Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Highlighting Matchups to Exploit and Avoid

Most of the discussion leading up to Week 9 surrounded things like midseason awards but in the realm of fantasy football it's already crunch time. Playoff races are going to heat up in a major way, which makes lineup decisions even more important.

That was already on display in the Thursday night game. Those fantasy owners that took a chance on the Saints defense are off to a promising start. The same can't be said for those that took a chance on Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks or Kelvin Benjamin.

It showcases the importance of those fringe decisions each and every week. So let's take a closer look at a group of assets that many fantasy owners are likely debating ahead of Week 9 and forecast whether they belong in the lineup or on the bench.

Start 'Em

Position	Player	Team
QB	Ryan Fitzpatrick	HOU
RB	Shane Vereen	NE
WR	Andrew Hawkins	CLE
TE	Jason Witten	DAL
D/ST	Browns	CLE
K	Phil Dawson	SF

Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn't scored more than 18 points in any game, so it's important to keep expectations within reason. That said, he should push toward his first 20-point outing against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that ranks 26th against the pass. That's good enough to start in a week filled with byes.

Owning any New England Patriots running back is tricky because of the inconsistent touches. Shane Vereen illustrated that last week by scoring just four points. Expect a significant bounce back, in terms of both touches and points, in a fast-paced clash with the Denver Broncos.

The only thing missing for Andrew Hawkins in the early stages of the campaign was touchdowns. He found the end zone for the first time in Week 8 to help him achieve back-to-back double-digit scores. He's got a golden opportunity to make it three in a row against the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Another positive sign for the wideout is recent praise from Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine, which was passed along by Steve DiMatteo of the Associated Press.

"He's stepped up big for us," Pettine said. "We knew if we were going to get production from the wide receiver position this year that he was going to have to do it. I think he's proven to all of us that he can be a close to every down type of guy."

Although it's not yet safe to consider Jason Witten a must-start option again, his 13-point showing last week was a promising sign. Given the overall weakness of the tight end position, he's worth betting on to produce a second straight solid game vs. the Arizona Cardinals' league-worst pass defense.

Following a sluggish start to the season, the Browns' defense has stepped up in recent weeks. The unit has scored 25 points over the past three games. Given that uptick in performance, they should be started across the board against Mike Glennon and the 32nd-ranked Bucs offense.

Phil Dawson is probably floating around on the waiver wire in some leagues after having his bye last week. Now is the perfect time to pick him up. The San Francisco 49ers battle the St. Louis Rams, which has given up at least 30 points in five of seven games.

Sit 'Em

Position	Player	Team
QB	Carson Palmer	ARZ
RB	Darren McFadden	OAK
WR	Percy Harvin	NYJ
TE	Heath Miller	PIT
D/ST	Patriots	NE
K	Chandler Catanzaro	ARZ

Carson Palmer has thrown for at least 250 yards and two touchdowns in every game since his return from injury. Any concerns on that front are gone for now. The issue this week that should land him on the bench is a ball-control Dallas Cowboys squad with a solid pass defense.

Two things are working against Darren McFadden even though he's the starter. The Oakland Raiders have a crowded backfield and he's not as explosive as he was before injuries derailed his career. Add in Seattle Seahawks' sixth-rated run defense and he presents too much risk this week.

Even if Percy Harvin struggles for a couple of weeks, don't drop him. He should get settled into the offense and become a useful asset in time for the fantasy playoffs. He's not on that level right now, however, especially with the Kansas City Chiefs' elite pass defense waiting for him on Sunday.

Heath Miller has been the ultimate boom-or-bust option this season. Through eight games, his best two outings resulted in 31 total points. He combined for just 14 in the other six. So the downside outweighs the potential upside as he faces the Baltimore Ravens, who held him to 35 yards in Week 2.

Scott Pianowski of Yahoo Sports noted the high number of poor outings makes Miller tough to trust despite to occasional big game:

The Patriots have been a top-five option through the first half of the season. That makes it tough to drop them, which is the normal approach when switching defenses. But just like any other defensive unit, it's tough to recommend starting them against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Chandler Catanzaro has been a tremendous find for the Arizona Cardinals. He's connected on all 16 of his field-goal attempts so far. But his scoring opportunities have decreased over the past few weeks and that's unlikely to change against the Cowboys.