Fantasy Football: 5 bold predictions for Week 9
By Dustin Baker
1. In the place of Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones thrives
The Minnesota Vikings surrender 30.1 PPR points to wide receivers per game. This is a departure from the normative Mike Zimmer defensive philosophy, but it is the current reality. This is slightly better than the Seattle Seahawks, who rank dead last in the NFL for PPR points allowed to wide receivers.
In Week 9, all indications point to superstar Kenny Golladay missing the game due to a hip injury. Immediately, Marvin Jones becomes Detroit’s bonafide WR1. This bodes well for Jones’ fantasy owners. Matthew Stafford and Detroit love to throw the football, and that mentality probably will not lessen because Golladay is on the shelf.
What’s more, Jones has been performing well as of the last two weeks. He has acted as a fantasy sleeper and has impressed. Jones notched two scores in Week 8 vs. the Colts. Now, Jones, at least temporarily, will be “the guy,” likely for several weeks. His WR stablemates include Danny Amendola and Marvin Hall, two serviceable football players. But these men are unlikely to emerge as Golladay’s production compensation. That will be the responsibility of Jones.
Minnesota does not stop the pass, and the Lions keynote wideout is out. It’s a profitable mix for Jones. He will accrue 15+ fantasy points at U.S. Bank Stadium.
It would also be an astute idea to start T.J. Hockenson.