Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Each Position's Top 10 Players and Stat Predictions

Week 9 is underway. We're one game in with 12 more to go this week, and for many of you, the remaining slate will be important.

We're talking about fantasy football, of course, where the home stretch is officially upon us. For many leagues, the fantasy postseason begins in Week 13. This means you have about a month to maintain your spot at the top or to battle back into the playoff picture.

Naturally, roster decisions will be critical from here on out. Adding to the difficulty of making the right ones is the fact that six teams—the New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins—are on bye.

Which eligible players can you trust? Well, we're here to help figure that out today. We'll be breaking down the top 10 players at each position, along with some bench-worthy options. We'll also make some stat projections and examine some risers and fallers at each of the skill positions.

Our choices are based on factors like past performances, projected role, matchup and injuries, where applicable.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Proj. Stats	Start/Sit
1	Drew Brees, NO	400 YDS, 3 TDs	Start
2	Aaron Rodgers, GB	325 YDS, 3 TDs	Start
3	Andrew Luck, IND	340 YDS, 3 TDs, INT	Start
4	Cam Newton, CAR	220 YDS, TD, 60 RUSH YDS, TD	Start
5	Dak Prescott, DAL	260 YDS, 2 TDs	Start
6	Philip Rivers, SD	275 YDS, 2 TDs, INT	Start
7	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	275 YDS, 2 TDs, 2 INT	Start
8	Matthew Stafford, DET	250 YDS, 2 TDs	Start
9	Marcus Mariota, TEN	210 YDS, TD, 20 RUSH YDS, TD	Start
10	Joe Flacco, BAL	300 YDS, TD	Start
*	Blake Bortles, JAX	260 YDS, TD, 2 INT	Sit
*	Sam Bradford, MIN	240 YDS	Sit
*	Case Keenum, LA	300 YDS, 2 INT	Sit

Start 'Em: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

We're not quite sure if Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is really back to being himself or not. Statistically, though, he has picked up his play in recent weeks.

Over the past two weeks, Rodgers has produced 572 yards passing with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He has just one fumble in that span. It seems that Rodgers has also taken it upon himself to help pick up the Packers rushing attack.

Last week against the Atlanta Falcons, Rogers ran six times for 60 yards.

“I’m deceptively fast,” Rodgers said about his running ability, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. “That’s what I like about it.”

Rodgers could continue being a running threat moving forward, as Green Bay is lacking in healthy running backs.

This week presents Rodgers with a tremendous opportunity, too. The Packers host the Indianapolis Colts, who are rated dead last in both pass coverage and overall defense by Pro Football Focus.

Sit 'Em: Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles produced a strong fantasy game last week against the Tennessee Titans, but his statistics are deceiving. Most of his 337 yards and three touchdowns were produced in the second half, after Tennessee already had the game in hand.

Bortles seems to have regressed as a signal-caller this season. He's averaging fewer than 275 yards passing per game and has thrown just 12 touchdowns to go with 11 turnovers. Only four of his seven games have seen multiple touchdowns thrown.

"It’s just a broken record," Bortles recently said of his play, per Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com "It’s a lack of execution. It’s mistakes. It’s the same stuff every week."

This week, Bortles faces a Kansas City Chiefs team that is rated eighth in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. Don't expect this to be the game in which Bortles gets it together.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Proj. Stats	Start/Sit
1	Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	122 YDS, 2 TD, 2 REC, 12 YDS	Start
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	98 YDS, 2 TD, 2 REC, 20 YDS	Start
3	Matt Forte, NYJ	85 YDS, TD, 5 REC, 45 YDS	Start
4	DeMarco Murray, TEN	110 YDS, TD, 2 REC, 30 YDS	Start
5	Devontae Booker, DEN	105 YDS, TD, 2 REC, 25 YDS	Start
6	Todd Gurley, LA	95 YDS, TD, 3 REC, 25 YDS	Start
7	Carlos Hyde, SF	90 YDS, TD, 2 REC, 20 YDS	Start
8	Melvin Gordon, SD	75 YDS, TD, 3 REC, 25 YDS	Start
9	Charcandrick West, KC	105 YDS, 4 REC, 40 YDS	Start
10	Jay Ajayi, MIA	125 YDS, 1 REC, 10 YDS	Start
*	Frank Gore, IND	60 YDS, 1 REC, 10 YDS	Sit
*	Matt Asiata, MIN	45 YDS, 1 REC, 10 YDS	Sit
*	Ryan Mathews, PHI	40 YDS, 1 REC, 10 YDS	Sit

Start 'Em: Charcandrick West, Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs recently placed running back Jamaal Charles on injured reserve. Now it looks like the team could be without Spencer Ware, who suffered a concussion during last week's game against the Indianapolis colts.

As of Thursday, Ware was not practicing, according to Chiefs reporter BJ Kissel:

This means it's likely to be the Charcandrick West show when the Chiefs host the Jaguars on Sunday. West finished out last week's game and produced 52 yards rushing, two receptions and eight receiving yards.

While the Jaguars don't have the worst run defense in the world—rated 17th by Pro Football Focus—this game should present plenty of chances for West to shine. Kansas City generally operates a run-oriented offense, and West should be the centerpiece.

If the Chiefs manage to get out to an early lead, West's potential only grows. He could be called upon to put the game away.

Sit 'Em: Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore is about as hit and miss as a fantasy player can get. He's had three games of 75 or more rushing yards this season, and he's also had three games with fewer than 60.

This probably isn't going to be the week Gore breaks out, either. The Packers are allowing just 74.4 yards rushing per game, second fewest in the NFL. It's more likely that the Colts will lean on Andrew Luck in the passing game in order to counter Green Bay on the scoreboard.

If the Colts find themselves down early, Gore might become the forgotten man in the offense. He carried the ball just nine times for seven yards last week against the Chiefs.

Gore does have some minimal PPR value—he has 22 receptions this season—but Gore owners are probably better off weighing alternative options.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Proj. Stats	Start/Sit
1	Jordy Nelson, GB	6 REC, 90 YDS, 2TD	Start
2	T.Y. Hilton, IND	5 REC, 100 YDS, 2TD	Start
3	Jarvis Landry, MIA	8 REC, 125 YDS, TD	Start
4	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	6 REC, 122 YDS, TD	Start
5	Antonio Brown	7 REC, 95 YDS, TD	Start
6	Terrelle Pryor, CLE	7 REC, 90 YDS, TD	Start
7	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	6 REC, 75 YDS	Start
8	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	6 REC, 70 YDS	Start
9	Stefon Diggs, MIN	6 REC, 70 YDS	Start
10	Brandin Cooks, NO	5 REC, 80 YDS	Start
*	Mike Wallace, BAL	3 REC, 35 YDS	Sit
*	DeVante Parker, MIA	3 REC, 30 YDS	Sit
*	Anquan Boldin, DET	3 REC, 27 YDS	Sit

Start 'Em: Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

The Miami Dolphins may have ridden running back Jay Ajayi to victory in their past two games, but this week brings a different challenge. The New York Jets boast the league's top run defense, which is allowing just 74.0 yards per game on the ground.

The Jets also feature an atrocious pass defense, which is allowing 289.1 yards per game through the air. This could mean big things for Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry.

Landry has been a quality PPR producer this season—he has 46 receptions in seven games—and he should feast against the struggling New York secondary. While we don't believe quarterback Ryan Tannehill is going to suddenly go off for a 300-yard game, a lot of his targets are likely to go to Landry.

Last week, the Cleveland Browns regularly targeted top receiver Terrelle Pryor against the Jets, and he finished with six catches and 101 yards.

Sit 'Em: DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins

So we just got done talking about how bad the Jets pass defense is, and now we're going to suggest sitting a Dolphins wide receiver. Here's why:

Second-year wideout DeVante Parker simply hasn't developed into the type of game-changing pass-catcher the Dolphins were hoping he could be. Part of the problem has been a hamstring injury that has plagued Parker all season.

“I don't think he's been healthy,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen explained, per Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald. “I don't think he's been 100 percent. There's something about just not feeling great. It's hard to play that position when you're not feeling great.”

Parker hasn't been a consistent fantasy option—just one 100-yard game, three games with fewer than 30 yards—and he hasn't emerged as a top option in Miami's offense either. He has eight catches over his past two games, but just 48 combined yards.

Don't expect Parker to suddenly become the focus of the offense in Week 9.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Proj. Stats	Start/Sit
1	Greg Olsen, CAR	6 REC, 85 YDS, TD	Start
2	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	6 REC, 75 YDS, TD	Start
3	Hunter Henry, SD	5 REC, 80 YDS	Start
4	Eric Ebron, DET	5 REC, 78 YDS	Start
5	Dennis Pitta, BAL	5 REC, 75 YDS	Start
6	Jimmy Graham, SEA	5 REC, 75 YDS	Start
7	Delanie Walker, TEN	5 REC, 70 YDS	Start
8	Gary Barnidge, CLE	5 REC, 70 YDS	Start
9	Travis Kelce, KC	5 REC, 70 YDS	Start
10	Jason Witten, DAL	4 REC, 60 YDS	Start
*	Charles Clay, BUF	2 REC, 40 YDS	Sit
*	Zach Ertz, PHI	2 REC, 35 YDS	Sit
*	Jesse James, PIT	2 REC, 25 YDS	Sit

Kickers

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Dan Bailey, DAL	11	Start
2	Mason Crosby, GB	10	Start
3	Cairo Santos, KC	10	Start
4	Adam Vinatieri, IND	10	Start
5	Steven Hauschka, SEA	9	Start
6	Wil Lutz, NO	9	Start
7	Josh Lambo, SD	8.5	Start
8	Blair Walsh, MIN	8.5	Start
9	Justin Tucker, BAL	8	Start
10	Phil Dawson, SF	8	Start
*	Dan Carpenter, BUF	6.5	Sit
*	Greg Zuerlein, LA	6.5	Sit
*	Jason Myers, Jax	6.5	Sit