The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 9 (Fantasy Football)
The season continues to fly by, as we are already into November. Temperatures are cooling down, and playoff races are beginning to heat up! If you are like me, every week feels make-or-break at this point in the season, and you will take any edge you can get in these pivotal matchups. If you need a little confidence, keep reading to see who the Ballers picked as their highest-confidence plays in this Week 9 edition of The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week. As always, you can click the link below to listen to the full Thursday episode:
Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB Patrick Mahomes vs NYJ
Mahomes returned to fantasy greatness last week with a 300+ yard, three-TD performance, his first such game since Week 2. This week he has a nice, juicy matchup with a struggling Jets team. The Chiefs enter the game as 10-point home favorites, a position in which Mahomes has dominated over the years. Since 2018, Mahomes has averaged 282 passing yards and tw TDs in games where the Chiefs are favored by 10+ points. Mahomes is a solid QB1 play this week.
RB Woody Marks @ LAC
David Montgomery has already been ruled out for this week, leaving Woody Marks to once again dominate the backfield share for the Texans. In his last three games without Montgomery, Marks has averaged 19 opportunities and 82 scrimmage yards per game. It hasn’t been explosive – his longest rush this season is 12 yards – but the Texans are capable of moving the football, especially against the lowly Chargers’ defense. As long as Montgomery is out, Marks is in play for fantasy.
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WR Justin Jefferson vs BUF
I did not go back and check, but I would venture it has been quite a while since Justin Jefferson made an appearance in a Starts of the Week segment. Widely regarded as one of the best receivers in the NFL, Jefferson has struggled to get it going for the second year in a row as the Vikings’ QB situation seems to have gone from bad to worse. But fear not! Carson Wentz is his knight in shining armor, coming to save the day. It’s been reported that Wentz will start on Monday night against Buffalo, and Jefferson should have plenty of chances to score against a Bills defense that ranks 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. You are not considering benching Justin Jefferson – at least not this week.
TE Harold Fannin @ NO
After back-to-back one-catch-clunkers in Weeks 5 and 6, Fannin has started to heat up, catching 16 of his 21 targets for 245 yards over his last two games. He now gets a week of catching passes from Shedeur Sanders, who hyper-targeted him last year and helped him finish as the TE6 overall. The Saints defense is pretty awful, so Fannin should have no problem posting TE1 numbers this week.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB Jared Goff @ MIA
We are going against some of the Jared Goff Commandments with this pick. Thou shalt not start him on the road, and thou shalt not start him outdoors. But we can make an exception for Miami, right? After all, it is supposed to be a balmy 82 degrees there on Sunday. There is a “little bit rain” in the forecast, so keep an eye on the forecast as this game approaches. Miami’s pass defense, however, will not be attending the game, nor have they attended any games yet this season. They are allowing the highest completion percentage of all time (76.9%) through eight weeks, and they also rank dead last in yards per attempt allowed. This means they are allowing completions at a record pace, and those completions are also well downfield. Start Goff, rain or shine.
RB Jonah Coleman @ CAR
Coleman appears to have usurped JK Dobbins for the lead role in Denver’s backfield, playing 66% of snaps last week to Dobbins’ 21%. Coleman has done nothing but produce with the limited work he has gotten this year, taking 39 touches and turning them into 231 yards and two TDs. Last week was his best game yet, and he carries that momentum into a matchup with the Carolina Panthers, who rank 31st in fantasy points allowed to RBs. Coleman can be started as an RB2 with upside this week.
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WR Caleb Douglas vs DET
Here is more of a dart-throw option for your deeper leagues where you need a spot starter this week. Douglas is averaging just three receptions on five targets per game this season, but the matchup with Detroit means the Dolphins will be throwing quite a bit. They could find some success given that Detroit’s defense ranks 29th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to the WR position. Douglas has two top-24 finishes at the position this year in just four starts, including a two-TD day against the Jets in Week 7. You can always start Malik Washington for his solid floor, but Douglas gives you more boom/bust potential if that is what you need this week.
TE Kyle Pitts vs CIN in Madrid
Pitts put up a dud last week in what some are calling the grossest football game of all time. Pitts technically still commanded a 22% target share. Unfortunately, his QB Michael Penix Jr. completed just eight passes last week, while “completing” four to the opposing Buccaneers. This week almost has to get better for Atlanta’s offense, and if it does, Pitts’ role makes him a viable starting option for fantasy. Prior to the stinker, Pitts had posted three consecutive top-12 fantasy finishes at the position, and he should get back on track this week with another one.