Fansided

FanDuel NFL 2018: Week 9 lineup

By Joe D'Aloisio

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Wide receiver Robert Woods #17 of the Los Angeles Rams catches the pass in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Wide receiver Robert Woods #17 of the Los Angeles Rams catches the pass in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Wide receivers

  • Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams – $7,600
  • Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs – $6,700
  • Tyrell Williams, Los Angeles Chargers – $6,200

The Los Angeles Rams improved to 8-0 with their 29-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers last week. Jared Goff struggled to find his receivers, especially Brandin Cooks, who was blanketed by Packers’ rookie corner Jaire Alexander.

Woods led the positional group with five catches and he tacked on 70 yards in the victory. Woods is averaging 84 yards per game this season and led the team with 46 receptions for 672 yards.

Outside of Week 1, Woods has had at least 5+ receptions and 70+ yards in every single game, three of which he eclipsed the 100 yard total. Last week was the first time Woods fell below the double digit fantasy total (9.5), since the season opener.

Woods and company travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints in Week 9. The Saints have given up 1,516 yards to receivers, fourth most in the league. They have surrendered 12 touchdowns to the position group, tied for 31st in the league, and are one score behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Overall, receivers have scored 285.9 fantasy points, 30th in the league.

Kansas City’s offense under the control of Patrick Mahomes is electric and one receiver who is benefiting from it is Watkins. Now, Watkins has never lived up to his first-round draft value, but he is having a strong 2018 with the Chiefs.

Through eight games, he has 49 receptions. 453 yards and three touchdowns. He is second on the team in all of those categories in the position group. In last week’s victory over the Broncos, Watkins led the team with eight receptions for 107 yards and two scores. He finished the game with 26.7 fantasy points, third most at the receiver position for Week 8.

Watkins will have a great opportunity to have back to back 100 yard games for the first time since 2015, when he goes up against the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland’s defense has allowed 1,491 yards to receivers, fifth most in the league and nine touchdowns, tied for fourth most in the NFL.

Finally Williams could make or break Week 9’s lineup. He has big play ability, but could also be irrelevant. In back-to-back games, Williams has posted 118 yards and at least one touchdown. Williams has had at least 19.8 fantasy points in consecutive games.

He currently leads the team with nine receptions for over 20 yards and is second on the team in receiving yards (428). Williams’ Week 9 matchup on the road against the Seahawks isn’t the best, but there is a good chance he won’t be owned in many lineups and that could be the difference between winning and losing.