Fantasy Football: Week 9 Starts and Sits

Week 9 is here, and I’ve picked out a few players I like as starts—and some I’d be cautious about. A “sit” isn’t an automatic benching, of course. If your alternatives are worse, you’ll have to make the call based on your roster.

Bye Weeks

Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans

Quarterbacks

Start

Malik Willis, Dolphins at Lions

Last week, I recommended Jacoby Brissett while worrying he might get benched. I didn’t see the return of Minshew Mania coming. This week’s situation feels somewhat similar: Miami could fall behind against a Lions team capable of putting up points, leaving Willis to try to bring the Dolphins back. The difference is that Willis has been playing well, so a benching seems unlikely.

Detroit has given up more fantasy points to quarterbacks than any other team, along with the most passing yards and touchdowns. Some of the underlying numbers are a little better, but the defense still ranks in the bottom half in most categories. The Lions are a favorable passing matchup: their run defense is strong, their offense scores plenty, and their pass defense has struggled.

Drew Lock, Seahawks at Cardinals

Lock has already seen the field this season, stepping in after Sam Darnold was hurt early in Week 1 against the Patriots. He played well, then started against this same Cardinals defense in Week 2 and had an even better outing: 19 completions on 26 attempts, 235 yards and three touchdowns.

Only the Lions have allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks than Arizona. Gardner Minshew might also help the Cardinals keep this game closer than they did with Jacoby Brissett, which could give Lock more room to reach his ceiling.

Sit

Geno Smith, Jets at Chiefs

Smith has been a serviceable streaming option lately, but this week he faces a strong Kansas City pass defense on the road. The Chiefs will be looking to respond after a painful loss to Denver, and the Jets could give them a chance to do that. Kansas City has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and ranks in the top 10 in most major pass-defense categories.

Tyler Shough, Saints at Browns

Cleveland has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. The Browns have also given up the sixth-fewest net yards per pass attempt and the fourth-lowest completion percentage. Shough has shown some upside, but he’s been inconsistent, and this matchup doesn’t look like an especially good chance for him to find it.

Running Backs

Start

Jonah Coleman, Broncos vs. Panthers

Denver is at home against Carolina, which has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. There’s also finally a little more clarity in the Broncos’ backfield. Second-year receiving back RJ Harvey is currently on injured reserve, and Week 1 starter JK Dobbins appears to have given way to Coleman.

Coleman had 15 touches for 104 total yards and a touchdown against a strong Kansas City defense last week, clearly playing ahead of Dobbins. This week’s matchup is much friendlier.

Woody Marks, Texans vs. Chargers

With David Montgomery out, Marks has taken over as Houston’s lead back. The fantasy results haven’t been especially impressive, but his workload has held up: he’s had 17 and 20 touches in his last two games.

The Chargers come to Houston after giving up productive outings to backs including Emmanuel Wilson and JK Dobbins, as well as bigger names such as Kenneth Walker and James Cook. They’ve allowed the eighth-most rushing yards and fourth-most rushing touchdowns to running backs this season.

Sit

Ollie Gordon, Dolphins at Lions

I expect Detroit to take the lead, which could mean Malik Willis has to throw more than usual. Even if Gordon gets a decent workload, though, the matchup is difficult. The Lions have allowed only 3.5 yards per carry and the sixth-lowest rate of runs gaining at least 10 yards.

Gordon is talented and clearly Miami’s lead back, so volume gives him some appeal if you need him. I’m just not counting on a big ceiling this week.

Rachaad White, Commanders at Rams

The Rams have allowed just two rushing touchdowns all season and have given up only one 100-yard rushing performance. Both came from Buffalo’s James Cook in Week 5.

White is the last healthy back standing after injuries to Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols, but Washington doesn’t seem likely to make him a true workhorse. Austin Ekeler should still get touches, and Robert Henry Jr. could see some work too. This is not a backfield I’m eager to target.

Wide Receivers

Start

KC Concepcion, Browns vs. Saints

Concepcion currently looks like Cleveland’s top receiver, leading the team with a 25% first-read target rate. He had a strong game against Tennessee two weeks ago, then struggled against Pittsburgh, which sacked Deshaun Watson eight times. The Saints at home should be a more manageable matchup.

New Orleans is around the middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, but over the past five games it has surrendered the most yards per target to slot receivers. That could work in Concepcion’s favor.

Malachi Fields, Giants at Eagles

Will JJ McCarthy keep playing well in Philadelphia? It’s hard to say, but I think he’ll give his receivers chances to make big plays either way. The Eagles’ pass defense has been generous to wideouts, allowing the third-most receptions, second-most yards, third-most touchdowns and most fantasy points at the position through eight games.

Malik Nabers says he plans to play, though a knee injury has kept him out of practice. Isaiah Likely is also high in the pecking order, but Philadelphia has been tougher against tight ends, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to them.

Sit

Jalen Coker, Panthers at Broncos

Coker’s production has cooled as Bryce Young has taken a step back over the past two weeks. Young has faced heavy pressure with key offensive linemen out, and a trip to Denver, where Patrick Surtain is back on the field, doesn’t look like the easiest place to turn things around.

The Broncos have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season.

Adonai Mitchell, Jets at Chiefs

Mitchell showed again last week that he can lead the Jets in targets, putting up a big game against the Raiders. Rookie Omar Cooper Jr. played a full share of snaps but wasn’t targeted, after strong performances in the previous two weeks. That kind of shifting target distribution makes this passing game hard to predict.

Garrett Wilson remains a major part of the offense, the Jets have two tight ends they like, and Breece Hall is back this week as another capable receiver. Add in a Chiefs defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, and Mitchell feels too risky for me.

Tight Ends

Start

Greg Dulcich, Dolphins at Lions

It’s hard to ignore Detroit as a matchup for tight ends. The Lions have allowed useful fantasy production to most of the position players they’ve faced. In seven games, they’ve given up 61 catches, 684 yards and 11 touchdowns to tight ends—all league highs.

Dulcich hasn’t scored yet, but he’s been a frequent target. Only Malik Washington has seen more targets on the team, and Dulcich ranks second in red-zone targets. Over the past four weeks, he’s averaged 4.5 catches and 55.3 yards. Those numbers need a touchdown to become a big fantasy day, but his role gives him a good chance in this matchup.

Kyle Pitts, Falcons at Bengals (Spain)

Rain completely shut down Atlanta’s offense last week, but I wouldn’t let that put you off the Falcons against Cincinnati in Spain. The Bengals have allowed the second-most yards and receptions to tight ends, as well as the most yards per catch.

They haven’t given up top-five fantasy production to the position because they’ve done a good job limiting touchdowns. That could change, though.

Sit

Dalton Kincaid, Bills vs. Vikings

Kincaid has been hard to trust week to week. He opened the season with two huge games, followed that with four quiet ones, and then finished as the TE4 against Baltimore last week.

This week he faces a Minnesota defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points and receptions to tight ends, along with no touchdowns. The Vikings held Sam LaPorta to three catches for 33 yards on five targets last week.