Sit Em, Start Em – Week Nine
Start Em
Mark Ingram – Anyone who has been paying attention knows that Mark Ingram has risen from the ashes of potential bust to looking like a true every-down workhorse. Ingram is averaging a RB1 level 82.8 yards per game on the ground and has four touchdowns in four contests. Ingram has a tougher contest against the Panthers this week but this teams front seven is just not as ferocious sans Greg Hardy so look for Ingram to be called on time and time again to pound the rock against a divisional foe in the Panthers. Start Ingram in all league sizes.
Jeremy Hill – Gio Bernard is dealing with a hip pointer issue which means that Hill may be finally set loose on the football world. Hill is actually the better all around running back but Gio has the game breaking ability that make coaches salivate. Hill should flirt with high end RB2 numbers if Gio is limited and could creep into RB1 territory if Gio misses the game. Start Hill wherever possible.
Odell Beckham – Odell Beckham needs to be started in all league sizes for the rest of the season. We were touting Beckham as the Giants most talented receiver even when Cruz was healthy so you can imagine that we are straight giddy with his new increased opportunity. There will be some growing pains as well as Eli Manning pains but Beckham is someone who will likely be in the WR2 conversation for at least the next five years if not the next decade.
Martavis Bryant – Martavis has provided the Steelers with the deep threat they have sorely lacked since letting Mike Wallace get away and he has responded with three touchdowns in his first two NFL games. Bryant is still considered raw and will only get better as he builds a deeper rapport with Big Ben. Bryant is a WR4 with WR3 upside for now but could quickly turn into a WR3 with WR2 upside when his snaps increase. Bryant should be started in deeper leagues.
RGIII – RGIII is always a high upside start whenever he takes the field as he is at minimum an RB3 and QB2 rolled into one though he is usually more RB2 and QB2. There was some hope that he could morph that into a QB1 and RB2 this season but an early season injury derailed and delayed that possibility but with Kirk Cousins face planting after being anointed RGIII has a chance to make good on the promise we all thought he had with a coach that was able to coax QB1 numbers out of below average starter in Andy Dalton. RGIII is a clearly superior talent to Dalton as a passer so you can imagine our expectations especially when you add in his elite running ability. Start RGIII where you can. We have him as a QB1 this week against the Vikings.
Dwayne Allen – At this point of the season no one should need to be told to start Dwayne Allen but some of you in leagues where you can only start one tight end do indeed have other options at the position, perhaps players with more brand name recognition but Allen has been playing at a top ten level and shows no signs of slowing down. Allen should be in all fantasy lineups for week nine unless of course you happen to have one of the five names ranked above him for this weekend.
Sit Em
Charles Sims – As much as I love Charles Sims those in all but the deepest of formats should give him a week to raise his snap count before deploying him in redraft leagues. Sims should quickly become the starter for the Bucs and should become a PPR maven in short order as well but lets give him a week to get his legs under him before trusting him over options with higher usage rates and snap counts.
Bobby Rainey/Doug Martin – Although we have suggested to sit Charles Sims this week Rainey and Martin are not suggested plays either. Sims will slowly be installed as the feature back leaving Martin and Rainey to split the rest of the workload which means minimal fantasy value for each outside of a trip to the end zone. Keep these two on fantasy benches going forward unless Sims has a setback.
Jace Amaro – Jace Amaro was all the hype just a few weeks ago and he may be ready for a mini resurgence but those outside of two tight end league or stuck with Vernon Davis will want to consider other options at the position. Amaro has a ton of talent as an oversized wide receiver masquerading as a tight end but with Percy Harvin there to steal targets and Vick now installed at QB to steal touches Amaro’s fantasy arrow is currently facing down. With that said Amaro is one of the most talented receiving tight ends in the entire NFL so he can turn in a big game or two but he is not someone you want to rely on week to week.
Torrey Smith – Smith has become the ultimate boom or bust fantasy play. Feast or famine is the name of the game here and if you have more reliable, consistent options wwe suggest sitting Smith or even trying to deal him off as part of a package. Smith continues to run low percentage routes and his efficiency or lack thereof clearly highlights that fact. Smith remains one of the most talented receivers in the league and thus is still ranked as a WR3 but he has a bench floor on a weekly basis with WR2 upside. If you can afford to start someone with a higher floor.
Wes Welker – Wes Welker is just not getting any love from Peyton Manning. Perhaps it is because the field general knows Welker has one foot out of the door in Denver and is a valuable decoy that keeps defenses in the middle of the field but this former PPR dynamo has been bench worthy in recent weeks and has seen his ownership numbers drop down to the 80 percent level in Yahoo! leagues. Welker should be on benches until he shows back up for the Broncos and his fantasy owners.
