Sit em, Start em – Week Nine
Start em
Stevie Johnson – Steve Johnson is a high upside play with Keenan Allen out for the year and should be in most fantasy lineups this weekend. Ladarius Green is also expected to be ruled out which leaves Johnson as the 1b option beside Antonio Gates in the Chargers offense. Malcolm Floyd is still healthy to stretch the field and Phillip Rivers has been playing at a high level all season so hopefully he can keep that momentum and fuel a big day for Johnson. The Bears are one of the worst teams in the league at the present time and are giving up twelve receptions, 165.4 yards and a league worst 1.9 touchdowns per game to opposing wide receivers. Start Johnson wherever possible.
Brandon LaFell – While LaFell has been slow to be find himself in the Patriots offense again since his return this season it is not due to a lack of targets as LaFell has fifteen over the last two games. Washington is a bottom 12 team against wide receivers this year and should afford LaFell the opportunity to finally have a mini breakout and find that comfort level in this offense in what should be a blow out. LaFell is an upside WR3 in a week with many injuries and byes and should be started with confidence this week despite his uninspiring weeks seven and eight.
Derek Carr – Derek Carr has quietly morphed into one of the more dependable QB1 options and should see a high amount of pass attempts this week against the Steelers. The Raiders have been better than expected with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree as new toys for Carr and have a solid enough run game to keep defenses honest. Start Carr against a Steelers defense giving up 284 yards per game and that has given up solid days to every plus quarterback they have faced this season.
Darren McFadden – Darren McFadden has quietly slid his way into must start status as long as he remains healthy. He will still get bottled up more often than otherwise due to Matt Cassel still being behind center but he is now the every down back in a solid offense with one of the best offensive lines in football. McFadden will be a weekly RB2 with RB1 upside and should be in all lineups until the workload split changes in Dallas.
Jeremy Langford – With Matt Forte ruled out for week nine rookie running back Jeremy Langford is in line to start this weekend and looks to have solid RB2 level value as a finesse back with plus hands as a former receiver and plus patience and spatial awareness. Langford will be auditioning to be the future of the Bears backfield against a poor Chargers run defense that has been giving up 116 yards per game on the ground with another six receptions and 56 yards per game through the air. Langford could be a compelling DFS play.
Sit em
Andre Holmes – Despite an outstanding two touchdown performance in week eight Andre Holmes is not a suggested start this week outside the very deepest of leagues. Holmes saw only three targets on the day hauling in both of his receptions for touchdown passes; a clip that is unsustainable. Holmes reeled in only one of four total targets over the previous four weeks which gives us a better indication of his low usage role in this offense. Sit Holmes at all costs.
Sam Bradford – Still too wildly inconsistent to trust on a week to week basis those with other starting options may want to think hard about playing Bradford against the Cowboys this week in a divisional matchup. The Eagles run game is starting to hum which should open things up for Bradford eventually but Bradford has been a bitter disappointment this season and is best left on fantasy benches until he proves he can at least threaten QB1 status week in and week out.
Torrey Smith – Torrey Smith has been an utter disappointment in San Francisco and while the change to Blaine Gabbert could boost his value down the road it is best to take a wait-and-see approach with the downfield threat until Gabbert proves he can be anything more than the bust he has been since entering the league.
Rashad Jennings – Jennings is averaging a meager 3.9 yards per carry this year and is part of a four man RBBC in New York and should not be an option anyone is considering outside the absolute deepest of leagues. Jennings has never been the most talented back on this roster and now has to deal with Darkwa entering the RBBC. Sit Jennings wherever possible despite a potential plus matchup against a Bucs defense giving up 95 yards per game on the ground.
Kendall Gaskins – Gaskins may be a popular start this week with Pierre Thomas still getting himself into game shape and likely being relegated to passing down back but Gaskins is a very low floor option due to the awfulness of Blaine Gabbert and the fact that he will likely see his touches limited based on gameflow. Gaskins may be an option later in the year but should not be in lineups in any but the very deepest of leagues this week against the Falcons.
