The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 9
It’s spooky season; let’s hope, everywhere but the NFL. After the chaos at the start of the season, I think it is time for things to calm down. Of course, that is just wishful thinking, and if you are like me, you are more than grateful to have The Fantasy Footballers dolling out wisdom. During the Halloween episode this Thursday, The Fantasy Footballers gave us their not-so-scary Starts of the Week for Week 9. To watch the full episode, which Andy, Mike, and Jason do in costume, you should watch it on Youtube, follow the link below:
If you have other questions and need more insight from The Ballers, you should go to The Ultimate Dashboard and utilize the best guide that you can find for who to start and sit in your league. Each week, it is an invaluable resource as it helps guide and reveal who you want to put in your lineup.
Let’s get into The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 9.
Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB – Joe Burrow vs. LV
Burrow is the QB5 of the season, but it hasn’t felt like that, with his last three games all being outside of the top 12. This means you might be considering pivoting, but Andy wants you to hold off another week before you bury Burrow. He has the highest completion percentage of his career at 70% right now, and he will get Tee Higgins back this week. In this game, the Bengals are 7.5-point home favorites. When the Bengals have been that highly favored in Burrow’s career, they average 28 points per game, and since Week 3, the Raiders’ defense ranks 25th against fantasy QBs. The Bengals need to get themselves back on track, and this should be a game where they can do that, meaning Burrow should return to form in fantasy.
RB – Tony Pollard vs. NE
He is averaging the ninth most opportunities per game with 20.4 opportunities and touching the ball 31% of the Titans’ offensive plays. Now he faces a Patriots defense that is 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs and 22nd in rushing yards allowed per game. The Patriots have allowed five straight RBs to hit 80 yards rushing. The Titans need Pollard to carry them with their poor QB play, and this is a matchup where he should be able to do that very well.
WR – Josh Downs @ MIN
Andy just traded for Downs in their dynasty league. Jason had brought him up during Hungry for More. Why? Because he has been a monster for fantasy, being targeted on 30% of his routes, which is the sixth highest rate in the NFL. In three games with Flacco as the QB, Downs has averaged 10 targets, eight receptions, and 72 receiving yards. The Colts are facing a Vikings defense that has become a proper pass funnel defense, ranking 32nd in opponent pass attempts and completions per game and 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. This week should be another boom game from Downs.
TE – Sam LaPorta @ GB
He is coming off his best game of the season with six targets, six receptions, 48 yards, and a touchdown. He saw a whopping 33% of the Lions’ targets in their win. Jameson Williams‘ suspension will last one more game, which makes LaPorta the number-two option for the offense. The Lions are 3.5-point favorites on the road in Lambeau, and if they want to come through with that kind of performance, they will need LaPorta to continue making an impact. The Packers’ defense is solid, but quietly, it has been very susceptible to TEs. They are giving up the second most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to the TE and the fourth most TE receptions. LaPorta will have the opportunity to be a difference-maker for the Lions and your roster.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB – Dak Prescott @ ATL
This game has the highest over/under of the week at 52 points. That is the kind of total we love to chase for fantasy. Dak is averaging 39 pass attempts per game, which is first in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Falcons are allowing the highest completion percentage in the NFL. They rank 26th against fantasy QBs and have allowed two or more passing touchdowns to every QB they have faced in the last month. This upcoming stretch of games is the part of the schedule where Dak should turn back into the stud he was last year, at least for fantasy.
RB – James Conner vs. CHI
Choosing an option in a better matchup could be tempting because the Bears seem to be a formidable defense. However, Conner is as steady as they come, averaging 19 opportunities per game, and he leads the league in 10+ yard runs and is third in yards after contact. He also leads all RBs in forced missed tackles by a mile! Conner has dominated the RB touches in the last two weeks, with 39 carries over that time, and there is no sign that it will change. So, fire him up without fear, and know he should deliver for you.
WR – Chris Olave @ CAR
With Rashid Shaheed out, there is no other option for the offense to go to other than Olave. Last week, he saw 14 targets, catching eight for 107 yards. He saw 41% of the team’s targets. This matchup is the second game against the Panthers, but you have to throw out the first game when the Saints blew out Carolina in just a few minutes. Carolina allows the highest yards per attempt in the NFL at 7.8 yards. They also rank 25th against fantasy WRs. For the Saints to succeed, they will have to lean on Olave, so you should do the same.
TE – Evan Engram @ PHI
He is going to have 1,000 targets in this game! Not really, but every pass-catcher outside of him is injured right now, and the team is more than a TD underdog. That is why there should be a ton of targets going Engram’s way. While Philly has been a bad matchup for traditional TEs, that isn’t where Engram will be lined up; last year, when Kirk was out from Weeks 14-18, Engram saw the most targets from the slot in the entire NFL. Last week, the Bengals’ slot TE Mike Gesicki saw eight targets, going seven for 73 against the Eagles. The Eagles, on the season, are allowing the fifth most fantasy points to the slot position. It’s a match made in heaven for Shmevan.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB – Sam Darnold vs. IND
There is a 46.5 over/under for this game, and the Vikings have a team-implied total of 26 points. Minnesota has hit its team-implied total in all but one game this season and has been solid at home. Darnold has been the QB4, QB9, and QB14 in their home games this season and will face a Colts offense that can hold up its end of the scoring bargain. The Colts’ defense is also an excellent reason to start Darnold, as they rank 25th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Get Darnold in your lineup; there should be no pumpkins from him this week.
RB – Chuba Hubbard vs. NO
The Jonathon Brooks era was supposed to come crashing in, but Chuba is still a fantasy stud eight weeks into the season. He is the RB12 on the season, including the three games with Bryce Young. Chuba is averaging 17 fantasy points per game in the five Andy Dalton starts along with almost four receptions per game. He is the clear lead-back for the Panthers, averaging 20.5 opportunities since Week 3. In the meantime, the Saints rank 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs, 28th in rushing yards per game allowed, and 30th in expected points per rush attempt. There is no reason to think the Chuba train should be stopping this week, so hop on board.
WR – Ladd McConkey @ CLE
It is the time of year when rookie wide receivers begin to leap, which is why Andy brought up McConkey on Hungry for More. Last week, Ladd was the WR2 thanks to two touchdowns, but his PPR floor is incredibly safe. He has had more receptions each week for three weeks and now faces a Cleveland defense that is 28th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs and 29th in yards per completion. The Chargers have been throwing the ball more than we expected them to recently, which should mean McConkey can continue to be a fantasy impact-maker.
TE – Mark Andrews vs. DEN
HE IS ALIVE! Like Frankenstein’s monster being electrocuted and beginning to walk around, Andrews has climbed off the table of death over the last month. He is averaging four receptions, 50 yards, and a touchdown right now, which has made him the TE5 over that span, just behind Brock Bowers. His usage in Week 8 was also something to notice as Andrews tied his season-high snap percentage at 71% and ran 29 routes, the most since Week 1. He is also being used in new ways, as he lined up out wide 12 times last week, the most in his entire career. In this game, the Ravens are nine-point home favorites, and while the Broncos have an excellent secondary, they are allowing the ninth most receptions to the TE position. Look for Andrews to continue his hot streak this week.