Vladimir De Wet breaks down the second half of the Week 9 matchups for the 2015 NFL football season. Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well.

Below, you will find part two of our Week 9 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should help you prepare your lineups to win this week. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.

Be sure to also check out part one of this week's matchups analysis for the earlier games.

 

Raiders @ Steelers - Sunday 11/5 @ 1:00 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers - Big Ben didn't look the greatest against the Bengals in his first game back from injury. It has to be said though that the Bengals have a good defense and those AFC North rivalry games usually turn into ugly football. But there was no holding Ben back as he attempted 45 passes and spread it around generously hitting seven different receivers. The Raiders have given up the sixth-most points to opposing fantasy QBs and the second-most passing yards per game this season. Ben should slide right back into MVP form against Oakland.

Heath Miller, TE, Steelers - The Raiders have given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing TEs this season. With Le'Veon Bell out Miller should see a lot more balls on third down as he becomes Ben's most reliable option. Miller had his best game of the season last week when Ben returned, and with the offense going back to a full playbook this should continue.

Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders - Last week I thought Cooper would get shut down by Revis and Michael Crabtree would give Antonio Cromartie the business. I was half-right, but to say that Revis stopped Cooper just wouldn't be fair to the rookie. The only question going forward about Cooper will be can Derek Carr get him the ball more, and if so, is he already a top-five WR in the league?

Matchups We Hate:

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Steelers - Williams looked like a RB1 in the first couple of games of the season as he filled in for the suspended Bell. He should go back to somewhat the same form, but the Steelers are now without their left tackle and the Raiders have a really good run defense. Williams should be fine as a RB2 option for the rest of the season but his first game back in the spotlight just isn't the best matchup.

Notable Players:

Martavis Bryant/Markus Wheaton, WR, Steelers - Bryant seems like he should play on Sunday and is the most explosive receiver on the team. Wheaton doesn't seem like he will be playing and should be dropped in all leagues if he wasn't already.

 

Giants  @ Buccaneers - Sunday 11/5 @ 4:05 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers - After Drew Brees threw for 500+ yards and seven scores last week, I could be starting at QB for the Bucs and I'd love myself as a fantasy option. The real Giants defense showed up a few weeks ago and they haven't left. They are not a good secondary or linebacking corp or defensive line, but besides that they're okay. Also, in Jameis' last four games he has made some significant improvements and looks like he's getting it. The team has averaged 24 points a game during that span while Jameis throws for around 240 and a score. After throwing four interceptions in week four against Carolina he has been turnover free and looking much more sure of himself within the offense.

Will Tye, TE, Giants - Tye has shown some flashes when on the field but the rookie out of Stony Brook University just hasn't gotten that many opportunities. Larry Donnell is nursing a neck injury and the Giants coaching staff has made it clear that Tye will get the most snaps at TE this week. Tye is a player to keep an eye on as a potential pickup for the playoffs because there is a legitimate chance he takes over full time TE1 duties for the Giants moving forward.

Matchups We Hate:

No one. Both teams give up a stupid amount of points and have a lot of players that could potentially put up big time fantasy numbers.

Notable Players:

Austin Sefarian Jenkins, TE, Buccaneers - The young TE has been out since week 2 but looks like he's a lot closer to finally getting back in the lineup. Like Will Tye, Sefarian-Jenkins should be considered a real option as a TE1 going forward as fantasy players make their push for the playoffs.

Orleans Darkwa, RB, Giants - After showing some flashses and being promised more playing time it seems like Darkwa might really develop into a flex option for deeper leagues. I personally don't think he will ever be worth the start because the Giants will play whatever back they feel has the hot hand. So far this season none of them seem to be able to do that so as always I would stay away from all of them, including Shane Vereen.

Reuben Randle/Larry Donnell/Dwayne Harris - All three of these pass catchers are listed as questionable on the Giants injury report and all three might only see some playing time instead of their usual load. Randle is still worth the start in almost any format if he is definitely playing while I would avoid the other two no matter what.

Falcons @ 49ers - Sunday 11/5 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Torrey Smith, WR, 49ers - To be honest, there are no players on either team that I love this game. I expect Julio Jones to do what he does but outside of that no other player in this game has been consistent enough to warrant any kind of love. That being said, Smith is the only player on the 49ers that isn't injured and also has some talent. Smith could easily catch no balls this week, but my thought is that he will be Gabbert's main go-to guy and a focal point of the offense. The Falcons secondary isn't the greatest and if I had to pick one player to "shock" with their production it would be Smith.

Matchups We Hate:

Leonard Hankerson, WR, Falcons - After a hot start the first four weeks (17 rec, 241 yds, two TDs) Hankerson has since been cut-worthy the last three weeks (five total rec, 50 yds, zero TDs). He's gotten around the same amount of playing time but just hasn't been able to convert many chances. The 49ers have given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing WRs but I feel better about Roddy White, Devonta Freeman, and Jacob Tamme as receiving options for Matt Ryan instead of Hankerson.

Blaine Gabbert, QB, 49ers - I hate Blaine Gabbert as a starter because he's Blaine Gabbert. Not only was he awful in Jacksonville, he really wasn't even good at Missouri. Christian Ponder and Gabbert should go down as JaMarcus Russell-size busts but because they've managed to stick around they haven't garnered that reputation yet. Maybe he plays a decent game after coming off the bench fresh with very little to lose, but I highly doubt it.

49ers running backs - The only situation worse than the 49ers QB situation is their RB situation. They recently signed Pierre Thomas who was sitting on his couch watching the NFL from home like the rest of us two weeks ago. Someone named Kendall Gaskins was promoted from the practice squad last week and might be the team's feature back on Sunday against the Falcons. If you are desperate or in a 20-team league then grab Gaskins and see how it goes, but the whole 49ers backfield is a mess right now.

Notable Players:

Julio Jones, WR, Falcons - The only thing that will stop Jones from putting up monster numbers again against the 49ers is an injury or an early Atlanta lead that leads to him taking a seat as the Falcons run the clock out.

Davonta Freeman, RB, Falcons - Freeman has shown that he's not a flash-in-the-pan but might end the year as the player with the most overall fantasy points. Just like Jones, Freeman should have another good day at the office even if the Falcons are leading big.

 

Broncos @ Colts - Sunday 11/5 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Vernon Davis, TE, Broncos - I guarantee Davis will score a touchdown on Sunday. I'm not sure about his value going forward, he seems like a wait-and-see option to me (I'd honestly look at Will Tye and Austin Seferian-Jenkins first) but he will immediately be slotted into the Broncos red zone packages. Davis is still talented and everyone is always a scoring threat on the Broncos. The main reason I'd be hesitant about his long-term success is that I still don't believe in Peyton Manning, and as long as Emmanuel Sanders and DeMaryius Thomas are there Davis just won't be a major part of the offense.

Andrew Luck, QB, Colts - I have been pretty firm on the "Peyton Manning needs to go home and go to bed" and "Andrew Luck is just hurt, he'll be better next week" stances for these two QBs this season. I am also pretty sure I was wrong about both, but cannot fully admit it either way. For Luck, he looked every bit as dangerous during the fourth quarter against the Panthers last week as he has been for most of his career. Going against the best defense in the league it would be safe to assume that Luck has a bad game this week, but I refuse to believe it. I say Luck shocks the world by dismantling the Broncos defense and makes everyone remember that anything can happen on any given Sunday.

Only 33% of me believes this.

Matchups We Hate:

Broncos RBs - It seems the Broncos have given up on trying to consistently establish the run. Right now, the run is being used as a change of pace to Peyton passing all the time with his noodle arm (I can't let it go). Ronnie Hillman and C. J. Anderson have combined for around 94 rushing yards a game and neither has been very effective in real life or fantasy. Hillman's four scores are basically by default and Anderson has only found the end zone once this year. The Colts aren't particularly good at stopping the run but this Denver team just doesn't seem interested or capable of committing to the run.

Frank Gore, RB, Colts - Because the Colts are consistently behind due to Luck's high turnover rate, Gore just hasn't been able to get going. Yet it must be said that he hasn't been that bad and can sometimes look like the old Frank Gore. This week he's going against the league's best run defense and should definitely be benched.

T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts - Hilton is dealing with a foot injury, and will be a game-time decision on Sunday. Combine that with the nightmare matchup and he should be riding the fantasy pine.

Notable Players:

Owen Daniels, TE, Broncos - Daniels had little value before, but it has completely disappeared with the Vernon Davis signing.

Donte Moncrief, WR, Colts - Moncrief's season has been up and down, basically mirroring Luck's struggles. The Ole Miss product has seen nearly eight balls a game this year but hasn't always been able to produce. Going against the Broncos he should probably be benched, but there really is no predicting which Moncrief will show up. If Luck does play well then a lot of that will depend on which Moncrief shows up.

 

Eagles @ Cowboys - Sunday 11/5 @ 8:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Ryan Mathews, RB, Eagles - It seems clear to everyone watching the Eagles that the best back they have is Mathews. The only group that doesn't seem to understand this is the Eagles coaching staff. Mathews is averaging 6.1 yds per rushing attempt to DeMarco Murray's 3.5. Assuming Chip Kelly wakes up and gives the ball to Mathews more it would be safe to expect a good game against the Cowboys. Dallas has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. The 'Boys are also giving up over 100 rushing yards a game and are tied for 17th with 4.1 yards per attempt.

Darren McFadden, RB, Cowboys - McFadden is now the guy in Dallas which I think will be good in the long term. The Eagles have had a good run defense and will be keyed in on stopping McFadden, but his overall workload should outweigh that. He ran very well against the fearsome Seahawks defense and should have less trouble against the Eagles. Assuming he stays on the field and Romo returns healthy in Week 11 then McFadden should be a solid RB2 option the rest of the way.

Matchups We Hate:

Dallas Pass-Catchers - Outside of McFadden getting the ball a lot it's hard to predict what Dallas will be able to do on offense. Regardless of whether it's Matt Cassel or Brandon Weeden under center it's pretty clear you can't expect production from anyone on Dallas' offense. Dez Bryant is still recovering and Jason Witten is banged-up, so even those two can't be expected to do that much. No one else is really worth mentioning.

Notable Players:

Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys - There were no setbacks with Bryant this week and he is good to again this Sunday. I would start Dez because he's arguably the most talented receiver in the league, but you can't expect WR1 numbers until Romo returns.

Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles - Agholor seems ready to come back from an injury and is worth a desperation start against a weak Cowboys secondary.

Christine Michael, RB, Cowboys - With Joseph Randle officially out of town Michael becomes someone worth actually keeping an eye on. Darren McFadden is still an injury waiting to happen meaning Michael could be one play away from having major fantasy value behind one of the league's best offensive lines.

Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles - Ertz has just missed big plays for the Eagles in three straight weeks. Bradford just doesn't seem able to deliver catchable balls to him, but if he does then Ertz should have a big day against the Cowboys.

 

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