The Fanatics Sit/Start Advice for Week 9
Week nine of the NFL season is here and fantasy playoff picture is starting to look a little more. Hopefully, you are on the looking like you are playoff bound side. But if you are on the fence be sure to check out my sit start for this week to make sure you are starting your best lineup possible. If the player you are considering is not here feel free to hit me up on facebook or twitter. You can find me on Facebook group Dynasty League Problems or on twitter @MikeKelleyDLPÂ Good luck this week.
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Quarterback
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Joe Flacco (BAL) vs PIT
Flacco is having one of his best years as a pro. Whether it is he is finally fully healthy again or the drafting of Lamar Jackson has lit a fire under him, either way, he is playing better than ever. This week Flacco and the Ravens face division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The first time these two teams met this year Flacco threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns. I am expecting another game with plenty of offense making Flacco a good play for the week. Look for another 300 plus yard game and multiple touchdowns.
Other Starts
- Baker Mayfield (CLE) vs KC
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Nathan Peterman (BUF) vs CHI
For his career, Peterman has thrown an interception every 8.4 pass attempts, and one out of every eight attempts this year. For comparison, Sam Darnold who is tied for the league lead in interceptions with ten is throwing one every 25 passes. Any way you slice it Peterman is not even worth considering starting, especially since he will be facing one of the leagues best defense in the Bears. Seriously if Peterman is your only option you might be better off not starting a quarterback. That is a little tongue in cheek, but it might not be far from the truth. It is even possible newly signed wide receiver Terrell Pryor might see time at quarterback if things get bad enough. So even if you are thinking about, just stop.
Other Sits
- Marcus Mariota (TEN) @ DAL
Running Back
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
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Adrian Peterson (WAS) vs ATL
Over the last three games, Peterson has 67 carries for 345 yards and one touchdown. That is an average of 22 carries for 115 yards over that span. I expect this hot streak to continue against the Falcons. Two reasons why I think AP is for a good day. First, the Falcons are near the bottom of the league at stopping opposing running backs and second I fully anticipate that the Redskins will try to keep the ball away from Matt Ryan and their high powered offense. As long as the game is in the Redskins favor or at least close I think they will be giving the Falcons all they can AP they can stand. Look for AP to go over 100 yards and find the end zone at least once this weekend.
Other Starts
- Isaiah Crowell (NYJ) @ MIA
- Jordan Howard (CHI) @ BUF
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Tevin Coleman (ATL) @ WAS
Despite Freeman missing most of the season, Coleman has not absorbed his workload. In fact, he has only gone over 15 carries once this year and he is averaging less than four yards a carry. In fairness, most of the Falcons games have been high scoring so the game script may not have been in his favor most weeks. That said I am not sure it changes much this week. Not that I expect the Redskins to light up the scoreboard, but rather the Redskins have been one of the leagues best at stopping the run, and it’s not like they have seen weak running backs either. They have faced David Johnson, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Ezekial Elliott, and Saquon Barkley. Those are some pretty good running backs to have limited this season.
Other Sits
- Peyton Barber (TB) @ CAR
- Alex Collins (BAL) vs PIT
Wide Receiver
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Kenny Golladay (DET) @ MIN
The five games leading up to the Lions bye Golladay was on fire catching 27 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns. Since the bye week though he only has three catches for 49 yards and no touchdowns. But now Golden Tata has been shipped out leaving Marvin Jones and Kenny G as the top dogs in the passing game. I am a little concerned with the Vikings secondary, but Matt Stafford is familiar with them and Kenny G should get plenty of targets which he should be able to turn into five or six receptions for 80 plus yards and possibly a touchdown.
Other Starts
- D.J. Moore (CAR) vs TB
- DeVante Parker (MIA) vs NYJ
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Doug Baldwin (SEA) vs LAC
I know Baldwin was hurt almost all of the preseason and even early in the season was on the shelf, but he has been back for four games now and his numbers have been horrible simply put. 14 receptions for 159 yards and zero touchdowns. So the question is why is Baldwin struggling so much? It could be he is hurt more than we know. Or the offense is changing, and while Wilson is throwing less than in recent years, he is still throwing enough that you would think his favorite target would still get his share. Or maybe its the loss of supporting cast and teams are keying of Baldwin. Whatever the real reason is the bottom line he is not getting the workload we are used too. He still might have some good game here and there, but I don’t think he can be counted on during this crucial part of the fantasy season when teams need wins to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
Other Sits
- Kelvin Benjamin (BUF) vs CHI
- Allen Robinson (CHI) @ BUF
Tight End
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Jimmy Graham (GB) @ NE
Graham has not had a bad year, just not as good as people were expecting when he signed with the Packers. After last weeks dud against the Rams this week Graham faces a favorable Patriots defense. I think he can bounce back and produce like a top 10 tight end this weekend. The Patriots defense has been very generous to tight ends this year. In fact, tight ends score the fifth highest against the Patriots than any other team. That means Graham has a great shot at five-plus receptions for over 60 yards and a good shot at a touchdown.
Other Starts
- O.J. Howard (TB) @ CAR
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Baltimore Tight Ends (BAL) vs PIT
I am not suggesting Baltimore tight ends are bad, but rather they have four tight ends when all healthy that can play. So as you can probably guess all four are healthy meaning there is no way to predict which tight end will get the most work or worse yet which tight end will be targeted in the red zone. As a result, not knowing which one is likely to get a touchdown it renders all of them pretty useless for now. Eventually one should become more favorable, but until then I would not be trusting any of them.
Other Sits
- Benjamin Watson (NO) @ LAR
Defense
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Miami Dolphins vs NYJ
The Dolphins have been playing pretty good D and the Jets have a rookie quarterback that at times has played like a rookie quarterback. It is as good as time as any to stream the Dolphins defense.
Other Starts
- Tennessee Titans @ DAL
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
New England Patriots vs GB
This game has all the makings of a shootout with perhaps two of the games greatest quarterbacks of all time. Do not waste your time with one of these defenses unless you don’t loos points for points allowed.
Other Sits
- Green Bay Packers @ NE
Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.
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