Fantasy Football Week 9: Award Roundup for Busts and MVPs

The Pittsburgh Steelers' DeAngelo Williams hasn't finished lower than 12th among fantasy tailbacks in any of his three starts this season. As the top overall fantasy performer of Week 9 in place of an injured Le'Veon Bell, Williams is now suddenly a surefire RB1 commodity in a shifting market for top tailbacks.

Each week is defined by these peerless and prolific performances, such as Williams and teammate Antonio Brown each going for well over 200 total yards from scrimmage in a dramatic home win over the Oakland Raiders. We also find disappointing days, such the Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green producing a lackluster effort in a win over the Cleveland Browns this past Thursday night. The spectrum of outcomes each week offers insights into the wins and losses we endure and the season still ahead.

Please join us in discussing the biggest performances and busts from Week 9. As always, feel free to share your picks for fantasy MVP and bust at each position.

Fantasy QB MVP: A Top Trio Share the Crown

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The Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton tallied four total touchdowns in an epic shootout win over the Green Packers' Aaron Rodgers, while both signal-callers are tied atop the fantasy leaderboard for the week. Rare rookie Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans also posted 32 fantasy points in ESPN leagues, tying these two NFC superstars for the top spot in the process.

Newton is on pace for nearly 700 rushing yards and 10 rushing scores, all while averaging the fourth-most fantasy points among signal-callers in the midst of a pass-happy era. Even as a low-volume passing option, Newton is as elite as they come in terms of fantasy consistency and upside behind center.

Rodgers revives any lost luster after a weak Week 8 with a stellar statistical showing despite the loss in Charlotte. The buy-low window for Rodgers has now closed. Meanwhile, Mariota is on pace for 26 touchdowns and a passer rating over 100 despite missing games in his stellar rookie campaign.

The New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees is just one point behind the pace with 31 fantasy points in ESPN standard leagues, and while some feared his demise, it now looks like he was simply limited by a shoulder injury. The vertical game is back for the Saints, while Brees has an inviting schedule nearly every week going forward after his looming bye week.

Derek Carr didn't net the win for the Raiders, but fantasy investors are loving the returns from the sophomore standout, who now has 11 touchdowns over his past three games. Even with six teams on bye, this was a rich week at quarterback, as 10 signal-callers scored at least 20 fantasy points entering Monday night's action.

Miami Dolphins' Ryan Tannehill Doesn't Score a Touchdown in Buffalo

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Only one starting NFL quarterback—the St. Louis Rams' Nick Foles—scored fewer than 10 fantasy points in ESPN leagues this week. Of the starting fantasy tier, the Miami Dolphins' Ryan Tannehill produced the most disappointing day, posting just 10 fantasy points against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park on Sunday.

As one of the rare fantasy-worthy quarterbacks kept from producing respectable numbers, and even though he hauled in a reception for nine yards, Tannehill and his zero touchdowns make him the Bust of the Week at the position.

The New York Giants' Eli Manning left managers wanting more with just 213 yards passing on a suspect Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. The Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan has been quietly underwhelming this season, with multiple touchdowns in just four of nine games this year.

Top Tailback in Fantasy Football for Week 9: DeAngelo's Day

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In DeAngelo Williams' three starts for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, his fantasy finishes at the position have been 12th in Week 1 with 12 ESPN fantasy points, first in Week 2 with 26 fantasy points and three touchdowns, and now first with 36 points in Week 9.

Williams isn't just the top tailback in fantasy this week. He's the top overall scorer in ESPN leagues—even more than some elite quarterback options this week. With 225 total yards and two scores, Williams is the MVP among fantasy backs in Week 9.

The Miami Dolphins offense offered Lamar Miller rich opportunities Sunday in Buffalo. He successfully converted two goal-line totes for two touchdowns and hauled in 97 yards through the air to buoy a huge fantasy outing that would have earned him MVP honors in most weeks, save for Williams' heroics.

The Buffalo Bills' Karlos Williams has been a revelation in regard to amazing efficiency when he touches the ball. Williams now has six touchdowns in parts of five games this season. He somehow scored 23 fantasy points this week thanks to two scores on just nine carries.

Lead Buffalo back LeSean McCoy looked good for much of the game but suffered a shoulder injury that will require an MRI, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Available in over half of ESPN leagues as of press time, Williams will be the top waiver addition in many leagues this week.

The Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson finally found the end zone en route to a big day over a stout St. Louis front. The Atlanta Falcons' Devonta Freeman, meanwhile, flashed his massive fantasy floor in PPR formats, with a rich fantasy outing even in the face of rushing struggles. The Philadelphia Eagles' DeMarco Murray is quietly enjoying a consistently strong fantasy campaign and is now 12th in fantasy points per game at the position despite a sluggish start to the season.

The New England Patriots' LeGarrette Blount had a solid day in relief duty. Schefter reported Dion Lewis and the Pats are awaiting the results of an MRI on his left knee, adding, "ACL loose, a bad sign. MRI to tell full story." If Blount assumes the lion's share of early-down work without any real competition, he could surge into the low-end RB1 tier at an injury-riddled position.

Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy Posts Another Ugly Outing

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Eddie Lacy of the Green Bay Packers produced a negative fantasy output for investors in ESPN leagues. This essentially means managers would have been better off leaving their running back spot empty than playing Lacy this week. In what has been a disastrous season and with James Starks simply outplaying him each week out, Lacy is the top bust this week—and of the season so far among backfield investments.

Doug Martin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tallied only 43 total yards and two fantasy points in ESPN leagues in what was expected to be a big box score versus a soft New York Giants front. For failing to capitalize on an inviting matchup, Martin was a top candidate for the dubious distinction, save for Lacy's awful outing.

An early fumble and a failure to get a running rhythm going throughout felled Martin's fantasy hopes in a home loss to the Giants. While Martin was disappointing, we must mention the Cincinnati Bengals' Jeremy Hill, who teased touts with an ideal matchup but only posted 52 total yards on 16 touches against the Cleveland Browns. Hill is unequivocally a boom-or-bust commodity at the position this season.

Steelers' Antonio Brown Breaks Records Versus the Raiders

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The Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown had career highs in receptions (17) and receiving yards (284) this past Sunday, and his 284 receiving yards were a single-game franchise record. Brown amassed a month's worth of production in a single game and is clearly our MVP among fantasy wideouts for the week.

Cole Beasley of the Dallas Cowboys was another obvious elite to include in the MVP discussion (sarcasm font), as the diminutive dynamo somehow turned in a two-touchdown day in a deflating loss to the rival Philadelphia Eagles. There's really nothing enduring about Beasley's top day, other than the Cowboys eventually need some complementary receiving help for Dez Bryant on the outside.

The Raiders' Michael Crabtree has been a beast for several weeks now in fantasy terms but will earn heaps of praise this week after a two-touchdown opus in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. Crabtree is quietly 17th in fantasy points per game among receivers this season.

Second-year receivers Jordan Matthews of the Philadelphia Eagles and Sammy Watkins of the Buffalo Bills finally found big fantasy outings in Week 9, both offering emboldening evidence for strong respective stretch runs. Is Randall Cobb finally back as a special fantasy asset for the Green Bay Packers?

Which wideout was the MVP to your winning week?

The Undefeated Bengals' A.J. Green Disappoints Fantasy Investors in Week 9

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The Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green is having a fine season; he's on pace for a career-best 100 receptions and is on an undefeated team with an elite and balanced offense. That said, Green has produced some dangerously inconsistent fantasy outings, such as this past Thursday's five-point fantasy showing over a depleted Cleveland Browns secondary. Green remains a special asset, but one with some real variance to consider.

The Minnesota Vikings' Stefon Diggs nearly hauled in a contested 50-50 ball in the end zone that turned into an interception, leaving him with just four points in ESPN leagues, well below projections and expectations. Matchups look better as the season matures for Diggs, especially with an inviting schedule heading into the fantasy playoffs.

Titans' Delanie Walker Wins the Week Among Tight Ends

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The Tennessee Titans' Delanie Walker caught tipped balls for touchdowns and big plays in addition to proving prolific overall in the Superdome this past Sunday. Walker tied the Cincinnati Bengals' Tyler Eifert for top honors at the position.

Eifert is arguably the most valuable red-zone weapon at the position this season and is averaging just 1.75 points fewer per game than the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski in the process. Meanwhile, Walker has thrived in working with Marcus Mariota and is now eighth in fantasy points per game at the position.

There weren't any true TE1 assets that busted in terms of dramatic underperformance, although it's quite clear we can cut ties with the Miami Dolphins' Jordan Cameron after a zero outing for fantasy managers this week. Cameron is 29th in fantasy points per game among tight ends.

The New York Jets' Playmaking Defense Earns Big Fantasy Production

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The New York Jets' combination of a blitz-happy scheme and a sound coverage secondary offers some real upside for home setups against gunslinging signal-callers, as we learned this past Sunday. The Jets produced four turnovers and six sacks in hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars on the way to MVP honors at the position.

The New York Giants joined their metro peers atop the fantasy leaderboard, feasting on a mistake-prone rookie signal-caller in the process. The Jets' group appears to be a solid enduring option, while the Giants proved to be purely a matchup-dependent fantasy asset.

As for busts among D/STs this week, the Packers' previously productive group produced a negative fantasy total versus the Carolina Panthers this week, evidence that this may just be a matchup-dependent group at this stage. As you head toward the fantasy playoffs, make sure to begin stashing top matchup assets with an eye on maximizing your window for imaginary glory.