Fantasy football advice, Week 9: who to start/sit for Tennessee Titans vs. San Diego Chargers

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 with the Titans and Chargers squaring off on Sunday, options, though few of them, still remain for fantasy owners.

Demarco Murray, despite being limited in practice with a toe injury suffered in Week 8’s demolition of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is expected to play. Murray has been matchup-proof all season, and his usage always garners RB1 appeal, with Week 9’s bout with the Chargers being no different.

Start ‘em?

Delanie Walker injured his hamstring during Thursday’s practice, but expressed optimism in taking the field against the Chargers on Sunday. Walker has a middling matchup and has had inconsistent fantasy outputs. But with so many teams on a bye, fantasy owners who own Walker likely don’t have a better option.

Despite Derrick Henry’s outburst in Week 8, it was largely due to having an insurmountable lead and Murray having to exit with a toe injury. Henry will resume a more complementary role with Murray back in action, and doesn’t warrant starting consideration as long as Murray is able to go. The unsteady receiving corps of Kendall Wright, Rishard Matthews and Tajae Sharpe can also remain on benches along with quarterback Marcus Mariota.

The Titans’ pass defense has fallen apart over the last three weeks, and Philip Rivers is more than able to capitalize, even with a depleted group of receivers. With Hunter Henry ruled out, Antonio Gates reemerged as a TE1, especially with Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin at less than 100 percent health. Melvin Gordon’s usage, as well as his encouraging performance against the Broncos in Week 8, put him squarely in RB1 territory as usual.

Though the Titans present a favorable matchup for Rivers and company, Benjamin, Williams and Dontrelle Inman are too volatile to project with unclean bills of health. All three can remain on benches for fantasy owners who are not in dire situations.