We’re past the point in the football season where we can say “it’s only been a few games.” It’s not really time for gut checks, but it’s an important part of the season because we all need to start positioning ourselves for the fantasy playoffs (sorry to the 1-7 or 0-8 teams).

Darnell Mooney (WR10), Kareem Hunt (RB23) and Tank Dell (WR32) were all featured in last week’s column and they all found the end zone to help our fantasy teams. Najee Harris (RB15) had a solid performance and Jaxon Smith-Njigba was decent with 13.9 PPR fantasy points. However, Jaylen Waddle and Tyler Lockett failed to achieve this. Here’s a hint for this week. I return to the well. Let’s win.

Keon Coleman or Khalil Shakir, WR, Bills vs. Dolphins

Since Amari Cooper was traded to the Bills (and continues to learn the offense), Coleman and Shakir have both seen at least seven targets in each of the last two games. Also in this short span, Coleman and Shakir are WR12 and WR16, respectively, in fantasy points per game. Coleman is finally coming into his own, after playing a team-high 83% of snaps among Bills receivers in Week 8, his highest since Week 2. Meanwhile, Shakir had a season-high of the season in terms of targets (10), receptions (nine) and yards (107) last week. Although the Dolphins are one of the best passing defenses in football, they are coming off a game where they allowed two touchdowns to receivers. While Cooper is still up to speed, Coleman and Shakir will be solid FLEX plays in a game where the Over/Under is 49.5.

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons vs. Cowboys

It was a tough outing for Allgeier against a tough Bucs run defense in Week 8, but the positive side was that he saw double-digit runs (finished 12-33-0) for the second time in three matches. That other game came against the Panthers in Week 6, where he went 18-105-1 day. This week, he’ll have the opportunity to face a Cowboys defense that allows the second-most fantasy points to running backs per game and is coming off a game where the 49ers’ third-string running back, Isaac Guerendo, totaled 14-85-. 1 (RB10). Points should be plentiful in this Cowboys vs. Falcons game, which has an Over/Under of 52, and Allgeier has a good chance of getting into the end zone.

Bonus game: If you need a receiver option, you can also double-team Darnell Mooney this week.

Don’t miss the episodes of Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry And Rotoworld football fair throughout the season for the latest player news, waiver form help, starting/sitting tips and much more.

Jalen Tolbert, WR, Cowboys at Falcons

As mentioned above, we’re expecting a high-scoring affair in Atlanta this week and we don’t expect the Cowboys’ lower-ranked running offense to be a big part of it. This opens the door for Tolbert who has had his moments this season. I wouldn’t expect CeeDee Lamb, who is coming off her best match of the season (13-146-2), to be so open again in key moments. Tolbert and Lamb played 89% of the snaps in Week 8, highlighting the fact that Tolbert is operating as the Cowboys WR2 in an offense where Dak Prescott is attempting 37.4 passes per game. Choosing your spots is important when starting Tolbert, but this one should be solid.

Cedric Tillman, WR, Browns vs. Chargers

Am I chasing points with Tillman? Hell, no. He is the Browns WR1 even though he was passed by Elijah Moore last week. Tillman showed this with his Week 8 performance (7-99-2; WR3) where he caught the game-winning touchdown. He is the Browns receiver who will be active in the short, intermediate and deep areas of the field and the Browns offense is very different with Jameis Winston under center (even though it was against the Ravens last pass defense) . The Chargers allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to receivers, but in Week 8 they allowed Chris Olave to go 8-107-0 (WR13) with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener at quarterback -back. Let the good times roll for Tillman.

Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos at Ravens

Until the Ravens show improvements in their pass defense, how can we not target them in fantasy? Sutton scored 17.1 fantasy points against a weak Panthers defense in Week 8 (WR21), finishing with eight receptions and 100 yards, both season highs. In Week 9, he’ll face a Ravens defense that allowed three different Browns receivers to gain at least 75 receiving yards. The Ravens were without Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey last week, so you’ll have to monitor their injury status, but you should still have confidence in Sutton because the Ravens were the worst pass defense in the NFL even before these injuries. With the Broncos defined as nine-point underdogs, expect Sutton to get plenty of opportunities.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Rams

None of these guys brightened up DK Metcalf’s absence in Week 8 and Lockett was almost non-existent with a nine-yard catch. JSN posted a respectable 6-69-0 stat line, but we wanted to see more from both players. They’ll get their chance in Week 9 against a Rams defense that allows the 13th most fantasy points per game to receivers. This is expected to be one of the highest-scoring games of the week with an Over/Under of 48.0, but a lot will depend on whether Metcalf plays or not. JSN and Lockett would have a chance to put up numbers if they were the Seahawks’ top two players again.