Ah Week 9. We’re half way through the NFL’s 2011 regular season and even though we have the playoffs still to go, we’ll left concerned that it will all be over soon because the first half flew by so fast. If you’re a huge fantasy fan, you know that we’re beyond the half-way point and you probably already have a decent idea of whether you’re going to make it into the playoffs or not. If you’re sitting there with a 3-5 or a 4-4 record and you’re on the bubble, you may need some help to make sure you get in because once the playoffs start, it doesn’t matter who won the most games in the regular season. Everything starts over from zero.
Fantasy Football Week 9: Sleepers Include Matt Cassel, Michael Bush
Here’s a list of some sleepers that could help your fantasy football team in Week 9 of the 2011 NFL season.
Here’s a few sleepers that may help you get to that point.
We’ll start with....
Quarterbacks:
| Matt Cassel QB Kansas City Chiefs |
After starting the season 0-3, the Chiefs are riding a four-game winning streak and they play one of the two winless teams in the NFL in Week 9, the Miami Dolphins, at home. They're 4-3 along with the Raiders and Chargers in the AFC West and this game, like every game from here on out, is an important one for their future if they plan to make the playoffs.
The Dolphins defense is ranked No. 27 against the pass and with weapons like Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin, Cassel shouldn't have much of a problem scoring some major points.
| Tim Tebow QB Denver Broncos |
Disregard the Broncos' ugly defeat last week at the hands of the Detroit Lions. Even though that game was completely one-sided, Tebow still had some decent stats and, according to Matthew Berry, he finished in the top-12 in scoring (ESPN standard scoring) among quarterbacks in Week 8.
This week Tebow has something to prove, again, and is going up against a soft Oakland Raiders pass defense on the road. The good news is that the Broncos will likely score more on the Raiders and Carson Palmer and the Raiders offense is likely to keep the Broncos passing the ball to keep up. Tebow may be worth a start if your quarterback is going up against a top defense or is on his bye week.
Running Backs:
| Michael Bush RB Oakland Raiders |
Carson Palmer has had a week off to get ready for his real debut as the Raiders' starting quarterback. Usually you want a quarterback in Palmer's situation to have a strong running game behind him for support, but Darren McFadden, one of the league's top running backs is likely going to sit out due to a nagging foot injury. That's okay though, because the Raiders still have Michael Bush, who is perfectly capable of carrying the load.
the Broncos have a mediocre run defense but if the Raiders can get a good mix of run and pass plays working, Bush could have a big day. I’d start him in Week 9.
The Browns are in trouble and seem to be spiraling down the drain. However, that doesn't mean that Browns players can't have good individual performances, right? Chris Ogbonnaya was plucked off the Texans' practice squad by the Browns and now that Peyton Hillis is nursing a hamstring injury and Montario Hardesty is nursing a calf injury, it's looking like Ogbonnaya may get the start against his former team.
This is a pretty deep sleeper but we’ve all seen players tear up their former teams before.
Wide Receivers:
| Jonathan Baldwin WR Kansas City Chiefs |
Baldwin had five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs huge win over the Chargers in Week 8 and if Cassel is willing to throw the ball that much to him in such an important game, he obviously trusts him. Against the soft passing defense of the Miami Dolphins, Baldwin could have another big game. He’s only owned in about seven percent of ESPN leagues so go and pick him up.
| Brandon Lloyd WR St. Louis Rams |
There's a chance that starting quarterback Sam Bradford may be back for the Rams' Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. He's going to be a game-time decision but even if he doesn't play A.J. Feeley did a decent job as the Rams quarterback in their upset win over the Saints.
Either way, Lloyd will be going up against the third worst passing defense in the NFL and there’s a good chance that he’ll take advantage of it. Start Lloyd in Week 9.
Tight Ends:
Like the Chiefs, the Eagles are riding somewhat of a hot streak. Having won two games in a row, the Eagles are hosting the Bears on Monday Night Football and if the Eagles want to make it to the playoffs, they can't lose this weekend.
In the last two games that the Eagles have won, tight end Brent Celek, after not being very effective through the majority of the season up to that point, scored a touchdown in each of them. He's one of the better pass catching tight ends in the league and it looks like Michael Vick has rediscovered him. He's available in about 90 percent of ESPN leagues so go and pick him up, especially if your tight end has been underperforming lately.
What?
Yep.
Andy Dalton loves throwing the ball to Jermaine Gresham when the Bengals are in the red zone. Unfortunately, Gresham is likely going to sit out this week due to a nagging hamstring injury suffered in practice last week which means that veteran tight end Donald Lee will be starting in his place. If the Titans cover A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson well in the red zone, don't be surprised to see Dalton look Lee's way.
He’s about as deep of a sleep as you can get but sometimes you have to take chances, right?
Defenses:
| Cincinnati Bengals |
If they’re available in your league, go get them right now. RIGHT NOW!
The Bengals have a top-five defense, they’ve scored a defensive touchdown in three straight games and they’re playing the Titans in Week 9. The Titans can’t run the ball and they’re only decent when it comes to passing the ball. I don’t expect Chris Johnson to do any more this week than he’s done so far this season so start the Bengals defense this week and then start them for the rest of the season too.
| Kansas City Chiefs |
They’ve racked up the second most interceptions of any team in the NFL and they’re playing against Matt Moore and the dreadful Miami Dolphins. This defensive unit is very opportunistic and they’lll likely pick off a pass or two and maybe even score a touchdown. If you’re defense is up against a top-notch offense in Week 9, look no farther than the Chiefs.
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