When it comes to making start/sit decisions in fantasy football, the advice is simple: Play the matchups, and you’ll win more often than you lose. Now that we’re in the thick of the bye weeks, knowing the matchups to avoid and exploit becomes even more important. Bellow you’ll find the key matchup stats to know from each of the 12 remaining games for Week 9 of the 2017 NFL season.
Baltimore @ Tennessee
Fade Marcus Mariota.
The Titans return from bye and will likely have rookie WR Corey Davis back on the field. However, Mariota owners will want to look elsewhere at quarterback this week. Baltimore has shut down opposing signal-callers, allowing multiple touchdown passes just once this season. They’ve also held each of the last four teams they’ve faced to under 200 net passing yards.
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans
Drew Brees primed for a big week.
The veteran quarterback was a fantasy disappointment last week, but he’s a good bet to rebound in a big way. Entering the week, Tampa Bay is the No. 7 fantasy matchup for quarterbacks with opposing signal callers averaging 280.9 net passing yards per game against the Buccaneers. Brees is obviously an every-week fantasy starter in season-long leagues, but he deserves strong consideration in DFS cash games this week.
LA Rams @ NY Giants
Stream Jared Goff.
With six teams on bye, streamers are often tough to find. But Goff is certainly in the mix with a plus matchup on tap. The Giants have been very friendly to opposing quarterbacks with three passing scores surrendered in three of their last four games. Better yet, New York will be without Janoris Jenkins, who is serving a team mandated suspension. Goff also has some long-term appeal with a favorable schedule down the stretch.
Denver @ Philadelphia
Tough to trust Jay Ajayi.
For fantasy purposes, the Ajayi trade is certainly a plus for his fantasy value, but owners will want to pump the brakes this week. Having just joined the team this two days ago, there’s no guarantee that Ajayi will see more than a handful of snaps. Beyond that, he draws an awful matchup against the stout Broncos run defense. Through the first eight weeks of the season, Denver has yet to allow a rushing score to a running back and yields the fewest fantasy points per game to the position.
Atlanta @ Carolina
Tough sledding for Devonta Freeman.
Freeman’s fantasy owners are likely to endure another frustrating week. Carolina has been extremely stingy against the run game with just three rushing scores yielded to running backs this year. Opposing backfields average just 3.7 yards per carry and score the third-fewest fantasy points per game against the Panthers. Freeman is still a starter in season-long leagues, but this isn’t the week to have a lot of exposure to him in DFS.
Cincinnati @ Jacksonville
Avoid Andy Dalton at all costs.
There’s no reason, whatsoever, to start Dalton this week. Jacksonville has been an absolute nightmare matchup for quarterbacks this year. The Jags allow the fewest net passing yards per game (186.1) and have surrendered just four passing scores in seven games played. Dalton is a fade across all fantasy formats.
Indianapolis @ Houston
Watson's injury muddies the waters.
Deshaun Watson’s season-ending knee injury complete takes the wind out of the Texans, but Lamar Miller remains a strong play this week. He’s coming off a two-score outing last week and gets to face a Colts offense that surrenders the fifth-most PPR points per game to running backs. Fantasy owners of DeAndre Hopkins will want to fire him up as a WR1 even with Tom Savage under center. However, Will Fuller is a major downgrade and should now be considered a boom-or-bust WR3 option.
Arizona @ San Francisco
Adrian Peterson is in play as an RB1.
It’s tough to like the fantasy prospects for any of the Cardinals skill position players with Drew Stanton under center, but Peterson owners will want to get him in their starting lineups this week. San Francisco is the No. 1 fantasy matchup for running backs with the 49ers giving up an average of 113 rushing yards per game to opposing backfields. There won’t be many more weeks where Peterson offers RB1 potential, but this is certainly one of them.
Washington @ Seattle
Jimmy Graham keeps rolling.
Over the last two weeks, only Travis Kelce has more fantasy points than Graham. Expect the productivity to continue in this one, as the Redskins currently surrender the fourth-most PPR points per game to tight ends. Washington has allow 100-plus receiving yards to opposing tight end corps three times this year and have given up a score to the position in three of their last five games.
Kansas City @ Dallas
Both quarterbacks get upgrades.
On paper, this contest looks very favorable for both Dak Prescott and Alex Smith. The Chiefs have allowed the sixth-most net passing yards this season. Look for Dallas to lean on Prescott and the passing game with Ezekiel Elliott suspended. Dallas has surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. While that isn’t a complete home run of a matchup, Smith offers a high floor with upside and is in play as a QB1 option.
Oakland @ Miami
Kenyan Drake is sneaky.
This play isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for an upside play at running back or flex this week, Drake is worth consideration. With Jay Ajayi out of the mix, Drake is likely to be the early-down back. He has home run hitting ability and gets a plus matchup. The Raiders haven’t don’t a great job against running backs this season with an average of 113 rushing yards per game surrendered to the position. Drake is a boom-or-bust RB3 play.
Detroit @ Green Bay
Keep riding the hot hand with Aaron Jones.
Before the Packers bye, Jones appeared to have locked down the lead back role, and there’s nothing to suggest that’s changed. While the offense could struggle to move the ball with Brett Hundley under center, Jones is still a fringe RB1 with a good matchup on tap. The Lions have given up six rushing scores to running backs and are currently the No. 8 PPR matchup for the position.
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