The Week 9 matchup between the Chicago Bears and the San Diego Chargers features two teams trying to get past injuries to key players that may have changed the entire outlook of the season. We’ve got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
Fantasy football projections, Week 9: Bears-Chargers featuring Jay Cutler, Philip Rivers and Malcom Floyd
We break down the Week 9 matchup between the Chicago Bears and the San Diego Chargers.
Chicago Bears
The San Diego Chargers are allowing 5 yards per carry and 124.6 yards per game to rushing attacks this season. That should make the transition to the starting job a little bit easier on Jeremy Langford, who will get the nod in place of Matt Forte. Forte suffered a knee injury last week. He is expected to be back before the season ends, but for now the spotlight shines on Langford. The rookie rushed 12 times for 46 yards last week and he should have no trouble producing as he gets snatched off the waiver wire by fantasy owners in need.
Whether Langford produces, quarterback Jay Cutler is going to have to step up in a big way if the Bears are to beat the Chargers. Even though the team hasn’t won since Week 5, Cutler has provided fantasy owners with some decent numbers. He only threw one touchdown last week but fortunately he ran for another. Cutler will likely be able to keep the offense rolling against a merely average Chargers defense. Perhaps his performance leads Chicago to victory and gives fantasy owners a chance, too.
San Diego Chargers
Malcom Floyd’s fantasy prospects just got a little bit brighter. That’s because teammate Keenan Allen is out for the season with a lacerated kidney. Add to that the fact the Chargers have had trouble running the ball this season and tight end Antonio Gates is also dealing with injury troubles of his own. Floyd’s four catches for 92 yards and two scores against the Baltimore Ravens last week couldn’t have come at a better time. He’ll be in starting lineups against a weak Bears team, no question about it.
If Floyd succeeds, it will no doubt be thanks in large part to quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers has got to be shaking his head at the prospect of life without Keenan Allen, but life goes on. He’s always been a high-volume passer and he’s the type of quarterback back that can single-handedly topple opponents in head-to-head leagues. Rivers can get the job done no matter who is catching passes, but hopefully Floyd does more good than harm. A drop in Rivers’ fantasy value isn’t something owners can afford at this point in the season.
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SB Nation presents: NFL Week 9 start/sit fantasy advice
