Fantasy football advice, Week 9: who to start/sit for Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bye week hell continues in Week 9 with six more teams on byes. And you thought it couldn’t have been worse in Week 8? Now, fantasy owners get to scramble as skill position players on the Patriots, Bengals, Washington, Cardinals, Bears, and Texans all get to sit out of lineups. But Thursday’s tilt with the Falcons and Buccaneers presents a brief respite from another week of patchwork lineups, that is, until you examine the Buccaneers’ backfield.

Despite being held in check against the Oakland Raiders, there hasn’t been a more consistent wide receiver in fantasy football than Mike Evans, and the importance of that cannot be overstated during a season with so many volatile options. Evans is again a WR1, and quarterback Jameis Winston deserves streaming consideration against a struggling Falcons pass defense.

Fantasy owners may be in a bit of a bind with Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Jordan Reed, Tyler Eifert, and Zach Miller on byes. It leaves Cameron Brate in streaming consideration after he found the end zone in Week 8. With Russell Shepard doubtful, a few more targets may come Brate’s way.

Only the most desperate owners will fool with the Buccaneers’ backfield in Week 9, but if they must, let it be known that it will likely be a committee approach. Antone Smith figures to get first crack at carries after out-snapping and out-touching Peyton Barber once Jacquizz Rodgers was sidelined in Week 8. Smith can be started for the very desperate, but otherwise, fantasy owners should look elsewhere for running back options.

Julio Jones barely registered on the stat sheet despite a shootout against the Packers in Week 8, but that was largely due to sustaining a knee injury during the game. It was revealed that the injury was only a bruise, leaving Jones available to play on a short week. Even with his dud in Week 8, his upside is simply too high to not bank on. He’s a WR1. Matt Ryan and Devonta Freeman are also every-week starters and can be in fantasy lineups as usual.

Secondary pass catchers Mohamed Sanu, Justin Hardy, and Austin Hooper can safely remain on benches. Sanu broke out against the Packers, but largely in part to Jones being far less than 100 percent. Expect Jones at full health to take some of Sanu’s targets back down. Tevin Coleman remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.