Week 9 Start Em, Sit Em: Analyzing Dream Matchups, Fantasy Nightmares to Avoid

The middle of the NFL season can be a scary time for fantasy football owners.

Never mind that Week 9's slate of games happens to fall on Halloween weekend, where certain start 'em, sit 'em decisions can be especially haunting if the proper moves aren't made.

Good news awaits for a few fantasy enthusiasts, though. A number of the NFL's biggest playmakers have dream matchups this week.

And no, we aren't talking about the horrifying dreams one might have living on Elm Street, where an exclusive club has a house party, only to be forced awake to fend off the proverbial boogeyman.

There are nightmare scenarios, at least on paper and based on half a season's worth of sample size, that fantasy owners shouldn't go anywhere near as well.

Instead of having to agonize over these already difficult weekly decisions, let's take the time now to analyze the applicable players, set lineups early and have one less scare to worry about this weekend.

Start 'Em

Position	Player	Opponent
QB	Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts	at New York Giants
RB	Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks	vs. Oakland Raiders
WR	Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers	vs. Baltimore Ravens
TE	Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots	vs. Denver Broncos

The good times should continue rolling for Andrew Luck. After he saw his defense concede 522 passing yards in Pittsburgh last week, the Indianapolis Colts star will be eager to get the team back on track on Monday Night Football.

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

What was once a vaunted New York Giants front four is now feeble, producing just 13 sacks on the year to date. As suspect as Luck's blocking can often be, New York's lack of pass rush will be its doom in facing the third-year signal-caller—even if it's at MetLife Stadium.

NFL.com's Chris Trapasso notes how explosive Luck has been in 2014:

Luck is facing a Giants defense that ranks 25th against the pass, so he should have no trouble posting a seventh consecutive 300-plus-yard outing.

Seattle Seahawks star running back Marshawn Lynch is reportedly likely to leave the team before the 2015 campaign. Amid that negative attention, Lynch should be doing all he can to prove himself as a means of auditioning for future suitors.

At least head coach Pete Carroll is backing Lynch publicly, via The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta:

As long as Lynch is on the roster, Seattle ought to feed him the rock. The man who would indubitably take Skittles as a trick or treat candy reward should be allowed to go full "Beast Mode" and shred the Oakland Raiders' 26th-ranked rush defense at CenturyLink Field this Sunday.

The aforementioned offensive explosion by the Steelers in Week 8 saw Antonio Brown as a primary beneficiary, as he hauled in 10 receptions on 13 targets for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

Brown is QB Ben Roethlisberger's top target, and has been proficient with 60 catches on 87 passes thrown his way.

ESPN's Numbers Never Lie highlights just how steady and consistent Brown has been in fantasy:

In a second showdown with the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens, expect Brown to even improve on the seven-catch, 90-yard effort he put forth on the road in Week 2.

Living the dream as of late are Rob Gronkowski's fantasy owners. New England Patriots legend Tom Brady woke his offense up, and Gronk is back to his bullish ways.

Field Yates of ESPN illustrates New England's surge and how Gronkowski has been a big part of it:

ESPN's Ed Werder notes that even if the Denver Broncos take their best cover corner to Gronkowski in Foxborough, there's history to suggest it won't work:

Gronkowski's stock is soaring, and his injury concerns appear to be in the rearview mirror at the moment. The Broncos give up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, per ESPN.com. Not many teams have the personnel to run with Gronkowski down the field, and Denver certainly doesn't.

The enhanced pass protection Brady has enjoyed will help fend off Von Miller and free up Gronkowski for explosive plays at Gillette Stadium.

Sit 'Em

Position	Player	Opponent
QB	Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins	vs. San Diego Chargers
RB	Chris Ivory, New York Jets	at Kansas City Chiefs
WR	Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers	at Cleveland Browns
TE	Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers	vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Miami Dolphins have won three of their last four games, in part thanks to improved play under center from 2012 first-round pick Ryan Tannehill.

It has taken a bit of time for Tannehill to put things together, because he did convert from wide receiver to QB when he was at Texas A&M.

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Miami has incorporated Tannehill's athleticism into the game plan a bit more lately, which has resulted in his fantasy stock going up, courtesy of longer runs, per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly:

All that said, Tannehill faces the San Diego Chargers in Week 9 and struggled out of the gates in his last start, per CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora:

Even though the game is at home, San Diego is going to be eager to bounce back from a loss to Denver and has had extra time to prepare, having played in Week 8's edition of Thursday Night Football.

Whether the Chargers will have a healthier Jason Verrett and veteran Brandon Flowers returning to the secondary isn't as relevant as might be expected.

This is a dangerous situation for Tannehill and the Dolphins, as San Diego will do all it can to mount momentum before its Week 10 bye and avert a three-game losing streak. Tannehill has been inconsistent and is still learning the nuances of the position, so fantasy owners should avoid him for now.

On the surface, New York Jets bruising ball-carrier Chris Ivory has a favorable matchup against Kansas City's 18th-ranked rushing defense.

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Bear in mind, though, that Arrowhead Stadium is among the toughest venues to play in. Michael Vick is also taking over the reins of the Jets offense for Geno Smith, which has been inept to say the least and turned it over six times last week.

The Chiefs will be daring Vick to beat their top-ranked pass defense through the air, thus cramming the box and leaving little room for Ivory to roam.

Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden made noticeable strides in Week 8's win over Oakland after a discouraging start to his year. Comcast SportsNet's John Middlekauff was among those who bore witness:

That doesn't bode well for Tampa Bay wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who will be the primary man Haden tries to shut down.

Jackson has rookie first-round pick Mike Evans opposite him—another big-bodied target. But Evans is less experienced and will likely be left to get better numbers, provided Bucs QB Mike Glennon can deliver the ball.

Ball-hawking Browns free safety Tashaun Gipson will be helping out with Jackson by shading coverage his way. If Glennon even hints at locking onto Jackson, both Haden and Gipson will be in position to generate takeaways.

As for Heath Miller, he appeased fantasy owners with seven receptions, 112 yards and a TD in Week 8's eruption against Indianapolis, but now he faces an athletic Baltimore linebacker corps that can stay with him in coverage. Miller had just four catches and 35 yards in Week 2's 26-6 loss to the Ravens and isn't the type of game-changer who can thrive regardless of the matchup.

The emergence of rookie wideout Martavis Bryant (five catches, 83 yards two TDs in Week 8) ought to limit Miller's role, while Brown will still get his massive volume of targets.

The Colts' slow front seven was as much to attribute Miller's monster Week 8 to as anything else, but Baltimore's is far more suited to shut down pass-catching tight ends of Miller's caliber.