Start and Sit for Week 9

After a week of not having any byes on the slate, we continue onward with the bye gauntlet. Tough decisions need to be made to bring home that win so we can inch closer to hoisting up that title at the end of the season. Here are the four teams that are on bye this week (Lions, 49ers, Broncos, and Jaguars).

This week, Leo Grandio (@smooth1074) and Matt Miles (@DirtyAirFC) look at who are some options to start or sit for Week 9. Remember that you are starting your fantasy studs if they are healthy. We will focus on giving fantasy managers an edge on who to ride with or on who should ride the pine for the week. Here are some Start and Sit options for Week 9.

Starters at Quarterback

Jordan Love, QB Packers

What a difference two weeks makes. Two weeks ago, my esteemed colleague Leo put Jordan Love at the top of this column as the Packers faced Denver in a bye-apocalypse. You were given a respectable 180 yards, two touchdowns, and 23 rushing yards performance. Last week, we lost Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Josh Dobbs got traded and is unlikely to play this week. Love isn't going to completely replace any of these previously mentioned players, but with the Packers playing the Rams at home, there's a chance for another respectable week. The Rams are the 11th-best fantasy matchup for quarterbacks this season.  Put a little Love in your lineup this week. - Matt Miles

Derek Carr, QB Saints

Over the last three weeks, Derek Carr has started to show some consistency for fantasy managers. During this stretch, Carr has thrown for over 300 yards in all three contests. With four teams on bye this week, many of us will head to the waiver wire and pick someone up to get through the week. Whether you have him on the roster or just picked up Carr, the veteran quarterback should provide over 20 fantasy points this week since he will be facing the Bears who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. - Leo Grandio 

Sitters at Quarterback

Whoever is announced, QB Cardinals

It's Thursday, and at the time of this writing, we still don't know if the Cardinals will activate Kyler Murray, or roll out Clayton Tune, Jeff Driskol, or whoever.  Honestly, it doesn't matter.  It's going to be in a cold Cleveland against the second-worst fantasy defense for quarterbacks.  I know it's hard in these streets this week, but I'd rather roll with Kenny Pickett over any starting option on the Cardinals' side this week. - Matt Miles

Geno Smith, QB Seahawks

This season Geno Smith has surpassed the 20 fantasy point mark just twice this season. Over his last two games, Smith has thrown three interceptions during that span. This week Smith will face the ball-hawking Ravens defense who have eight interceptions this season and have allowed just six passing touchdowns this season. You may want to sit Smith and look elsewhere at quarterback this week. -Leo Grandio

Starters at Running Back

Chuba Hubbard, RB Panthers

Very quietly and rather quickly, Miles Sanders has been demoted in Carolina.  In Week 8, Chuba Hubbard saw all three goal-line carries and leap-frogged Sanders with 15 carries to Sanders' two. The Panthers get the Colts this week at home, who are the fifth-best fantasy matchup for running backs. Sanders could pop, but he has to be on the field for that. - Matt Miles

Kareem Hunt, RB Browns

In Week 8, we saw our first glimpse of Kareem Hunt taking over this backfield. Hunt led the Browns with 15 touches and scored his fourth touchdown in three games. Now Hunt gets the opportunity to go up against the Cardinals who have allowed 12 total touchdowns to running backs this season and are allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs this year. Fire up Hunt this week and enjoy the ride. - Leo Grandio

Sitters at Running Back

Tony Pollard, RB Cowboys

Track Meet. 47 total points. Why would I suggest sitting Tony Pollard in such a barren running back landscape? The Philadelphia Eagles defense, that's why.  Philadelphia's defensive front is stout, allowing the fewest fantasy points to running backs. This includes facing backs like Breece Hall held to 39 rushing yards on 12 attempts with a touchdown, and Raheem Mostert was held to 45 rushing yards on nine attempts with no score. it's likely a quiet week for Pollard. - Matt Miles

Alexander Mattison, RB Vikings

In two straight weeks, Alexander Mattison has failed to reach 10 fantasy points for fantasy managers. Although he’s been getting the majority of touches in the backfield Mattison is just not very productive these. Now with the loss of Kirk Cousins for the season and still no sign of Justin Jefferson’s return, look for opposing defenses to start stacking the box making life more difficult for the veteran running back. Add the fact that the Falcons are allowing the second-least amount of fantasy points to opposing running backs and that makes Mattison a sit for me in Week 9. - Leo Grandio 

Starters at Wide Receiver

Jahan Dotson, WR Commanders

It looks like Jahan Dotson is finally getting some looks. It could be possibly due to a Curtis Samuel injury, but those who have been patient with the second-year wideout, you were finally rewarded.  As Samuel is looking doubtful again this week, Dotson is averaging a 20% target share, with a 13-153-1 line over the past two games Samuel has been injured. Look for another reasonable performance this week against the Patriots. - Matt Miles

Garrett Wilson, WR Jets

I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I must say you should try to get Garrett Wilson in your line-ups even with Zach Wilson behind center. Last week Wilson reached 100 yards receiving for the first time this season. Now in Week 3, the second-year receiver will get a juicy matchup versus the Chargers who are allowing the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Wide receivers are averaging 34.6 fantasy points per contest in 2023, so get Wilson in those lineups this week.

Sitters at Wide Receiver

Josh Downs, WR Colts

Waiver-wire darling Josh Downs has been pretty spectacular for a five-week stretch now and he's had some stellar scores against tough matches. However, the team leaves the dome and heads to Carolina, who is 24th in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. In a potential low-scoring affair, The downside of Downs could be exposed this week. - Matt Miles

D.J. Moore, WR Bears

Since Justin Fields got injured, D.J. Moore has not sniffed the endzone, nor has he surpassed 55 yards receiving. The only thing that has saved Moore’s day is the several receptions he brought in. This week Moore will face a Saints defense allowing the third least amount of yards per attempt to wide receivers at just 6.93 yards for the season. With no Fields in sight don’t count on Moore any more than a low-end flex play. - Leo Grandio

Starters at Tight End

Luke Musgrave, TE Packers

Luke Musgrave has been limited this week, so definitely check his status before starting him.  In his healthy games, he has run over 70% of routes.  Musgrave and the Packers face an offensively decimated Rams team at home, and their defense has allowed the 4th most points to tight ends. You could do much worse at the position this week.  - Matt Miles

Dalton Kincaid, TE Bills

After a rocky start to the season, Dalton Kincaid has started to be productive for fantasy managers over the last two weeks. Kincaid has averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game in that span and gets a great matchup in Week 9. Kincaid battles the Bengals who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this year, so start Kincaid with confidence this week. - Leo Grandio

Sitters at Tight End 

 Trey McBride TE, Cardinals

See above for the quarterback situation that the Cardinals are rolling out.  That's right, we don't know. Cleveland's defense allows the fewest points to tight ends, and that includes a game against Mark Andrews already this season, who lit them up for 5/80/2. Trey McBride is not Andrews and I'd be shying away this week. - Leo Grandio

Cole Kmet, TE Bears

Even though Cole Kmet set career highs in receptions and targets last week, you may want to look elsewhere for a tight end to start this week. Kmet will battle the Saints' defense that only allows 33.3 yards receiving per game which is the second-lowest total in the NFL. Temper those expectations if you have to start Kmet. - Leo Grandio 

Starters at Defense

New England Patriots Defense

The Washington Commanders and their most sacks allowed to Sam Howell come to Gillette Stadium this week.  The Patriots' Defense will blitz early and often.  There are not many other must-start options, aside from the Cleveland Browns this week for team defenses this week. - Matt Miles

New York Giants Defense

The New York Giants Defense has started to heat up over the last four weeks. During that stretch, the Giants defense has averaged 13.5 fantasy points per contest and they will have another chance to make fantasy managers happy again this week. The Giants defense faces the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9 who are allowing the seven-most fantasy points to opposing defenses and will be starting rookie Aiden O’Connell at quarterback. - Leo Grandio

Sitters at Defense

Los Vegas Raiders Defense

With a 37.5 line, a short week, and an entirely new coaching staff, I'm not as excited about a start against the Giants as I would have been last week. The Raiders Defense is probably okay if you don't have other options, but it's not as much of a slam dunk as most people are saying. - Leo Grandio

Kansas City Chiefs Defense

The Kansas City Chiefs Defense has been a great source of fantasy points for fantasy managers over the last three weeks. They are averaging double-digit fantasy points in that span. Unfortunately, this week the Chiefs will be facing the high-octane Miami Dolphins offense in Germany in Week 9. - Leo Grandio

If you have any start or sit questions feel free to reach out to us on X at @FCFantasySports.