From week to week, wide receiver is an extremely volatile position in fantasy football, but it’s also one where you can find great value if you shop in the right spots. Whether you’re in search of sleepers to fill your season-long fantasy roster or looking for a low-cost slot on your DFS roster, these sleeper wide receivers are set up for success in NFL Week 9.
With the Steelers and the 49ers on a bye this week, there are 12 games on the main Sunday afternoon slate on DraftKings. The big DFS contest is the NFL $2.75M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st], and there are plenty of different ways to get in on the action in what should be another fun Sunday.
On Monday, I listed my top-25 plays at the position. Most of my sleepers in this post don’t quite crack that list, but they bring value upside if you need an emergency option for your season-long team or a DFS bargain.
My five sleeper wide receivers last week were Jalen McMillan ($3,700; 9.2 FPTS), Cedric Tillman ($3,300; 28.9 FPTS), DeVaughn Vele ($3,400; 5.8 FPTS), Kalif Raymond ($3,400; 15.4 FPTS) and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine ($3,000; 11.9 FPTS). Hopefully, I can keep the hot streak rolling with these five sleeper wide receivers for Week 9.
Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers ($3,600)
The Panthers’ offense isn’t normally a place to go for big production, but I love the value that Coker offers if he steps into a big role this week. I’ve been in on Coker since highlighting him as a stash heading into Week 7. I also highlighted him as a sleeper to start in Week 8, and as a strong play to start this week.
Coker had a strong showing last week with four catches, 78 yards and his first touchdown of his NFL career. I dropped this highlight in my other Coker piece, but it’s so good we’ll run it back again.
Love to see the rookie ball out pic.twitter.com/LxmmfmIydW
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 28, 2024
Coker could be in for an even bigger role this week since Xavier Legette ($5,300; toe) is questionable, Diontae Johnson ($6,300) was traded and Adam Thielen ($4,700; hamstring) is doubtful.
The Coker bandwagon is getting crowded, and he’ll be a popular play if Legette is out, but his upside is high enough to still use him in DFS contests this week and definitely make sure he’s rostered in your season-long leagues.
Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars ($3,600)
Washington is another great value option this week with a chance to step into a much larger role for the Jaguars. Jacksonville lost Christian Kirk (collarbone) for the season last week and receivers Brian Robinson Jr. ($6,600; chest) and Gabe Davis ($5,000; shoulder) also left the game with injuries and are game-time decisions this week.
Washington had three catches for 46 yards while stepping in and finished with 7.6 fantasy points against the Packers. In the previous week, Washington showed his playmaking ability with this punt return for a touchdown against the Patriots:
PARKER WASHINGTON. 96-YARD PUNT RETURN TD.
📺: #NEvsJAX on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/edk74815KD— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
I highlighted Washington as this week’s version of Cedric Tillman earlier this week and still think he can go off if Thomas or Davis is limited or out. The Jags have a good matchup against the Eagles and could be forced to throw a lot if playing from behind. If they air it out, Washington could be busy and bring a high ceiling at $3,600. He’s a great stash in season-long leagues too since he should be involved at least in Kirk’s role moving forward.
Noah Brown, Washington Commanders ($4,000)
Brown starred in one of the highlights of the year catching a dramatic, game-winning walk-off Hail Mary to beat the Bears.
Let's go through some notable calls of game-winning Hail Mary plays over the years. 🧵
"And the ball is CAUGHT! CAUGHT! IT'S A MIRACLE! IT'S NOAH BROWN!"
Jim Nantz, 10/27/2024pic.twitter.com/e3oYEDziBr
— Sports TV News & Updates (@TVSportsUpdates) October 28, 2024
Brown finished with 73 yards on three catches for 16.3 fantasy points but 52 yards came on the miracle finish. Even before that, though, there were positive signs for Brown, who set season highs for snap share (82%) and route share (85%). It was a nice bounce-back for Brown after he had just one target in Week 7’s rout of the Panthers.
Before that, Brown had four straight weeks with at least three catches and two games with over 50 yards. Brown is the team’s No. 2 receiver although he has lost work to Dyami Brown ($3,500) and Olamide Zaccheaus ($3,400) at times this season.
Brown and the Commanders face the Giants for the second time this season, and he had three catches for 56 yards in their first meeting. He may not have the sparkly upside of emerging options Coker and Washington, but Brown is a solid and stable option in a good offense.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans ($3,500)
Westbrook-Ikhine is inevitable.
3 weeks, 3 NWI TDs
📺: Watch #TENvsDET on @NFLonFOX stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/OGDdtYf6bC
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 27, 2024
After scoring touchdowns in three straight weeks, he still only has a salary of $3,500 in this week’s matchup against the Patriots. Like with Coker and Washington, opportunities have opened up for NWI due to movement above him on the depth chart. DeAndre Hopkins is in Kansas City and Tyler Boyd ($3,700; shoulder) is questionable. Boyd had six targets last week while Westbrook-Ikhine had four and finished with two catches for 39 yards and 11.9 fantasy points.
The volume hasn’t been there this season, and the offense around him is shaky with Mason Rudolph ($4,600) at QB, but he consistently has found the end zone and should be involved enough to be a strong punt play in this matchup with the Patriots, who rank in the top 10 of fantasy points allowed to WR this season. If Boyd is ruled out, Westbrook-Ikhine would have an even higher ceiling.
DeVaughn Vele, Denver Broncos ($3,600)
It’s a little tricky to figure out the Broncos’ receiver rotation. It has changed quite a bit from week to week, but rookie DeVaughn Vele has shown enough flashes of potential that I’m including him here as a possible breakout for a second straight week.
Vele caught all three of his targets last week for 28 yards and 5.8 fantasy points, but on the downside, he only played 34% of snaps for the Broncos while Lil’Jordan Humphrey ($3,200) played the second-most WR snaps and caught 4-of-6 targets. Humphrey is a decent punt play, but Vele has more upside both short-term and long-term for the Broncos, who snagged the big receiver in the seventh round out of Utah.
When he has been on the field he has made impressive plays and shown a high ceiling but his uncertain workload makes him high-risk.
A dime from Bo Nix on the move and a fantastic toe-drag catch from Devaughn Vele on the sideline. pic.twitter.com/k4ztOxIMt7
— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) October 28, 2024
Vele’s matchup is a good one this week since the Ravens have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. As Bo Nix ($5,900) settles in and grows, he’ll look more for his fellow rookie, and Vele seems due for a breakout at some point this season. It could be this week, and if it is, you’ll want to have him in your DFS lineups or stashed on your season-long team’s bench.
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