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Fantasy football: Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins top Week 9 wide receiver rankings

Published

3 months ago

November 5, 2020

Nov. 3 (UPI) — Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Keenan Allen and D.K. Metcalf top my Week 9 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for 2020.

Allen Robinson, Adam Thielen, A.J. Brown, Mike Evans and Tyreek Hill round out my Top 10 options for Week 9. Chase Claypool, Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy also are among my favorite starts this week.

You should target players who have a good chance to score a touchdown and get a lot of looks from their respective quarterbacks when considering who to start at wide receiver.

Monitor the status for each of your players’ games this week as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the NFL schedule. Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals players should be removed from all starting lineups, as those teams have Week 9 byes.

Check out my weekly waiver wire article for candidates to add to your roster before your Week 9 matchup.

Here are some of my favorite players in this week’s rankings:

TOP SHELF

Stefon Diggs has gone two consecutive games without a touchdown catch, but had 92 yards on six receptions in Week 8. I expect a huge performance from Diggs in Week 9, when the Buffalo Bills host a Seattle Seahawks team that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

Diggs is my top option for Week 9.

DeAndre Hopkins and the Arizona Cardinals had a Week 8 bye and should be very prepared to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. Hopkins had his fourth game this season with at least 100 yards in Week 7. He should reach that total again in Week 9 in a game I expect to be a blowout.

The Dolphins have allowed the ninth-most yards to wide receivers. Hopkins is my No. 2 option for Week 9.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson lands at No. 6 in my rankings and can be used as a WR1 for Week 9.

Robinson scored his third touchdown of the season in Week 8 and should have another productive Week 9 when he battles a Tennessee Titans team that has allowed the second-most catches and fifth-most yards to wide receivers.

Chase Claypool of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been a fantasy football star this season, but has had inconsistent production.

Claypool scored his seventh touchdown of the season in Week 8. He has a decent chance to return to the end zone in Week 9 when the Steelers face a Dallas Cowboys defense that is tied for allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

Claypool is my No. 13 option this week and should slide into your WR2 slot if you are in a league with at least 12 teams.

LONGSHOTS

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper is a longshot fantasy football play for me this week due to his matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

I also expect the Cowboys to trail in this game, which means more opportunities for Cooper. Cooper is my No. 21 option and can be used as a WR2 or WR3 in leagues with at least 14 teams.

Denver Broncos rookie Jerry Jeudy lands at No. 27 in my Week 9 rankings. Jeudy had a season-high 10 targets and made four catches for 73 yards in Week 8. He should continue to see a large number of targets down the stretch.

I expect Jeudy to post his first 100-yard game in Week 9, when the Broncos battle an Atlanta Falcons defense that is tied for allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Jeudy can be plugged in as a low-end WR3 for Week 9.

Week 9 fantasy football wide receiver rankings

1. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills vs. SEA

2. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals vs. MIA

3. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers at SF

4. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers vs. LV

5. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks at BUF

6. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears at TEN

7. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings vs. DET

8. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans vs. CHI

9. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. NO

10. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs vs. CAR

11. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks at BUF

12. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons vs. DEN

13. Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers at DAL

14. Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans at JAX

15. Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team vs. NYG

16. Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals vs. MIA

17. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. DET

18. Darius Slayton, New York Giants at WAS

19. Will Fuller, Houston Texans at JAX

20. D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars, vs. HOU

21. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys vs. PIT

22. D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers at KC

23. Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens at IND

24. DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins at ARI

25. Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers vs. LV

26. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers at DAL

27. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos at ATL

28. John Brown, Buffalo Bills vs. SEA

29. Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. NO

30. Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers at KC

31. Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs vs. CAR

32. Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions at MIN

33. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers at DAL

34. Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans vs. CHI

35. Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills vs. SEA

36. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys vs. PIT

37. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers vs. GB

38. Emmanuel Sanders, New Orleans Saints at TB

39. Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders at LAC

40. Marvin Hall, Detroit Lions at MIN

41. Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. HOU

42. Golden Tate, New York Giants at WAS

43. Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders at LAC

44. Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins at ARI

45. Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears at TEN

46. Jamison Crowder, New York Jets vs. NE

47. DaeSean Hamilton, Denver Broncos at ATL

48. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers at SF

49. Sterling Shepard, New York Giants at WAS

50. Jakobi Meyers, New england Patriots at NYJ

This week in the National Football League

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Willie Snead (C) has a potential touchdown pass broken up by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick (L) and Justin Layne as time expires at M&T Banks Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday. The Steelers won 28-24 to remain undefeated at 7-0. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

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Parkour organizers ask Olympic committee to reject sport for 2024 Summer Games

Published

2 months ago

December 3, 2020

everlook

Dec. 1 (UPI) — Parkour Earth, a governing body for the sport, on Tuesday asked the International Olympic Committee to reject International Gymnastics Federation proposals to include the discipline in the 2024 Summer Games.

“Unfortunately, [the International Gymnastics Federation’s] encroachment and misappropriation of our sport continues,” Parkour Earth, the international federation for the obstacle-course-style training discipline, said in a letter to the committee.

Parkour is not currently part of the Olympic program for Paris 2024. The International Gymnastics Federation is expected to request Parkour’s inclusion on Monday when the International Olympic Committee’s executive board meets to finalize programs for the 2024 Summer Games.

Parkour was developed in Paris in the 1990s. The sport features a free-running competitor, who climbs, swings, rolls and jumps from one point to another within a complex environment, without the assistance of equipment.

The International Gymnastics Federation in 2018 recognized parkour as gymnastics’ newest discipline. Parkour Earth has often fought with the International Gymnastics Federation for control of the sport.

Sport climbing is one of the new sports included in the 2021 Tokyo program. Break dancing will be an Olympic sport in Paris.

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Fantasy football: Booker, Fitzpatrick among best Week 13 add-drops

Published

2 months ago

December 2, 2020

everlook

Dec. 1 (UPI) — We’ve finally reached the last week of the fantasy football regular season. That also means it’s the last week to improve your team on the waiver wire and through free agency.

This week’s waiver wire features several players who can help you win your final matchup of the regular season and help put your team in position for a playoff run.

You also could need to fill in empty spots on your roster, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers have Week 13 byes. Even if you don’t have any players on a bye week, you can play defense by adding players that your opponent might need.

It’s also a good idea to add backup running backs to your bench to capitalize on future injuries or illnesses for starters at the position. If a star running back gets hurt or goes on the reserve/COVID-19 list over the next few weeks, you could find yourself with an RB1 or RB2, if you use that strategy.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker and Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick are among my favorite waiver wire targets for Week 13.

I have added more of my favorite players to target on this week’s waiver wire and separated them by priority and position. The players I have listed ahead of this week’s waiver period have low ownership percentages in standard size leagues.

Here are my top players to add and top players to drop for Week 13:

ALL-ADD TEAM

HONORABLE MENTIONS

TOP DROPS

QB | Tua Tagovailoa; RB | Phillip Lindsay, Salvon Ahmed; WR | Marquise Brown, John Brown; TE | Jared Cook, Noah Fant

QUARTERBACK

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been forced into action for the Miami Dolphins after rookie Tua Tagovailoa sustained a thumb injury. The veteran quarterback has thrown at least two touchdown passes in five of his seven starts this season and should produce again in Week 13 when the Dolphins host the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fitzpatrick is worth a streaming start on Sunday if your normal starter has a bye week or you are desperate at the position. Make sure to monitor Tagovailoa’s practice activity throughout the week before you put Fitzpatrick in as your starter, as the Dolphins could make a last-minute swap atop their depth chart.

RUNNING BACK

Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker is my top waiver wire addition for Week 13. Raiders starter Josh Jacobs sustained an ankle sprain in Week 12. Booker would be first in line to get carries if Jacobs misses time.

The Raiders face the New York Jets on Sunday, which is a great matchup, Booker will land in RB2/flex territory in my weekly rankings if Jacobs is ruled out.

The Los Angeles Rams finally gave some work to rookie running back Cam Akers on Sunday and he did not disappoint. Akers had 84 yards and a score on nine carries in the Rams’ Week 12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He should continue to receive a healthy workload moving forward.

Akers is a risky weekly start, but could prove to be a great streamer down the stretch, especially if you have a wide-receiver-heavy team and are in a league with at least 14 teams.

WIDE RECEIVER

New York Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims is another rookie who has gotten more opportunities as of late. Mims has received eight targets in each of his last three games. He also has at least 42 receiving yards in every game he has played in 2020.

I believe Mims’ best games are ahead. He should provide great bench value at wide receiver, especially as COVID-19 continues to impact player availability around the league.

TIGHT END

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph hasn’t been much of a touchdown threat this season, but is on pace to have one of his best seasons in terms of receiving yards. Rudolph had his best game of the season in Week 12, with seven catches for 68 yards in a win over the Carolina Panthers.

I expect Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to spread the ball out a lot down the stretch as he eyes playmakers Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson at wide receiver and Rudolph on shorter routes. Rudolph should provide TE1 value in leagues with at least 14 teams that require starting tight ends.

This week in the National Football League

Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Monday, where the Seahawks defeated the Eagles 23-17. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo