NFL Week 9 Fantasy Football Guide

Week 9 has begun after the MIami Dolphins thrilling win over the Bengals on Thursday Night Football. Giovani Bernard owners are happy and Lamar Miller owners are elated. This week the Denver Broncos are on bye, which means a lot of you will need some receivers to play from your bench or the waiver wire this week.

Without further ado, here are the starts and sits for Week 9 in fantasy football.

Keep in mind, this is not the article to be looking for if you want to know if you should start Aaron Rodgers or Calvin Johnson. Start your best players in almost any scenario.

STARTS

Quarterback

Terrelle Pryor vs. the Eagles

Nick Foles vs. the Raiders

Jason Campbell vs. the Ravens

The three aforementioned quarterbacks are very good bye week plays, and could be in the top half of fantasy quarterbacks this week. Terrelle Pryor should have a very good game on the ground for the Raiders against an Eagles team who has not faced a healthy dual threat quarterback yet this season. Nick Foles looks to rebound from his worst game as a starter in what seems to be his last chance to prove he can perform at this level. Foles faces a below average Raiders secondary who has allowed a 93.6 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks this season. Jason Campbell seems like a desperate start, but after putting up 300 yards and two touchdowns on the Chiefs, he could be a viable replacement for Peyton Manning this week against the Ravens. Campbell has two good weapons and a superb offensive line to stand behind, and may surprise people yet again this week.

Running back

Ryan Mathews vs. the Redskins

LeVeon Bell vs. the Patriots

Mike Tolbert vs. the Falcons

Ryan Mathews has finally be consistent this season, which is something Chargers fans have been waiting for since he came into the league. He has received under 16 carries just twice this season and should have a good day against the Redskins who allow 4.4 yards per carry this season along with 10 rushing touchdowns. LeVeon Bell has been the stabilizing force in the Steelers offense, and Ben Roethlisberger will look to lean on him yet again this week. The Patriots traded for Isaac Sopoaga to play nose tackle, so Eagles fans will know to start LeVeon Bell. Mike Tolbert has continued his legacy as one of the great touchdown vultures in fantasy football with touchdowns in his last three games. He will receive the goal line carries and red zone snaps this week vs. the Falcons, who are allowing 4.6 yards per carry to running backs this season.

Wide Reciever

Antonio Brown vs. the Patriots

Kendall Wright vs. the Rams

T.Y. Hilton vs. the Texans

Antonio Brown has been one of the best fantasy receivers this season, and yet it seems many people are afraid to start him. He is a WR1 in PPR formats and a very good WR2 in standard leagues. Kendall Wright has been the model of consistency since Jake Locker came back and has 40 catches in seven games so far this season. Get Wright into your lineups, especially in PPR formats. T.Y. Hilton becomes the Colts top pass catcher with Reggie Wayne out, and Andrew Luck will find him early and often against the Texans this week. The Texans do have the league's best pass defense in terms of yards allowed but in the last two games, Alex Smith threw for 240 yards and Sam Bradford threw for 3 touchdowns. Andrew Luck is the best passer the Texans will have seen all season and Hilton should have a big day.

Tight End

Antonio Gates vs. the Redskins

Jordan Reed vs. the Chargers

Greg Olsen vs. the Falcons

Jordan Reed and Antonio Gates have been two of the best tight ends in fantasy football this season, and should continue the trend this week against each other's defenses, who rank 28th and 29th in terms of passer rating allowed this season, and are the last two in yards per attempt. Greg Olsen faces a Falcons secondary who has allowed 16 touchdowns so far this season. Look for Olsen to find the pay dirt this weekend.

Defense

New Orleans vs. the Jets

Indianapolis vs. the Texans

Geno Smith is on pace for 38 turnovers this season and the Saints have been known to be an opportunistic defense, forcing 15 turnovers this season. The Colts have quietly been one of the best defenses in fantasy this season, and will look to continue that this week against Case Keenum who is making his second career start.

SITS

Quarterback

Case Keenum vs. the Colts

Mike Glennon vs. the Seahawks

Both these quarterbacks are seen as bye week replacements this week, but neither has a good matchup. Mike Glennon faces off against the Seahawks who have among the best secondaries in the NFL. Case Keenum struggled in the second half two weeks ago after the Chiefs changed their gameplan against him. Expect the Colts to do the same thing and limit the former Houston Cougar star.

Running back

Zac Stacy vs. the Titans

Ray Rice vs. the Browns

Stacy had a great game last week against the Seahawks but got nicked up at the end of the game. Even if Stacy plays this week he will not be 100%, and Jeff Fisher has strayed away from running backs who aren't fully healthy all season. Look for Daryl Richardson to be a bigger part of the offense this week. Ray Rice has been very disappointing this season and faces the Browns defense who is only allowing 3.7 yards per carry this year.

Wide Receiver

Torrey Smith vs. the Browns

Deandre Hopkins vs. the Colts

Torrey Smith goes against Joe Haden this week, who has been a catalyst for fantasy must sits all year long. Haden is the best corner in the NFL at the moment in terms of limiting his opponent as far as fantasy numbers, and should do the same against Torrey Smith. Deandre Hopkins will face off against the Colts and Vontae Davis this week, who is one of the better cover corners in the AFC. Hopkins will likely get his share of targets, but Davis has the physicality and speed to matchup with Hopkins and shut him down.

Tight End

Scott Chandler vs. the Chiefs

Brent Celek vs. the Raiders

The Chiefs have the best defense in the NFL, and have completely locked down tight ends this season, allowing around 200 yards all season cumulatively. Brent Celek is getting closer and closer to losing his spot to Zach Ertz, and for good reason. Ertz will be the number one tight end for the rest of season and if Celek does not score a touchdown, he is worthless in fantasy football. Stay away from him.

Defense

Chicago vs. the Packers

Pittsburgh vs. the Patriots

Both of these defenses are likely weekly starters to many fantasy football players, but the two offenses on the other side are dangerous. Aaron Rodgers has been great despite all the injuries this year, and the Patriots are bound to figure it out before long, and this week is a possibility.

Good luck this week, and join me on Sunday's for a live fantasy thread where I will answer your questions from 11 to Noon EST.

Any other questions, ask me on Twitter @PFF_JCollacchi.

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