Jimmy Graham's Updated 2014 Fantasy Outlook Heading into Week 9

Fantasy owners had to be patient on Jimmy Graham amid the New Orleans Saints' slow start to the 2014 NFL season and the star tight end's own injury issues.

Frankly, Graham is about as good of a fantasy option as it gets at his position, whether he's 100 percent or not. He proved that in five receptions on six targets for 69 yards and a 22-yard touchdown grab in the Saints' 44-23 home victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

It came after Graham didn't record a catch in the previous contest, despite the advantage of a bye week preceding it. The prominent Week 8 role suggests Graham is back to his elite form and should be deployed no matter the lineup situation for the rest of the year.

CBS Sports' Dave Richard documented the fantasy-related comments his colleague Jason La Canfora made before Graham had a stellar fantasy outing:

Saints head coach Sean Payton has told Graham personally to fight through the adversity brought on by his nagging shoulder injury, as Graham said after Sunday's win, via ESPN.com's Mike Triplett:

"

Sean always tells me, "Hey, be patient. You know, at a big moment, when it matters, we're gonna come your way. And we're gonna come your way big." So he's telling me that all through the first half, and he goes through some plays and says, "Hey listen, it's your time."  So when you have a head coach that does that for you and you have an offensive coordinator that does that for you -- and Pete Carmichael came up to me and said the same thing -- [it's] buckle your chin strap, because it's coming your way.

"

New Orleans faces a Carolina Panthers defense on Thursday night in Charlotte that, per ESPN.com, has given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends. However, with Graham on the mend, he figures to be a threat to put up big numbers regardless.

Bleacher Report NFC South Lead Writer Brent Sobleski weighed in on Graham's health situation and how much better he looked against Green Bay this last Sunday:

This impending divisional battle could go a long way in setting momentum for both the Panthers and Saints. Graham should therefore be utilized often due to the matchup problems he creates with his unique skill set.

The Panthers, as strong as their defense was in 2013 en route to the NFC South crown, are 25th in points allowed per game. Facing an explosive Saints aerial attack keyed by quarterback Drew Brees ought not to help improve that statistic.

It's no secret that New Orleans is a better team in the friendly confines of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. All four of its losses have come on the road, and following the road trip to Charlotte is a three-game homestand.

Although the opponents in San Francisco, Cincinnati and Baltimore, respectively, aren't easy, the hostile environment and the offense's proficiency indoors should see the Saints continuing to improve.

That bodes well for Graham fantasy owners. After Week 9, he will have even more time to heal and get right for that critical stretch. If the Saints are able to get rolling again in that span, they should move to the top of the weak NFC South.

In turn, expect Graham to shoot closer to the top of fantasy tight ends. As the year wears on, true talent tends to rise to the top of the crop.

Even if Graham struggles to produce a lot against the likes of athletic Panthers linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, fantasy owners needn't panic. More home games and a health situation on the upswing offer Graham hope to capitalize on his immense talents.