5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 9

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 30: Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at AT&T Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 30: Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at AT&T Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
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Joshua Palmer, Chargers
Joshua Palmer, Chargers (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2. Top Fantasy Football Pickups For Week 9 – Los Angeles Chargers WR Joshua Palmer

It’s been a minute since we’ve seen Joshua Palmer, who missed Los Angeles’ Week 7 game against the Seattle Seahawks after suffering a concussion in Week 6. Absence did create an opportunity for Palmer, however, as Mike Williams suffered a knee injury in that game.

Williams is expected to be out for at least four weeks, creating a spot in the starting lineup for Palmer if he can clear the concussion protocol after the Chargers’ bye week. Keenan Allen is back from a lingering hamstring injury but was on a pitch count in Week 7, a trend that could continue for another week as Los Angeles tries to work him back into game shape.

These two events could converge nicely for Palmer, who has formed a strong connection with Justin Herbert this season by catching 26 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown. Herbert has looked Palmer’s way 40 times in six games with Palmer getting at least six looks in four of Los Angeles’ six contests.

There is a good value opportunity here with Palmer, who is rostered in only 23 percent of Yahoo! leagues, ahead of the Chargers’ Week 9 matchup against the Falcons’ struggling pass defense. Palmer is a plug-and-play WR3 for as long as Williams is out with the upside to be a WR2 if Allen doesn’t re-acclimate to the offense quickly.