We’ve spent hours researching the web’s most popular Week 9 start’em sit’em analysis and have selected the best takes to help you set your lineup, in addition to the best bites from 5th Down’s team.
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5 Up in Week 9
Gardner Minshew (QB, JAC)
“Four quarterbacks in a row have scored at least 24 Fantasy points against Houston, and the Texans allow 293.4 passing yards for the season, with 19 total touchdowns and just three interceptions to opposing passers. Minshew only had 17 Fantasy points at Houston in Week 2 in his first NFL start, but he’s a different quarterback since then.” — Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports
Derrick Henry (RB, TEN)
“Derrick Henry has either scored a touchdown or rushed for 100 yards in six games this season. Henry is being heavily used each week, as he is averaging right under 20 touches per game. He will be facing the Carolina defense that is allowing the 28th most FanDuel points per game to running backs on the season” — Joshua Mutters, 5th Down Fantasy
“With at least 15 carries in every game this season, Henry has been has been responsible for 71.9% of Tennessee’s carries (the fourth-highest rate in the NFL). That volume means plenty of chances to break one for the 6-foot-3, 247-pounder. Especially when you consider Carolina is 28th in yards per carry allowed after first contact.” — Matthew Berry, ESPN
Devin Singletary (RB, BUF)
“Singletary saw a season-high 68% of the snaps last week when he was also given six targets. He’s among the league leaders with 3.1 YPC after contact as a rookie and should continue to get more touches, especially this week with the Bills as near double-digit home favorites.” — Dalton Del Don, Yahoo! Sports
“… has arguably done more with fewer touches than any other player in the league this season. He is currently averaging a whopping 8.6 yards per carry and has scored double-digit FanDuel points in three of the four games he has been active in. The Bills could develop a big lead in this game and give Singletary some extra touches, meaning the opportunity for big numbers against the league’s 28th ranked run defense.” — Joshua Mutters, 5th Down Fantasy
Tyrell Williams (WR, OAK)
“Despite the missed time, Williams is only one behind Darren Waller in red zone targets (six) and leads the team in targets inside the 10-yard line (four). In his five games, he’s also garnered a solid 19% target share and whopping 41% air yards share, per AirYards.com.” — Kenyatta Storin, NumberFire.com
“Tyrell Williams returned from injury to catch three passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in week eight. The speedy receiver is now averaging over 15 yards per reception on the year and has scored a touchdown in every game that he has been active in. He will now get to face off against the Detroit Lions and the league’s worst pass defense one week after they allowed four passing touchdowns to Daniel Jones and the Giants.” — Joshua Mutters, 5th Down Fantasy
D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA)
“Metcalf leads the NFL in end-zone targets and paces the Seahawks in air yards. This is a week he could put everything together with his first 100-yard game and a trip to the end zone. The Bucs are an extreme pass-funnel defense, checking in at No. 26 in pass-defense DVOA and No. 1 against the run.” — Nick Mensio, Rotoworld
Week 9 Trust or Bust?
David Montgomery (RB, CHI)
Trust: “…there are plenty of things working against Montgomery this week. But volume trumps all, and Montgomery piled up a season-high 32 opportunities (27 rushes and 5 targets) and 73% snap rate in Week 8. We’ve seen his workload fluctuate wildly this season, so there’s no guarantee he sees similar usage this week, but that volume spike is too big to ignore, giving Montgomery the potential to overcome this tough spot.” — Kenyatta Storin, NumberFire.com
Bust: “The Bears abused a porous Chargers defense in Week 8, but they won’t be so lucky against the Eagles and their top 5 run defense on Sunday. Philly has given up a single 100+ rusher on the year so far (Ezekiel Elliott) and has shown the ability to shut down some of the league’s best rushers (Aaron Jones/Devonta Freeman/Kerryon Johnson). Regardless of how good Montgomery looked last week, the Bears backfield remains a confusing committee, and that outlook doesn’t bode well for his chances of repeat success this week.” — Derek McCauley, 5th Down Fantasy
Verdict: BUST. I’m siding with my 5th Down colleague this week. Game-script is my main concern, and the Bears are five-point underdogs on the road against an Eagles team that is No. 5 in fantasy points allowed to running backs and No. 8 in rushing yards per game. It’s the same Eagles team that limited Dalvin Cook to 41 yards on 16 carries a few weeks ago. Throw in the fact that there hasn’t been enough consistency in Montgomery’s volume, as Derek pointed out, and there’s not much to get excited about with Montgomery in Week 9. Current 5th Down RB ranking (half-PPR): 27th.
Week 9 Trust or Bust: Reader Polls
5 Down in Week 9
Tom Brady (QB, NE)
“The man many call the “GOAT” struggled mightily against the only Top 10 defense he faced this year (Buffalo in Week 4). He will be in a similarly tough spot in Week 9 against a red hot Ravens team coming off a victory in Seattle and two straight divisional wins. Baltimore has historically been a thorn in the Patriots side, and we expect that trend to continue when Brady marches into Charm City on Sunday.” — Derek McCauley, 5th Down Fantasy
Chris Carson (RB, SEA)
“The Buccaneers are a Jekyll/Hyde defense. Soft against the pass, they’re incredibly stiff up front. On the year, they’ve allowed 2.9 yards per carry, 86.3 total yards per game, four touchdowns and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to RBs. Heck, they even contained Christian McCaffrey, a Herculean feat. Among eligible defenders, LB Kevin Minter ranks No. 1 in run-stop percentage (15.9).” — Brad Evans, Yahoo! Sports
Damien Williams/LeSean McCoy (RB, KC)
“Will McCoy be forgiven and be back on the field? Or will Williams lead the way? It almost doesn’t matter — the Vikings have given up just four total touchdowns to running backs this year (three receiving) and only two have had over 100 total yards.” — Dave Richard, CBS Sports
Marquise Brown (WR, BAL)
“It will be hard for most owners to shy away from the Ravens’ top pass-catcher if he plays Sunday, but a match-up with Stephon Gilmore should help them see reason. This game will more than likely be decided by the run games and defenses of these teams, so give Brown one more week of rest on your bench.” — Derek McCauley, 5th Down Fantasy
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR, CLE)
“Beckham is still worth using in most leagues, but expectations need to be tempered to WR3 status against a Chris Harris-led Denver defense that has shut down receivers as well as any team over the last month.” — Dalton Del Don, Yahoo! Sports
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