Week 8 saw a slew of injuries wreaking havoc on some of the NFL’s biggest stars. Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell, San Diego’s Keenan Allen and Baltimore’s Steve Smith are knocked out for the season, leaving fantasy owners scrambling to find replacement options. Here’s a look at who owners should target for Week 9.
WATCH:
Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders
Derek Carr is looking like he’s the real deal. In the last two games, Carr has completed 47-of-67 passes for 622 yards and seven touchdowns. But here’s the big number: Zero interceptions. The Raiders play Pittsburgh in Week 9. The Steelers have given up the seventh-worst passing yards per game (269.5) and sixth-worst pass-completion percentage (67.8 percent) to opposing quarterbacks his season. As he continues to gel with Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper, look for Carr to continue to post big numbers — at least until they meet Denver again.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
With Le’Veon Bell going down, owners should look to Williams. The 32-year-old back has proven effective in Bell’s absence. Williams ran for 127 yards in Week 1 against New England and scored three touchdowns against the 49ers in Week 2. Last week against Cincinnati, he had nine carries for 71 yards after Bell was hurt. Oakland has one of the league’s most stifling defenses against the run (3.6 yards per carry), but Williams is a must-have moving forward.
Jeremy Langford, RB, Chicago Bears
Matt Forte is hurt and while the extent of his injury is yet to be revealed, Langford will surely get more playing time in Week 9. The rookie had 12 carries for 46 rushing yards last week, but the Bears will face San Diego, which has allowed the sixth-worst rushing yards per game (124.6) and the worst yards per carry (5.0). Langford could have a field day against the Chargers.
Kamar Aiken, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Aiken has emerged as the Ravens’ No. 1 option at receiver with the injury to Steve Smith. The 26-year-old caught six passes for 62 yards last week and should have a good number of targets against the Jacksonville defense. Aiken is second on the team in targets (44) behind Smith (73), and that should rise as the season progresses.
Malcom Floyd, WR, San Diego Chargers
San Diego’s leading receiver Keenan Allen looks like he’s going on season-ending IR with a lacerated kidney, which means everyone’s going to have to step up. Enter Floyd. The Chargers’ third-leading receiver has 21 catches for 409 yards and three TDs this year. But that should go up with quarterback Philip Rivers having a career-year (he’s on pace for a record 5,506 passing yards).
Vernon Davis, TE, Denver Broncos
Davis should get a new lease on life with the Broncos. Denver tight ends were targeted six times against Green Bay, pulling in six receptions for 105 yards. In Peyton Manning’s first three seasons, he’s thrown totals of seven, 14 and 14 touchdowns, respectively, to his tight ends. The Broncos have three this season, but that number will go up with Davis in the fold.
Deep Target
David Cobb, RB, Tennessee Titans
The Titans’ rookie fifth-round draft pick is coming off short-term IR this week. Cobb could be in the mix in Tennessee’s backfield, which has yet to find a solid starter. Neither Antonio Andrews, Bishop Sankey or Dexter McCluster have established themselves as the top running back. Worth a stash on the bench as this could be Cobb’s job to steal.
Pick 6:
Joe Nguyen: jnguyen@denverpost.com or @joenguyen
