10 WR sleepers to target for fantasy football Week 9
By Dustin Baker
If you need an edge to win your fantasy football matchup in Week 9, consider adding one of these sleepers at the wide receiver position.
Notable sleeper hits in this analysis last week included Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, Hunter Renfrow, and Marvin Jones. Those four players were not heavily sought after in 2020 fantasy drafts, but they did perform admirably in Week 8.
So, let’s find out who could surprise the masses during Week 9.
**Please note: The selection of these 10 sleepers is assessed from a 10-team, PPR league perspective.
1. Brandin Cooks (HOU)
Game: Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 11/8, 1:00 pm EST)
Much like his team, Brandin Cooks was slow out of the gate for the new-look Texans. Only as of late has Cooks started cooking. DeAndre Hopkins no longer plays for the Texans, so quarterback Deshaun Watson was in dire need of a go-to guy. That appears to be Cooks or is at least trending that way.
Cooks has registered three successive big games for Houston and may be on the edge of becoming a must-start rather than a sleeper. This week, Houston travels to Jacksonville for a battle of lowly teams. The Jaguars stink, and their two-month downward spiral reflects it. Jacksonville allows 22 PPR points to games to wide receivers. This is not atrocious, but it is not very good. Cooks is a WR1, start him as a WR2 or FLEX in your lineup.
2. Scotty Miller (TB)
Game: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 11/8, 8:20 pm EST)
The Buccaneers wide receiver room has been ravaged by injury since the early weeks of 2020. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans may actually be on the field this weekend, but that does not necessarily mean Scotty Miller is relegated to the basement.
Miller is a “Brady-type” of wideout. He is scrappy and handsy. His services complement Evans and Godwin nicely. The Saints allow the ninth-most PPR points per game to wide receivers (25.3). With Godwin perhaps not fully healthy, Brady will target Miller, at least a handful of times. Scotty Miller is a decent start if your WR depth is skimpy.