The 2022 fantasy football season is now halfway complete. The must-win territory is approaching. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 9 picks help you identify values to target and fades to avoid.
It is also crucial to know which waiver wire pick to make and to stay up-to-date on the injury report.
Here are our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 9 picks.
QUARTERBACKS
Start ‘Em
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
After a solid start to the season, Lawrence has been bad the past five weeks. However, he’s had a tough schedule facing teams like the Eagles, Broncos, Colts, and Giants. That’s a brutal run. The only seemingly positive matchup was against the Texans and they are third-toughest against fantasy quarterbacks. This week he should bounce back against the Raiders, who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to QBs.
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)
Speaking of quarterbacks who have been bad, Rodgers has been a disaster this season. He would have to have a tremendous matchup for us to recommend you start him and this week is just that against the Lions. They are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and were absolutely torched by Tua Tagovailoa last week. Tua is of course a much better option than Rodgers, but Rodgers is more than capable of giving you low-end QB1 numbers this week against the Lions.
Sit ‘Em
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
Goff is coming off a great game against Miami, nevertheless, don’t fall into that trap this week. This week the Lions are playing the Packers who are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. Goff has shown this year that he is a matchup-based option with a wide range of outcomes. This is a bad matchup that could be a disaster game for your fantasy team if you start him.
Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
It’s tough to trust Brady right now. He may get back on track, but you need to see it before you throw him back in your starting lineup. He takes on the Rams this week who are allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to QBs. This isn’t the game to roll the dice and hope for a bounce back.
RUNNING BACKS
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Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons)
Cordarelle Patterson could return this week. Even if he does, Allgeier should still be a strong start. The Falcons play the Chargers this week who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season. In just seven games they’ve given up 897 yards and seven TDs on the ground alone. It would be a surprise if he doesn’t push 100 yards and find the end zone this week.
A.J. Dillon (Green Bay Packers)
As bad as the Lions are at stopping the pass, they are somehow even worse against the run. Dillon has been a massive disappointment this season. But he should get it going this week. Dillon is still averaging over 10 carries and three targets per game. That is more than enough to have a fantasy-viable day against Detroit. This should be his best game of the season as he should top 70 yards and have a shot to find the end zone for the first time since Week 1.
Sit ‘Em
Michael Carter (New York Jets)
The first week without Breece Hall did not go well for New York. Carter managed just 26 yards on the ground, and James Robinson will probably be more involved this week. Carter did manage 35 scoreless yards through the air as well. Granted, it was a tough matchup in a game they were trailing against the Patriots. Things won’t be any easier this week against the Bills who will likely blow the Jets out and are allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Also, no team has allowed fewer rushing yards.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs)
This is a combination of a lack of opportunity and a terrible matchup. Fantasy owners have to get past CEH’s outstanding September because he certainly has. It’s been four weeks since he’s topped 35 total yards or hit double-digit carries. Now he’s been demoted to the RB2 on the depth chart and he’s taking on the Titans who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
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Joshua Palmer (Las Angeles Chargers)
With Mike Williams sidelined and Keenan Allen’s health a question mark this week, Palmer needs to be in your starting lineup. There is a real chance he serves as the WR1 if Allen is still less than 100 percent. Beyond opportunity, the matchup is fantastic as well. The Falcons are allowing the second-most fantasy points to wideouts this season. They’ve allowed the most yards to the position. Also, their 12 TDs allowed are second only to Pittsburgh’s 13.
Devin Duvernay (Baltimore Ravens)
Duvernay finds himself with a ton of opportunity as well coming off a big game last Thursday night. Rashod Bateman will be sidelined for a while and Mark Andrews could be out as well. Duvernay is a good start with just Bateman out and a great start without Andrews as well. Last week he caught four passes for 31 yards and rushed for 33 yards and a TD. This week he draws the Saints who are allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts.
Mecole Hardman (Kansas City Chiefs)
It was tough deciding whether or not Hardman should be a start or sleeper this week, but here he is. He’s quietly been very good for Kansas City this season outside of two dud games. He’s seen at least four targets in three straight games and all three games reached 70 yards or scored a TD. This feels gross and there is a risk here, but the numbers don’t lie. Especially against a Titans team that is allowing the fourth most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Sit ‘Em
Jakobi Meyers (New England Patriots)
It’s going to be another Rhamondre Stevenson game for the Patriots. New England takes on the Colts this week, who have been gashed by running backs and tight ends through the air but have shut down opposing wideouts. They have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. Already hindered by a subpar quarterback, you can find a better option to start this week in a terrible matchup.
Rondale Moore (Arizona Cardinals)
Moore is coming off a great game but has an awful matchup this week against the Seahawks. They are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to receivers this season. You’re still starting DeAndre Hopkins in this one, however, you can’t start any other wideout. It will be Hopkins and Zach Ertz all day for the Cardinals.
Brandin Cooks (Houston Texans)
Cooks had a bit of a meltdown on Twitter Tuesday after not being traded and now has a horrific matchup on Thursday night against the Eagles. This has all the makings of a disaster game for Cooks who will likely be shadowed by Darius Slay. The Eagles are particularly tough against WR1s and are allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position as a whole.
TIGHT ENDS
Start ‘Em
Evan Engram (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Engram has had four-straight solid fantasy outings and is coming off a 55-yard and one-TD game. Over the past four weeks, he’s totaled 19 catches on 29 targets for 231 yards and a TD. Finally, this week he plays the Raiders who have given up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.
Isaiah Likely (Baltimore Ravens)
Likely is a tough one because he plays Monday night so you’ll have to monitor the health of Mark Andrews. Nonetheless, once Andrews went out last week Likely was the focal point of the offense catching six of his seven targets for 77 yards and a TD. If he is the starter he has as much upside as any potential streaming tight end in the league this week. That said if Andrews is active Juwan Johnson is a potential pivot option
Sit ‘Em
T.J. Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings)
A trade can be exciting, but Hockenson shouldn’t be started this week. Even in a good matchup, you should shy away from starting a guy who joined the team three or four days before a game. However, this is not a good matchup. The Commanders are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. Just give it a week.
Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
We all want this to be a thing since Cameron Brate went out. If you’re waiting for the next Gronk you find it here, and definitely not this week. The Rams are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this year. You cannot trust him this week. Conversely, you should look to your streamers for a better option.
