We're back for Week 9 of the NFL Rookie Fantasy Football Start/Sit! This week features some breakout running backs; one to start, and one to bench this week.
We also talk about which rookie receivers are navigating changing roles due to injuries to themselves and their teammates.
NFL fantasy football rookie starts for Week 9
Start 'Em: Jonah Coleman
The matchup: The Denver Broncos are facing the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Carolina has allowed the second-most points to running backs in fantasy football this season. As a run defense, they rank 28th in yards allowed per attempt, 30th in total yards, and 32nd in rushing touchdowns allowed.
Carolina also fired their defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, after the team's Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.
Why I'm starting him: I recommended holding off on starting Jonah Coleman last week until we knew for sure what his usage would be in Denver's offense.
Coleman's response to his promising Week 7 outing was an increase in snaps, rush attempts, and targets. He was on the field for two-thirds of Denver's offensive snaps, rushed 11 times for 41 yards and a touchdown, and caught four of his six targets for 63 yards.
Not only did Coleman take a leap statistically, but it was also a product of him taking on more roles within the offense. Last week we discussed how Coleman did not get work in the red zone or in the pass game.
In Week 8, Coleman got five carries and a target in the red zone, taking over scoring opportunities from J.K. Dobbins. And with R.J. Harvey placed on injured reserve following the game, Coleman could see even more opportunities in the passing game.
Coleman is now leading the backfield in snaps and carries while also getting valuable red-zone and passing-game opportunities. Against such a favorable matchup, Jonah Coleman is a must-start in fantasy lineups this week.
Fantasy Outlook: RB2
Start 'Em: Caleb Douglas
The matchup: The Miami Dolphins are playing the Detroit Lions in their Week 9 matchup. Detroit is allowing the fifth-most points in fantasy football to wide receivers and ranks last in passing yards and touchdowns allowed.
Why I'm starting him: Since returning from injury in Week 7, Douglas has taken back the role of No. 1 receiver in Miami's offense. His snap count rose from 44 to 56 between Weeks 7 and 8, the second-highest among Miami's receivers in Week 7 and the highest in Week 8.
The Miami Dolphins made their intentions with Douglas very clear every step of the way since they drafted him. They selected him 75th overall, which was higher than anyone expected; they went to him early, then shut him down in the preseason, and he's been at the top of the team in targets and snaps when healthy.
Douglas has produced when he's been on the field. He had two scores in the first game back in Week 7 and four catches for 43 yards against a tough New England secondary.
The production, role, and matchup are all in favor of Caleb Douglas getting the start in fantasy lineups this week.
Fantasy Outlook: FLEX
Start 'Em: Malachi Fields
The matchup: The New York Giants are facing the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend. The Eagles are giving up the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. In their six straight losses, they've allowed over 300 passing yards in every game.
Why I'm starting him: Malachi Fields has a real connection with New York's new starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy.
Five of Fields' eight targets during Week 6 came in the fourth quarter once McCarthy started taking every snap at QB. Five targets in one quarter. There was even a sixth target that didn't count due to a penalty. Those six targets would have been Fields' season high, and they came in just one quarter.
Then, in Week 7, Fields had season highs in catches (four) and yards (83). And now, New York is coming off a bye, where McCarthy got a lot more time to prepare as the team's starter.
With McCarthy clearly looking in the direction of Fields against such a favorable matchup, Fields is a sneaky, intriguing option in fantasy football lineups for Week 9.
Fantasy Outlook: Low-end FLEX
NFL fantasy football rookie sits for Week 8
Sit 'Em: Antonio Williams
The matchup: The Washington Commanders will be at home to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9. Los Angeles is allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
It should be noted, however, that starting cornerback Jaylen Watson will be out for this game after it was announced that he would need season-ending surgery on his shoulder.
Why I'm sitting him: While I'm still very interested in Antonio Williams on the field and in fantasy this season, most managers will want to keep him on the bench for Week 9.
Despite having a career-high in catches with five, and his most yards since Week 1 with 54, Williams had just 7.71 yards-per-target last week against the Eagles, his lowest number since Week 4.
We've also seen a number of Commanders pass catchers step up in the absence of Terry McLaurin. Williams led the team with seven targets last week, but it was a committee approach.
Stefon Diggs (six), Treylon Burks (five), Chig Okonkwo (four), and Rachaad White (three) were all involved in the pass game as well.
With a tough matchup, plenty of mouths to feed in the offense, and just a modest performance last week, Week 9 might be the right time to keep Williams on your bench.
Fantasy outlook: Bench/stash
Sit 'Em: Emmett Johnson
The matchup: The Kansas City Chiefs are at home against the New York Jets in Week 9. New York is giving up the 12th-most fantasy points to running backs this season.
Emmett Johnson does most of his work as the Chiefs' pass-catching back, so I checked on how New York does against backs in the passing game.
On targeted receivers out of the backfield, New York is giving up the eighth-most yards per play, and the second-most expected points added.
Why I'm sitting him: Those numbers aren't great for my point, and I'd understand if you're desperate for a FLEX option; seeing them might be all you need to plug Emmett Johnson into your lineup after his five receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown last week.
But do your best to keep Johnson out of your lineup.
Of those 128 receiving yards, 73 came on one play. And that alone would have been Johnson's season high.
It makes sense that Kansas City needed to go to Johnson in the passing game last week, given how strong the Denver defensive line is. With Kenneth Walker unable to get going, the Chiefs needed another avenue to find points.
I don't think that will be a problem this week. After two really good defensive performances to start the season, New York has allowed more than 130 rushing yards four times in six weeks, as well as 21 or more points in five of the last six games.
Kansas City should be able to get its usual running game, then play-action passing game going against New York this week, making Johnson more of a complementary option than a featured part of the game plan.
Fantasy Outlook: Bench/stash
Sit 'Em: Omar Cooper Jr
The matchup: The New York Jets are matched up with the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Kansas City is giving up the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers through eight weeks of the NFL season.
Why I'm sitting him: Omar Cooper Jr. was blanked in Week 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite playing 78 percent of the offensive snaps, Cooper received zero targets in the entire game.
That's quite a turnaround for a rookie who looked like a strong fantasy start just one week ago.
On the flip side, A.D. Mitchell looked like the player who started the season for New York in his second game back from injury. He had nine targets, seven catches, 142 yards, and a touchdown.
Now, there's a chance Garrett Wilson misses this game after being put in concussion protocol on Wednesday. But even if so, we don't know if Cooper will be asked to take on the Wilson role or target share.
And with such a difficult matchup after such a disappointing outing last week, it's too risky to put Cooper in your lineup for Week 9.
Fantasy outlook: Bench/stash
Rookie sleeper of the week: Makai Lemon
The matchup: The Philadelphia Eagles are facing the New York Giants this week in their third-straight divisional matchup.
New York is allowing the 15th-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, but are allowing the third-fewest total passing yards on the year.
Why he's my sleeper: For the last four weeks, whenever DeVonta Smith sits for the Eagles, Lemon is a viable starter in fantasy.
Smith has missed three of the last four games due to injury. In those games, Lemon has, at minimum, seven targets, five receptions, and 43 yards.
And that has been true for whoever is playing quarterback for the Eagles. Lemon has produced with both Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee.
So unless the offense is vastly different now that Joe Milton has been announced as the starter, Lemon still figures to be a big part of the offense.
DeVonta Smith was held out of Wednesday's practice. If he ends up not playing this Sunday, Lemon should be in your lineup.
But if Smith plays, it might be wise to hold off on Lemon, who has not had more than three catches or 30 receiving yards in a game with Smith also on the field this season.
Fantasy Outlook: WR2/FLEX if DeVonta Smith is out; bench/stash if Smith plays.
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