Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 9: Rounding Up Latest Expert Advice on the Web

Through eight-plus weeks of NFL action, the 2020 fantasy football season has largely been an endurance test. Injuries, absences because of COVID-19 protocols and, more recently, bye weeks have seen few managers be able to roll with the starting lineups that they drafted.

Figuring out which players to claim, roster and start can be a challenge, even for the most experienced fantasy managers. Fortunately, the internet provides a wealth of helpful resources. Even experts can get things wrong—after all, it's the sport's unpredictability that makes the NFL so exciting—but they can help provide a guide and a good starting point.

As we head into the bulk of Week 9, let's take a look at what the web's fantasy experts have to say.

We'll examine the top-50 flex plays from FantasyPros's consensus Week 9 rankings—compiled from a list of 148 experts. We'll also dive into some start or sit choices based on the views from other experts around the web.

All rankings are based on points-per-reception (PPR) scoring. The consensus top-50 list has been amended to exclude players who played Thursday night.

FantasyPros Consensus Week 9 Flex Rankings

John Froschauer/Associated Press

1. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

2. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

3. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

4. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

5. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

6. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

7. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

8. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

9. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

10. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

11. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

12. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

13. James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

14. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

15. Allen Robinson II, WR, Chicago Bears

16. Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals

17. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

18. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Football Team

19. Will Fuller V, WR, Houston Texans

20. Darren Waller, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

21. Robby Anderson, WR, Carolina Panthers

22. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

23. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

24. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team

25. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

26. D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers

27. A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans

28. David Johnson, RB, Houston Texans

29. Todd Gurley, RB, Atlanta Falcons

30. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

31. Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

32. Brandin Cooks, WR, Houston Texans

33. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

34. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

35. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

36. Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

37. Marquise Brown, RB, Baltimore Ravens

38. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

39. DJ Chark Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

40. Justin Jackson, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

41. D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

42. Marvin Jones Jr., WR, Detroit Lions

43. Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

44. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

45. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens

46. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos

47. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

48. DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

49. Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans

50. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Start 'Em: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Mark LoMoglio/Associated Press

It's looking like the Carolina Panthers are set to activate star running back Christian McCaffrey from injured reserve. According to Sports Illustrated's Roy Larking, the fantasy standout should go immediately into starting lineups:

"The Panthers are expected to activate McCaffrey from injured reserve at some point this week. It's encouraging that CMAC was able to get in a full practice on Wednesday. If activated from IR, McCaffrey is an obvious 'must start' against Kansas City. Though he may share snaps with Mike Davis who has started the last six games."

Davis' presence is a legitimate concern for McCaffrey managers, as he has been a quality starter in the Stanford product's absence. Carolina isn't likely to force McCaffrey into a sizeable workload as long as Davis is around.

However, McCaffrey is a tremendous offensive weapon, and the Panthers will be eager to utilize him. Don't anticipate the sort of stat line McCaffrey regularly produced last season, but do expect him to be a worthy start against the Kansas City Chiefs' 29th-ranked run defense.

Sit 'Em: Antonio Brown, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Wide receiver Antonio Brown is expected to make his Tampa Bay Buccaneers debut Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. What should managers expect from Tom Brady's newest pass-catcher? According to The Athletic's Nando Di Fino, a fairly modest stat line.

"Lots of targets, but I think it'll be a couple games until he cracks 75 yards," Di Fino wrote.

While a handful of targets could make Brown a viable start in PPR leagues, it will take a few weeks before he explodes in Tampa's offense. Even if Chris Godwin is sidelined, Brady won't lack for alternative targets.

Godwin, though, could be in the lineup against New Orleans.

"I would anticipate him probably playing," coach Bruce Arians said, per ESPN's Jenna Laine.

In addition to being one of many talented Tampa targets, Brown will face a formidable, if not elite, pass defense. The Saints rank a respectable 17th against the pass and 18th in yards per reception allowed. A pushover defense it is not.

Start 'Em: Cole Beasley, WR, Buffalo Bills

John Minchillo/Associated Press

While the Saints pass defense isn't a disaster, the Seattle Seahawks pass defense largely has been. Seattle ranks dead last in passing yards and 27th in yards per pass attempt allowed. This makes Buffalo Bills star wideout Stefon Diggs a must-start, but it also opens the door for some sleeper options.

According to NFL Media's Michael Florio, Cole Beasley is the sleeper to target over John Brown:

"Why Beasley over John Brown? Well, Seattle has allowed an average of 21.61 fantasy PPG to receivers lined up in the slot this season, which is where Beasley runs 86 percent of his routes. The Seahawks are allowing an average of 118.9 receiving yards per game to receivers lined up in the slot. Not only does that lead the league, but it is over 30 more per game than any other team is giving up currently."

This is clearly a tremendous matchup for Beasley. While consistency hasn't been his biggest strong suit—he's had three games with fewer than 50 yards—he's been fantastic in the right matchups. Against the New York Jets in Week 7, he had 11 catches and 112 yards. In Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams, he caught six for 100.

Don't be shocked if Beasley tops the 100-yard mark for the third time this season. Of course, given the matchup, it's probably not going to be a bad day for Brown, either.