Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season provides some fascinating matchups and Jakobi Meyers, D.J. Moore, and Michael Pittman Jr. are three options available to fantasy football managers.
The Raiders lost to the Chiefs last week and now sit with a 2-6 record at the bottom of the AFC West. However, given Kansas City is the only undefeated team in the league right now, it is debatable how much can be read into that. They face a Bengals team that is struggling this season and are themselves the third-best in the AFC North coming into Week 9, despite being playoffs favorites when the season began.
The Bears also lost to the Commanders in dramatic fashion last week after a walk-off Hail Mary touchdown by Jayden Daniels. They still have a 4-3 winning record but are fourth in the NFC North, which is shaping up to be the most competitive division in the NFL. They face the Cardinals, who had their own narrow victory over the Dolphins in Week 8.
Finally, the Colts face the Vikings in Week 9. Minnesota is 5-2, having begun with a perfect record, and has lost its last two games. However, Indianapolis is also coming off of a loss in its last game against Houston and sits with a 4-4 record after eight weeks.
Within this context, let us look at how Jakobi Meyers, D.J. Moore and Michael Pittman Jr. compare for fantasy football enthusiasts.
Is Jakobi Meyers a good pick in Week 9?
Jakobi Meyers has 325 yards in six games this season, averaging slightly above 50 yards per match. Last week, he played as his form suggested, recording 52 yards. What fantasy football owners would have liked is that he also scored a touchdown, which was just the second time this season he has ventured into the endzone. He is averaging 10.5 yards per carry.
Is D.J. Moore a good pick in Week 9?
D.J. Moore had a poor outing in Week 8, along with the entirety of the Bears offense, as they struggled to get any rhythm going. He had two catches for just 27 yards. It was his second consecutive game with receiving yards in the 20s. Just three weeks ago, though, he had 105 yards against the Panthers, which shows what he can do if he gets going.
He has 341 yards in seven matches this year at 10.3 yards per reception. He also has three touchdowns. These are remarkably similar numbers to Jakobi Meyers, why choosing between him and D.J. Moore might prove so tough for fantasy football managers.
Is Michael Pittman Jr. a good pick in Week 9?
Add into the mix Michael Pittman Jr., and things become even more complicated. The Colts have announced a quarterback change that they hope revitalizes the offense. The wide receiver had a single reception for 16 yards in Week 8 and something needed to change. He has shown us what he is capable of, having recorded more than 100 receiving yards in the win against the Steelers.
Overall, he has 352 yards and two touchdowns, which is similar to both D.J. Moore and Jakobi Meyers. His 12.1 yards per catch is slightly better.
Whom should I start among Jakobi Meyers, D.J. Moore, and Michael Pittman Jr. in Week 9?
With the numbers so close, we need additional analysis before making a decision. Thankfully, Sportskeeda's Start/Sit Optimizer comes to our aid.
It takes into account all the factors outlined above and shows us that D.J. Moore is expected to record 10 more yards than Michael Pittman Jr., who in turn exceeds Jakobi Meyers by the same amount. One must also note that the Cardinals have the weakest defense, allowing 376.5 yards per game, among the three three opposition teams the wide receivers will face and that helps the Bears wideout.
Colts Fans! Check out the latest Indianapolis Colts Schedule and dive into the Colts Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.