Most fantasy players can agree that the most difficult part of managing your fantasy team is optimizing your lineup each week. When setting your lineup, it’s essential to take into account injuries, matchups, and probable game scripts. Before we take a look at this week’s best start/sit options, let’s see how accurate my predictions were from Week 8:
Best Start of Week 8: Jared Cook (TE4)
Worst Start of Week 8: Doug Baldwin (WR 73)
Best Sit of Week 8: Alshon Jeffery (WR56)
Worst Sit of Week 8: Derek Carr (QB3)
Now, let’s take a look at this week’s top starts and sits:
Quarterbacks
Must Start:
Dak Prescott (DAL v TEN): Prescott has been fire in recent weeks, and now has some receiver help as the Cowboys acquired a former 1st round pick in Amari Cooper. In the three weeks before the Cowboys’ bye, Prescott passed for 664 yards and 4 touchdown passes adding 149 rush yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. With a better option at receiver than the Cowboys have had all season, Dak could have his way with the Titans in their Week 9 matchup. He is a must start.
Honorable Mentions:
Ryan Fitzpatrick (TB @ CAR)
Alex Smith (SF v ATL)
Matthew Stafford (DET @ MIN)
Baker Mayfield (CLE v KC)
Must Sit:
Joe Flacco (BAL v PIT): Joe Flacco struggled in Week 8 against the Panthers, throwing 2 interceptions and just 1 touchdown. He was replaced late in the game by rookie Lamar Jackson, who ended up throwing a beautiful pass to fellow rookie, tight end Hayden Hurst. Im expecting Flacco to struggle once again in Week 9’s tough matchup against the Steelers. I would recommend sitting Flacco for this difficult division game in Week 9.
Honorable Mentions:
Marcus Mariota (TEN @ DAL)
Mitchell Trubisky (CHI @ BUF)
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT @ BAL)
Brock Osweiler (MIA v NYJ)
Running Backs
Must Start:
Aaron Jones (GB @ NE): The Packers traded running back Ty Montgomery to the Ravens this week, leaving the running back rotation to Jamal Williams and Aaron Jones. Jones missed the first 2 games of the season due to suspension, but since returning he has been averaging 6.2 yards per carry, looking like the much better running back option for the Packers. In Week 8 against the Rams, Jones broke free for a 33 yard touchdown. Jones has big play potential anytime he touches the ball, making him a must start for Week 9 against the Patriots.
Honorable Mentions:
Lamar Miller (HOU @ DEN)
Kenyan Drake (MIA v NYJ)
Alex Collins (BAL v PTI)
Peyton Barber (TB @ CAR)
Must Sit:
Tevin Coleman (ATL @ WAS): At the halfway point in the 2018 season, the Redskins have the 2nd best run defense, allowing just 561 yards on the season for 80.1 yards rushing a game. Tevin Coleman has not had a 100 yard rushing game since Week 2, and has been averaging just 11.7 carries per game since the start of the season. With the Redskins tough run defense and the lack of carries per game, I would consider benching Coleman for Week 9’s tough matchup against the Redskins.
Honorable Mentions:
LeSean McCoy (BUF v CHI)
Duke Johnson (CLE v KC)
Devontae Booker ( DEN v HOU)
Derrick Henry (TEN @ DAL)
Wide Receiver
Must Start:
Marvin Jones (DET @ MIN): Golden Tate was traded to the Eagles during Tuesday’s trade deadline, leaving the Lions with questions at the receiver position. Tate had huge production for the Lions, but with Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay, I don’t expect them to miss a beat. Jones had his best game of the season last week against the Seahawks catching 7 passees for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns. If the Vikings talented defender Xavier Rhodes misses this Week 9 matchup, Jones could have an even bigger game.
Honorable Mentions:
Kenny Golladay (DET @ MIN)
Courtland Sutton (DEN v HOU)
Devin Funchess (CAR v TB)
Josh Gordon (NE v GB)
Must Sit:
Doug Baldwin (SEA v LAC): Doug Baldwin seems to have lost offensive looks to fellow receivers Tyler Lockett and David Moore. Moore has seemingly been taking on the Baldwin role, catching 4 touchdowns in the last 3 weeks, while Baldwin has 0 touchdowns on the season. Last week against the Lions, Baldwin was held in check, catching just 2 passes for 26 yards. I’m not sure if he’s not fully healthy, or just losing looks to his teammates. He’s just not someone who can be trusted in your starting lineup with this week’s matchup potentially forcing him to go against the talented Casey Hayward.
Honorable Mentions:
Corey Davis (TEN @ DAL)
Allen Robinson (CHI @ BUF)
Demaryius Thomas (HOU @ DEN)
Mohamed Sanu (ATL @ WAS)
Tight End
Must Start:
Greg Olsen (CAR v TB): Listed as a must sit for Week 8 was a mistake on my part, as Olsen had 4 catches for 56 yards adding on a touchdown. The Buccaneers’ defense has struggled this season, giving up the 3rd most total yards to opposing tight ends and the 6th most touchdowns. In a favorable matchup, I would consider Olsen a must start.
Honorable Mentions:
David Njoku (CLE v KC)
Jimmy Graham (GB v NE)
Jordan Reed (WAS @ ATL)
Must Sit:
Benjamin Watson (NO v LAR): Although the Rams are allowing the 5th most yards to opposing tight ends, they have only allowed 1 touchdown to a tight end this season. Watson has been inconsistent this season, with just 1 touchdown catch himself. In Week 8’s matchup against the Vikings, Watson left an empty stat line. I would recommend looking elsewhere at the tight end position, leaving Watson as a sit.
Honorable Mentions:
Charles Clay (BUF v CHI)
Cameron Brate (TB @ CAR)
Vance McDonald (PIT @ BAL)
Thank you for reading and be sure to follow me on Twitter for more fantasy football advice throughout the week @LonskiWilliam
