Thanks for checking out Belly Up Start Em, Sit Em: Week 9! We’re missing these teams due to byes: the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Los Angeles Rams. I’m looking at guys with favorable matchups who might be on the fringe of your starting lineups. Also, players to avoid if you’re in need of a home run this week.

Start Em: QBs

Ben Roethlisberger @ Dal

Big Ben leads the 7-0 Steelers into Dallas for a great Week 9 matchup. The Cowboys have allowed the 3rd most passing TDs in the league, and have allowed multiple TD passes in 6 of their 8 games. The Steelers’ will be fully equipped in Dallas, who also allow fantasy points to WRs & RBs in bunches. I expect Big Ben to have a hefty stat line in what should be a big afternoon for the Steeler offense.

Justin Herbert vs LV

The Chargers rookie QB has been 2020’s fantasy darling through the first half of the season. Herbert has thrown for 260+ yards in each game, and 3+ TDs in 4 consecutive outings. This week the Chargers host the Raiders who have allowed 5 passers to surpass the 260-yard mark, including a 4 TD game to Tom Brady just 2 weeks ago. The Raiders allow the 10th most fantasy points to opposing QBs, and have only intercepted 3 passes all year. Herbert is in for a great opportunity for yet another big day.

Start Em: RBs

James Conner @ Dal

James Conner has reached pay-dirt in 5 of the Steelers’ 7 games this season. This week he rolls into Jerry’s World and faces off against Dallas who has allowed the 3rd most yards per rush and rushing TDs in the NFL. James has also had 3+ receptions in 4 out of his last 5 contests. With Conner getting 15+ touches in all but 1 game, volume alone gives him RB1 upside in Week 9.

Chase Emonds vs Mia

This is the opportunity all of us Chase Edmonds owners have been waiting for, him to get the RB1 workload for the Arizona Cardinals. It comes against the Miami Dolphins who allow the 7th most fantasy points to the RB position. Miami also allows 4.9 yards per carry, 4th worst in the league. Edmonds is averaging his career-high 6.1 yards per tote in 2020. Add nearly 4 receptions per game in his second-fiddle role & it starts to shape up for a nice opportunity for Chase Edmonds to shine for the Cardinals in Week 9.

Start Em: WRs

John Brown vs Sea

John “Smokey” Brown has been hobbled by injuries for weeks. He is finally clear from the injury report in time for a matchup against the league’s worst pass defense. Seattle allows the most fantasy points to opposing QBs and WRs, and a healthy John Brown is a big deal for QB Josh Allen. The Seahawks secondary has allowed a dozen pass catchers to post 80+ yard performances, including eight 100+ yard days. I like Brown’s matchup this week, he has a real opportunity to reel in a deep shot or two.

Jerry Jeudy @ Atl

Broncos’ QB Drew Lock targeted Jeudy a team-high 10 times last week, completing 4 for 73 yards. The Falcons have allowed the 5th most points to WRs, allowing 90+ yards receiving to 9 pass catchers this season. The Alabama speedster has an awesome opportunity to correct his TD deficiency in this matchup. The Falcons have allowed 20 passing TDs through their first 8 games, most in the league.

Start Em: TEs

Rob Gronkowski vs NO

Gronkowski has been picking up momentum over the last month, scoring TDs in 3 consecutive games. The Buccaneers use the TE position as much as anyone in the league, and look to avenge their week 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Saints allow the 4th most fantasy points to opposing TEs, and have surrendered 6 receiving TDs to opposing TEs. Gronk will continue to be a favorite target of QB Tom Brady, he’s a must-start at this juncture.

Noah Fant @ Atl

Fant has been targeted 5+ times in each game this season, and is currently TE12 in PPR scoring. The Falcons have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing TEs, and surrendered 8 receiving TDs to TEs. Fant will be a large part of the gameplan in a matchup that is sure to have fireworks. The former Hawkeye is in for a big game in Atlanta if he can draw his normal target share.

Sit Em: QBs

Tua Tagovailoa @ Ari

Tua-Time came at one of the most confusing times possible, with starts against the Rams, and now the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have intercepted 5 passes in their last 2 games, 3 from Seahawks QB Russell Wilson. I look for Arizona to put as much pressure on the Dolphins’ 1st round pick and force him into mistakes. I am as intrigued as anyone to watch Tua play, I just don’t like his matchup against another tough pass defense.

Teddy Bridgewater @ KC

Teddy has been a pleasant surprise in Carolina this year, currently 9th in passing yards. This week Teddy visits the Chiefs whose defense allows the 6th fewest fantasy points to QBs and hasn’t allowed a passing TD in 2 straight games. The return of RB Christian McCaffrey should help take the load off of Bridgewater’s arm in this game, and they’ll have to control the clock if they want to steal this one in Arrowhead. I don’t see the Panther’s QB posting a top 15 stat line in Week 9 against the Chiefs, I am looking elsewhere for my QB services.

Sit Em: RBs

Jonathan Taylor vs Bal

If you’re like me and have been relying on Jonathan Taylor, you’ve likely been a bit underwhelmed lately. This is going to be another one of those weeks. The Baltimore Ravens are the league’s 5th ranked run defense, and have only allowed 5 TDs on the ground through 7 games. Taylor has only surpassed 100 scrimmage yards twice, and has only scored in 1 of his last 4 outings. I am avoiding him in my lineups in Week 9, fortunately the schedule gets much more attractive down the stretch for RB Jonathan Taylor.

Todd Gurley vs Den

The Denver defense allows the 3rd fewest points to opposing RBs. Gurley has been as TD dependent as anyone in fantasy football, the Broncos have allowed 2 opposing RBs to cross the goal-line on the ground and only 1 through the air. The Falcons’ RB has rushed for 65+ yards only twice in 8 games. Denver has only allowed 2 rushers to surpass 65 yards in their last 5 games. Without the TDs Gurley is a tough start, look for upside elsewhere in Week 9.

Sit Em: WRs

Robby Anderson @ KC

Panthers WR Robby Anderson started out as hot as any WR in the league over the first 5 weeks of the season. Posting 6+ receptions and 99+ yards in 4 of those games. However, Robby has cooled off the last 3 weeks, failing to reach the 75-yard mark in each of his last 2 games. The Chiefs allow the 4th fewest points to opposing WRs, and haven’t allowed an opposing WR to surpass 50 yards receiving since Week 5 and 0 receiving TDs since Week 6. Robby has been fantastic for owners this season, this is just a tough spot for the former Temple Owl.

Darius Slayton @ WFT

Slayton has only recorded 9 receptions for 120 yards in his last 3 games since his 8 reception 129-yard thrashing of the Dallas Cowboy defense in Week 5. There have only been two 80 yard performances against the Washington Football team all season, Amari Cooper and Marquise Brown. Washington is #1 against the pass in the NFL, the best fantasy defense against opposing WRs allowing a league-low 16 fantasy points per game to WRs. The return of Sterling Shepard is also cutting into Slayton’s potential target share, I am avoiding him in my lineups wherever possible in this NFC East battle.

Sit Em: TEs

Dalton Schultz vs Pit

The Steelers defense has been incredible defending the TE position. They have surrendered only a single receiving TD to a TE, and haven’t allowed a TE to surpass 60 yards receiving all season. Schultz has only 1 double-digit PPR outing in the last month, and this isn’t a friendly matchup for QB woes. Pittsburgh should feast on this injury-riddled Cowboys offense missing QB Dak Prescott and likely RB Zeke Elliott. I’m avoiding any Cowboys this week, especially if Zeke can’t play due to injury.

Hayden Hurst vs Den

The Broncos defense has not allowed a TD to the TE position since Week 1 when the Titans came to town. Hurst has been playing well the last few weeks, but the Broncos have held both Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce under 50 yards receiving, and only Gronk had 5 or more receptions against the Broncos. This matchup isn’t favorable for the newly acquired Falcon. This matchup is as tough as it gets for the TE position.

Thanks for checkin’ out Belly Up Start Em, Sit Em: Week 9. If you want to see how I’ve done in previous weeks, check out my other Start Em, Sit Em’s. You can follow me on Twitter @bwhitt24, and the rest of the fantasy crew @bellyupfantasy. Join us live on Twitter and Facebook Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM CST for Belly Up Fantasy Live! The crew will be breaking down the upcoming week’s fantasy outlook, and as always answering your questions in the comments! Enjoy 20% off of your www.manscaped.com purchase by using our promo code BELLYUPFANTASY. You’re Welcome!