2022 Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates: Week 9

Matt Hanifan / Fantasy Football, NFL / November 3, 2022

Week 9 Fantasy Breakout — (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

2022 Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates: Week 9

We’re officially at the midway point of the 2022 NFL season, with Week 9 kicking off tonight between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Houston Texans — only the second-most important Philadelphia-Houston professional sports contest tonight! Let’s go over some potential Week 9 fantasy breakouts! But first, how did Week 8 go?

Jared Goff, QB, Lions: 27-37, 321 yards, 1 TD
Irv Smith Jr., TE, Vikings: 4 rec., 28 yards

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts: 16 car., 76 yards
Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos: 1 rec., 13 yards

Bad week. Let’s bounce back for Week 9!

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

I’ve highlighted this in previous breakout prediction columns, but Rodgers has yet to eclipse 17 fantasy points in a single game this season. Even though there’s a shortage for receiving candidates in Green Bay, he will be up against a porous Lions secondary on the road this week. If this isn’t the week he breaks that threshold, I’m not sure when he will, with Dallas, Tennessee, Philadelphia and Chicago before their bye week. Okay, he might for the latter, but Detroit (on the road, in a dome) might be a perfect matchup for him.

Chris Moore, WR, Houston Texans

Brandin Cooks or Nico Collins aren’t slated to play in Thursday night’s game against the Eagles. Phillip Dorsett II, who will probably see a healthy portion of Darius Slay, received the second-most targets last weekend (5), with Moore — who’s totaled 10 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown this season — had four. This is a complete dart throw, since you’d probably expect Houston to live on the ground with Dameon Pierce and Rex Burkhead. But that’s why they call this breakout candidates, right?

Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

O.K., let’s dive into a more realistic option. Adams hauled in just one catch for three yards on five targets a week ago, but was also dealing with an illness throughout the week. He was limited Wednesday with said illness, but expect Adams to breakout again Sunday against the Jaguars, assuming he can play.

TJ Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota has had some of the worst tight end production all season; even though he has a short week to get accustomed to the playbook, expect Kirk Cousins to get Hockenson involved in his debut game in purple.