Fantasy Football start or sit, Week 9: Start Justin Herbert vs. Raiders

Fantasy football starts and sits for Week 9 of the 2020 NFL season.

It was a rough week for my recommended starts and sits for fantasy football in Week 8. Looking at a few starts, Carson Wentz appeared to forget how to play football, turning the ball over four times against a terrible Cowboys defense, although he still pulled out the victory. Looking at the sits, Jerick McKinnon and DeVante Parker both managed a touchdown but were otherwise irrelevant in their games.

Looking forward to a hopefully higher scoring Week 9, we have the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles all on bye. We also are looking at more COVID-related uncertainty heading into Week 9, with the Thursday Night game between San Fransisco and Green Bay in jeopardy due to a multitude of positive test results from the 49ers.

Many Ravens defensive players, as well as Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, are also in jeopardy of missing their Week 9 games.

With all this uncertainty, you may be looking for some reinforcement on who to start or clarity on who to bench. Here are multiple players you should have no qualms about starting along with those who should take a back seat.

Note: All fantasy stats info via Fantasy Pros.

Fantasy Football Starts for Week 9

QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles (vs. Las Vegas)

Since filling in for the accidentally injured Tyrod Taylor in Week 2, Justin Herbert has been incredible. He currently sits as the QB12 on the season despite missing Week 1 and being past his bye.

He has thrown for 13 touchdowns in his past four games and now gets a matchup with a 53 point over-under against a soft Las Vegas defense. With his willingness to chuck it deep but also his veteran level decision making, Herbert should be treated as a high end QB1 from here on out.

Projection: 359 yards, 3 touchdowns, interception, 39 rushing yards, 29.3 fantasy points. 

RB Chase Edmonds, Arizona (vs. Miami)

It is not always the case that when a team’s top running back goes down the backup becomes a better option than the starter ever was, although Chase Edmonds is an exception. Edmonds is currently seventh in the league in receptions at the running back position and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

While a lot of this production comes from his limited utilization, there is no denying the talent Edmonds possesses, as it is night and day when he steps on the field after Drake rushes up the gut for two to three yards. Fire him up while you can as an RB1 in Drake’s absence.

Projection: 110 total yards, 7 receptions, touchdown, 20.5 fantasy points. 

RB Justin Jackson, Los Angeles (vs. Las Vegas)

When Austin Ekeler went down with an injury early in the season, people were unsure whether Justin Jackson or Joshua Kelley would take over the starter role. Although it has largely been a timeshare, Jackson has been infinitely more productive with his touches. His touches have also been trending up with Kelley’s trending down, out-touching him 20 to 8 in Week 8.

He has also seen at least five targets in each of his past three games. With his high involvement in the passing game and increased workload, fire him up as a solid RB2 until he proves otherwise, especially in a soft matchup against Las Vegas.

Projection: 104 total yards, 4 receptions, touchdown, 18.4 fantasy points. 

WR Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh (vs. Dallas)

Johnson has quite possibly been the most painful fantasy player to own this year, as he has had two massive games and multiple games where he fails to put up a single fantasy point due to injury.

While the Pittsburgh receiving core has been incredibly hard to predict this year, there is certainly going to be value against a depressing Dallas team. Fire him up this week or risk watching him go off on your bench yet again.

Projection: 7 receptions, 98 yards, touchdown, 19.3 fantasy points. 

TE Noah Fant, Denver (vs. Atlanta)

In his two weeks back since injury, Fant has seen 16 total targets. Though he was only able to turn seven of those targets into three receptions for 38 yards in Week 7, he still looked quite hobbled on the field. Things took a turn for the better in Week 8, as he turned nine targets into seven receptions for 47 yards and looked better doing it.

Now he gets to face an Atlanta defense that gives up the most fantasy points in the NFL to opposing tight ends. Fire up Fant as a top-five tight end this week with confidence and consider him as a trade target if you are a tight end needy team.

Projection: 6 receptions, 71 yards, touchdown, 16.1 fantasy points. 

Fantasy Football Sits for Week 9

QB Drew Brees, New Orleans (vs. Tampa Bay)

Even though it appears Brees may get Michael Thomas back in time for his Week 9 date with the Bucs, it is not enough to justify making him a recommended start. Even though the Tampa Bay defense looked a little shaky on Monday Night against Daniel Jones, they have already handled Brees in Week 1, holding him to only 160 passing yards.

This was also the only game Brees has played with Thomas all season. Brees has been disappointing this season, but keep him on the bench, as he has two matchups with Atlanta in the near future.

Projection: 224 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, interception, 15.9 fantasy points. 

RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas (vs. Pittsburgh)

It has been tough sledding for Zeke ever since Dak Prescott went down with injury, as the Cowboys offense has only combined for 22 points in the three games without him. Things do not look to get much better against a league-best Pittsburgh defense and Andy Dalton out for another week.

While you should not sit Elliott for a waiver wire scrub, if you have a pivot option like Antonio Gibson or the above mentioned Justin Jackson, you should make the swap. As hard as it is going to be to put Zeke on the bench, you have to face the facts that he has only seen two receptions the past two games and the Cowboys have scored one touchdown the past three weeks.

Projection: 65 total yards, 2 receptions, 7.5 fantasy points. 

WR D.J. Chark Jr., Jacksonville (vs. Houston)

Chark Jr. has had a very poor year so far, with only one real impressive performance all the way back in Week 4. Even though he has a great matchup against Houston and is a talented receiver, there is just too much uncertainty with Jake Luton making his NFL debut for the Jaguars.

Expect more conservative play-calling while Jacksonville tries to see what they have in Luton in an otherwise lost season.

Projection: 4 receptions, 67 yards, 8.7 fantasy points. 

TE Jimmy Graham, Chicago (vs. Tennessee)

After catching four touchdowns in the first five weeks, Graham has been kept out of the end zone for the past three.

Even though he has seen five plus targets in all but one game, it is important to remember it is Nick Foles throwing those targets. With an abysmal five yards per target, Graham offers almost no upside outside of touchdowns.

Projection: 3 receptions, 25 yards, 4 fantasy points.