There are ups and downs to consider as Week 9 approaches.

• Ladd McConkey has his own breakout match: Chargers rookieposted his first 100+ yard outing, first multi-touchdown outing and first 20+ PPR points performance.

• Kenneth Walker III’s failed attempt: The Seahawks fell behind early and gave up the game, leading to Walker’s shaky stats.

• Unleash your benefits with a PFF+ subscription: Get full access to all of our seasonal fantasy tools, including weekly ratings, WR/CB Matchup Schedules, weekly forecasts, Start-sit optimizer and much more. Register now!

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

BOOM

RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

Achane reappears after scoring over 10 PPR points in only one of four games. Tua Tagovailoa missed. He exploded in Week 8, totaling 147 yards and one touchdown on his way to 26.7 PPR points.

If Achane’s management team managed to stay afloat while Tagovailoa was away, things were looking great. In Tagovailoa’s four starts this season. Achan averages 26.4 PPR points per game (first among running backs).

Although Raheem Mostert scored two touchdowns at the goal line, Achane played 37 snaps and received a team-high touch (rush or reception) 43.2% snaps and also ranks second on the team in targets.

While Tagovailoa is at the helm, Achan will help fantasy managers win many more games this season.

Forward: Elite RB1 while Tua Tagovailoa starts

WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

The 23.1 PPR performance was just that. Marvin Harrison Jr. managers are needed. However, this came after three weeks of single-digit points and one goose egg during that period, which naturally led to some benching this week.

WELCOME DAY MARVIN HARRISON JR. 💥 pic.twitter.com/EpvdZvjeGk

— PFF Fantasy and Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) October 27, 2024

Five of Harrison six receptions went for 15 yards or more, and he posted a perfect passer rating of 158.3 when targeted Kyler Murray at 8 weeks.

Let’s hope this is the start of an improvement in Harrison’s relationship with Murray continues to grow.

Forward: High-end WR2 with WR1 potential

WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

The rookie had the best game of his young career in Week 8, notching his first 100-plus-yard outing, first multi-touchdown outing and first performance with over 20 PPR points. McConkey’s 29.1 points made him the top WR2 in Week 8.

McConkey appears to have fully earned the quarterback’s trust. Justin Herbert. He saw three contested targets and caught them all for 74 yards and two touchdowns, one of which came while Herbert was being pressured.

All of this earned McConkey an 87.9 overall PFF grade in Week 8, ranking third among wide receivers.

Forward: Flexible, high-end game with the potential to move up the rankings

BUSTS

WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers

It’s been a disappointing week for Jayden Reed managers who allowed just 7.5 PPR points in what many thought would be a crushing matchup against Jacksonville’s weak secondary.

Reed was outplayed Romeo Dubs And Christian Watsonand his threat rate of 13.7% was the lowest among the team’s qualifying players.. On top of that, running back Josh Jacobs carried the Packers’ offense in Week 8.

Temperature check: Don’t worry, but keep track of your usage.

RB Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

It was more of a game script issue for Walker than anything else. With the Seahawks down two points early in the second quarter and the deficit only continuing to grow, the game plan shifted to throwing the ball. As a result, Walker stopped just nine rushing attempts.

Zach Charbonnet recorded just three carries, but they accounted for the Seahawks’ lone touchdown in Week 8.

There’s not much to talk about with Walker this week; it’s just how the game script was implemented.

Temperature check: I’m not worried at all. Still RB1.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

St. Brown His inclusion on the list of losers seems undeserved when the Lions won 52-14 and he scored a touchdown.

However, the Lions dominated the run game in Week 8. Their backfield duo completed 22 of the team’s 39 touches, passing for 171 yards and three touchdowns (David Montgomery recorded a passing touchdown). St. Brown finished the game with just two receptions for seven yards and a touchdown, good for 8.7 PPR points.

Similar to: Kenneth Walker IIISt. Brown fell victim to the game plan after his team established a significant lead early and didn’t have to pass the ball. Jared Goff threw just 15 passes for 85 yards, so there was no chance of a Sun God boom week.

Temperature check: Still ahhigh-end WR1