NFL Nation answers the biggest fantasy questions -- provided by ESPN fantasy football analyst Mike Clay -- across the league for Week 9.
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AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Should we throw in the towel on Dawson Knox as a consistent passing-game target with Tyler Kroft playing a big role?
You're not quite throwing in the towel yet, but it's certainly in your hand. Kroft played 36 snaps to Knox's 28 last week, drawing four targets to Knox's one -- which he dropped. Knox's drops have been a recurring issue in recent weeks and could drastically slash his fantasy value if they continue, especially if Kroft stays healthy. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Miami Dolphins
Will Mark Walton continue to play a workhorse role after playing 88% of the snaps on Monday?
Yes. He has the keys to the Dolphins' backfield with a weekly floor of double-digit touches. He should remain their workhorse back for the remainder of the season barring health issues or sharp production declines. Kalen Ballage has settled in primarily as a short-yardage and goal-line running back. -- Cameron Wolfe
New England Patriots
Is it fair to say N'Keal Harry will be no more than a backup once activated from IR?
Classify Harry as a No. 3A/3B/3C when factoring his fantasy impact, with his involvement volatile on a week-to-week basis based on the game plan. The Patriots are arguably best as a three-receiver offense, and Julian Edelman is locked into one of those spots. Then the other two spots will be a mix of Phillip Dorsett II, Mohamed Sanu, Harry and undrafted Jakobi Meyers. So if the Patriots roll mostly as a 3-WR offense, as expected, Harry could still see a good deal of playing time as an option for the No. 3 role, especially in games when the Patriots place more value on a bigger outside target. -- Mike Reiss
New York Jets
Can we finally count on a big game from Sam Darnold and this offense against struggling Miami?
If he can't do it now, when? The Dolphins allow a 120.2 passer rating and have intercepted only two passes. Darnold has been under heavy pressure in recent weeks, resulting in seven interceptions over the past two games, but the game plan this week will be scaled down to include more quick throws to keep him safe and rebuild his confidence. -- Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Can we count on Marquise Brown on Sunday with probable Stephon Gilmore shadow coverage looming?
Probably not, especially if you're hoping for Brown to reach double-digit fantasy numbers. Brown isn't at full strength from a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games. But he is still Baltimore's best deep threat and should get a couple of big plays downfield because the Patriots have to respect the Ravens' run game. Of course, no one expected much from Brown heading into the season opener after he was limited all offseason, and Brown surprisingly totaled 147 yards and two touchdowns. -- Jamison Hensley
Cincinnati Bengals
Who stands to benefit most now that Ryan Finley is under center?
Wide receiver Tyler Boyd could see some increased targets with Finley under center. With A.J. Green potentially coming back for Week 10, defenses should ease up the coverage on Boyd, who has received a lot of attention in recent weeks. Boyd's percentage of targets dropped in recent weeks as the offense leaned on the likes of Auden Tate, Alex Erickson and Tyler Eifert. -- Ben Baby
Cleveland Browns
How much hope is there for Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. to have a good game against Denver's tough defense?
Given how uneven the Cleveland offense has been, probably not a lot. The Browns are likely to try to ride running back Nick Chubb as they continue to seek an offensive identity. OBJ is always a possibility for TDs. But Cleveland has been struggling to find him consistent targets, especially in the red zone. -- Jake Trotter
Pittsburgh Steelers
Will Jaylen Samuels handle workhorse duties if James Conner is out this week?
Yes. The Steelers really don't have another option at running back if Conner can't go and Benny Snell Jr. misses any practice time. Samuels is capable of being a workhorse, but for the Steelers' run game to be its most effective version, the team needs a change-of-pace back. The team believes in young back Trey Edmunds, formerly of the practice squad, but with his experience, health and skillset, Samuels would be the featured back if Conner can't go. -- Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Should we be buying this age-33 breakout from Darren Fells?
Fells is a startable option because as long as Will Fuller V is out and Keke Coutee is not an impactful part of the game plan, he will have more of an opportunity for targets. Deshaun Watson feels comfortable throwing to him in the red zone, and the Texans know what they're going to get from Fells on a consistent basis. -- Sarah Barshop
Indianapolis Colts
Once activated, will Devin Funchess slot right back in as the team's No. 2 wide receiver?
Funchess has to get back first and then get up to speed because he has played only one game this season due to a clavicle injury. Coach Frank Reich said Wednesday that Funchess probably will not practice this week, which means his time to get back and make an impact is decreasing, with the Colts about to play their eighth game of the season. The opportunity will be there for Funchess if he does return in time, though, because the Colts have lacked consistency from the No. 2 receiver spot this season. -- Mike Wells
Jacksonville Jaguars
If Leonard Fournette's workhorse usage leads to an injury, would Ryquell Armstead handle most of the touches?
Armstead would be the feature back in that case, though the Jaguars would certainly not use him as exclusively as they have Fournette. Tyler Ervin and Devine Ozigbo are the only other backs on the roster, and they'd get some touches, but the Jaguars would take a look at any unsigned veteran backs (though pickings are slim). -- Mike DiRocco
Tennessee Titans
What went wrong for the Titans' wide receivers last week, and can we count on any of them against Carolina?
The offense flowed through the Titans' tight ends last week due to more usage of 13 personnel. The offense won't always flow through them, but Jonnu Smith and Anthony Firkser delivered a combined nine receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets last week. A.J. Brown and Corey Davis saw a combined 15 targets against the Chargers, so they are capable of being a big part of the game plan. -- Turron Davenport
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
How concerned should we be for Courtland Sutton's production with Brandon Allen now under center?
Well, if the Broncos can somehow give Allen some time to throw -- no guarantee because only two quarterbacks in the league have been sacked more than Joe Flacco was in the Broncos' first eight games -- the ball is going to be headed Sutton's way. Sutton was the team's WR1 even before Emmanuel Sanders was traded. The issue will be if the Broncos can give Allen any sort of space to work in the pocket. -- Jeff Legwold
Kansas City Chiefs
Do you anticipate a big second half from Sammy Watkins, assuming Patrick Mahomes is healthy?
That's a difficult thing to predict. Watkins has had his moments with the Chiefs, none bigger than the season opener this year against the Jaguars. But Watkins has largely disappeared in between. Factor in the possibility of injuries, and it's tough to see him being a consistent producer. -- Adam Teicher
Los Angeles Chargers
How much hope is there that this offense (24th in touchdowns) will bounce back in the second half?
The Chargers' struggle to score points is one of the reasons Anthony Lynn moved on from offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Lynn's solution to fix that issue is to lean more on the running game, creating balance on offense. The Chargers averaged nearly 27 points per game last season in part by having a balanced offense, and the expectation is they will move closer to that number in the second half of the season. -- Eric D. Williams
Oakland Raiders
Will Derek Carr's big Week 8 be a launching pad to more big games, or will he revert to his underwhelming, early-season stats?
In a word, yes. Truly, it depends upon the opponent and how clean the forever-in-flux offensive line can keep him. He has not been sacked since Week 4, and the game plans are designed for him to throw short, quick passes against ferocious pass-rushes, like that of Chicago, and to let deeper routes develop when he has time, such as the case last week in Houston. "You have to play quarterback a different way when there's not as much time," Carr said. "You can't go to the third and fourth progression ... you can be a completely different player when you have that kind of time ... and you can throw different routes, have different schemes, have different game plans.." -- Paul Gutierrez
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Do you expect more passing touchdowns from Dak Prescott after he totaled three during his past four games?
Yes. Since losing both games to the Giants as a rookie in 2016, Prescott has 13 touchdown passes and no interceptions in the past five games against New York. He has eight touchdown passes in his past two games against the Giants, including four in the season opener, in which he threw for 405 yards. The Giants have the 25th-ranked pass defense and did not show the ability to pressure Prescott or slow down his receivers in the opener. -- Todd Archer
New York Giants
Will Darius Slayton see enough target volume to allow consistent production once Sterling Shepard returns?
Probably not. Slayton had a pair of long touchdown grabs last week, but those were his only two catches. And now Shepard is likely back along with Golden Tate and Evan Engram for the first time. That will make it tough to count on consistent weekly production. Slayton has averaged 4.5 targets in six games, and that will likely decrease if everybody is healthy. -- Jordan Raanan
Philadelphia Eagles
Will Dallas Goedert maintain his recent boost in targets once DeSean Jackson returns?
I expect Goedert to continue to produce. Jackson's return might impact the amount that the Eagles deploy two-tight-end sets, but that should be offset by the space Jackson's deep-ball threat creates for Goedert and Zach Ertz over the middle. -- Tim McManus
Washington Redskins
Do you expect Derrius Guice to quickly step back into lead-back duties once activated from IR?
That's not certain as of now. Keep in mind that once Jay Gruden was fired, interim coach Bill Callahan wanted to feature Adrian Peterson and the run game more, and the veteran has delivered with 275 yards in three games. He provides an identity for the offense and Callahan has often done the opposite of Gruden, so sticking with Peterson -- or at least keeping him a part of the offense -- would make sense. But the Redskins still have confidence in Guice and know he can be a bigger threat in the run and pass game. But when he takes over remains to be seen. -- John Keim
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Can we count on David Montgomery getting consistently high workloads following a breakout Week 8?
Yes, yes, yes. I was waiting for Matt Nagy to commit to Montgomery before I endorsed the rookie as a credible fantasy weapon. It finally happened last week against the Chargers. Nagy saw the light. There's no reason to think Montgomery's usage will change, especially because the Bears clearly have trust issues with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. -- Jeff Dickerson
Detroit Lions
Which Lions running back is most likely to emerge as the lead back, if any?
I still believe it'll be Ty Johnson in the long run, but don't be surprised if it vacillates by the week based on the matchup. At this point, recommending any Lions running back for fantasy is a tough proposition because it's an unpredictable workload. Considering how Detroit's passing offense has been playing, it's possible the Lions rely on that, too, especially facing top-10 run defenses in yards per carry the next two weeks (Oakland and Chicago). -- Michael Rothstein
Green Bay Packers
Who will operate as the No. 2 and No. 3 wide receivers once Davante Adams returns?
Marquez Valdes-Scantling has solidified himself as the No. 2 receiver -- mostly because his speed gives the Packers a deep threat to blow the top off the defense. But the No. 3 spot is a competition between Geronimo Allison, Allen Lazard and Jake Kumerow. Lazard has been the most productive of the three in Adams' absence, so he might get the nod. But as Aaron Rodgers said this week: "Allen and Jake especially, they've earned opportunities, so we gotta keep giving them a chance to get on the field and compete." -- Rob Demovsky
Minnesota Vikings
Will Irv Smith Jr. continue to play a significant role in the passing game once Adam Thielen returns?
If Smith can hover around three targets per game once Thielen returns, the Vikings' offense will continue to be in great shape. The rookie tight end has a critical role as a blocker but has shown he can run efficient routes and win his matchups in limited opportunities. He may not turn out five-catch, 60-yard games like he did in Detroit once Thielen went down but should be good for a couple passes to go his way each game (further dipping into Kyle Rudolph's target share), especially when Minnesota's upcoming opponents sell out to stop Dalvin Cook. -- Courtney Cronin
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
With the team's running game struggles in mind, could Brian Hill or Qadree Ollison play an expanded role following the bye?
Hill, for sure, will be in the mix, coming off the Seattle game where he scored his first career touchdown on a 23-yard run. He might get more looks by default if a concussion keeps Ito Smith sidelined. As for Ollison, he hasn't been active for a game so far, but it would seem wise for the Falcons to at least see what they have in him as a big back. -- Vaughn McClure
Carolina Panthers
Will the hefty target volume being handled by DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel translate to a big week against Tennessee?
Not necessarily. Coach Ron Rivera wasn't happy that quarterback Kyle Allen took more deep shots than normal, resulting in some bad throws that made Samuel's day (four catches on 11 targets) look worse than it was. Look for Allen to rely more than ever on Christian McCaffrey in the running game and on checkdown passes. -- David Newton
New Orleans Saints
With Drew Brees back, will someone other than Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas emerge into a consistent producer?
"Consistent" is the tough word there. But I still haven't lost all hope that tight end Jared Cook could produce a few nice games down the stretch. He was third on the team in targets before he missed the past two games with an ankle injury, and he was finding a little groove with his first two TDs in Weeks 5 and 6. The Saints still have a glaring need for a No. 3 option, so Cook should get more opportunities to fill it. -- Mike Triplett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
How confident should we be that Jameis Winston will put together a big game at Seattle?
The Bucs' issues on offense go beyond Winston. There are communication issues everywhere, which will only be magnified at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. A high snap from Ryan Jensen hit Winston in the face last week. Receivers are still running the wrong routes, and there was even a collision in the backfield between Breshad Perriman and Dare Ogunbowale that resulted in a 2-yard loss. -- Jenna Laine
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Do you expect David Johnson to remain the clear feature back once healthy?
Not if Kenyan Drake keeps playing the way he did Thursday night. Coach Kliff Kingsbury will find a way to utilize both Johnson and Drake, but Kingsbury will go with the hot hand, and as of now, that's Drake. Drake showed he can fill Johnson's roles in the run and passing game, which is important from a playcalling standpoint: Kingsbury doesn't have to change the playbook for Drake. That'll lead to a seamless integration to the offense, and I can see Johnson being used more in a receiving role while Drake handles more of the rushing duties once they're on the field together.-- Josh Weinfuss
Los Angeles Rams
Do you expect Todd Gurley II to put together some big yardage games, or will he continue to be heavily touchdown dependent?
It's difficult to determine how Gurley will be used going into the second half of the season. He was spelled by Malcolm Brown through six weeks, then he was spelled -- and then some -- in Week 7 and 8 by rookie Darrell Henderson Jr. after Brown suffered an ankle injury. There's no clear picture how Gurley has been, or will be, used, and Rams coach Sean McVay cites game flow for determining his usage. -- Lindsey Thiry
San Francisco 49ers
Will backfield production continue to seesaw between Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida throughout the season?
At this point, there's no reason to think otherwise and, frankly, anyone who thought one back was suddenly going to become the workhorse was setting themselves up for disappointment. Coleman and Breida are clearly the top two, but coach Kyle Shanahan has always said he wants to give both opportunities and he likes the idea of keeping his guys fresh and healthy with a rotation. Barring injuries, expect the Niners to continue going with the hot hand in games. -- Nick Wagoner
Seattle Seahawks
Considering he leads the NFL in end zone targets, was DK Metcalf's two-score Week 8 a sign of things to come?
Let's wait and see on that. Both of Metcalf's scores last week came when the Falcons' defense lost track of him in the end zone, so it's not clear if he was the primary option on those plays. We've yet to see Russell Wilson and Metcalf connect on the type of jump-ball opportunities that Jimmy Graham took advantage of during his final season in Seattle. But it would stand to reason that Metcalf would be more of an option in the red zone with Will Dissly out. -- Brady Henderson