Week 9 Fantasy Football: New York Jets at Detroit Lions

Week 9 Match-up:  Jets @ Lions

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New York Jets @ Detroit 

New York Jets (5-2)    Jets Schedule 

Opponent Defensive Ranks

2010 Detroit Pass Defense: Yards Allowed/Game: 19th; TDs Allowed: T-18th

2010 Detroit Rush Defense: Yards Allowed/Game: 27th; TDs Allowed: T-28th

New York Jets Offensive Cast

Mark Sanchez (QB Week 9 Ranking: No. 16) 2010 season: 114-of-215 for 1,356 Yards and nine TDs.

I’m guessing that the Jets turn back to the running game this week against a Detroit D that can’t seem to hold their opponents down in that manner.  Sanchez may not throw more than 20 to 25 passes in this one, as he only tossed up 24 passes against a similar rush D in Buffalo earlier this year.  However, he also threw for two TDs in that game, so not all will be lost on those minimal throws.

LaDainian Tomlinson (RB Week 9 Ranking: No. 3) 2010 season: 108 carries for 544 yards and five TDs; 24 receptions for 144 Yards and 0 TDs.

LT21 is going to do some serious business against the 27^th-ranked rush D in the league, of that I am sure.  Yeah, the Jets might be trying to lay off on his carries a bit, but he’ll get 22 to 25 touches in this game, and that’s all he’ll need to rattle off about 140-plus yards and a TD or two.

Shonn Greene (RB Week 9 Ranking: No. 18) 2010 season: 77 carries for 345 yards and one TD; three receptions for 27 yards and 0 TDs.

The Jets are going to run, and run, and run and run against the Lions this Sunday.  It’s getting to the point where Rex Ryan will start to taper back on LT’s touches a bit and get Greene more involved with the offense, so if you were looking for a game to use him, you finally have it this weekend.

Santonio Holmes (WR Week 9 Ranking: No. 27) 2010 season: 10 receptions for 131 yards and no TDs.

Holmes ranks above the other Jets receivers at this point due to his speed and big-play ability, but with New York looking to run all over the Lions D this weekend, you probably shouldn’t risk playing him as any more than a WR3 on your team this Sunday.

Braylon Edwards (WR Week 9 Ranking: No. 33) 2010 season: 22 receptions for 375 yards and four TDs.

Edwards, as usual, is a crapshoot every week.  However, he has seemed to be a bit better on the road this year than at home, as he’s caught a TD in each of the Jets three road contests so far this season.  Against a team like the Lions, he could be worth a shot in your starting lineup this weekend.

Jerricho Cotchery (WR Week 9 Ranking: No. 48) 2010 season: 24 receptions for 243 yards and one TD.

First time since, well, maybe Week 2 that Cotchery has made the rankings, and it comes on the heels of a 13-target, four-catch, 89-yard performance against the Packers last weekend.  I wouldn’t expect the same in Week 9, but if some of your regulars happen to be on a bye, you could do worse. 

Dustin Keller (TE Week 9 Ranking: No. 12) 2010 season: 26 receptions for 388 yards and five TDs.

 Keller was on fire for the first quarter of the season, but as soon as the Jets got Santonio Holmes back, his targets began to dwindle.  He hasn’t seen more than six targets in game since Week 3 and hasn’t caught more than four balls in that same time frame.  Be wary of this if you’re thinking of starting him this weekend.

Detroit Lions (2-5)    Lions Schedule 

Opponent Defensive Ranks

2010 New York Jets Pass Defense: Yards Allowed/Game: 18th ; TDs Allowed: T-14th

2010 New York Jets Rush Defense: Yards Allowed/Game: 4th; TDs Allowed: T-2nd

Detroit Offensive Cast

Matthew Stafford (QB Week 9 Ranking: No. 15) 2010 Season: 37-of-60 for 295 yards and four TDs.

Every time I see a team playing the Jets, I want to tell readers for their opposing QB to run for the hills!  Then I remember, this Jets pass D isn’t even close to what they put out there last year.  Stafford, though a bit shaky, put up some good numbers last week against the Redskins.  He won’t throw four TDs again, but 225 yards and one to two TDs isn’t out of reach…especially with Megatron roaming the field.

Jahvid Best (RB Week 9 Ranking: No. 25) 2010 Season: 91 carries for 279 yards and four TDs; 36 receptions for 316 yards and one TD.

Best has some of the greatest ankle-breaking moves in the league, but his durability is as poor as it gets.  On any given Sunday, he could spark two huge runs and win you a fantasy week in the blink of an eye.  On another day, he could also be complete garbage, especially against a rush D like the New York Jets have.  Take the chance only if you have to.

Calvin Johnson (WR Week 9 Ranking: No. 4) 2010 Season: 38 receptions for 538 yards and eight TDs.

Not many receivers in the history of the game can say they’ve been on a better streak than what Megatron has put up the past four weeks.  Yes, he may be shadowed by the infamous Revis Island this Sunday, but as has been shown this year, that “island” might actually be more of a peninsula to the end zone than originally thought. 

Nate Burleson (WR Week 9 Ranking: No. 42) 2010 Season: 19 receptions for 176 yards and two TDs.

With Rex Ryan coming out to say that Darrelle Revis will be shadowing Megatron all game long this Sunday, you can bet Burleson will get himself quite a few targets from Stafford.  What he does with those targets is a whole other story, but he could be worth a look if your team is strapped by the bye this week.

Brandon Pettigrew (TE Week 9 Ranking: No. 13) 2010 Season: 35 receptions for 344 yards and two TDs.

The Jets are actually really good at defending tight ends, but with Revis shadowing Megatron this weekend, Stafford is going to need to look elsewhere for those first-down catches.  Pettigrew stands to be that guy.

Tony Scheffler (TE Week 9 Ranking: NR) 2010 Season: 26 receptions for 217 yards and one TD.

Both Scheffler and Pettigrew are getting looks, but Petty remains the better fantasy play at this point.