his team with the defensive effort.
