Welcome to Week 9 of the 2023 season, and our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. This is where it all the hard work is done as we prepare for another week of hard hitting action and paper championships.
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. All stats refer to 1/2 PPR, 6 point per passing touchdown leagues. The number in brackets next to an opponent is that teams rank against the position. Rank 1 is the best possible matchup, Rank 32 is the worst. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Start’Em
Derek Carr, Saints v CHI (3)
Carr and the Saints have seen their share of inconsistencies to start the season but have seemed to get back on track as of late. He has thrown for more than 300-yards in three consecutive weeks and this week he gets a matchup with the fantasy goldmine that is the Chicago Bears. Chicago ranks as the 3rd best matchup for quarterbacks and is allowing 19.6 fantasy points per game.
Dak Prescott, Cowboys v PHI (4)
After a slow start to the season, Prescott and the Cowboys offence have finally got things firing on all cylinders. Prescott has racked up 30 fantasy points or more in back-to-back matchups and this week he faces the Eagles who are the 4th best matchup for quarterbacks and are allowing 19.4 fantasy points per game.
Jordan Love, Packers v LAR (8)
Love has cooled off significantly since a red-hot start. In Week 9 he squares off against a Rams defense that is ranked as the 8th best matchup for quarterbacks and is allowing 18.3 fantasy points per game. Look for Love to get things back on track in this matchup.
Sit ‘Em
Geno Smith, Seahawks v BAL (32)
Smith has been massively disappointing this season after a huge breakout in 2022. This week he draws the worst matchup for quarterbacks as he faces a Ravens defense that is allowing only 12.3 fantasy points per game to the position.
Daniel Jones, Giants v LV (30)
Jones has been hampered by injuries of late and in the event he is healthy enough to start in Week 9 he faces off against the 3rd hardest matchup for quarterbacks. He faces off against the Raiders who have been a run-funnel and are allowing only 13.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Gardner Minshew, Colts v NO (24)
Minshew has not looked good over the past few weeks and draws the unfortunate task off facing off against a daunting New Orleans Saints defense. The Saints are allowing only 15.0 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and this one has the makings of a long day for Minshew.
Start ‘Em
Jerome Ford, Browns v ARI (3)
Ford has been surviving on massive volume and has been largely inefficient since taking over for Nick Chubb as the starter. This week he plays the Cardinals who are the third best matchup for running backs though and he may very well volume his way to another solid fantasy day. The Cardinals are allowing 25.0 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs and with little competition in the backfield, Ford is a solid start in Week 9.
Miles Sanders, Panthers v IND (4)
Sanders has struggled with injuries this season and has not been very good when he was healthy enough to play. This week he faces off with the Colts who are the 4th best matchup for running backs and are allowing 23.9 fantasy points per game to the position. If Sanders is healthy enough to go he is a great play, if not Chuba Hubbard would be a good start in his place.
Darrell Henderson, Rams v GB (5)
Henderson seems to be the starter in Los Angeles with Kyren Williams on the IR. It’s a risky situation with no guaranteed pecking order, but with the 5th best matchup for running backs this week against the Packers, he is a solid flex play. The Packers are allowing 22.5 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs and will have little chance of stopping the ground game.
Sit ‘Em
Tony Pollard, Cowboys v PHI (31)
Pollard has been disappointing this season and this week he faces the 2nd worst matchup for running backs, the Eagles. Philadelphia is allowing 12.0 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. The Cowboys have gone back to a pass-happy approach and are not likely to get a solid game out of Pollard.
Alexander Mattison, Vikings v ATL (13.8)
Mattison has also been a huge disappointment for fantasy in 2023 and has stayed relevant only on the back of monster volume. This week he will go up against the 3rd worst matchup for running backs, the Falcons. Atlanta is allowing only 13.8 fantasy points per game to running backs and are nearly unbeatable on the ground.
Dameon Pierce, Texans, v TB (29)
Pierce caps off my trio of disappointing running backs as he faces off against the Buccaneers who are currently the 4th hardest matchup for opposing running backs. The Buccaneers allow only 14.6 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs and with the Texans becoming a pass-first team, it could be tough going for Pierce.
Start ’em
Demario Douglas, Patriots v WSH (2)
Douglas is the rookie breakout I have been waiting patiently on all season. He is yet to get a true usage bump, but with Kendrick Bourne being out for the season, that bump has arrived. Add in the 2nd best matchup for wide receivers in the Commanders and Douglas could be in store for an explosion. The Commanders are allowing 35.9 fantasy points to opposing receivers and are an easy mark for the rookie to carve out a role.
DeAndre Hopkins, Titans v PIT (4)
Hopkins has continued to look like an elite receiver despite age and injury. He is written off as washed up every week and will likely be ignored again in Week 9. Don’t ignore him, he gets a prime matchup with the Steelers who allow 33.0 fantasy points per game to receivers, the 4th most in the NFL.
Drake London, Falcons v MIN (6)
London has been part of a run-heavy team with a terrible quarterback in Desmond Ridder. It appears that Taylor Heinicke is slated to start in Week 9 and while he is no star, he is certainly an upgrade. Add in the 6th best matchup for receivers against a Vikings defense allowing 32.1 fantasy points per game to receivers and he is a locked-in WR2 this week.
Sit ’em
Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants v LV (31)
Robinson has shown flashes off brilliance in his return from injury and has had a monster target share in most of his games. The problem here is two-fold. He plays on a team with a disastrous pecking order for pass-catchers in which any of them could be the WR1 on a given week. That nightmare is compounded by a matchup with the 2nd toughest matchup for opposing receivers, the Raiders. The Raiders are so bad against the run that they are allowing only 21.3 fantasy points per game to receivers.
Marquise Brown, Cardinals v CLE (28)
Brown has been solid this season, his quarterback play has not. Kyler Murray may be back under center for the Cardinals soon, but that likely won’t be for another week. In the meantime he gets to face the 4th toughest matchup for receivers and he gets to do it with rookie Clayton Tune as his quarterback. He faces the Brown who are allowing only 23.2 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers and figures to struggle in this matchup.
DK Metcalf, Seahawks v CLE (28)
Metcalf has been inconsistent this season in a rough year for the entire Seahawks offence. In Week 9 he faces the 5th toughest matchup, Baltimore. The Ravens are allowing only 23.8 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers and this could be a dud game for DK.
Start ‘Em
Dalton Kincaid, Bills v CIN (1)
Kincaid had his official breakout in the first game with Dawson Knox on the IR and will look to build on that in a matchup with the Bengals who are the easiest matchup for opposing tight ends, allowing 12.8 fantasy points per game.
Luke Musgrave, Packers v LAR (4)
Musgrave is yet to have his rookie breakout game but has shown flashes of his talent. This week he faces the Rams who are the 4th easiest matchup for tight ends and are allowing 11.7 fantasy points per game to the position.
Gerald Everett, Chargers v NYJ (7)
Gerald Everett is the risky play here and could easily be subbed out for teammate Donald Parham who seems to be the endzone tight end target. This week the Chargers face off against the 7th easiest matchup for tight ends, the Jets. The Jets are allowing 11.4 fantasy points per game tot he position and are a prime spot for production.
Sit ’em
Trey McBride, Cardinals v CLE (32)
McBride is another young tight end who appeared to have a full-blown breakout in October, but after a huge performance in Week 8, it’s best to not go back to that well in Week 9. This week he faces off against a Browns defense that is easily the toughest for tight ends and only allows 4.8 fantasy points per game to the position.
David Njoku, Browns v ARI (31)
Njoku has been hampered by injuries and inconsistent quarterback play this season and has become a risky start. In Week 9 he faces the Cardinals who are the 2nd toughest matchup for tight ends and are allowing only 6.4 fantasy points per game to the position.
Chogoziem Okonkwo, Titans v PIT (29)
Okonkwo has been one of the more disappointing tight ends of the season and is facing the 4th toughest tight end matchup this week. He gets a Steelers team that is allowing only 6.7 fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Well that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 9 of the 2023 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Image Credit: Ed Mulholland – USA TODAY Sports
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