The New Orleans Saints started 0-3 and 1-4, but after a three-game winning streak they sit at 4-4 and can at least consider a run at a Wild Card berth. The Tennessee Titans have lost six straight since winning in Week 1, and hope the midweek coaching change can get them going back in the right direction. The two teams face off Sunday.
Fantasy football advice, Week 9: Who to start/sit for Titans vs. Saints
The Saints have turned things around since their early struggles. The Titans hope a coaching change can do the same for them.
The Titans expect to get quarterback Marcus Mariota and wide receiver Harry Douglas back after both missed multiple games. The team will be without wide receiver Kendall Wright, though, as he deals with a Week 8 knee injury. For the Saints, wide receivers Willie Snead and Marques Colston are both on the week’s injury report, though both should be fine for Sunday.
Tennessee heads to New Orleans for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET scheduled start time. Let’s take a look at the fantasy names to consider:
TITANS
Start ‘em?: The only Tennessee running back you can really consider right now is Antonio Andrews, and even he is only a low-range flex. ... Delanie Walker has a reasonable floor at tight end, but his lack of much ceiling keeps him from must-start status. ... Against the New Orleans defense, the Titans might give Ryan Succop enough chances to succeed.
Sit ‘em: It’s nice to get Marcus Mariota back from injury, but the quarterback hasn’t had much to offer most of the season. Time will tell if the coaching change bumps up his status, but for now he’s not trustworthy. ... The team’s move to Andrews means you should even be owning Bishop Sankey or Dexter McCluster, let along using them. ... Without Kendall Wright, the Titans have Harry Douglas, Justin Hunter and Dorial Green-Beckham at wide receiver. That’s not an exciting group. ... The Titans’ defense has had a few moments so far this year, but against New Orleans is not the time to use the unit.
SAINTS
Start ‘em: The thing we had to wonder about with Drew Brees most of the season was his lack of upside, questions he answered in spades with his 46-point explosion in Week 8. ... There haven’t been many better fantasy running backs all season than Mark Ingram, who should only improve after the season-ending broken leg suffered by Khiry Robinson. ... The last month has been a monster for Benjamin Watson, who is a must-start this season for the first time in his 12 seasons, which is weird. ... If the New Orleans offense can keep last week’s performance going, Kai Forbath will be a fine kicker.
Start ‘em?: Robinson’s injury gives C.J. Spiller a bump in stature. He’s still only a low-end flex, but he now carries more upside than he has most of the year. ... Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead are the two New Orleans receivers you want, and they have extreme upside, but the team carries so many options that no one guy is a sure thing. ... The Saints’ defense has had some struggles at some points this year, but there is enough underwhelming about the Tennessee offense, that there’s an argument here.
Sit ‘em: Behind Cooks and Snead, Marques Colston and Brandon Coleman have been left behind.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Benjamin Watson, Kai Forbath
Start if you’re desperate: Antonio Andrews, Delanie Walker, Ryan Succop, C.J. Spiller, Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, New Orleans defense
Bench: Marcus Mariota, Bishop Sankey, Dexter McCluster, Harry Douglas, Justin Hunter, Dorial Green-Beckham, Tennessee defense, Maqrues Colston, Brandon Coleman
