If you’ve been waiting for that one week in fantasy football that gives you nothing but stellar matchups to take advantage of, welcome to Week Nine’s start sit column. To begin, Megatron travels to Revis Island, a Tampa Bay’s horrible pass defense gets to deal with the soaring Roddy White, and eight other tasty matchups lead the way in Week 9.
I thought that the big board format did well last week, and decided that I will continue this format for the remainder of the year, but everything else still applies as usual when leaving your questions below.
I will be out of the office after Thursday of this week until that following Monday, so if you have specific start sit questions over the weekend, feel free to head on over to the Fantasy Football Forum, where you can also have your questions answered.
The Start List: A collection of players that must be active this week. |
| 1. Hakeem Nicks – NYG: Nicks is garnering all the targets in New York, is the favorite receiver of Eli Manning, and shows it in his production on a weekly basis. Nicks has a team high 8 TDs, three 100+ yard games, and faces a Seahawks team that ranks 29th in the league. The Seahawks will inevitably throw focus towards Nicks, but even the mighty Chicago Bears couldn’t stop him with that strategy. |
| 2. Roddy White – ATL: What can I say about Roddy other than FANTASY GOLD! He is on pace for a near 2,000 yard season, and against Tampa Bay, you have to imagine he will soar once again. I would have him at number one, but I am worried about corner Aqib Talib cutting into his production just a bit. He’s a must start this week. |
| 3. Reggie Wayne – IND: Wayne, at times last week, looked at bit out of place. He should have no trouble bouncing back this week against the Birds. |
| 4. Megatron – DET: Megatron is putting together one of his best seasons thus far, and despite facing the elite corners of the Jets, you have to understand he just can’t be shut down. His trip to Revis island should favor him, not the Jets. |
| 5. Marques Colston – NO: Even when the Saints get shut down, Colston does not. He remains the focal point in the passing game, and the Saints should do much better this time around against the Panthers. |
| 6. Greg Jennings – GB: Dallas can’t cover, Period! Jennings and Rodgers should have no trouble at all getting back on track when Dallas comes to Lambeau. |
| 7. Miles Austin – DAL: On the other side of this matchup, is the one guy in Dallas that is a Mecca for fantasy points. He is a receiver that also has four 100+ yard games under his belt this year. |
| 8. Brandon Marshall – MIA: Marshall should have a nice day against a Raven secondary that can easily be burned, even when they do blitz. |
| 9. Santonio Holmes – NYJ: Holmes’ work will increase each and every week, and this week against the hapless Lions, you can believe he’ll have the best day of his 2010 season. |
| 10. Hines Ward – PIT: Ward remains one of the most targeted receivers in Pittsburgh, and the Bengals should have a lot of trouble shutting him down. Ward always does very well against the Bengals. |
The Risk List: A collection of players who have less than great matchups, but could surprise this week. |
| 1. Steve Smith – NYG: I like just about anyone in New York against the Lions,but Smith has seen a decrease in his overall fantasy production thanks to fellow teammate Hakeem Nicks. This type of situation bodes well for New York, but not necessarily for fantasy owners of Smith. I believe he'll have a nice day, but in the end, not as good as Nicks. |
| 2. Jeremy Maclin – PHI: Indy is a good team defensively, but Maclin is the go to guy, and the Eagles have proven that whoever is at the helm, they can still ball all day long. Maclin won’t do as much as the members of the starter list, but he is still a low end WR2 option. |
| 3. Mike Wallace – PIT: Wallace is really the deep threat option in Pittsburgh, so each week ya never really know what the staff will do with him. His matchup this week is favorable, but Ward is higher ranked. Another quality WR2 start. |
| 4. Anquan Boldin – BAL: Boldin faces a Miami team that can be burned, but can also shut down receivers. The Jekyll and Hyde defense of the Dolphins makes me believe he may have some trouble early on; cutting into his overall production. |
| 5. T.O. – CIN: T.O. is still putting up numbers, and it’s obvious that Owens is favored over OchoCinco in Cincy. Pittsburgh, though, does has a history of shutting down the Bengals. |
| 6. Andre Johnson – HOU: He would be higher on this list, but San Diego is just too good on D to think he will have a monster game. |
| 7. Mike Williams – TB: I can’t say enough about this kid, he is really making a case for himself. The problem is, Atlanta is a good coverage team. Williams is high risk/high reward player this week. |
| 8. Patrick Crayton – SD: Crayton has an extremely favorable matchup against Houston’s horrid pass coverage, but Gates will get all the TDs. |
| 9. Steve Smith – CAR: Smith will have to deal with Jabari Greer, and Moore will have to deal with that frenzied blitz package the Saints overwhelm their competition with. But Smith had a bad week last week, and whenever that happens, he usually atones for it the following week. |
| 10. Steve Johnson – BUF: The guy is for real, but so is Chicago. Pick your poison in this one or leave a specific question below. |
The Sit List: Players who belong on the bench this week. |
| 1. DeSean Jackson – PHI: All the reports are Jackson is a “game time decision”. The reality is, he hasn’t even been cleared by the Neurologists yet. Jackson will inevitably be eased back into the mix if he gets the OK, and you have to imagine his first day back will be a non-productive one. Keep him on the bench even if he does get the thumbs up from the doctors. |
| 2. Dwayne Bowe – KC: Yup, he’s here again. Keep him here. |
| 3. Mohamed Massaquoi – CLE: Massaquoi is pushing “Mega-bust”. He isn’t even worth a flex spot currently. |
| 4. Johnny Knox – CHI: Knox had two back to back good games, and suddenly, he’s all the rage. Buffalo should knock him back down to earth a bit this week. It isn’t a good matchup this week. |
| 5. OchoCinco – CIN: Aside from two specific games, ‘ol gold tooth is averaging just 3.5 catches a game. If you have a better option, use it. |
As always, please leave your questions below and good luck this week everyone!
