Welcome to your Week 9 edition of Dynasty Starts/Sits. Week 8 was a wild one. We’re down yet another viable fantasy QB with the loss of Kirk Cousins. So, If you’re looking for an injury replacement or bye-week filler. You’ve come to the right place because I’ve got you covered.
Starts – Quarterbacks
Taylor Heinicke – Atlanta Falcons
Vs. Minnesota Vikings
In his first start with the Falcons, Heinicke gets a solid matchup against the Vikings. I’m projecting a change in philosophy for Arthur Smith and the Falcons. Heinicke has much more experience than Ridder and should provide more fantasy production at QB. With a full week of practice to get the system down and facing a Vikings defense giving up the 10th most fantasy points to QBs, Heinicke is a solid streamer this week.
C.J. Stroud – Houston Texans
Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stroud has been impressive in his rookie season. He get an excellent matchup in Week 9, facing a Tampa Bay defense that leads the league in pass yards allowed over the last three games. Both teams are in the bottom-10 in rushing yards per game. This game could end up being a shootout.
Baker Mayfield – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
@ Houston Texans
Mayfield has four top-15 finishes in seven games. Houston is giving up the third most passing yards over the last three games. I’m rolling with Mayfield for the same reasons as with Stroud. It could be a fun matchup with high-scoring potential.
Sits – Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford – Los Angeles Rams
@ Green Bay Packers
Back-to-back weeks sitting Matt Stafford feels wrong, but it’s the right move. Stafford has been largely mediocre this year, with zero top-12 finishes. In week 8, he suffered a UCL sprain in his throwing thumb. He’s currently projected as the QB21 for week nine, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him finish lower than that.
Geno Smith — Seattle Seahawks
@ Baltimore Ravens
Geno has had a tough time protecting the ball lately. Over the last three games, Smith has thrown five interceptions. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s defense is surging. They have the 4th highest sack percentage and give up the second-fewest yards per game this year. Smith is probably better left on your bench this week.
Clayton Tune – Arizona Cardinals
@ Cleveland Browns
Poor Clayton Tune. Unfortunately, he drew one of the league’s best defenses in his first career start. Cleveland is allowing the fewest total yards in the league this season. The fifth-round pick out of Houston is not likely to have a good day. If you have a better option available, I would certainly use it.
Starts – Running Backs
Najee Harris — Pittsburgh Steelers
Vs. Tennessee Titans
I’m concerned about which Tennessee run defense will see this week. Are we getting the defense to allow 107 rush yards per game over the course of the season? Or are we getting the defense allowing 157 rush yards per game over their last three games? With the current shape of the RB market, I’ll take the latter. With many Elite RB options on byes this week, Harris is an excellent upside flex play.
Jerome Ford– Cleveland Browns
Vs. Arizona Cardinals
One thing you need to know about Cleveland is that no matter what, they’re going to run the ball. Ford saw much of his opportunities go to Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong last week as Ford worked his way back from an ankle injury. With another week of practice under his belt, touches should start reverting to Ford. He is the most explosive RB in Cleveland right now and, if healthy, should see the majority of RB opportunities.
Zack Moss— Indianapolis Colts
@ Carolina Panthers
Moss won’t go away. He’s seen a consistent decline in snaps since the return of Johnathan Taylor. However, the Panthers have consistently been among the bottom five teams in Rushing yards allowed this year. So, fear not, there will be plenty of opportunities to go around in this backfield. Moss projects as a high-end RB3/low-end RB2 this week.
Sits – Running Backs
Alexander Mattison — Minnesota Vikings
@ Atlanta Falcons
I don’t see where the production will come from for Mattison. He’s been highly inefficient this season, only posting more than 44 rushing yards in two of eight games. On top of that, the Falcons are allowing the sixth-fewest receptions to RBs this year. Mattison is likely in for another down week.
Dameon Pierce – Houston Texans
Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dameon Pierce has seen at least 13 opportunities in every game this year. He also has failed to post a top-24 finish in five of seven games this year. His inefficiency has been a major issue, and he catches a bad matchup against Tampa Bay. He’s ranked outside of my top 30 RBs this week.
Starts – Wide Receivers
Rashee Rice – Kansas City Chiefs
Vs. Miami Dolphins
Rice has slowly become the most dependable target in the KC WR room. He’s seen a steady increase in snap % over the last four weeks, and in an attempt to keep pace with Miamis high powered offense, Rice could see a heavy usage increase.
Demario Douglas – New England Patriots
Vs. Washington Commanders
Trust me guys, I’m not crazy, I promise. Douglas has seen a significant bump in Snap share in the past two weeks. He has 13 targets over that same span. New England faces a porous Washington secondary, allowing the most fantasy points to WRs in the league. With the departure of Washington’s best pass rushers in Montez Sweat and Chase Young, Douglas has a prime opportunity for a breakout game this week.
Diontae Johnson — Pittsburgh Steelers
Vs. Tennessee Titans
Johnson has posted top-24 WR finishes in his two games since returning from a stint on the IR. He has a positive matchup in week nine against Tennessee, allowing the fifth most fantasy points per game to WRs. Due to his ability to command targets, consider Johnson a set-and-forget flex play for the remainder of the season.
Sits – Wide Receivers
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown – Arizona Cardinals
@ Cleveland Browns
Brown was one of my favorite WRs at ADP this off-season, and he’s been rewarding fantasy managers with steady WR2 production all season long. Unfortunately, he is receiving passes from fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune this week. On top of that, he’s matching up against a Browns defense, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to WRs this year. Playing it safe and sitting Brown is likely the right move.
Josh Downs — Indianapolis Colts
@ Carolina Panthers
I’ve enjoyed watching Downs play this year. He’s cemented himself as the WR2 on this offense. However, the Panthers have been stout against the pass game all year. When playing at home, Carolina is giving up 152 pass yards per game. The Ceiling is lower than usual, and Downs looks TD-dependent this week.
Josh Palmer — Los Angeles Chargers
Vs. New York Jets
Palmers has been a sufficient replacement since Mike Williams went down for the season. However, he gets the Jets in week nine, and I’m just not confident in his abilities this week. The Jets are giving up the fewest points to WRs in the league this year. Smart money is elsewhere this week.
Starts – Tight Ends
Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons
Vs. Minnesota Vikings
I just can’t quit Pitts. Anytime a significant change happens to this offense, I recommend starting Pitts. His athletic profile, along with his draft capital, is too juicy to pass up. I trust in Heinicke’s ability to support multiple pass catchers. I’m sure Arthur Smith will find a way to let me down again, but I’m ready for the hurt.
Trey McBride – Arizona Cardinals
Vs. Cleveland Browns
Let’s get this out of the way: this is probably the worst possible match for McBride. However, after receiving 14 targets in his first start of the year, you’d be a fool to pass the upside. If there’s even a glimmer of hope a TE can see Travis Kelce-Esque production, you’ve got to pounce on it.
Sits – Tight Ends
Chigoziem Okonkwo— Tennessee Titans
@ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers allow the third-fewest fantasy points to TEs this season, and Okonkwo has done himself no favors. He has yet to finish higher than TE19 in seven games. It’s time to give up on him until the Titans make a philosophical change in the offensive scheme. Okonkwo can stay on your benches for the foreseeable future.
Luke Musgrave — Green Bay Packers
Vs. Los Angeles Rams
I love the involvement in the offense Musgrave has had as a rookie. However, he just hasn’t been efficient enough with his targets. Although he was knocked out of two games before halftime, he only has two top-12 finishes. As juicy as this matchup seems, Musgrave’s highest fantasy point total in any week this year is 7.90. I’d look for a higher upside elsewhere until he proves a more viable fantasy option.
I hope you all benefitted from this article, and I thank you for reading. I find true enjoyment in sharing my experience and helping others. So, I’m always more than willing to answer any fantasy football questions via Twitter @FF_Reez. Thanks for reading! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
