D'Onta Foreman, Chris Olave, Chris Godwin: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 9

Should I start D'Onta Foreman, Chris Olave, or Chris Godwin for Week 9? Fantasy football start em, sit em picks and recommendations for the 2023 NFL season.

The fantasy playoffs are looming over managers like a mother making sure her kids are finishing their vegetables. For a majority of fantasy football leagues, just six weeks remain in the regular season.

Each managerial decision made from here on out can make or break playoff chances. No pressure.

The RotoBaller staff is here to help break down why certain players are worth starting or sitting. D'Onta Foreman, Chris Olave, and Chris Godwin are under the microscope in this article.

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Should I Start D'Onta Foreman for Fantasy Football?

D'Onta Foreman has a Roschon Johnson problem and Roschon Johnson has a D'Onta Foreman problem. Both, seemingly, have a Darrynton Evans problem.

Upon the rookie's return last week against the Chargers, snap shares between the three backs were split nearly in thirds. Johnson saw the most (36.4%), followed by Foreman (31.8%), and then Evans (27.3%). The least-rostered of the three, Evans, scored a touchdown. You hate to see it.

Some of the personnel decisions can be chalked up to the game script. The Bears fell down 17-0 midway through the second quarter, so Evans was on the field when they scored six. The coaching staff also trusts Johnson to operate as a pass-catching running back. That's never been the strength of Foreman's game.

Even in his three-touchdown performance the week prior, Foreman was on the field for fewer than half of the offensive snaps. He's a part-time player who delivered a shot-in-the-dark performance when managers called upon him. The Saints are 8.5-point favorites as of this writing, so the game script may not favor the bruising back once again.

Foreman is the RB27 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

Should I Start Chris Olave for Fantasy Football?

Chris Olave is the WR26 in PPR formats through eight weeks, which isn't ideal since the second-year wideout was being selected in rounds two or three in fantasy drafts this summer. His average is even lower because the Saints have yet to take their bye week. While some are fretting, the savvy managers are still optimistic about Olave's immediate future.

While it's true that Alvin Kamara is siphoning targets (his previous career-high was 7.1 targets per game in 2020), Olave is still outpacing his teammate. The wideout is averaging 9.6 targets on the season compared to 8.8 for the running back. Even when tightening the window to include just the games that Kamara was active, Olave is still at nine targets per game. Just two weeks ago, the former first-round pick earned 15 opportunities (albeit he only secured seven of them).

Number 12 was also gifted a touchdown on a silver platter against the Colts after an incredible double move. Then, he looked more like Jameson Williams than Chris Olave.

The signs are there for an Olave rebound, especially with a beatable Chicago secondary coming to town. The Bears allow the third-most passing yards (262.3) and the fifth-most points per game to opposing teams (27.3). Don't shy away from Olave this week.

Olave is the WR13 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

Should I Start Chris Godwin for Fantasy Football?

Chris Godwin is building a better rapport with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Over the last four games, Godwin is averaging 6.25 receptions and 77.75 yards per game. He also grabbed his first touchdown of the season, which came last week against Buffalo.

Over 13 PPR points is an extremely safe floor and that's what you can expect from Godwin once again in their matchup against the Texans. Houston is one of the stronger defenses against wide receivers but the underneath routes should be available for Godwin and Mayfield.

Hoping for a touchdown will be a different story. The red zone struggles for the Saints and Cowboys have been well publicized this season but the Buccaneers actually slot right between those teams for red zone touchdown rate. Only 41.2% of their red zone opportunities turn into six points. The Texans' defense ranks eighth in the opposite metric, only allowing their opponents to find paydirt on 45.8% of red zone drives. Interestingly enough, Tampa Bay is the leader in the clubhouse in that department.

Godwin is the WR27 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.

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