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Hayden's unexpected fantasy football performances, waiver wire sleepers, and trade targets for Week 10 (2024). Can these NFL players sustain Week 9's success?
Week 9 of the NFL regular season provided fans with some exciting action. The Bills defeated the Dolphins in an AFC East clash thanks to Tyler Bass' game-winning 61-yard FG in the final moments. The Titans and Rams also contributed a pair of overtime victories that enthralled audiences.
Many big names showed out for fantasy managers, too. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley dominated once again with 199 total yards and two scores. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow posted five touchdown tosses to beat the Raiders, and Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba put up 180 yards on the Rams.
However, there were quite a few less-hyped players with strong stat lines as well. Let's look closer at five of this week's unexpected boom performances, beginning with a "griddy"-ing tight end.
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Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki started the 2024 season pretty well. He caught seven of his nine targets in Week 2 and he gained 91 yards on them. He had another fine performance in Week 3, making four grabs for 47 yards. His volume fell off after that, though; he saw just four targets across his next four games.
Gesicki re-emerged in Week 8 with seven catches for 73 yards. He subsequently exploded in Week 9 with five receptions on six targets for 100 yards. Gesicki also tacked on two touchdowns, marking his first two trips to the end zone with the Bengals. He led Cincinnati in receiving yards, though Ja'Marr Chase had two more grabs.
BURROW TO GESICKI AGAIN. 5 TD passes for No. 9 today!
📺: #LVvsCIN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/AJsmGddhe4— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
With 24.5 half-PPR points, Gesicki stands as the current TE1 for Week 9. His production has been correlated with receiver Tee Higgins's absence; Higgins was inactive for the first two games of the season, and he has also missed each of the last two weeks. With Gesicki's three best games of the year coming in those weeks, the trend is clear.
Gesicki should be a top waiver priority for fantasy managers searching for a tight end. With the Bengals facing the Ravens on Thursday in Week 10, Higgins may struggle to return for Cincinnati's next matchup due to his quad injury. Gesicki's stats should remain elevated for as long as Higgins is sidelined.
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers wideout Quentin Johnston had a quality showing in Week 2 when he caught five balls for 51 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. His fantasy production began to dwindle after that, though, and then he missed both Week 7 and Week 8 with an ankle issue. The second-year receiver's hype began to die down.
With rookie Ladd McConkey's breakout performance last week versus the Saints, the expectations for Johnston in his Week 9 return were not high. Although McConkey did lead the team in targets, Johnston managed to catch four of his five looks for a career-high 118 yards and a long touchdown.
HERBERT TO QUENTIN JOHNSTON FOR A 66-YARD TD.
📺: #LACvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/2toYyl8WMs— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Johnston's big game earned him 20.0 half-PPR points, making him the week's WR5 entering Monday. He did all of his damage in the first half, though; Johnston had zero catches after the break. This is a microcosm of Johnston's fantasy outlook, as his inconsistency will prevent him from being a reliable fantasy option.
Nevertheless, Johnston's ability to re-assert himself in the receiving room bodes well for the upcoming weeks, even if his endzone trip was because of a busted coverage. Johnston should be viewed as a quality waiver wire pickup this week in a Chargers' passing attack that has found its groove recently.
Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo rookie running back Ray Davis has spent his first professional campaign behind James Cook on the depth chart. When Cook missed Week 6 with a toe injury, Davis stepped up with 152 scrimmage yards on 23 opportunities. With Cook healthy, though, his fantasy impact has been dependent on finding the endzone.
Fortunately for Davis, he reached paydirt in a huge way on Sunday. The fourth-round rookie took a short pass 63 yards for a score, retaking the lead for the Bills late in the third quarter. Davis ended the game with four attempts for 20 yards, plus two receptions for 70 yards and the touchdown.
RAY DAVIS. 63-yard TD for the lead!
📺: #MIAvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/N5btgphjZ2— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Despite the limited workload, Davis stands as Week 9's RB13 through Sunday's games. The hope for Davis is that his strong play leads to more volume in the near future. Over the past four weeks, he has averaged 7.76 yards per opportunity. Davis overtaking the skilled Cook as the starter remains unlikely, however.
For fantasy managers scouring waivers for running backs, Davis is a convincing candidate. He showed in Week 6 that he can rise to the occasion when given a large role. An increase in touches would lead to more chances for Davis to show off his big-play ability. Keep an eye on him in Week 10 as Buffalo faces Indianapolis.
Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams
Rams receiver Demarcus Robinson was a hot commodity early in the season after star teammates Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua suffered injuries. Unfortunately for Robinson, he never reached even 40 receiving yards in any of the four games Kupp and Nacua both missed. When the duo returned in Week 8, interest in Robinson declined.
Week 9 was a great one for Robinson, though. Nacua was ejected late in the first half after throwing a punch, resulting in Robinson making a critical difference. He wound up catching six of his nine targets from Matthew Stafford, amounting to 94 yards and two touchdowns. The latter score was an astounding walk-off overtime game-winner.
DEMARCUS. CALLS. GAME.
📺: @NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/GfJ4NqdDle
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 4, 2024
Robinson's big day secured him Week 9's WR4 ranking ahead of Monday Night Football, as he totaled 24.4 half-PPR points. Sadly, with Nacua returning for Week 10, Robinson will remain an unappealing fantasy option. Still, his performance in Seattle improved his fantasy vibes after the lackluster stretch that preceded it.
Robinson and the Rams will match up against the Dolphins next week. Before the bout, fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing Robinson in case something happens to Kupp or Nacua again. He should not be viewed as a top priority, though, despite coming off of a great game.
Josh Oliver, Minnesota Vikings
Due to tearing his ACL and MCL last year, Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson missed the first eight weeks of the season. He made his anticipated season debut on Sunday Night Football against the Colts. Surprisingly, he was not the most productive tight end for Minnesota on the night; that title belonged to Josh Oliver.
Oliver garnered more targets (five to four) than Hockenson, caught more passes (five versus three), and gained more yards (58 against 27). Importantly, Oliver also caught the touchdown that essentially sealed the game late for the Vikings. The 14-yard scoring grab was his third TD of the season.
Darnold rolls to his left and finds Josh Oliver for the TD to extend the @Vikings lead!
📺: #INDvsMIN on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RF4iPHLcxT— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2024
With 14.3 half-PPR points, Oliver tentatively stands as the week's TE2. Amazingly, Hockenson's presence did not prevent him from having his most targets and yards since Week 12 of 2022. Nonetheless, Hockenson's involvement will gradually return to normalcy, minimizing Oliver's fantasy value.
Fantasy managers searching for TE help should look elsewhere. Oliver is not likely to remain fantasy-relevant for much longer. Frankly, considering him relevant outside of very deep leagues was already a stretch. The Vikings will take on the Jaguars in Week 10, but Oliver should not spend the game on your roster.
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