Fantasy Football Week 9: Players To Start This Week

Week 9 may leave fantasy football owners looking for answers again, as six teams have byes this week. 

Such notable fantasy players as Chris Johnson, Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew and Steven Jackson have the week off, as does one of the more surprising quarterbacks in Kyle Orton of the Denver Broncos. 

Having good roster depth and taking advantage of favorable matchups can often lead to wins in these kinds of weeks.

If you’re looking for some guidance with your lineup decisions, here are our “Start ‘Ems” for Week 9.

Eli Manning (New York Giants) @ Seattle

Manning has had an up-and-down 2010 season, seemingly alternating good yardage games with mediocre ones. He is coming off a 306-yard, four touchdown game (with three interceptions) against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 and gets a favorable matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9. 

Seattle has allowed at least 289 passing yards in five of their past six games and multiple passing touchdowns in four of those six contests.

All signs point to a solid game from the younger Manning this week, and he can be started confidently as a No. 1 QB with some upside.

Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) @ Buffalo

Forte has not had a strong 2010 campaign to this point, as he has only topped 50 rushing yards in a game once against the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. Two of his three touchdowns on the season also came in that game. 

Bears’  head coach Lovie Smith has professed the team's plan to run the ball more coming out of their Week 8 bye, which bodes well for Week 9 against the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo ranks last in the league against run and has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs (22.6 per game) this season.

Forte should be able to get 20-plus touches this week and be usable as a low-end No. 1 RB.

To see who else to start this week....  Week 9 Start 'Ems