Fantasy Football Week 9: Flex Rankings, Waiver-Wire Targets and Projections

Week 9 of the 2016 NFL season is fast approaching, and as the season progresses, fewer players are available on the waiver wire.

It's a crucial time for fantasy owners, as many big-name players will be on byes next weekend. Owners of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski will have to look elsewhere for easy points in Week 9 when the New England Patriots take their bye, and one place where these points can be found is in the flex position on your roster.

It's never easy to find just the right player to slot into your lineup at the flex, but when you do, it's the best feeling a fantasy football player can have besides winning a league championship. 

Date	Teams	Time (ET)	National TV
Thursday, Nov. 3	Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	8:25	NFL Network
Sunday Nov.6	Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants	1:00	FOX
Sunday Nov.6	New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins	1:00	FOX
Sunday Nov.6	Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs	1:00	CBS
Sunday Nov.6	Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns	1:00	CBS
Sunday Nov.6	Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens	1:00	FOX
Sunday Nov.6	New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers	4:05 p.m.	FOX
Sunday Nov.6	Carolina Panthers vs. Los Angeles Rams	4:05 p.m.	FOX
Sunday Nov.6	Indianapolis Colts vs. Green Bay Packers	4:25 p.m.	CBS
Sunday Nov.6	Tennessee Titans vs. San Diego Chargers	4:25 p.m.	CBS
Sunday Nov.6	Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders	8:30 p.m.	NBC
Monday, Nov. 7	Buffalo Bills vs. Seattle Seahawks	8:30	ESPN

Rank	Player	Position	Projected Pointa
1	Emmanuel Sanders	WR	11.02
2	Terrelle Pryor Sr.	WR	10.24
3	Ryan Mathews	RB	9.26
4	Stefon Diggs	WR	9.18
5	Isaiah Crowell	RB	8.13
6	Travis Benjamin	WR	8.07
7	Matt Asiata	RB	7.65
8	Allen Hurns	WR	7.48
9	Mike Wallace	WR	7.12
10	Frank Gore	RB	6.99

Boom: Travis Benjamin

Benjamin had a 1,000-yard season a year ago with the Cleveland Browns, but it was hard to predict what his production would be like this season if he wasn't the best player on his team.

However, with injuries to Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead along with the aging Antonio Gates, Benjamin has found himself a niche in San Diego's offense as a big-play wide receiver, which suits him just fine. 

It was an incredible catch by an incredibly quick player, but Benjamin hasn't just been a one-hit wonder this season in San Diego.

His production has been fairly consistent since moving out to the West Coast. He's averaging at least three catches a game and has scored at least five fantasy points in five of the last eight weeks, according to Yahoo Sports.

He'll be matched up against the Los Angeles Rams next weekend, and it wouldn't be surprising if he were able to burn their secondary and find himself celebrating in the end zone for the second week in a row.

Bust: Sammie Coates

Unlike Benjamin, Sammie Coates is in fact a one-hit wonder.

Since his monster performance against the New York Jets back on Oct. 9, Coates has scored a total of 0.40 fantasy points, registering one catch and four yards during that span, according to Yahoo Sports. 

It's not all his fault, however. He's received more attention from opposing defenses, and the loss of Ben Roehtlisberger due to a knee injury has hurt his stock a bit. But Coates just isn't ready to be fantasy starter yet. It's only the flex position, but when you really need points, can you count on Coates?

You shouldn't. Play someone else instead. 

Sleeper: Derrick Henry

It only took Derrick Henry eight weeks, but he finally found the end zone this past Thursday in a very strong performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If Henry was on another team and was the lead back, he'd be a fantasy stud, putting up Melvin Gordon numbers during his rookie year, at the very least. The only problem is that he shares carries with DeMarco Murray, who is having a monster season already.

But Henry showed his worth in Week 8 and reminded his coaching staff why he won the Heisman last season at Alabama. He's a freight train when he heads downfield, and you don't want to be in his way. 

Coming off a 15.70 fantasy-point performance and owned in 48 percent of Yahoo leagues, Henry could be the answer to your flex prayers when the Titans go up against the Chargers' mediocre defense next weekend.

Boom: Emmanuel Sanders

Emmanuel Sanders is the picture of consistency when it comes to fantasy wide receivers.

He rarely has a bad game, he hasn't scored less than 3.90 fantasy points all season long and he's due for a monster game in Week 9 when the Broncos take on a very vulnerable Oakland Raiders secondary.

He's projected to score 11.02 points in Yahoo leagues in Week 9, but it would be surprising if he didn't break the 15-point mark with the type of volume he will be getting, as the Raiders will be too focused on making sure that Demaryius Thomas doesn't beat them with the long ball.

Sanders is a must-start every week, even if only in the flex position. He's one of the few wideouts in fantasy who deserve a promotion from the flex to a No. 2 WR role. 

Bust: Ryan Mathews

It's best to avoid hot-and-cold players, and Ryan Mathews is the prime example of a fantasy football nightmare.

One week, he's great. He can run the ball, catch the ball, find the end zone and save the day for your fantasy team. But then there's some weeks where he fumbles once or twice and loses touches to Darren Sproles, making you rethink why you even drafted him in the first place.

Mathews may have scored 7.10 fantasy points against the Cowboys in Week 8, but he only ran the ball four times for 10 yards.

Don't trust him to be the X-factor on your team this week. Find someone more reliable. 

Sleeper: Quincy Enunwa

The fact that Quincy Enunwa is still available in 66 percent of Yahoo leagues is a mystery.

Coming off his second double-digit game in a row, Enunwa has secured the No. 2 spot on the Jets' depth chart behind Brandon Marshall with Eric Decker out injured. Enunwa hauled in four passes for 93 yards and a score in Week 8 against the Browns and looked every bit a starter for your fantasy team, if you have the guts to go pick him up.

Enunwa plays like a wide receiver in a tight end's frame. He's big, fast and a reliable target on a team that likes to pass the ball.

It's easy to say that he's still fighting for looks as the offense's third option on offense behind Marshall and Matt Forte, but if a third-option on offense can score 13.30 and 15.30 fantasy points in back-to-back weeks, then maybe he should be an option for your flex.