5 best fantasy football pickups to make for Week 9

Let’s break down the five best fantasy football pickups to make for Week 9.

Week 8 of the NFL season included some breakout fantasy performances. Moving forward, five players will carry significant value in fantasy football leagues.

Let’s take a look at the five best fantasy football pickups to make for Week 9.

All five players are widely available in ESPN leagues. This week, four out of the five players on this list are available in at least 50 percent of ESPN leagues.

5. QB Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons

Rostered: 24.0 percent

On Sunday, Mariota had, perhaps, his best game of the season. He threw for 253 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also rushed for 43 yards.

Since Week 5, Mariota is fifth among quarterbacks in fantasy points. The difference has been his uptick in rushing yards. In his last four games, Mariota has rushed for 185 yards (fourth-most among quarterbacks). In his previous three games, he rushed for only 23 total yards.

Mariota is capable of maintaining this level of rushing production. The Falcons’ are deploying a run-heavy offense. In fact, the Falcons are currently second in the NFL in rushing attempts. Furthermore, Mariota is averaging an efficient 5.8 career yards per carry.

Mariota has been quietly effective as a passer, as well. This season, he has 10 passing touchdowns, which is tied for the 12th-most in the NFL. He is also sixth in the league in total QBR.

If you are looking for a quarterback, Mariota is a nice under-the-radar option.