Week 9 of the 2019 NFL season is here, with four teams (the Falcons, Bengals, Rams and Saints) off with byes.
As always, we’re here to help with your weekly decisions with our fantasy lineup advice. Each week, we give you the studs (players with plus matchups due to the defense they’re facing or their team situation), duds (players with tougher matchups or who are in muddled roster situations at the moment) and sleepers (a player you might consider starting who could be in for a big week).
Here are the names we’ve got for Week 9, and as we always say, good luck!!
Studs
QB Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars
Minshew Magic continues to be a thing, and against a Texans defense that gives up the fifth-most passing yards per game, it will be a thing once again this week.
RB Le’Veon Bell, New York Jets
Hey, he didn’t get traded! And now maybe he gets to take out any anger over the rumors on the Dolphins, who have a horrendous run defense.
WR Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears
He’s the next contestant on Who Can Burn the Eagles’ Secondary? And let’s give him credit: despite the struggles at QB for the Bears, he’s been really solid all year with only one sub-60 yard game.
TE Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
The Panthers are good at defending tight ends, but Smith has found some chemistry with Ryan Tannehill, so I think the volume will be there enough to make him a stud.
Duds
QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
Just one multiple-touchdown game in his last four contests and the Bears are up next. There are better matchup options at quarterback this week.
RB David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
That breakout last week wasn’t a one-game aberration. But in Week 9, he’ll be bottled up by the Eagles’ front seven, and the game script might shift more toward the pass (see above).
WR Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns
Man, he can’t catch a break. Last week, he faced Stephon Gilmore and was held to 52 yards. This week, he gets Chris Harris Jr. in Denver. Better matchups are coming down the stretch, though.
TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Just as you’d expect: the Patriots are basically good at defending every position, including tight end. They’ve given up just 3.6 fantasy points per game to the TE position, so if you have a better option, go for it.
Sleepers
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francsco 49ers
The Niners like to run the ball a lot thanks in part to their stifling defense making them dominate games and salt them away with their RBs. But if there’s ever a spot to throw a bunch, it’s this one against the Cardinals.
RB Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers
It doesn’t matter that he’s been in a timeshare with Aaron Jones. Both backs are thriving and the Chargers present a plus matchup for opposing rushers.
WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
His last two games before the bye weren’t great. But the Giants are an extremely exploitable matchup.
TE Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
He’s scored in two straight, and although the targets aren’t there in an offense that spreads it around to others including fellow tight end Zach Ertz, he’s worth a flier.
