Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Week 9

Scott Engel provides Week 9 fantasy football lineups analysis, spotlighting key NFL players to start and tougher lineup start/sit decisions to make.

Welcome to Week 9, RotoBallers! Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with or consider avoiding when faced with tough lineup decisions in Week 9 of the fantasy football season.

These choices are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller's NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a 10% discount and get access to all of my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the entire 2020 season.

Skill position picks here are based on PPR ranks.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Running Back Spotlights – Week 9

Chargers: The Raiders rank 28^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs. Justin Jackson had a career-high 142 scrimmage yards (89 rushing) last week. He is the most versatile and effective RB on the Chargers roster right now. You should expect 100-plus yards from scrimmage this week. Lock Jackson in for Week 9. Joshua Kelley fumbled last week and started to ride the bench in favor of Troymaine Pope until he suffered a concussion. Pope was not cleared for this week. You may see a very heavy dose of Jackson, so he is a very good start for Week 9. Kelley may need to earn his way back into a time share.

Seattle: With Chris Carson out again, and Carlos Hyde continuing to miss time, DeeJay Dallas has earned the lead ball carrier role for now, especially after scoring twice last week. Travis Homer is in better health this week and is the preferred pass protector and receiving back, so it may be more of a time share vs. Buffalo rather than Dallas dominating the workload like he did last week. Still, this is a better matchup for Dallas and he should get more chances to finish off drives for the highest-scoring offense in the league. Dallas is a must-start as a fantasy RB2 this week. Alex Collins was promoted from the practice squad but is strictly a depth piece right now.

Damien Harris: Many fantasy players are still not comfortable with using Harris yet, and that is fully understandable given the historically and notoriously unpredictable nature of the Patriots backfield. Sony Michel was activated from injured reserve this week, but as we have seen with many players this season, that is far from a guarantee that they will be active on gameday in the same week or play a significant role right away. Harris has rushed for 100 yards in two of his past four games and the matchup is obviously friendly vs. the Jets, 26^th in FFPG allowed to RBs. Harris is running well and with some authority and it makes sense for New England to feed him the ball this week. He should get strong fantasy RB2 consideration.

Dallas: Published reports have indicated the Cowboys are planning as if Ezekiel Elliott will be unavailable for Week 9. There is a simple approach here. If Elliott plays, you consider starting him. Dallas likely won’t risk him if he is not healthy enough to play. If he is out, Tony Pollard will get volume, yet the matchup is obviously daunting. He can be a flex play, but don’t expect upside. Pollard is a good RB who can take advantage of an opportunity to play an expanded role. With a sad QB situation, though, there is not much promise for the Cowboys to sustain drives or put him in potential scoring situations.

Wide Receiver Spotlights – Week 9

Dez Bryant: Just a warning shot here that Bryant is not even rosterable yet, much less worthy of lineup consideration.  He has not played in a game in the past two and a half seasons, and he hasn’t looked anything close to the better version of himself in four years. Lamar Jackson is a scattershot passer right now and can’t locate his best receiver, so he is not going to do much for Bryant in the few instances where he may be on the field.

Antonio Brown: The tantalizing upside truly rises to the surface this week, and it is very possible Brown could catch a handful of passes and find the end zone. Yet it is also possible he could play a Josh Gordon with Seattle type of role, as he did briefly last year. Brown could catch only one or two key passes and he and the Buccaneers will hail it as a very positive outing. Unless you are reaching deep for a starting option this week, it is wiser to play wait and see on Brown.

Cole Beasley: He is a fine streamer in a matchup with the Seahawks. Seattle will be vulnerable to a chain-moving, high percentage pass-catcher like Beasley. He caught 11 passes two weeks ago and should deliver another strong PPR outing this week. Beasley is a superb fill-in if you need a replacement bye week option at WR or flex.

Tim Patrick: He quickly became forgotten recently when he suffered a hamstring injury, and many fantasy players cut him. Patrick may be available on waivers if you have a need for a WR or flex plug-in. He has reached 100 yards in each of his past two road games and can truly emerge as the No. 1 wideout for Denver now that he is returning. The matchup is a good one on paper. The Falcons have played much better on defense since their coaching change, but the secondary is no sudden lockdown unit, either. Patrick is a very good fantasy WR3 option for Week 9.

Scott Engel and Jason Mezrahi's 10 Sleepers and Value Plays for Week 9. 

Quarterback Spotlights – Week 9

Ben Roethlisberger: The Steelers may run the ball a lot this week. Their receivers are also going to have chances to flourish vs. Dallas, and even if the yardage numbers are not outstanding, a three TD outing is very possible for Roethlisberger.

Cam Newton: If there is any potential rebound spot for Newton, it appears to be against the Jets. Newton is a not a Top 15 fantasy QB this week because he still has limited playmaking options, yet you can expect at least a respectable fantasy outing if you need a quality streamer.

Tight End Spotlights – Week 9

Logan Thomas: He appears to be developing a good rapport with Kyle Allen. He had a career-high 60 receiving yards in his last game and has scored in each of his last two outings. You can certainly consider starting Thomas if you do not have one of the other Top 8-10 TEs.

Hunter Henry: The Chargers TE is overrated and has been mediocre this season. Henry has just one TD catch, so he is no longer a lock for your lineup, even at the thinnest position in fantasy football.

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