We are at the halfway point of the season and start/sit decisions are becoming more and more crucial as we head towards the business end of the season. So @ZTwiceFF & @MattFFDynasty are on hand to give you their weekly start/sits while @K_H_Ray is away for Week 9.
Teams on their Bye Week:
Washington Football Team
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Detroit Lions
Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback
Starts
Start Of The Week
Tua Tagovailoa Vs HOU (@MattFFDynasty)
Tua is coming off his worst performance of the season where he threw for just 205 yards, no TDs, and 1 INT... however it was against one of the strongest defenses in football vs BUF. Now this week, his task is much easier against HOU who are allowing an average of 21.3 fantasy points to opposing QBs. All the Watson to MIA rumors never came to fruition so Tua can now focus on the rest of the season and it should be a bounce-back week for Tua.
Derek Carr @ NYG (@MattFFDynasty)
Carr has been a rock-solid option at the QB position this season for the most part and currently sits as the QB17. This week he faces a bang-average NYG defense, who lost SS Jabrill Peppers to injury last week, and with the Raiders coming off their bye week with 2 weeks' worth of preparation, I expect another strong showing from Derek Carr and Co.
Carson Wentz Vs NYJ (@ZTwiceFF)
Wentz has been one of the most consistent scoring fantasy QB's this season. Currently ranked at QB12, he has scored greater than 17 fantasy points every week but 1. While he's not going to win you a week, playing the Jets on Thursday night, we should see more of the same consistency. I trust him as a great bye/injury filler but also as my QB going forward if I don't have an elite QB already on my team.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Teddy Bridgewater @ DAL (@ZTwiceFF)
Teddy has been a solid fantasy producer thus far in the season. This week heading to Dallas, Bridgewater will face a tough Cowboys Defense that recently shut down the usually solid Kirk Cousins and the Vikings. There are worse plays than Bridgewater but I'm sitting him if at all possible.
Trevor Lawrence Vs BUF (@ZTwiceFF)
Lawrence has been showing signs of improvement this season but he still isn't trustworthy for fantasy purposes. His 2 worst outings have been against top-rated defenses, and this week he faces another in Buffalo. Last week with 54 passing attempts he was only able to muster 13 fantasy points. Until I see consistent use on the ground game, the number one pick is a sit for me.
Matt Ryan @ NO (@MattFFDynasty)
Despite being the 7th most pass-heavy offense so far this year, Matt Ryan has struggled so far this season and is currently the QB21. This week his star WR Calvin Ridley revealed he would be stepping away from football while dealing with his mental health struggles and his absence will be a big blow to this offense. The Saints are a Top 5 defense vs opposing QBs so it could be another long afternoon for Matt Ryan this week.
Running Back
Starts
Start Of The Week
Boston Scott Vs LAC (@MattFFDynasty)
Scott has been a hot waiver pick-up over the last couple of weeks and he can be placed straight into your starting lineup as he goes up against LAC on Sunday. While LAC have been strong on defense this season, that has mainly been through the air and they have been more than beatable on the ground, allowing the highest average rushing yards per game in the NFL (159 yards per game). Despite sharing this backfield last week in the absence of Miles Sanders, Scott was the most efficient and had the largest snap % (45%). If you were lucky enough to grab him off your waivers, then you've got yourself a strong RB starter this week.
Zack Moss @ JAX (@ZTwiceFF) Moss was my start of the week earlier this year and it admittedly did not work out. We're back for round 2 this week with an exploitable matchup coming up against Jacksonville. Moss has seen his targets increasing as the season has progressed, including a season-high 7 targets last week. Moss has a great chance to fall into the end zone to pair with his safer floor due to the pass-catching and positive game script.
Elijah Mitchell Vs ARI (@ZTwiceFF)
Mitchell has looked to be the real deal as the starting RB for San Francisco. Last week in Chicago he played his best game of the year, going for 137 yards and a score. He has a tougher matchup this week against Arizona but I don't expect the 49ers to move away from what's been working.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Mike Davis @ NO (@MattFFDynasty)
Davis' usage in the passing game last week saved what would have been another disappointing showing Vs CAR. He had 5 receptions but it seems like he is losing this backfield competition to Cordarrelle Patterson who has seen more carries than Davis since ATL's Week 6 bye week. The Saints are a tough defense and it's becoming tough to trust Mike Davis as his role begins to dwindle.
James Conner @ SF (@MattFFDynasty)
Conner is a TD dependent RB right now, so it's a good job he has 8 of them in the last 6 weeks. He's easily been out-snapped by fellow RB Chase Edmonds and had just 5 carries for 22 yards in Week 8 vs GB, he just cashed in with 2 TDs. That lack of opportunity makes him a risky start any given week, where you are just hoping for a TD, and this week vs the 49ers, who have been fairly strong against the run, will be a tough matchup to carry on that streak.
Carlos Hyde Vs BUF (@ZTwiceFF)
With James Robinson questionable coming up to Sunday, Hyde is in line to get extra touches. Last week in relief he had 8 targets and 9 touches on the ground for a solid 13 PPR points. In Buffalo, I'd expect the Jaguars to be passing a lot to keep pace with Josh Allen and the Bills offense. At this stage in his career, even with the starting role, I'm sitting Hyde unless I'm desperate for a flex option.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Start Of The Week
Rashod Bateman Vs MIN (@MattFFDynasty)
Bateman has wasted little time in making up for a lost start to the season due to injury. Week 7 Vs CIN he had 6 targets which he turned into 3 receptions for 80 yards and now, after the Ravens bye week, he gets a matchup against MIN who are allowing an average of 33.6 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs. While Bateman's role is likely to continue to expand, I expect his fantasy production to take a step forward too.
Brandin Cooks @ MIA (@MattFFDynasty)
Brandin Cooks is proof that volume is king in fantasy football, after averaging 9 targets and 6 receptions per game and turning that into an average of 73 yards and sitting as the WR17. All this despite playing most of the season with rookie QB Davis Mills. This week he goes up against a weak MIA defense who have allowed an average of 291 passing yards per game, and with the volume Cooks sees, expect another strong fantasy showing.
Hunter Renfrow @ NYG (@ZTwiceFF)
I will start by saying that the Henry Ruggs situation is an awful one. With the Raiders releasing Ruggs Monday, an opportunity has opened up for Renfrow. He's already been a consistent fantasy producer with some big games. And add in more targets needing to be dispersed, he has a chance to have a great game against the Giants.
Sits
Sit of the Week
DeVonta Smith Vs LAC (@MattFFDynasty)
As mentioned earlier with RB Boston Scott, LAC are much stronger against the pass than run this season. QB Jalen Hurts has had his struggles so far this season and had numerous up and down weeks, this, in turn, has harmed the production of his receivers in fantasy. LAC are allowing the least amount of fantasy points to opposing WRs in the NFL, so I'd temper expectations with Smith this week.
Jerry Jeudy @ DAL (@ZTwiceFF)
I'm taking the wait-and-see approach with Jeudy. He is obviously a stud, but I need to see him more involved in the offense and comfortable on the field before I am able to play him. Like I talked about with Bridgewater, the Dallas pass defense is a good one. Play Jeudy if absolutely needed but otherwise wait and see before trusting him in your lineups.
Michael Gallup Vs DEN (@ZTwiceFF)
In the same game as Jeudy and the same situation. With Gallup expected back after an IR stint with a calf injury, I'm going to wait and see. He could have a role right away, but with so many options on this offense, I wouldn't expect the Cowboys to feed him the ball coming off the injury. I'm avoiding Gallup until I see it.
Tight End
Starts
Start Of The Week
Mike Gesicki Vs HOU (@ZTwiceFF)
While Gesicki's season-long pace may not be sustainable, I don't expect him to slow down just yet. With a great matchup coming up this week against Houston, Gesicki could lead some fantasy teams to a win. He's received 6+ targets in all but 2 games with only two scores. He's got a great shot to find his way into the end zone, so start Gesicki as a top 3 option this week.
Dalton Schultz Vs DEN (@ZTwiceFF)
Last week with Cooper Rush at QB Schultz struggled, catching only 2 of 7 targets. With Dak expected to be back this week against the Broncos, Schultz should perform and be back to a reliable Fantasy TE. Gallup may return this week, potentially limiting the target volume of Schultz but until I see it, I will trust what we've seen so far this season with the high target volume.
Dallas Goedert Vs LAC (@MattFFDynasty)
Now, I may seem like a hypocrite after criticizing this PHI passing offense and talking down WR DeVonta Smith's chances this week, but beggars can't be choosers when it comes to the TE position, and Dallas Goedert is now seeing a healthy amount of targets following the Zach Ertz trade. And despite the strong LAC pass defense, they are actually struggling against opposing TE's and allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to the position. I like Goedert this week but in all honesty, Goedert is starting to become a weekly 'set and forget' TE now.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Tyler Higbee Vs TEN (@ZTwiceFF)
Higbee was a sleeper for a lot in the industry coming into the season with Stafford coming into town. All that expected work has gone directly to Cooper Kupp mainly, but also Robert Woods and even Van Jefferson before Higbee. Outside of solid weeks 1 & 3, Higbee has been disappointing. I like waiver targets like Pat Freiermuth, Tyler Conklin, and Dan Arnold over him.
Evan Engram Vs LV (@MattFFDynasty)
This is going to go down as yet another disappointing season for TE Evan Engram. He saved his fantasy week last week with a TD Vs KC after turning 3 receptions into just 15 yards. While he's seeing a healthy amount of targets for a TE, he's only topped 50 receiving yards once this season and only has the 1 TD. He's tough to trust, even in a favorable matchup this week.
Cole Kmet @ PIT (@MattFFDynasty)
Similar to Engram, while Kmet is getting a healthy amount of targets for a TE, he's failing to turn that into strong production. He's averaging just 3 receptions and 25 yards per game and has yet to score a TD this season. While this CHI offense showed signs of life last week vs the 49ers, I'd find it hard to trust any receiving option just yet.
Waiver Recap
Thanks for reading. Be sure to keep an eye out for both our weekly articles, Tuesday Waiver Targets & Thursday Start/Sit and Waiver Recap with the @FF_Astronauts. Follow @K_H_Ray, @ZTwiceFF, & @MattFFDynasty on Twitter for more Fantasy Football content throughout the season, and hit us up with any of your Start/Sit or Waiver questions.
