As we arrive at the midway point of the fantasy football season, start ’em or sit ’em decisions begin to carry even more weight as teams begin to separate themselves from the pack. With not all matchups being equal, here are our top start ’em and sit ’em plays for Week 9 of fantasy football.
NFL Start’ Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 9: Quarterbacks
While the focus in the majority of fantasy leagues falls on skill positions, quarterbacks (in most cases) consistently produce the highest weekly points total. Which QBs are must-starts, and who should remain on the bench in Week 9?
Start ‘Em | Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Wait. So after one rough game, we are all of a sudden out on Jalen Hurts? Is that where we are now as a fantasy community? Did we forget that Hurts posted top-10 quarterback finishes in seven straight weeks? He was the only QB to do so.
Is he the most polished QB? Of course not. The Eagles threw just 14 times against the Lions in Week 8, while Hurts had his fourth game of the season with 200 or fewer passing yards. But it’s the rushing upside that makes Hurts a must-start in fantasy. He is the NFL’s second-leading rusher among QBs (432 yards) while averaging 54 yards per game.
The Chargers are not an easy team to pass on and are allowing the fourth-fewest points per game to QBs at 14.8 — not great. But virtually no one is better when it comes to tucking the ball and taking off than Hurts. Even if he struggles as a passer, as long as he limits turnovers, his legs alone keep him in QB1 contention for Week 9.
Sit ‘Em | Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos
While the Broncos did get Jerry Jeudy back in Week 8, Teddy Bridgewater found little success despite a fantastic matchup against Washington. Bridgewater completed 19 of 26 passes for 213 yards with 1 touchdown and has finished as a QB1 only once since Week 2.
Bridgewater will likely be without tight end Noah Fant, who was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday. Fant has been one of Bridgewater’s top targets — he’s second on the Broncos with 53 targets and is tied with Darren Waller for the fourth-most among all tight ends this year.
The Cowboys — Denver’s Week 9 opponent — is No. 6 over the last four weeks in points allowed to QBs (13.59). They’re also excellent at forcing turnovers. In 1QB leagues, there are too many high-upside players to use instead of Bridgewater in Week 9.
Running Backs
While these RBs found themselves with adjusted roles following injuries to surrounding players and poor play from others, they are on opposite sides of start/sit debates for Week 9.
Start ‘Em | AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones is a must-start. We all know that. But AJ Dillon might be as well — just a bit lower in the rankings. Last week, with their top three WRs (Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling) sidelined, the Packers relied heavily on their running backs.
In total, they combined for 42 opportunities (rush attempts plus targets). While Jones was the focus on the passing side, Dillon led the team in carries, rushing 16 times for 72 yards.
Part of that was due to Jones needing to be used in the passing game. But do the Packers honestly want to rely on Jordan Love’s arm to win a game against the Kansas City Chiefs?
Dillon has the ability to break off long runs and will be a threat to score should the Packers get close to the end zone. He has seen double-digit opportunities in four games and now gets a reeling Chiefs team that has allowed eight running backs to score at least 11 PPR points this year. While not a must-start, Dillion is a start for me if I need a flex play in Week 9.
Sit ‘Em | Adrian Peterson, Tennessee Titans
Heading into the Titans’ game on Sunday, Adrian Peterson has as many rushing yards on the season as you, me, and the lady crossing the street on a walker. And you expect me to trust him not only in his first game on a new team but against the Los Angeles Rams, who just added Von Miller?
I’m not saying Peterson is done. I will never doubt Peterson. He is a truly generational talent and has continuously defied the odds, whether it be injury, matchups, or age. But I am staying as far from the Titans as I possibly can for anyone not named A.J. Brown — and even he worries me given the presence of Jalen Ramsey.
NFL Start’ Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 9: Wide Receivers
The WR position is the deepest position in fantasy football, with a plethora of quality starting options to choose from every single week. As matchups can be the final deciding factor, here are some of the start ’em or sit ’em recommendations for Week 9.
Start ‘Em | Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills
Donut. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. A big ol’ goose egg. A bagel. That’s how many fantasy points Emmanuel Sanders had in Week 8 vs. Miami. He saw just 4 targets, his lowest total of the season. Before Buffalo’s bye, Sanders was the WR16 in half-PPR scoring while averaging 13 points per game.
This feels like a major bounce-back game for Sanders, who is averaging 6 targets per game and 17.2 yards per reception. The Bills face the Jaguars, who are No. 32 in passing defense DVOA (Football Outsiders’ efficiency metric) and have allowed six different WRs to cross the 100-yard mark. Sanders is a higher-end WR3 for Week 9 and should be started in all formats.
Sit ‘Em | Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals
Once the news came out that A.J. Green was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, many instantly turned their attention to Rondale Moore as the guy who would benefit in Arizona — but I don’t think that will be the case. The two could not play a more different style of football. If anything, Christian Kirk will see more involvement if Green does indeed miss the game.
More Start/Sit Advice
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Rudell’s Start’Em Sit’Em: Beware of Boston Scott and Jerry Jeudy
Moore has recorded more than 30 yards receiving just once since Week 2, and that was also the last time he was a WR2 or better. He’s been a WR67 or worse in five of his last six games. Kyler Murray is dealing with a sprained ankle, and Moore is simply too sporadic to trust at the moment.
Tight Ends
It’s notoriously hard for fantasy managers to find consistent production from the tight end position. In Week 9, start ’em or sit ’em decisions could mean the difference between a win or a loss as the margins are razor-thin.
Start ‘Em | Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos
Noah Fant has been placed on the COVID-19 list, making Albert Okwuegbunam a legitimate starting option in Week 9 for fantasy.
Okwuegbunam is coming off a season-high 34 yards in Week 8 on 3 receptions. For the season, he has 12 receptions, 91 yards, and a TD despite sitting behind Fant and also missing three games himself due to a hamstring injury.
If it weren’t for wearing the same uniform as one of the most athletic tight ends in the NFL, Okwuegbunam would likely be a starter on the majority of teams. At 6’5″ and roughly 255 pounds, Okwuegbunam ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and has the talent to be a legitimate weapon for an offense.
Dallas has allowed five different TEs to record 50 yards or more, and Okwuegbunam is stepping into a role that has accounted for 19.6% of Denver’s targets (second-most on the team). Albert O is a sneaky starter in Week 9 for fantasy managers.
Sit ‘Em | Dan Arnold, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ever since the Carolina Panthers shipped Dan Arnold to the Jaguars, he’s honestly been a solid contributor. In his four games with the team, Arnold has 18 receptions on 25 targets for 188 yards. He is also coming off his best game of the season, where he set new career-highs in targets (10) and receptions (8) against Seattle.
With that being said, Buffalo is not the same as the Seahawks defensively. The Bills allow the eighth-fewest points to TEs per game (9.16) and have given up just two TDs all season (Travis Kelce and Logan Thomas). No one has passed 60 yards, and TEs are averaging just 3.7 receptions and 39 yards per game. I’m all for rolling the dice here or there, but Arnold should sit in Week 9.