The Week 9 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers features a top-notch passing offense facing off against a sputtering one. We’ve got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
Fantasy football projections, Week 9: Saints-49ers featuring Drew Brees, Brandin Cooks, Colin Kaepernick, more
We break down the Week 9 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers.
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New Orleans Saints
After beginning the season with an 0-3 record, quarterback Drew Brees has the Saints at 3-4. He passed for 265 yards and a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. Brees is generally expected to do better than that week to week, but topping the Seahawks without turning the ball over was likely good enough for fantasy owners. He should get closer to 300 yards against the 49ers in Week 9 even though he’s typically better at home than on the road.
Brees is always a good bet to double up on his projected totals. This Sunday should be no different. Brees will look to connect with wide receiver Brandin Cooks regularly against San Francisco. Cooks only had four catches for 44 yards against the Seattle Seahawks but one of those catches went for a touchdown.
Cooks has now scored in three straight games. Making it four in a row in Week 9 is a definite possibility despite the fact Cooks has been a boom-or-bust player throughout his young career. Perhaps he’s finally found a way to deliver consistency within the Saints’ socialist offense.
San Francisco 49ers
Running back Carlos Hyde missed Week 7 with a shoulder injury and rested thanks to the team’s Week 8 bye. He wore a non-contact jersey in practice throughout this week but he’s fully expected to play against the Saints. New Orleans has given up more fantasy points to running backs than any other team in the NFL.
Hyde should feast on them even if he needs a few reps to get his legs going in the game. He’s the engine that drives San Francisco’s offense. To have him back in the lineup could spark success for the 49ers and fantasy owners in Week 9. Hopefully Hyde can carry the load, because the 49ers don’t offer much in the passing game.
If any other player on the roster warrants a fantasy start perhaps it would be quarterback Colin Kaepernick. In two starts this season, Kap has thrown for just two touchdowns and one interception. He was limited to just 143 passing yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7.
If he can connect with tight end Vance McDonald and wide receiver Torrey Smith regularly, the 49ers could make some noise. Kaepernick’s fantasy value hinges on garbage-time scoring in Week 9. That will likely be the case for the rest of the season.
