NFL Week 9 Picks: Predicting Winners and Fantasy Studs

Counting Thursday night's NFC South battle between the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, there are at least three huge games on the Week 9 schedule. 

Both the Panthers and Saints have been a bit disappointing this season, but the two will try to begin a second-half turnaround. The Saints already began their comeback with a 44-23 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

Carolina dropped a close battle to the Seattle Seahawks 13-9.

Both teams have three wins and four losses, but the Panthers have the tie from earlier in the year with the Cincinnati Bengals on their record. 

If Cam Newton and Co. want to get a leg up on their division rivals, they need to come up with a big win at home. Unfortunately for Panthers Nation, the Saints are playing their best football. 

Last week against the Packers, the Saints exhibited a devastating and balanced offense. Drew Brees completed 27 of 32 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Mark Ingram carried the running game with 172 rushing yards and a score.

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Last year, the Panthers defense was their strong suit. This year, the team is ranked 28th against the run. That spells a solid fantasy matchup for Ingram, who is running the way some expected him to when he came out of the University of Alabama.

The Saints haven't won on the road yet, but they have been close in their four losses away from New Orleans. All but one of the defeats have been by three points or less. Thursday is the day the Saints break through on the road. 

Ingram will run wild, and Brees will protect the football en route to a big win for the Saints.

Here's a look at the predictions for the entire Week 9 schedule. Just beneath the table is a focus on two players who figure to be fantasy studs this week.

Thursday, Oct. 30	Time (ET)	Prediction
Sunday, Nov. 2	Time (ET)	Prediction
Monday, Nov. 3	Time (ET)	Prediction
New Orleans at Carolina	8:25 PM	New Orleans
Tampa Bay at Cleveland	1:00 PM	Cleveland
Arizona at Dallas	1:00 PM	Dallas
Philadelphia at Houston	1:00 PM	Houston
NY Jets at Kansas City	1:00 PM	Kansas City
Jacksonville at Cincinnati	1:00 PM	Cincinnati
San Diego at Miami	1:00 PM	San Diego
Washington at Minnesota	1:00 PM	Washington
St. Louis at San Francisco	4:05 PM	San Francisco
Denver at New England	4:25 PM	New England
Oakland at Seattle	4:25 PM	Seattle
Baltimore at Pittsburgh	8:30 PM	Pittsburgh
Indianapolis at NY Giants	8:30 PM	Indianapolis

Frank Gore vs. St. Louis Rams

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Earlier in the season, Frank Gore had a beastly two-game stretch in the San Francisco 49ers running game. He had back-to-back 100-yard games in Weeks 4-5. He's cooled since, but a resurgence is on the horizon. This week, the Niners take on the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams defense has allowed the second-most yards per game on the ground in the NFL. St. Louis held Gore to 38 yards on the ground in Week 6. However, Gore has averaged 76 yards and just under one touchdown per game in his career against the Rams. Most of those games came against better defenses than St. Louis will field on Sunday.

San Francisco's veteran running back stands to shine on Sunday.

Tony Romo vs. Arizona Cardinals

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Yes, Tony Romo suffered a back injury last week against Washington, but we all know the Dallas Cowboys quarterback is as tough as they come. With a chance to take aim at an Arizona Cardinals pass defense that is surrendering 302.9 yards per game, Romo is still a great start for your fantasy team.

The X-rays were negative, which should put Romo and the medical staff at ease.

Having weapons like Dez Bryant and Jason Witten in the passing game helps, too. The league's leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, should help to set up the play-action pass, and a less than 100-percent Romo will still have a big day.