Week 9 fantasy winners and losers: Newton soars, Lacy struggles
Winners
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Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers: Newton got off to a scorching start against the Packers, scoring 3 TDs (one rushing, two passing) in the first half. He scored 32 points total -- 11 of which came when Newton used his legs. It marked the sixth-best fantasy performance of his career.
Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints: A week after throwing for 505 yards and putting up 44 points against the Giants, Brees didn't waste much time getting back into a groove in Week 9. He scored three first-half touchdowns, including one on a quarterback sneak. Brees' total damage against the Titans? Thirty-one points, his second-highest total this season.
Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans: Walker scored a 61-yard touchdown in the first half after the ball ricocheted off two Saints defenders and practically fell into the TE's lap. Walker's second TD of the day -- a two-yarder -- was a little more conventional. Regardless, the points all count the same, and Walker rewarded owners with 23 on Sunday, 13 more than his previous season-high.
Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: It's not often you see a wide receiver put up 19 first-half fantasy points without scoring a touchdown, but that's exactly what Brown on Sunday. The WR's 10 catches and 180 receiving yards were both first-half career highs. He finished the day with a franchise record of 284 yards, and scored 28 fantasy points.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Le'Veon Bell's replacement in the Steelers' backfield was hyped as an RB1 this week, and boy, did that turn out to be true. He was a threat on the ground and through the air, gaining 225 total yards against the Raiders. His two touchdowns helped him compile 36 points. That marked his second 20-plus-point effort in the three full games he's filled in for Bell.
Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins: Miller's fluctuating carry volume has perplexed owners all year. He wasn't the Dolphins' workhorse back on Sunday, with just 12 carries and 44 rushing yards, but it didn't matter because of his involvement in the passing game. With 7 catches for 97 yards -- both of which shattered previous career-highs -- and 2 total TDs, Miller compiled his third game of at least 17 points in the past four weeks.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills: Watkins has been hampered by injuries all season, but he returned the to field Sunday and made a huge impact. Behind eight catches, 168 yards and 1 TD, Watkins scored 22 points against the Dolphins. That nearly matched his season-long total entering this week (25 points).
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers: A week after throwing for just 77 yards, Rodgers bounced back in a big way against the Panthers with 32 fantasy points. He threw three of his four touchdowns in the second half, the most notable of which came on a 53-yard bomb to Randall Cobb.
Losers
Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers: Amazing but true: Halfway through the season, Lacy has just one game with double-digit fantasy points (Week 1). The Packers RB bottomed out on Sunday against Carolina, failing to score positive points (minus-1). Lacy had just five carries and 10 yards, as he got benched for a significant period of time after a costly second-quarter fumble. It's the fourth time this season he's been held to two points or fewer this season.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots: For just the fourth time in the past three seasons, Gronk failed to score a touchdown and reach 50 yards receiving in a game. He scored just four fantasy points on the day, his lowest total since Week 2 last season.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Washington Redskins: Jackson hadn't played since the season-opener thanks to a hamstring injury. He returned Sunday against the Patriots and only put up three catches for 15 yards.
C.J. Spiller, RB, New Orleans Saints: With backup running back Khiry Robinson out for the rest of the season, there was some talk that Spiller could see an increased workload on passing downs. That didn't materialize against the Titans, as he got just three touches and gained 10 total yards.
Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Giants entered Week 9 allowing the 24th-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. But Martin could only muster 43 total yards and two points (he also had a fumble). It was his worst output so far this season.
Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos: Hillman had averaged 19.5 carries in his past two games, so it was a disappointment when he only got seven against the Colts. After getting shutout on Sunday, the RB continues to be a boom-or-bust fantasy option with three double-digit performances and four with four points or fewer.
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