Welcome to NFL Week 9 Buy or Sell! This week, we will review who to buy or sell coming out of a Week 8 that was filled with blowouts and one-sided matchups. Hopefully, that translated to your matchups this week and you were not on the receiving end of any one-sided affairs.
Week 9 Buys
A.J. Brown
A.J. Brown is coming off a big performance in the last game that he played in week 7, but missed week 8 due to an injury. Before his monster week 7 performance, he had been pedestrian at best, but his target share has been there all year, besides a week one blunder. The Eagles have been starting to get into an offensive rhythm over the past two weeks, as well as starting to put up more points consistently. A.J. Brown was a big part of this in the week, and this will continue as the season moves on.
The Eagles have a bye coming up in week nine, meaning the manager you are trying to get him from may be more willing to trade him than in another week. The Eagles’ upcoming schedule is also pretty favorable for passing offenses. They will see Detroit and Dallas in weeks 11 and 12. This is the time of year when you need to start looking at fantasy playoff schedules. The Philadelphia Eagles are playing the Washington Commanders, Las Vegas Raiders, and Buffalo Bills in the fantasy playoffs. This is great for Brown, and I would look to buy on him here in week 9. I would trade players like Rome Odunze, Courtland Sutton, and Breece Hall for Brown.
Quinshon Judkins
Quinshon Judkins has been great this season for the Cleveland Browns. Normally, at this point in the seas, owing to running back in a bad offense is not a great process. While I acknowledge that it is still the case. Quinshon Judkins has largely been able to overcome this this season. Judkins exited the week eight matchup against the Patriots due to a shoulder injury. While it does not seem serious, it is something to consider. He may miss a week because of it, but the Browns do have a bye next week.
Judkins’ opportunity is undeniable. His schedule is also relatively soft the rest of the way. Judkins’ ability to break tackles is where his opportunity shines. I would trade wide receivers like Tetairoa McMillan and Garrett Wilson for the young Browns running back and feel great about doing it.
Ricky Pearsall
Ricky Pearsall has been one of my favorite players this season. The only issue with it is that he has failed to stay on the field for most of the year. Pearsall has the chance to be a true breakout guy in a San Francisco 49ers offense that needs someone to step up. Between George Kittle and Brock Purdy’s injuries, they need an alpha to announce his presence, but Pearsall has suffered the same fate as the two of them. In his first four games (and only four games) this season, he has had over 320 yards and 29 targets. He was clearly the option to grab, so if you’re able to grab him coming out of the injury issue, definitely do so, as he will be a big boost to your lineup.
Week 9 Sells
Nico Collins
I have been screaming from the mountaintops all season and last season that Nico Collins is not a WR1. He has been ranked that way the last two years and has disappointed. Now, do not get me wrong, he is talented and a great player, but the perception of him is much higher than the actual output he has. His inconsistency is there, as well as the lack of offense around him to support WR1 numbers. Collins’ fantasy output is that of a WR2, similar to a DeVonta Smith rather than Amon-Ra St. Brown. Simply, all I am saying is that the production of Collins is less than his perceived value, so try to trade him for someone who actually showcases that value on a week-to-week basis. Trade Nico Collins for Ashton Jeanty, Kyren Williams, Emeka Egbuka, or Rashee Rice.
D’Andre Swift
D’Andre Swift has been really good since the Chicago Bears’ week 5 bye, but the underlying numbers tell us something a little bit different. Rookie backup Kyle Monangai has been getting more and more playing time the deeper into the season we get. Monangai. This will only hurt Swift when he is not going off the walls and scoring touchdowns left and right. Swift is not known as a consistent back, so if his playing time is being cut consistently, that will be a big problem for him, as he won’t have as much opportunity to make up for his lack of fantasy production.Â
Sell D’Andre Swift for someone whose underlying playing time is not being cut down to be safe. Trade him for players like Jaylen Warren and Ladd McConkey if you can.
Chase Brown
Chase Brown is the last player on this list to sell. He has had a terrible year, mostly because of the injury to Joe Burrow, crippling everyone in that offense besides Ja’Marr Chase. Joe Flacco has come in and helped revive the Bengals’ offense, but ultimately, it is still early, and there is uncertainty. One thing we do know is that since Joe Flacco joined the Bengals, Chase Brown’s efficiency numbers have drastically increased. His numbers were famously inefficient to start the year. There is a lack of evidence for me to think that things will be great for Brown. If you are being smart, sell Brown off for his best game of the season.
