Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Roddy White and Other WRs You Must Start

Elite fantasy wide receivers and a good matchup makes for a pile of points for their fantasy owners every week, and Week 9 is clearly no different.

There are several poor passing defenses getting major tests this Sunday against some of the more pass-happy teams in the league. That being the case, there's a good chance that if you own one of the following three players, you're about to be pleased with their respective bottom lines.

Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons (at Indianapolis Colts)

Roddy White has been a reliable—if not downright studly—fantasy wide receiver for four and a half seasons.

Just when you think he may let up, or that perhaps this is the year when drafting him is a risk, he just keeps on producing. White is a rare breed of receiver who isn't terribly affected by lingering injuries or pain. He heads out on the field to do his job well, week in and week out.

Coming off the bye, his team gets to take on the league's worst team (and defense) in the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have given up a total of 2,071 passing yards on the season, making them the 22nd worst team against the pass through eight weeks.

At the same time, led by quarterback Matt Ryan and Roddy White, the Falcons are the league's 14th-best passing offense. White has 39 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns this season. Against the Colts on Sunday, he's likely to significantly add to these totals.

White is set to have an above-average day for your fantasy team this week, which makes him a much more exciting prospect than he would usually be.

Victor Cruz, New York Giants (at New England Patriots)

The Patriots have become synonymous with offense. On defense, they're one of the worst in the league and rank 27th overall and 27th against the pass. That means good things for the Giants' Victor Cruz, who has emerged as one of the most reliably explosive fantasy wide receivers of the season.

Beyond the choice matchup, Cruz's stock also benefits from the hamstring injury suffered by No. 1 wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is still day-to-day and his status for Sunday's game questionable. Should he sit, Cruz will be quarterback Eli Manning's primary and most reliable target.

The 24-year-old has 28 catches for 497 yards and four touchdowns on the season, with seven catches for 99 yards and a score in last week's win over the Miami Dolphins. Tony Sparano's team is similarly weak against the pass as the Patriots. It's a perfect storm for an impressive fantasy outing for Cruz and you shouldn't have any qualms giving him the start this week.

Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The Saints' passing offense was practically non-existent against the St. Louis Rams' surprisingly brutal pass rush in Week 8. However, expect that performance to be an anomaly and not a sign of trouble for the previously most-productive aerial squad in the league.

That means that quarterback Drew Brees' favorite target, wide receiver Marques Colston, should see a return to form this Sunday. That is, against the same Tampa Bay team he caught seven passes against, for 118 yards and a score, in Week 6.

Indeed, it should be a big day for all of the Saints receivers. The Buccaneers have the 28th-ranked defense against the pass, despite being in the Top 10 against the run. However, none should have as successful an outing as Colston, who has 29 receptions for 424 yards and three touchdowns, despite missing Weeks 2 and 3 with a broken collarbone.