Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams or Travis Kelce. Instead, I'll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set the most effective starting lineup possible. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.
Byes: Buccaneers, Football Team, Lions, Seahawks
Week 9 Start ‘Em: Running Backs
Start of the Week
Devontae Booker vs. Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Booker has quietly put up some nice totals for fantasy fans in recent weeks. He’s scored 14-plus points in three of his last four games. If Saquon Barkley is out once again, I like Booker as a solid No. 2 runner when the Giants host the Raiders. Their defense has been pretty generous to opposing running backs this season, allowing five players to score 14-plus fantasy points.
Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES
Start ‘Em
Elijah Mitchell vs. Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Mitchell has been a star for fantasy fans lately, scoring 16-plus fantasy points in two straight games while playing nearly 67 percent of the offensive snaps. Barring any setback in what is being called a minor ribs injury, Mitchell should be in starting fantasy lineups against the Cardinals. Their defense has allowed four runners to score 16-plus points in their last seven games.
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Chuba Hubbard vs. Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS): There’s still a chance that Christian McCaffrey will be back this week, so keep tabs on his status. If he is unable to go once again, Hubbard will remain a volume-based No. 2 fantasy back. He’s scored 13-plus points in three of his last four games, during which time he’s seen 76 carries and 16 targets. The Patriots have also allowed six backs to score 13-plus points this season.
Myles Gaskin vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Gaskin, a sit ‘em last week, posted a mere 8.5 fantasy points in a loss to the Bills. He has now alternated good and bad stat lines in five straight weeks, so he’s due for a nice statistical performance. He’s in a good spot to produce well, too, as the Dolphins face a Texans defense that has given up an average of more than 26 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season.
Boston Scott vs. Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): The Eagles ran the ball a ton last week, as both Scott and Jordan Howard found the end zone twice. Scott did lead the backfield in snaps, however, and he averaged five yards per rush. I’d consider him a nice FLEX option, as the Eagles face a Chargers defense that has allowed seven touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing backs since Week 5.
More Starts
- Michael Carter at Colts (Thurs. 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL)
- Zack Moss at Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Darrel Williams vs. Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
DFS Bargains
- Myles Gaskin vs. Texans ($5,800)
- Zack Moss vs. Jaguars ($5,300)
- Jordan Howard vs. Chargers ($4,600)
Week 9 Sit ‘Em: Running Backs
Sit of the Week
Chase Edmonds at 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Edmonds is coming off a nice contest, scoring 15.9 fantasy points in a loss to the Packers. While he remains in the FLEX conversation, this week’s matchup against the Niners isn’t favorable. No defense has allowed fewer fantasy points per game to backs since Week 5, and no runner has had more than three catches against them since the season opener. Beware Edmonds.
Sit ‘Em
Khalil Herbert at Steelers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Herbert proved he can be a bit matchup-proof after rushing for 100 yards against the Buccaneers, but he did crash back to earth last week against the Niners. His volume makes him a FLEX start in re-drafts, so consider this more of a warning than a true sit ‘em. Just one running back has scored more than 11.6 fantasy points against this version of the Steel Curtain.
Javonte Williams at Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Fox): It’s difficult to bench Williams with four teams on a bye, but this week’s matchup against the Cowboys isn’t favorable. Their defense has held backs like Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette to modest stat lines, and it’s allowed the eighth-fewest points per game to runners. The rookie has also seen just 44 snaps in the last two weeks while sharing work with Melvin Gordon.
Mike Davis at Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Davis put up a respectable 11.6 fantasy points in last week’s game against the Panthers, but he continues to play second fiddle to Cordarelle Patterson in the Falcons backfield. I’d continue to sit him this week, as a matchup in New Orleans is a difficult one indeed. Over the last four weeks, their defense has surrendered the third-fewest points a game to opposing running backs.
More Sits
- David Johnson at Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
- Latavius Murray vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
- D’Ernest Johnson at Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
DFS Fades
- Damien Harris at Panthers ($6,000)
- Latavius Murray vs. Vikings ($5,500)
- Chase Edmonds at 49ers ($5,300)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!
