Week 9 Start/Sit Questions

By: Mike Johnson (@mjohnson86)

Some things in fantasy football are easy. We know we should start Puka Nacua (when healthy!) and Bijan Robinson. We know we should bench the backup running back who is only on our roster in case of injury and the guy who was ruled out early in the week. A lot of the decisions are made for us. However, there are a lot of things that are not so simple. All of the “in between” situations are what can make the difference between a few wins and losses, and therefore it can be the difference between a successful season or a failed season. Every Friday, we are here to help!!

I’ll take questions each week in our #fantasy-football channel in our Discord from people looking for Start/Sit advice and give my thoughts. This article will feature a few of those questions and responses each Friday, so join our Discord to be a part of the conversation or ask questions of your own!!

Question 1 :: Jordan Mason or Tyjae Spears? (Standard scoring) (Chunk)

Answer :: Both of these players are operating in timeshare situations with their teams entering the week as relatively heavy underdogs and Vegas implied team totals of under 20 points. However, Spears is explosive and his team seems to be inclined to increase his role, plus his skill set fits well with the presumed game script of his team playing from behind. On the flip side, Mason’s role is less involved in the passing game and this could easily be a spot where he is taken out of the flow of things early. I’d roll with Spears.

Question 2 :: DJ Moore or Cooper Kupp? (PPR) (dame)

Answer :: Without a doubt, Moore has been frustrating to own this season. Despite that reality, the matchup this week could not be any better, as a trip to Cincinnati seems to cure everything for a lot of struggling players and teams. Moore also benefits from the likely absence of rookie WR Luther Burden III and the potential for lead RB D’Andre Swift to be limited with his groin injury. The fact is Moore is still a talented and explosive player who is going to have a huge game at some point, and I won’t be surprised at all if it is this week.

Question 3 :: Pick one to start in the Flex: Darnell Mooney, Josh Downs, Kyle Monangai, or TreVeyon Henderson?  (Sef20)

Answer :: This is a spot where you are going to need to stay closely in tune with the developments in New England and Chicago over the next couple of days. Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson and Bears RB D’Andre Swift have both missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday to start the week. If either of those two misses this week, their respective backup RB would be your choice. If BOTH of the aforementioned RBs miss this game, I would prefer Monangai over Henderson, as his matchup is far better and it is pretty clear what his role would look like. If both of those RBs end up being able to play, then I would go with Downs in a potentially very high-scoring game.

Question 4 :: Flex: Jakobi Meyers, Woody Marks, or Jake Ferguson?  Or just on to next year?? (garbage time)

Answer :: Ahhh, we can all relate to this feeling. Getting deeper into the year and having a fantasy team that seems to have hit an impossible run of bad luck, injuries, and/or simply disappointing results. But we must dig deeper!! With the 14-week regular season, anything is still possible, and even a 1-7 team right now could still get to .500 and make the playoffs. (Just felt like we needed a little pep talk based on the last sentence ;) )

As for the question at hand, I would go back to Ferguson despite the dud he had in Week 8 without a single reception. This week’s matchup against the Cardinals should fit his skill set and role much better, as Arizona’s conservative coverage schemes funnel balls underneath. Likewise, the Cowboys are likely to bounce back after their ugly showing in Denver. Marks and Meyers are “fine” options in their own right, but I like the touchdown upside and potential to rack up a high volume of receptions for Ferguson this week.