Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in NFL Week 9

Admin October 29, 2024

We’ve done it! We’ve officially reached the midway point of the NFL season. And if math class taught me anything, it’s that at season’s midpoint, most fantasy teams are going to be 4-4. That’s called normal distribution, a bell curve, whatever you want to refer to it as. It also means that most fantasy football players out there are bubble playoff teams looking for that final push into the postseason.

If you’re in desperate need of a win to push you over .500, we are here to help. Here are 16 players to start (or sit) heading into Week 9.

NFL WEEK 8 WINNERS, LOSERS Aaron Rodgers’ Jets look finished

Players to start in Week 9

Quarterbacks:

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

What a world we live in where Patrick Mahomes is no longer a “set-it and forget-it” fantasy option at quarterback. This week, he is though. The Chiefs face a Bucs defense that has allowed over 25 points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year. In fact, they’ve only allowed less than 10 points once all year.

Essentially, Mahomes should have a pretty solid floor in Week 9, and in a game that could wind up a shootout, Mahomes will be a valuable asset.

Don’t look now, but Bo Nix has been a stud for fantasy teams everywhere as of late. He has tallied at least 20 points in three of his last four games.

The Baltimore Ravens are not a bad defense, but they are a great team, one that forces opposing teams to pass the ball a lot. Nix will have insane volume in Week 9, which could be all he needs to be startable. After all, the Ravens have surrendered the third-most points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Running backs:

Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

The New Orleans Saints might be the worst team in the NFL right now. So long as Derek Carr is out, the Saints offense looks pathetic, meaning the Panthers might actually have a positive game script in the second half this weekend. Regardless of game script, the Saints are giving up over five yards a carry on the season, and have given up at least one rushing touchdown in four straight weeks.

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

The New England Patriots are giving up 23 points per game to opposing running backs this year. That’s all that needs to be said. Given New England’s lack of offensive firepower as well, there’s a chance that the Titans are playing ahead in the second half. Expect Pollard to be fed often with a very solid floor in Week 9.

Wide receivers:

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

Following the Vikings’ loss to the Rams on “Thursday Night Football,” Addison posted the message “Free 3” on social media. Addison wears the No. 3.

While Addison would later defend this message, claiming he was referring to their kicker Will Reichard, and how every time they get past midfield, it seems as though they walk away with at least three points, we can all agree, that’s not the case. Addison is looking for an increase in volume. The Vikings will likely make an effort to get him more involved immediately, and a matchup against a weak Colts’ defense that has averaged over 19 non-PPR points against from wide receivers on the season, means Addison could be in for a big game.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Rookie Brian Thomas has been spectacular, and you were likely starting him already, but now with Christian Kirk out, Thomas could be in for an outstanding target share. Also, the Eagles’ secondary has not been good this season.

By this same logic, tight end Evan Engram also gets a boost moving forward.

Tight ends:

Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks

Fant has scored at least 10 PPR points in two of his last three games. Now, with a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, who have surrendered at least 13 PPR points to opposing tight ends in three straight games, Fant will have ample opportunity to produce, especially if Metcalf is still unavailable.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Welcome back, Hockenson! The former top-10 overall draft pick earned over a 25% target share through the first 15 weeks of 2023. While that will probably be unsustainable in 2024, especially with Justin Jefferson healthy, he’ll still get a bulk of looks that other tight ends are not getting this year.

The matchup is also solid. The Colts have given up at least 13 PPR points to opposing tight ends in five of their last six games.

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Players to sit in Week 9

Quarterbacks:

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Despite the release of a new “Call of Duty” last weekend, Murray was still a solid quarterback against Miami in Week 8. However, the Chicago Bears are a much tougher defense, having allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per game.

There could be an argument given that the Bears have surrendered at least 20 points to opposing quarterbacks in two straight games, but one of those games was in London, where it’s tough for defenses to adjust and the other was Jayden Daniels, who got six of his points thanks to a last second Hail Mary.

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Is Stroud good? Yes.

Is he down his top-two receivers and facing a Jets’ secondary that has surrendered the fifth-fewest points per game to opposing quarterbacks? Also yes.

Running backs:

Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

The Detroit Lions have been phenomenal against running backs this year, limiting them to five or fewer receptions in all but one game this season. Jacobs isn’t a receiving back, meaning his value will have to come on the ground, where the Lions have surrendered only 4.15 yards per carry on the season.

All in all, Jacobs likely will be a touchdown-dependent play in a matchup in which the Packers could be playing from behind in the second half.

J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers

Outside of a three-touchdown outburst by Washington’s backfield in Week 5, the Cleveland Browns have not allowed more than 16 non-PPR points to opposing halfbacks all season. Dobbins will still get the bulk of the carries, but don’t expect him to make much of an impact.

If Deshaun Watson was still the quarterback for the Browns, there could have been potential for Dobbins to rack up garbage time points to help your team. With Winston under center for Cleveland though, the Chargers could find themselves in a close contest where they will need to pass more than usual, and Dobbins doesn’t really catch passes.

Wide receivers:

Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills

If you’re expecting Amari Cooper to bounce back after an abysmal Week 8, you’re probably going to be disappointed. The Miami Dolphins’ secondary has been spectacular against wide receivers in 2024, having only surrendered over 20 non-PPR points to opposing wide receivers once in their last four games. Albeit, that was last weekend against the Arizona Cardinals, but given Cooper’s minimal involvement in the Bills offense last week, a negative matchup, and the Bills’ willingness to run the ball when leading (and they tend to get out to early leads when playing Miami), this spells disaster for Cooper.

Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

While we should expect Hill to bounce-back to overall WR1 territory soon, a matchup against the Buffalo Bills probably won’t be when that happens. Hill has historically done very poorly against Buffalo. He has recorded three or fewer receptions in two of his last three games against Buffalo, and his connection with Tua Tagovailoa does not seem to be where it was at the start of the season just yet.

Tight ends:

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Coming off arguably the greatest game of his career, Otton will be smothered by the Chiefs’ defense in Week 9. The Chiefs do extraordinarily well at limiting opposing teams’ top options. With Evans and Godwin out, Otton is the only proven receiver on the Bucs, meaning the Chiefs will do everything they can to stop him from making an impact on the game, and they’ll likely succeed, just as they have all year.

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers

The Detroit Lions have not allowed more than 60 yards to opposing tight ends all year. They’ve also only surrendered one touchdown to tight ends this season. Kraft is a pretty touchdown-dependent option. He probably won’t provide many points for teams this week.

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