The beginning of Week 9 means that there is only just over a month left in the majority of fantasy football leagues, making those start ’em and sit ’em decisions as important as they have ever been. This final five or six-week stretch to the playoffs will see teams scrambling for those last couple of spots while others jostle to get the best seeding. 2020 has been a topsy-turvy season for fantasy football, with names like Mike Evans and Amari Cooper proving unreliable, while the likes of Chase Claypool and Justin Jefferson have shown up big. With the Bengals, Browns, Rams, and Eagles on a bye, let’s take a look at that all-important question fantasy owners will be asking come Sunday; “who should I start, and who should I sit today?”
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Which quarterbacks should I start or sit in my Week 9 fantasy football lineup?
Who Should I Start Today | Start ’em
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
Seattle’s passing defense is one of the worst in the NFL, so I’m expecting Allen to have a 20+ fantasy point day. He has been up and down as a passer these past few weeks but put up 307 passing yards when facing a week defense in the Jets while understandably struggling against the Chiefs and Patriots. The Seahawks defense is much closer to the Jets’ level of performance than to the Patriots and Chiefs, so look for Allen to bounce back from last week’s struggles.
Related | Fantasy QB Rankings Week 9: Sleepers, must-starts, potential busts
Allen’s rushing ability has meant that throughout his career, he is much more likely to be appearing on the start ’em part of these articles than on the sit ’em part. It would not be surprising to see him add 30 yards and a score on the ground in this game, much like Kyler Murray did against the Seahawks in Week 7.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
Herbert has been uber impressive this season. This week, he faces a Raiders pass defense that is having issues getting pressure on opposing QBs. Herbert should have a monster day, and I’m expecting this game to be a barn burner!
Other quarterbacks to start this week
Drew Lock, Denver Broncos (@ Atlanta Falcons)
The Falcons defense was good in Week 8 but have struggled throughout the rest of the season. Lock also looked to be rounding back into form in Week 8.
Who Should I Sit Today | Sit ’em
Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens
The struggles of Ben Roethlisberger against the Baltimore Ravens defense has me very concerned for how this one is going to go for Rivers. With matchups against the Cowboys, Bengals, and Jaguars to come in the next three weeks, Rivers will likely be back in the start ’em part of this column next week, but for now, he is the headliner for the sit ’em section.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (@ Arizona Cardinals)
The Cardinals defense is a top-12 unit against the pass when it comes to net yards per attempt but rank in the bottom 10 when it comes to rushing yards per attempt. I expect the Dolphins to limit what Tua will need to do in this game as they lean on the run game early. This makes him a player who is a firm yes on the “should I sit him today” side of the important question this week.
Which running backs should I start or sit in my Week 9 fantasy football lineup?
Start ’em
Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Miami Dolphins)
I’ve been waiting for this week to arrive all season! It is Chase Edmonds’ time to shine. I’m excited about the expected high workload and the use of Edmonds in the passing game as well. This game has a chance to be extremely exciting, and Edmonds should be a big reason why as he faces a defense that ranks near the bottom of the league when it comes to run defense.
Related | Fantasy RB Rankings Week 9: Sleepers, must-starts, potential busts
At times this year, it has felt like the Arizona running backs should reside in the sit ’em part of the article, but in Week 9, Edmonds is my top start ’em pick at the running back position.
Damien Harris, New England Patriots (at New York Jets)
I’m banking on a lot of volume for Harris this week against a Jets rushing defense that has allowed seven rushing touchdowns to opposing ball carriers this season. Harris has really impressed when given the opportunity this season, topping 100 yards in two of his four games this season.
David Johnson, Houston Texans (at Jacksonville Jaguars)
Johnson is coming off his bye week, straight into a juicy matchup against a Jaguars rushing defense that ranks 28th against opposing running backs. Johnson is being utilized in the passing game, having seen 10 targets in the last three weeks. Often considered a lock as a sit ’em option early this season, Johnson has the chance to be a regular start ’em option, as he has an opportunity to rack up a number of receptions and receiving yards, both of which we should see plenty of in Week 9.
Other running backs to start this week
Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
Moss impressed against the Patriots last week. He may not get the start this week, but as it stands today, I expect him to see the majority of the goal-line work for the Bills this week.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team (vs. New York Giants)
Gibson is another impressive rookie who has got the start in four games this season, and as it stands today, he should be in line for his fifth start this week.
Who Should I Sit Today | Sit ’em
Le’Veon Bell, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Carolina Panthers)
The question of whether you should sit Bell today is going to be a regular feature of your Sunday. The once electric running back has clearly lost a step and is now playing behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire in Kansas City. So often a locked in start ’em option in his career, Week 9 of the 2020 NFL season is yet another one that sees him sit comfortably in the sit ’em section.
Which wide receivers should I start or sit in my Week 9 fantasy football lineup?
Start ’em
Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Dallas Cowboys)
At the start of the fantasy football season, I did not expect to feature Chase Claypool much on my start ’em and sit ’em lists this season, but entering Week 9, he is one of the most hotly discussed wide receivers of 2020. This week should be no different in a matchup for the Steelers that figures to be somewhat of a bloodbath.
Related | Fantasy WR Rankings Week 9: Sleepers, must-starts, potential busts
The Cowboys defense have proven over and over again this season that they cannot cover anyone effectively, and the Steelers have a number of weapons to exploit them. The Steelers should be able to rack up yards with ease in this one, and Chase Claypool is likely to be one of the beneficiaries. Be sure to have Claypool active in Week 9.
Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions (at Minnesota Vikings)
While he is not as exciting when as Chase Claypool, with Kenny Golladay is out this week, Jones Jr. steps into the lead role and could have a huge week. Just two weeks ago, with Jones having seen 10 targets in the previous three games, he was a sit ’em option for many in the fantasy football world, but two weeks with 13 targets, 119 yards, two touchdowns, and injury to Golladay will mean Jones is a start ’em option pretty much universally in Week 9. Fingers crossed Stafford will be active; Jones Jr. has a juicy matchup against a very young and injured Vikings secondary.
Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
John Brown has been dealing with a nagging knee injury, and the chemistry between Beasley and Josh Allen has elevated this season. Seattle’s pass defense has been struggling all season, and Beasley should find success out of the slot Sunday.
Other wide receivers to start this week
Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos (at Atlanta Falcons)
As it stands today, Patrick is due to start this week, having seen 19 targets in his last three games. Fire him up against a weak Falcons secondary.
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears (at Tennessee Titans)
Mooney is another impressive rookie who has seen 32 targets in the last five weeks.
Who Should I Sit Today | Sit ’em
DJ Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Houston Texans)
Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
I bet you did not expect to be considering these two names much when it came to the “who should I sit today?” question in 2020. Both are usually easy start ’em options with their first choice QB, but with backups under center in Week 9, making them both a sit ’em is an easy decision.
Which tight ends should I start in my Week 9 fantasy football lineup?
Start ’em
TJ Hockenson, Detroit Lions (at Minnesota Vikings)
Again… this is very much hoping Stafford will be active Sunday. Hockenson has scored in three of his last four games, and the Vikings defense has been weak against the position, especially in the red zone. The tight end position is usually a massive problem in the “who should I start today?” question, but Hockenson should be an easy choice in Week 9.
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos (at Atlanta Falcons)
The Falcons defense struggles to contain anyone, but tight ends have had A LOT of success against Atlanta, and Fant is more talented than most. Get Fant active on your roster or in DFS lineups in Week 9.
Other tight ends to start this week
Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Dallas Cowboys)
Sunday should be juicy for all the Steelers, and even a usual borderline option to sit such as Ebron could be an answer to any concerns you might have at tight end when considering the “who should I start today” question.
Are there any defenses who are a must when it comes to start ’em options this week?
Arizona Cardinals (vs. Miami Dolphins)
When it comes to the question of “who should I start and sit today?” on a Sunday, picking the right defense can often be incorrectly overlooked. It can be tough to project which defense will have a good week but making educated guesses, as we will here for Week 9, can make those start ’em or sit ’em decisions much easier.
This week the Cardinals have a fantastic opportunity to put up a big week as a defensive unit. I was not impressed with Tua last week and believe he will be in way over his head against a Cardinals defense that ranks in the top 10 against the pass.
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Anita Marks is the Chief Fantasy Analyst at Pro Football Network. Marks is also a gambling analyst for ESPN and appears on Daily Wager, which airs from 6-7 PM ET on ESPN 2. Her radio show — Weekend Wager — airs on ESPN New York (98.7) FM every Friday at 10 PM ET. Follow her on Twitter: @AnitaMarks.