Top five wide receivers due for fantasy football breakouts in NFL Week 9

Fridays are for Five Lists of Five here at DKNetwork, and we’re officially halfway through the NFL season. And Puka Nacua has officially aggravated his knee injury a second time. Mercy for this Rams fan, please.

I digress!

A reminder of the premise behind this specific series of lists: All I want is for you to be better than your friends. You’re going to be surrounded by them on Sunday, probably. How sweet would it be if you could be sure you’ve checked every box possible that might guarantee you a resounding victory this week? Some kick-your-feet-up insights? I’ve got some.

Again—I know my audience. The smoke-break audience. The quick-scan-of-the-phone-on-the-way-to-the-fridge audience. The give-me-as-much-info-as-possible-as-fast-as-possible audience. I’m a man of the people.

And so, once more: Five Lists of Five. Think of these as byte-sized, two-minutes-to-yourself lists to scan during your weekend as you foam at the mouth for any competitive fantasy edge. As much relevant analysis as I can fit into, like, 250 words per player.

Keeping it rolling this week with top five wide receivers due for fantasy football breakouts this weekend.

Also available from my NFL Week 9 Friday’s Five Lists of Five:

Break ‘Em Out

Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers (vs. Detroit Lions)

I’d stop reading anything I write altogether if Christian Watson doesn’t post at least 12 FPTs this week. That’s not even a breakout. That’s just a serviceably-startable week.

But I think he’s most poised to have his best game of the season between he, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed. He’s looked better each week since returning from his ankle injury, and this game—provide Love plays—will shape up to be a barn-burner. I think Watson clears 75 yards and hits paydirt. I hope.

I wrote up his teammate, Romeo Doubs, in my Top five fantasy football smash starts for NFL Week 9 column. In case, you know, Watson isn’t your preferred flavor of Wisconsin cheese this week.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

He’s already had several 20+ FPT games, but I think this might be the one where he goes for 25+, which is the threshold I always hope for re. these breakout candidates.

The Vikings secondary is in trouble, as exposed by two quarterbacks who, at one time in their careers, have worn Detroit Lions jerseys (Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford). Both those offensive schemes are a little bit more dynamic with regards to how they can get their quarterbacks in space to deliver

Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. X)

My colleague, Zach Thompson, wrote up Parker Washington as this week’s potential Cedric Tillman-level breakout:

Even if Thomas or Davis is able to return quickly, just the injury to Kirk is enough to open up a window for Washington. If Thomas, Davis or both are out in addition to Kirk, Washington will have an even higher ceiling.

Washington tied for the team lead in targets on Sunday against Green Bay and had three catches for 46 yards. He led all receivers with a 74% snap share and 46 receiving yards in that game after only having three catches for 21 yards in the previous seven games of the season combined.

Even though he wasn’t involved much this year, Washington showed some solid potential in his rookie year last year. The Jaguars originally added him in the sixth-round after he was drafted in the sixth round out of Penn State. He had 16 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns last year and finished the year with at least one catch in six straight games.

I like both Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas to sit this week. Parker Washington to the moon.

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

This is all feel. I know Kupp had 32 points in Week 1, but how distant a memory is that? In a league as what-have-you-done-for-me-lately as the NFL, here’s what’s dominating the minds of Cooper Kupp fantasy managers, fans, and folks who are generally aware of the NFL more broadly:

• Age, ankles like kindling, constant injury risk
• Rams are 3-4; a trade is coming
• Puka Nacua’s a safer bet

The third bullet, there, of course, is up in the air, what with Nacua’s aggravation of his nagging knee injury in practice yesterday. Regardless of Puka’s presence on the field, Kupp’s snap share is going to increase from the 58% last week.

Kupp actually ran more routes and was on the field for more snaps than Puka against the Vikings, anyways. I like his chances to blow up after a ten-day rest.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

What year is it?

I know Hopkins only registered 4.9 PPR FPTs in his first game with the Chiefs. Patience. This is the sort of receiver the Chiefs need. I think of DeAndre Hopkins as a better Demarcus Robinson. We know how much Patrick Mahomes loved Robinson during his time in Kansas City. We also know how valuable Demarcus Robinson still is on the Los Angeles Rams.

Tampa Bay isn’t the greatest matchup, but the Chiefs’ offense is starting to click such that someone is going to get forgotten. Patrick Mahomes is going to have to feed at least one of his wideouts.

I like this to be the week he chooses to get his new sticky-hands addition plenty of action.

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