Redraft

Fantasy Football: Start or Sit – Week 9

Week 9 of the NFL season is here. Between the Bye week and injuries, it’s hard for fantasy football managers to keep up. To keep you covered week in and week out, The League Winners are here to help you with any start or sit questions you have. Spending the week agonizing over who to start in your flex? Put your mind to rest and rely on us week in, and week out. If you missed last week’s picks, you can see them here.

Start

Hunter Renfrow, WR – Las Vegas Raiders (Thomas Christopher)

It’s been a rough season for last year’s WR11. Between injuries and an offensive scheme change, Renfrow just hasn’t been able to get going. This week, I expect something different. The Jaguars secondary has been susceptible against WR2s this season, and don’t have the Slot CB to stop Renfrow from having what should be a good game. If the Raiders want to get a W in this game, Renfrow needs to be involved. I’m counting on that happening in Week 9.

Joshua Palmer, WR – Los Angeles Chargers (Harry Prskalo)

He is the last man standing for this receiver core. No Keenan Allen. No Mike Williams. Just Josh Palmer. Herbert has not played up to the expectations us fantasy managers have thought he would. This week the Chargers play a weak Atlanta defense; this will be the game that Herbert and Palmer boom in. I am expecting at least 75 yards and a touchdown for Palmer. He was my top waiver wire add this week and there is no reason why you should not be putting him in your lineup despite his potential concussion scare. Do not keep this player on your bench.

DJ Moore, WR – Carolina Panthers (Aaron St. Denis)

Since the Panthers switched to PJ walker at quarterback, DJ Moore is WR2 in points scored. Moore has a 30% target per routes run rate since Christian McCaffrey was traded and gets a banged up Bengals pass defense this week in a plus matchup. Start DJ with confidence after a slow start to the season.

Christian Kirk, WR – Jacksonville Jaguars (Jeremy Shulman)

Christian Kirk has been an up-and-down fantasy football asset this season. While he started off strong over his first three games as a Jag, his next three were underwhelming. Now back in the good target graces of Trevor Lawrence, I’m confident in firing up Kirk once again; especially against the lowly Vegas D that struggles defending every position on the field. Though Engram, Etienne and others should show out, it’s Kirk who should continue to receive a high target volume and convert it into a nice fantasy day.

Justin Fields, QB – Chicago Bears (Sheldon Hand)

Fields’ dual threat ability gives him the opportunity to put up a big game. He has back-to-back games with a rushing TD and his lowest rushing total since Week 4 is 47 yards. Fields has turned things around and the Bears are trusting him to throw more. He has thrown a TD in each of the last four games, including two last week against a tougher Cowboys defense. The Bears went out and invested in WR Chase Claypool, giving Fields a new weapon. Although the Dolphins just traded for Bradley Chubb, their secondary is banged up. They are allowing the 7th most points to the QB position this year. Don’t hesitate to throw Fields out there. He is ranked as the QB 10 on FantasyPros for good reason. I believe he can push for a top five finish this week.

Sit

D’Andre Swift, RB – Detroit Lions (Thomas Christopher)

There’s a good chance you don’t have the luxury to bench Swift, but if you have other options, I’d do it. Swift hasn’t been healthy this season, and that seems to continue going forward. Swift himself has said he doesn’t know if he’ll ever bee 100 percent healthy this year. HC Dan Campbell has said Swift will be out there to ‘see where he’s at’. That doesn’t sound promising to me. Swift is someone I’ve been slowly offloading in my dynasty leagues, and he’s someone I’m benching this week in fantasy football.

Nyheim Hines, RB – Buffalo Bills (Harry Prskalo)

The Bills acquired Hines at the trade deadline. This can be a great PPR option rest of season, but this week I am not starting him. He will have to get used to the playbook and may not see a lot of work. They still have Singletary and Cook there, who still may see more work this week. I would definitely try to acquire Hines going forward, but for this week, keep him on the bench to see how they utilize him.

Mike Gesicki, TE – Miami Dolphins (Aaron St. Denis)

Mike Gesicki has been outside the top 20 at tight end in five games this season. He had a solid outing in Week 9, but there are just too many mouths to feed to chase touchdowns and rely on Gesicki to produce. Miami also faces the Bears this week. They will likely be running the ball a considerable amount to protect what should be a sizeable lead. Keep Gesicki out of your fantasy football lineups this week.

Dawson Knox, TE – Buffalo Bills (Jeremy Shulman)

Knox is coming off back-to-back games with a touchdown; but that’s been the only thing that has saved his fantasy football outings. He finished as TE10 and TE15 in Weeks 6 and 8, respectively, earning just 6 targets over the 2-game span. Now against a New York Jets unit that consistently shuts down outside receiving options, it’s conceivable that you think Knox has a big day. I’m here to tell you to banish those thoughts and leave Knox on your bench this week. A TD could once again save his day, but it’s more likely he gets locked out of the end zone in a closer-than-you-think divisional showdown.

Tom Brady, QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sheldon Hand)

Brady is currently ranked as the QB13 this week on FantasyPros. The Los Angeles Rams rank 9th against QBs this year. The last time they allowed a top 12 QB was back in week one against Josh Allen. It sounds like Brady will have a healthy WR group, but he only has two games inside the top 12 this year. It’s tough to find a replacement for him with the byes, but if you can pivot to Lawrence, Mariota, or even Tannehill I’d consider it. Brady just doesn’t look like himself this year and the Rams defense is all they have right now. Dare I say, even Taylor Heinicke could be a sneaky option.