2022 NFL Week 9 Start Em’ or Sit Em’

Each week we’ll break down one player that should start in your fantasy lineup and one that would be better left on the bench per position. There are players like Josh Allen & Cooper Kupp who are matchup proof and should be in your starting lineups every week barring a major circumstance. Through 8 weeks, we’ve been correct on 37 of our 64 predictions. We unintentionally did not post the Week 8 picks, but took the players we would have posted into our stats as this was prepared ahead of the matchups which we’ve missed 2 a piece each of the last 2 weeks as we’re hopeful to turn around our season for this.  

Quarterback Start of the Week: Geno Smith – Seattle Seahawks

The last time the Seahawks faced the Cardinals, Geno Smith was held to under 200 yards and zero touchdowns for the day. Since then both teams have started getting more going on offense. Kenneth Walker emerged as a legitimate running back and changed the momentum of the Seahawks offense. This is super helpful to Geno Smith in keeping drives alive and allowing him to be on the field more often. Smith has been able to score more points as a result and should do fairly well against a Cardinals defense who has been thrashed in 3 of their last 4 matchups against opposing quarterbacks. 

Quarterback Sit of the Week: Tom Brady – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

The Buccaneers offense has seen better days and has fallen off a cliff compared to the Super Bowl winning team we saw just a couple years ago. Brady is having his worst season as a starter and he’s better off on your bench. Don’t let the “brand name” fool you in this case and he should be dropped or kept on the bench unless the Buccaneers can somehow turn their season around and quickly. 

Running Back Start of the Week: D’onta Foreman – Carolina Panthers

Since the trade of Christian McCaffrey, Foreman has stepped up to rush for over 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. Foreman should have another high yardage game against a Bengals defense that doesn’t seem to know how to stop the rush allowing multiple 100 yard rushers in a row. Regardless if Chuba plays, Foreman is the #1 back in Carolina for now and is worth a start against Cincinnati. 

Running Back Sit of the Week: Darrell Henderson – Los Angeles Rams

The days of Darrell Henderson being a reliable fantasy running back are over. With Henderson’s struggles even with Akers not playing, the Rams have given Ronnie Rivers more touches. This is bad news for Henderson who was a popular pickup after the Akers frustrations started circulating. Henderson is fine to drop in your leagues and look for alternative options on the waiver wire. 

Wide Receiver Start of the Week: Chris Olave – New Orleans Saints

Unfortunately Michael Thomas was ruled out for the year. Wide Receiver #2 Jarvis Landry is also dealing with injuries. This leaves rookie Chris Olave as the #1 option in New Orleans. Olave has done well in his first season. Given the opportunity now, Olave should be a starter most weeks, but especially in a primetime matchup on Monday night. 

Wide Receiver Sit of the Week: Alec Pierce – Indianapolis Colts

After 3 weeks straight with double digit points for Alec Pierce, the Colts made a quarterback switch to Sam Ehlinger to spark new life into the offense. The offense has not seen new life as the Colts have gone run heavy and are without Jonathan Taylor for yet another game on the season. Alec Pierce over the last 2 games has barely gotten any targets and we don’t expect that to change anytime soon with Ehlinger as the quarterback. He’s favoring Pittman Jr. if anyone but hasn’t been able to move the ball down the field well as this whole offense has been rather disappointing this year. 

Tight End Start of the Week: Gerald Everett – Los Angeles Chargers 

Both Keenan Allen & Mike Williams are out for this game. Josh Palmer is questionable but expected to play. Regardless if Palmer plays or not, Herbert is going to seek Gerald Everett often. Everett is in store for another high volume game that will set him up as a perfect tight end to start unless you have Travis Kelce on your team and if Mark Andrews is out, he should finish as a top 5 tight end this week. 

Tight End Sit of the Week: TJ Hockenson – Minnesota Vikings 

Oftentimes after a player joins a new team after a trade, they see limited action in their first game. We saw this happen with Christian McCaffrey and James Robinson now. The Vikings offense was already in a pretty good spot as it helped them get to their 6-1 record. TJ Hockenson just gives Kirk Cousins one more weapon when Jefferson is double covered to go besides Thielen. We don’t expect the typical reliable matchups we’re accustomed to from Hockenson in his first start as a Minnesota Viking.