Fantasy football can be confusing sometimes. Even if you have a roster full of superstarts, it can be hard to know who to start and who to sit. After all, every superstar has their off days and the worst thing in the world is to lose a game knowing that if you just would have started that other guy, you would have won. Really, fantasy football is about five percent knowledge and 95 percent pure luck.
Fantasy Football Week 9 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Start Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs Vs. Patriots
Having trouble decided who to start and sit on your fantasy football team in Week 9? Maybe this will help.
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But nobody ever said you couldn’t make your own luck.
If you’re having trouble figuring out who to start and who to sit in Week 9, this may help a little.
Quarterbacks:
| Eli Manning QB New York Giants -- Start |
Eli Manning may not be at top-tier fantasy quarterback every week but the Patriots defense has a funny way of making every quarterback look elite. If Manning is on your roster and your other quarterback isn't Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady, start him.
The Patriots have the worst pass defense in the league and Manning should be able to take advantage of it.
| Matt Schaub QB Houston Texans -- Sit |
Even though the Browns are last in the AFC North with a 3-4 record, their defense is right on par with the rest of the AFC North teams. They have the second best pass defense in the league and they have allowed an average of just over one passing touchdown per game.
There are other quarterbacks available with better matchups in Week 9.
Running Backs:
| Brandon Jacobs RB New York Giants -- Start |
Ahmad Bradshaw is doubtful for the Giants Week 9 game against the Patriots which means that Brandon Jacobs will get the bulk of the carries. The Patriots run defense isn't as terrible as their pass defense but they may put so much emphasis on stoping the Giants from throwing the ball that they give up too much on the ground.
In the end, the Giants may not win because they may not be able to score as much as the Patriots’ high-powered offense can, but that doesn’t matter as long as Jacobs scores some points.
| Chris Johnson RB Tennessee Titans -- Sit |
There is no other player in the NFL that has handcuffed himself to his fantasy owners and dragged them down to the bottom of the ocean like Chris Johnson has. He’s been terrible. You can’t trade him because nobody wants to give you anything for what he could be worth, you’re afraid to bench him because he could blow up any minute and you won’t drop him for the same reason. If you have Chris Johnson on your team, I’ll go out on a limb and predict that you’re in the bottom half of your league standings.
The fact is Johnson just isn't that good right now and facing the Cincinnati Bengals' top-five defense, which is ranked second against the run, I don't expect him to be any better this weekend. Sit him for sure.
Wide Receivers:
| Jeremy Maclin WR Philadelphia Eagles -- Start |
The Eagles offense is built around the big play and that's exactly what the Bears defense will look to take away when the two teams meet in Chicago on Monday night. Taking away the big play means watching where DeSean Jackson is at all times which means that Jeremy Maclin may be left open.
He’s been good the last three weeks. If he didn’t score a touchdown, he went over 100 yards. Start him in Week 9.
| Steve Johnson WR Buffalo Bills -- Sit |
Steve Johnson is a great wide receiver and he's usually worth a starting spot on your fantasy team but this week he'll go head-to-head with Darrelle Revis, one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Johnson may get a catch or two against Revis but I don't think he'll really tear things up.
Revis Island is a pretty tough on wide receivers.
Tight Ends:
| Brent Celek TE Philadelphia Eagles -- Start |
Brent Celek has two touchdowns in the last two games and it's looking like he and Michael Vick may finally be on the same page. The Bears may focus a lot of their energy on slowing down DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Vick and LeSean McCoy and they may forget about Celek.
Go ahead and start him in Week 9.
| Scott Chandler TE Buffalo Bills -- Sit |
Scott Chandler has been a little boom or bust this season. It seems as though if he doesn't score a touchdown, he doesn't do anything. He scored two touchdowns last week against the Washington Redskins but the Washington Redskins aren't the New York Jets on defense.
I expect the Bills to struggle a little against the Jets defense and that means that Chandler will probably struggle too.
Defenses:
| Cincinnati Bengals -- Start |
They have gone three games in a row with a defensive touchdown, they have the No. 2 ranked run defense and a top-five defense overall. They’re going up against a team that can’t run and is only decent when it comes to passing the ball. Don’t expect Chris Johnson to get back on track against the Bengals on Sunday.
| New York Giants -- Sit |
If the Giants allowed the Dolphins to score 17 points and almost beat them while they were at home last weekend, don't expect them to shut down the Patriots' high-powered offense on the road on Sunday. If you have the Giants defense on your fantasy team, you should go find a team with a better matchup.
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