Week 9 Fantasy Football: Instant Sunday Recap

There were huge fantasy points scored again in Week 9, particularly Ben Roethlisberger putting up arguably the two best fantasy performances ever in back-to-back weeks. Big Ben ripped the Baltimore Ravens for 340 yards and six touchdowns a week after going for 522-6 against the Indianapolis Colts.

It is no longer surprising. Big Ben is clearly a game-changer that has to be starting in all leagues, particularly at the woebegone New York Jets and their shredded secondary in Week 10.

Bleacher Report focuses on the players that had a change of fantasy fortunes here with the Instant Sunday Recap, highlighting five surprising studs and duds.

Five Surprising Week 9 Studs

RB Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

On Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius (93)/XM (208) Sunday morning, we had callers worried about Hill. With Giovani Bernard (hip) out, there was nothing to be worried about. Hill was a monster.

The rookie running back took offensive coordinator Hue Jackson's power-running game into his own hands, rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He was impressive enough to put a scare into Bernard owners, particularly with wintry weather coming in the next two months of fantasy's stretch run.

He is going to be irrepressible now...in fantasy and with his Bengals decision-makers.

We don't believe the Bengals will bench Bernard for Hill once Bernard returns from his shoulder, hip and rib injuries, but they certainly won't have to rush him back for Thursday Night Football in a great fantasy matchup for running backs against the Cleveland Browns. Hill is a must-start in all leagues in Week 10.

The knock Bernard has been his lack of bulk, ability to take hits and stay healthy. Hill was drafted to be that guy. He proved to be Sunday.

RB Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams

Sticking with rookie running backs, the Rams' Mason is another must-add and must-start option going forward. His 65 yards were not the reason he was a surprising stud, as much as the 19 carries. He has completely made Zac Stacy a non-factor in all fantasy leagues.

Mason has tough matchups ahead, especially at the Arizona Cardinals against their elite run defense next week, but he is getting almost all of the snaps and carries now. Stacy can be cut in fantasy, while backup Benny Cunningham is getting mere scraps. Head coach Jeff Fisher loves having a solitary feature back and the rookie Mason is clearly that guy now.

Mason is still available in over 40 percent of CBSSports.com leagues. He should be starting in 100 percent of leagues by the fantasy postseason.

QB Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Raise your hand if you saw the Dolphins coming with a 37-0 rout of the San Diego Chargers this week. Those few of you, put your hands down. You are bold-faced liars.

Tannehill was masterful—something that hasn't been said in his career to date—throwing for 288 yards, three touchdowns and rushing for 47 more yards on four attempts. This performance won't get him elevated from the fantasy fringe, but it does open up chances for Mike Wallace, Charles Clay and others.

You should not pick up Tannehill for Week 10, though. They face a tough Detroit Lions defense on the road. Tannehill is more of a two-quarterback league start in that matchup.

TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Welcome to the fantasy elite...at least at the tight end position. Kelce has earned must-start status with another solid performance, catching four passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. He now has four touchdown grabs in six games, a total that can elevate him into the top five of fantasy tight ends on a weekly basis.

Alex Smith has struggled to get the ball downfield to his wide receivers, so Kelce should be considered his No. 1 target in any matchup, particularly when the winter weather goes south. The Chiefs are at the Buffalo Bills in Week 10, which is a good matchup even if the weather might be a bit too November-like.

With the struggles and inconsistency of all but Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham and Julius Thomas at tight end, you should consider Kelce a must-start option above all others. Vernon Davis, Jordan Cameron (concussion, likely out for Week 10) and Jordan Reed just are not producing at the same clip right now.

TE Mychal Rivera, Oakland Raiders

Speaking of tight ends, Rivera has emerged as a big-time target for rookie quarterback Derek Carr the past two weeks. Rivera's seven-catch, 83-yard Week 8 performance rose his fantasy ownership to a mere 4 percent in CBSSports.com leagues.

He then followed that up with eight catches for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Clearly, the Raiders have decided he is an important part of their fledgling offense.

The most impressive part is his performance in Week 9 was against an elite Seattle Seahawks defense. He draws a favorable matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 10, which should give Rivera tons of garbage-time production. Consider him one of the most important waiver-wire adds, especially if you have Gronk, Antonio Gates, Jordan Reed, Dwayne Allen or Coby Fleener on bye next week.

Five Week 9 Duds

QB Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles

Foles' game/week was cut short by a broken collarbone, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, and his season might be in jeopardy, too. It took Aaron Rodgers seven weeks to return from a similar injury last season, a timetable which might have just ended Foles' fantasy season.

The Eagles turn to Mark Sanchez in a potent offense that can help the erstwhile quarterback prove his past struggles were more on the inept New York Jets regime than his own ability. Sanchez is a solid add at least through the bye season.

Head coach Chip Kelly liked what he saw out of Sanchez coming off the bench cold and without first-team reps in practice, telling ESPN's Phil Sheridan in the link above:

"

I thought Mark did a really good job. The one interception—I think it hit wide receiver Josh Huff in the hands and was tipped. The other one, I think [Riley Cooper] got spun around. Besides that, I thought he had a really good command of what we're doing. Since Day 1 here, you know what type of professional [Sanchez] is. ... We were fortunate when Nick did go down, we were able to bring Mark in. I don't think we missed a beat.

"

Foles will miss a minimum of four weeks and perhaps the rest of the regular season. A bone requires at least four weeks to heal without surgery, which could add more time up to a month. Then, Foles would need to rebuild strength in that idle shoulder—which is his non-throwing shoulder.

TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

So much for that favorable matchup for Davis against the St. Louis Rams defense. They played like world-beaters and the 49ers offense looked as inept as it had since the Alex Smith days.

Davis was held to just 19 yards on two receptions, yet another game in which he has failed to reach 45 yards. He hasn't reached that point all season. He is looking more and more like waiver-wire fodder in fantasy, a year after a career-high 13 touchdown receptions.

You can cut Davis for Kelce above, but probably not a guy like the Raiders' Rivera yet.

RB Branden Oliver, San Diego Chargers

The luster is off Oliver now, apparently. The undrafted rookie had some big performances in October, but he was held to just 19 yards on 13 carries Sunday at the Dolphins. Ouch.

Making matters worse, his three-game slump coincides with a near-imminent return by Ryan Mathews (MCL sprain). Mathews practiced on a limited basis Friday and "he is getting close," head coach Mike McCoy told Michael Gehlken of the Union-Tribune San Diego.

The Chargers do not play again until Nov. 16, which should give Mathews plenty of time to get up to full speed. You might consider cutting Oliver in fantasy to fill your bye-week gaps in Week 10. Oliver is going to be a low-end backup behind Mathews, we predict.

RB Ben Tate, Cleveland Browns

The Browns had promise with their patchwork stable of running backs led by Tate and backed up by rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell. The results have been poor since All-Pro center Alex Mack (broken leg) went down for the season, though.

"I don't think I've ever had two football games back-to-back since I was playing football at 8 years old that bad," Tate told Mark Inabinett of The Birmingham News before Sunday.

Make it three consecutive now. Tate was held to just three yards—three!—on 10 carries against a maligned Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Backup Crowell did not play a snap, despite being healthy and active, while West managed 48 yards on 15 carries and a two-yard touchdown reception.

The Browns running game is as messy as the backfield situation right now. You cannot like any of the trio on Thursday night against the much better defense of the Cincinnati Bengals.

WR Pierre Garçon, Washington Redskins

So much for Robert Griffin III's return being a boon to the Redskins' downfield passing attack—save for DeSean Jackson's four catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. Garçon was limited to just three catches for 15 yards.

The Washington Post's Jason Reid did a great job breaking down the disappearance of Garçon on Sunday. We merely quote his words here:

"

No matter who plays quarterback, Jackson is the Redskins' go-to guy.

He had receptions of 56 and 45 yards. Jackson caught a 13-yard touchdown pass. He averaged 30 yards per catch.

Jackson has moved so far ahead of Garcon, it's hard to see Garcon these days. Gruden has capitalized on Jackson’s unique speed. The Redskins finally have something they’ve lacked since Santana Moss was young: a consistent deep threat in the passing game.

It will be interesting to see how Garcon handles playing a second-banana role to Jackson for the rest of the season. Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay must come up with more ways to put the ball in Jackson’s hands, especially as they continue to evaluate Griffin. If that means fewer opportunities for Garcon, well, that’s the way it goes.

Garcon is a complete player. He blocks well and has proved his mettle while playing with injuries that would have sidelined other players. But Jackson is a game-changer.

"

Don't cut Garçon yet, but you cannot like starting him in fantasy right now. The Redskins are on bye in Week 10, but they return to face a woeful Bucs secondary in Week 11. Hold on to Garçon to potentially start him in that one.

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.