Fantasy Football Start and Sit Week 9
One of the big match-ups this week is when the 5-2 New York Giants head to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. The Giants are the walking wounded right now. Their two best skill position players, Hakeem Nicks and Bradshaw are unlikely to play. But they still have Eli Manning, and they still are playing against the New England Patriots defense so start a lot of the other Giants.
Start
Quarterback
Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals
The Titans are a middle of the pack pass defense and Andy Dalton has been playing really pretty well all year. I’m sure that the Titans have no one to cover A.J. Green and the rest of the pretty talented Bengals wide receivers. Another bye week fill in.
Matt Cassel, Chiefs
Cassel isn’t a great option, but is a good be week fill in going up against the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins pass defense has been a sieve this year, and Cassel has started to play much better lately. The young rookie Jon Baldwin gives the Chiefs two big talented wide receiver. The Dolphins have also given up 14 passing touchdowns this year, second most in the league.
Running back
Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
Roll the dice with Brandon Jacobs this week. Ahmad Bradshaw is doubtful. If there is any team in the league who could help the Giants get their run game going it could be New England. Jacobs has been griping about his role in the offense for awhile now and is fresh after missing the past few games with an injury. I expect the Giants to score a fair amount of points on Sunday and Jacobs will be in line to get the goal line carries.
Pierre Thomas
Mark Ingram is out. Thomas should be valuable as a flex this week and a weak RB 2 option. Thomas is in line for the goal line carries for the Saints. You’d hope after the embarrassing loss they suffered last week, playing at home vs a division rival they’ll bring their A-game. Thomas is a solid running back who helps out in the pass and run game and should have a good week.
Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders
I’m going with three backup running backs who will all see a significant jump in play time on Sunday due to injuries. Bush is perhaps the most valuable handcuff in all of fantasy football. Sunday he’ll show why.
Wide Receiver
Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham.
The Giants pass defense is awful, what’s that have to do with anything. The Patriots are going to score a lot of points, which means the Giants are going to be throwing the ball a lot. Eli Manning is locked in right now and even though he’s struggled late in the season before, that’s most often at home when it’s windy. Anyway, Hakeem Nicks may or may not play and it’ll actually be better for Cruz and Manningham if he does. Start ’em both.
Jon Baldwin, Kansas City
He’s very talented and the Dolphins pass defense is nothing special. Should be a safe start this week.
Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks
Not a great start because he doesn’t get into the end-zone a ton, but I think the Seahawks will be throwing the ball a lot, they could be behind early and will have to throw. The Cowboys secondary also isn’t that good. Baldwin has had some really nice games this year and I think Sunday he could have a pretty decent game.
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
A bit of a risky start, but I’m starting him over Steve Johnson (on Revis Island). Brown is emerging as the number two wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Play him as a flex if you don’t have better options.
Tight End
Jake Ballard
BB has a habit of shutting down an opposition’s best one or two weapons. That’s not Jake Ballard. Eli Manning is getting more comfortable with Ballard. I can easily see this being Ballard’s biggest game of the season. Start ’em if you don’t have a favorable matchup (clearly Jimmy Graham is always a must start over Ballard, as would Aaron Hernandez be etc.)
As you can tell with the injuries to Hakeem Nicks and Bradshaw I think all the other Giants are good starts. The New England defense isn’t going to stop the Giants offense, just the names who rack up the yardage and points will be different. Ballard is on pace to have more receiving yards (328) than Kevin Boss had last year (531 yards receiving all year).
Scott Chandler, Buffalo
The Jets can not cover the middle of the field well, which is where Chandler makes his living. I expect the Jets to focus on stopping Fred Jackson (good luck) and the run game. Stevie Johnson is on Revis Island, Fitzpatrick has to throw the ball to someone, that someone could easily be Scott Chandler.
Sit
Quarterback
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
He’s topsy turvy. One week up one week down. This week playing vs the Steelers he will be down.
Running back
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks
The Cowboys run defense is only giving up the 4th least amount of rushing yards per game. On top of that, I could see the Cowboys blowing out the Seahawks early meaning the Seahawks will be forced to pass. I think the Seahawks Wide receivers could have a decent game, but the running backs will not.
Chris Johnson, Titans/Javon Ringer, Titans
I have both Stevie Johnson and Chris Johnson in the NFLmocks writers league so this kills me, but the Bengals are a good defense against the run and Chris Johnson hasn’t been the same this year (ding ding ding understatement alert), I’d consider sitting him.
Ringer is stealing a lot of Johnson’s carries, but the Bengals defense is very stout up front. Sit him as well.
Montario Hardesty, Browns
The Texans are 8th in the league in yards per carry. Hardesty hasn’t’ been that good all year. He’s averaging 3.3 yards per carry and has yet to find the end-zone. I don’t expect Sunday to be his breakout game, especially since he’s not starting. Chris Ogbannaya is starting.
Wide Receiver
Stevie Johnson, Buffalo Bills
In two games vs the Jets last year Johnson had 10 catches for a 104 yards. Johnson is on Revis island this week. Sit him.
Denarius Moore, Oakland
He’s a promising young rookie, but he’s been inconsistent. On top of that teams run the ball so much on the Broncos that they don’t have to put the ball through the air much. I also expect the Broncos to try and run on the Raiders as well and don’t expect a ton of passing yards this week.
Jacoby Jones, Texans
Andre Johnson is out again, but Jones has been so disappointing this year. His average play is going to force the Texans to draft a WR early in the draft to give them some sort of complement to Andre Johnson moving forward.
Tight End
Dallas Clark
It’s becoming apparent that Dallas Clark is not going to be a weapon at all this year.
Jermaine Gresham is a decent option, but is listed as doubtful.
Defense
Giants-The Giants defense can sack the quarterback, but with no return game and because they give up too many points they are a terrible start this week. Sit ’em
If you’re absolutely desperate you can pick up Giants WR Ramses Barden. He’s been a training camp sensation and with Hakeem Nicks ruled out might see some action. He’ll likely be the third WR.