Welcome to the Week 9 starts and sits. We’ve highlighted some options that we like and some that we don’t like for the upcoming week’s games. If you need deeper analysis, please feel free to join us at Rotobahn.com and check out our comprehensive lineup rankings. If you want information on late-breaking injury information on game day, follow us on twitter. Just follow the link on our home page.  Good to all in week nine!

Quarterbacks

Starts

Andy Dalton @ Titans

He’s a solid play in most formats in week nine. He’s proven to be a solid signal caller and he has some nice weapons to work with and rookie stud AJ Green tops that list. The Titans are not playing very good defense right now, so the matchup is solid.

Josh Freeman @ Saints

He’s playing better and the Saints are not world beaters on defense. We have Freeman as a fringe QB1, and his thumb is not going to keep him out. He’s practiced with it all week.

Tim Tebow @ Raiders

Yes, we know it isn’t pretty, but we doubt that most people even realize that even in last week’s debacle, Tim Tebow posted top-12 fantasy numbers. He may never be a winner at the highest level, but the guy is a fantasy asset as we speak. It’s all about the foot points.

Sits

Joe Flacco @ Steelers

The temptation might be to assume that he will do well against the Steelers as he did in the opener. We’re not so sure about that due to Flacco’s struggles in road games. He’s got a little upside due to the early success, but we fear the meltdown as well. He’s our 21st ranked quarterback for week nine.

Carson Palmer vs Broncos

We think he may have some legit fantasy upside as we really like the Raiders’ skill players, but he still has to master a new offense and that will take some time. Palmer also may need to get into football shape. This is a week to assess the Raiders’ new QB … not a week to start him.

Running Backs

Starts

DeMarco Murray vs Seattle

Pete Carroll’s guys can stop the run, but we’d roll with Murray in any format. He can be very effective as a receiver, so we expect him to post solid total yards one way or another. Murray is also dynamic near the stripe and we see him finding the zone.

Michael Bush vs Broncos

Bush is a quality back, and with Darren Mcfadden sidelined, he will get a chance to show it. He is a very worthy RB2 this week and has RB1 upside. Get him in there.

Jackie Battle vs Dolphins

The matchup is sweet and Battle has been getting the touches in Jamaal Charles’ absence. He hasn’t wasted the opportunity and has outperformed an aging Thomas Jones and the diminutive Dexter McCluster. He has RB2 value in week nine.

Sits

Ryan Torain vs 49ers

He just hasn’t shown enough, and this is a brutal matchup. We are bigger believers in rookie Roy Helu and we expect the kid to take over at some point in the coming weeks. Torain is a very risky flex option in week nine.

Joseph Addai vs Falcons

He may not even play, and we certainly don’t trust him if he does. You can do better on the average waiver wire. Addai ran well early-on when he was healthy, but we just don’t trust him at this point. Rookie Delone Carter is the better option and a better bet to finish the game healthy regardless of who starts. Carter is a viable flex option in large leagues.

Wide Receiver

Starts

Dez Bryant vs Seahawks

Dez has been a disappointment, but we sense a breakout coming and he should still be active in all formats. This is a good matchup, so keep him in there.

Antonio Brown vs Ravens

He has really been playing well and is becoming a weekly start in most formats. We’d have him in there this week as the Steelers will be throwing the ball a ton.

Jonathan Baldwin vs Dolphins

He’s one of our favorite rookies this year and his time has finally come. He looked great last week and we like him to post WR3 numbers in his week nine matchup with a reeling Dolphins’ defense.

Sits

Steve Johnson vs Jets

He is going to get a heavy dose of Darrelle Revis. That usually means a down week. As good as Johnson has been, we’d consider other options if we had them. Revis is simply on another level.

Kevin Walter vs Browns

Joe Haden is not Darrelle Revis, but he has been doing a damn good job matching up with opposing teams’ number one options. We like him to handle Walter in week nine.

Tight End

Starts

Brent Celek vs Bears

He has looked good and the Bears’ secondary gives it up to tight ends. We think Celek continues the trend this week and has a solid game.

Jake Ballard @ Patriots

He has been heavily involved and gets red zone love too. Ballard is close to being a weekly starter in larger leagues.

Scott Chandler vs Jets

The Jets are vulnerable to large tight ends and Chandler is coming off of a two-score week. We’d stick with him in week nine.

Sits

Jared Cook vs Bengals

He’s been inconsistent and we don’t like this matchup. Cook needs to improve his blocking so he can get on the field more.

Ben Watson @ Texans

He’s startable if you need him, but we don’t like the matchup and he’s not far removed from a concussion.  You can do better in most leagues.