Welcome back to Cap’s Fantasy Corner, your go-to article series for all of your fantasy football needs! In this week’s edition, I’m breaking down my favorite starts and sits at each position, giving you a one-stop-shop for your start/sit questions for Week 9 of the NFL Fantasy Football season. You won’t find obvious starts in this article. If you have Patrick Mahomes, of course, you’re starting him. The point of this article is to preview the best matchup-based starts for your teams.
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Quarterback Starts of the Week
Tua Tagovailoa vs. Houston Texans
After a tough matchup last week against the number one fantasy defense against quarterbacks, the Buffalo Bills, Tua Tagovailoa finds himself firmly back in my starts of the week as my top streaming option at the position. This matchup against the lowly Houston Texans defense, who allow an average of 20.44 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, is about as good as it gets in terms of matchup plays at the position this week. With the Texans starting Tyrod Taylor this week, the team’s offense should be more competitive this week, which in turn should keep the Dolphins throwing throughout all four quarters. Something to note: DeVante Parker is expected to miss this week’s game with his hamstring flaring up.
Tyrod Taylor vs. Miami Dolphins
Let’s flip to the other side of this matchup. I mentioned Tyrod Taylor will be starting for the Texans this week. Not only will he be starting, but he gets one of the easiest matchups a quarterback can get for fantasy. The Dolphins defense is allowing the 3rd most fantasy points per week to quarterbacks (21.61 per game). In Taylor’s one full game before getting hurt this year, he had 26.55 fantasy points. Taylor offers some nice rushing upside as well, which should come in handy considering the “meh” running back room the Texans are currently deploying.
Quarterback Sits of the Week
Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Arizona Cardinals
Jimmy Garoppolo performed surprisingly well last weekend against the Bears, where he posted 30.50 fantasy points. I expect Garoppolo to come back down to earth this week in a tough fantasy matchup against the Arizona Cardinals defense, who is allowing the 2nd fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks per game (14.03). With Deebo Samuel expected to miss this game, and George Kittle uncertain to play, Garoppolo is a full-on fade this weekend.
Matt Ryan vs. New Orleans Saints
Matt Ryan has been a viable streaming candidate in recent weeks, but his chances for fantasy success against the top-ranked Saints passing defense don’t look good. With Calvin Ridley taking leave for an unspecified amount of time for his mental health, it leaves the Falcons extremely thin on pass-catchers. I’d expect Saints’ star cornerback Marshon Lattimore to match up with tight end Kyle Pitts in order to neutralize the best option in this passing game. The Saints are only allowing 15.19 fantasy points to quarterbacks per game, and those numbers are inflated after Tom Brady’s multi-touchdown performance against them last week. Ryan should only be in consideration if you play in a Superflex format. Otherwise, he should stay on your bench.
Running Back Starts of the Week
Devontae Booker vs. Las Vegas Raiders
One last ride with Devontae Booker this week against the Raiders, who are allowing an average of 25.83 fantasy points per game to the running back position. Booker has performed admirably in Saquan Barkley’s absence, averaging 15.95 PPR points per game over the last four games. But with the Giants headed into a much-needed bye week and Barkley expected back by Week 11 of the regular season, this is likely your last shot to fire up Booker (barring another injury).
Jeremy McNichols vs. Los Angeles Rams
We’re going deep here and zigging where others are zagging regarding the Titans running back room. While you were scrambling to the waiver wire for Adrian Peterson, Jeremy McNichols likely went unclaimed in your league or went for much less waiver priority or FAAB than Peterson. In this matchup against the high-flying Rams offense, I’m expecting the Titans to fall behind early and be stuck in a negative game script for most of this game. McNichols profiles more as the pass-catcher in this offense than Peterson does, and McNichols also has more time in this offensive system. I think McNichols is the better play in a full-PPR format where he should see plenty of check-downs, especially since fellow Titans running back, Darrynton Evans, is now on injured reserve.
Running Back Sits of the Week
Javonte Williams vs. Dallas Cowboys
I want Javonte Williams to be a weekly starter just as much as the next person, but I don’t think this is the week for it. Williams has been hit or miss for fantasy thus far due to his split workload with veteran, Melvin Gordon. This is a bad matchup on paper as well, with the Cowboys defense surrendering the 8th fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Williams will need to get in the end zone to pay off in your starting lineup this week, so I’m looking elsewhere in most leagues.
Brandon Bolden vs. Carolina Panthers
Bolden has picked up steam as a flex play in full-PPR formats in recent weeks, but I’m bearish on his outlook this week against the Panthers defense, who are allowing the 2nd fewest fantasy points to running backs. Bolden’s usage has not been consistent, so I’d advise leaving him on the bench unless you’re looking purely for a desperation play at the position.
Wide Receiver Starts of the Week
Jarvis Landry vs. Cincinnati Bengals
With Odell Beckham Jr. no longer a Cleveland Brown as of Friday afternoon, the focal point in the wide receiver room should be Jarvis Landry. Landry has never done exciting things deep down the field, but he will see a high volume of targets in a matchup with the Bengals defense, who do a good job of limiting deep throws but are poor against the short to the mid-range passing game; which is where Landry thrives. I’d expect anywhere between 15-25 full-PPR points out of Landry in this game since the Browns will have to throw early and often to keep pace with the high-flying Bengals offense.
Christian Kirk vs. San Francisco 49ers
With fellow wide receiver A.J. Green out on the COVID-19 protocol list and DeAndre Hopkins missing practice on Friday, the Cardinals look to be without two of their top pass-catchers this week. On the year, Kirk is the WR27 overall in full-PPR, placing him firmly in the high-upside WR3 category for your rosters. Due to the lack of other options, I’m bumping Kirk up to a mid-WR2 in my lineups this week and he always has the ability to break a big play. Fire him up if you need upside.
Wide Receiver Sits of the Week
DeVonta Smith vs. Los Angeles Chargers
I love DeVonta Smith as a player and a prospect, but we have to be realistic here. He’s been extremely unreliable in your lineups from week to week, and now he draws the toughest matchup for fantasy wide receivers in the Los Angeles Chargers defense, who are only allowing 25.99 fantasy points on average to wide receivers. I’d expect the Eagles to lean on the ground game in this matchup due to it being a weakness for the Chargers, which could effectively phase Smith out of the game plan. Last week, I highlighted Patriots wide receiver, Jakobi Meyers, as a sit of the week against the Chargers, and he failed to crack double-digit fantasy points.
Rashod Bateman vs. Minnesota Vikings
Bateman has the physical tangibles and talent to be a great wide receiver in the NFL one day and a great fantasy wide receiver. There’s only one problem, he’s dealing with a new injury. This matchup against the Vikings is about as good as it gets for opposing wide receivers, but with Bateman sitting out of practice on Friday due to a late groin injury, I’m pivoting off of him if I can. With Hollywood Brown commanding the majority of the target share and air yards in the offense, the Bateman breakout is likely on hold for at least another week.
Tight End Starts of the Week
Zach Ertz vs. San Francisco 49ers
Ertz is living in my tight end starts of the week section until people start actually playing the man. Scroll up to my point under Christian Kirk earlier in this article and the Cardinals being down their two best pass-catchers. That same point applies to Ertz this week as well. Ertz has done well thus far as a Cardinal and should be considered a TE1 on the week with his likely increased target share.
Dallas Goedert vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Since Ertz’s departure, Goedert has done nothing but produce for fantasy managers. I highlighted the Chargers’ dominance against fantasy wide receivers, but that is not the case against tight ends this year. The Chargers are allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to the tight end position this year (17.60 per game). The Eagles should look to utilize Goedert early and often and as a red zone threat since the Chargers will likely lock up DeVonta Smith and the other wide receivers, making Goedert a smash play.
Tight End Sits of the Week
Kyle Pitts vs. New Orleans Saints
Before you get your pitchforks and torches, hear me out. We already touched on the fact the Falcons are missing star wide receiver Calvin Ridley and don’t have any other particularly scary weapons in the passing game, outside of Pitts. Marshon Lattimore is still one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks and he erased Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, who is also a very tall, fast, and physical weapon (like Pitts). I’m expecting Lattimore to shadow Pitts in this matchup and make it difficult for him to get going. Pitts was limited to just 3.30 fantasy points last week, so we’ve seen what it’s like when a defense focuses on taking him out of the game plan.
C.J. Uzomah vs. Cleveland Browns
Uzomah is currently the TE10 on the season, so the rankings would tell you he’s an automatic start. I’m here to tell you otherwise. Through 8 games, Uzomah has only topped 7+ points in a game three times, those games coming when he catches one or more touchdowns. He’s completely unpredictable and I’d advise you to look elsewhere this week unless you’re willing to be risky and pray he catches a touchdown.
I hope you enjoyed these start/sits and that you win all your fantasy matchups this week! To find more of my fantasy advice, follow me on Twitter @ClinicCapp. You can also listen to my weekly podcast, where I go more in-depth about players and matchups each week.
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