National Football League

Fantasy Football Starts and Sits for Week 9 in 2014

Published Oct. 30, 2014 4:30 p.m. ET

Fox Sports

Last week’s recap:

After the amount of comments and jabs I received from telling people to bench Larry Donnell the week he scored three touchdowns, I thought I would be heckled a lot more post-Week 8. I suggested benching Chris Ivory (two TDs), Luke Willson (TD), and basically all of the Steelers receivers (and Ben Roethlisberger).

Yet, there was only one negative comment regarding Martavis Bryant.

I’m not sure if you all are just giving me a break or if you are just getting smarter. For instance, the Colts were allowing the fewest points to opposing wide receivers before last week. Big Ben would go on to throw for over 500 yards and tallied six passing touchdowns. That’s insane!

Willson may have scored the winning touchdown for the Seahawks, but that was his only catch.

Also, I mentioned that Ivory scored two TDs, but he also only rushed for 43 yards.

I got some grief in the Sunday morning chat for telling people to bench Matt Ryan, too. However, that was after his second passing touchdown in the first quarter. Ryan didn’t do much after that.

Sure, I’ll take the hate mail for the anti-Steelers portion I wrote, but the rest was accurate.

When it comes to recapping the starts from Week 8, I said Carson Palmer would throw for two TDs and at least 250 yards. His actual stats: two TDs and 329 yards. Ding! Staying with QBs, I advised owners to start Kyle Orton (four TDs and 238 yards). Ding, again!

For the wide receivers, I was a proponent of Doug Baldwin (six catches for 61 yards), Mohamed Sanu (five catches for 125 yards), and Cordarrelle Patterson (six catches for 86 yards). Ding, ding, ding!

Starts:

QB – Colin Kaepernick, SF

In the past three weeks, the Rams have allowed five passing TDs and haven’t intercepted a single pass. With six teams on a bye this week, CK7 could help owners who are without Jay Cutler, Matt Ryan, and others.

Other notables: Alex Smith (KC), Teddy Bridgewater (MIN), and Nick Foles (PHI)

RB – Justin Forsett, BAL

The Falcons are off this week, so I can’t target their defense. This time, I’ll take aim Pittsburgh’s defense. In the last three contests, the Steelers have allowed six total touchdowns to opposing running backs and over 100 rushing yards per game.

Other notables: Denard Robinson (JAC), Alfred Morris (WSH), and Darren McFadden (OAK)

WR – Terrance Williams, DAL

Dez Bryant may be the main receiver in Dallas, but Williams is the most efficient. This season, TWill has caught 25 passes for 407 yards (16.3 yards per catch) and has scored a team-high six receiving TDs. Though he is behind Bryant, Jason Witten, and DeMarco Murray in targets, Williams was targeted seven times against the Redskins on Monday night. With a legitimate running game in Dallas, the passing game has benefited greatly.

Other notables: Andrew Hawkins (CLE), Jordan Matthews (PHI), and DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)

TE – Travis Kelce, KC

In the past five games, the Jets have allowed the opposing team’s tight end to score seven touchdowns. Kelce leads the Chiefs in targets (37), receptions (28), yards (352), and receiving TDs (three).

Other notables: Clay Harbor (JAC), Dwayne Allen (IND), and Jim Dray (CLE)

Sits:

QB – Andy Dalton, CIN

Most owners will look at the Week 9 schedule and think that the Bengals quarterback will be a solid play against the 1-7 Jaguars. However, in the past three games, Jacksonville has only allowed a grand total of one passing touchdown. If A.J. Green doesn’t play this week, it would only strengthen my benching of Dalton. Even if Green plays, I would still look elsewhere for my fantasy QB.

Other notables: Mike Vick (NYJ), Derek Carr (OAK), and Robert Griffin III (WSH)

RB – Chris Ivory, NYJ

In the recap, I mentioned the fact that Ivory salvaged his outing by finding the end zone twice against the Bills. Prior to that game, Buffalo and Kansas City were the only two teams not to allow a rushing TD. Now, the Chiefs stand alone. Naturally, Ivory and the Jets are next on Kansas City’s schedule. I, again, will place Ivory on the sit side of this column.

Other notables: Jerick McKinnon (MIN), Jonas Gray (NE), and Branden Oliver (SD)

WR – Allen Robinson, JAC

Robinson has scored in back-to-back games, but he still hasn’t cracked the 100-yard marker in a game. This week’s opponent, Cincinnati, has only allowed opposing wide receivers to score one touchdown in the last four games. The Bengals also sport an NFL-best 476 receiving yards to opposing wide receivers during that four game stint.

Other notables: Cecil Shorts III (JAC), Donte Moncrief (IND), and Andre Holmes (OAK)

TE – Garrett Graham, HOU

With so many teams off in Week 9, some owners might be desperate enough to add Graham to their roster. I would advise against this decision. In the past four games, the Eagles haven’t allowed the opposing tight end to score a TD. Also, during that month, TEs are averaging 3.5 receptions and 43.75 receiving yards per game.

Other notables: Niles Paul (WSH), Jermaine Gresham (CIN), and Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TB)