Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 9

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.

For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 9 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 9 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

StartGardner Minshew, Jaguars

vs. Texans

Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Not only is Minshew one of the most entertaining surprises of the 2019 campaign, he's also the QB11 on the season in fantasy. While we still don't know if the Jaguars' old-school regime will stick with Minshew once veteran Nick Foles is healthy, the rookie will have an outstanding opportunity to improve his case before the team's bye thanks to a mouth-watering matchup against the Texans. Even prior to their recent wave of injuries - including losing J.J. Watt for the year - the Texans have been vulnerable through the air, allowing three or more passing touchdowns in each of their last four outings. Minshew is a top-10 play this week and hopefully Jacksonville makes the right decision and lets him keep the starting job moving forward.

Boone's projection: 289 passing yards, 3 passing TDs

Other QBs to start

• Matthew Stafford at Raiders
• Sam Darnold at Dolphins
• Derek Carr vs. Lions

Jaylen Samuels, Steelers

vs. Colts

Justin Berl / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With James Conner dealing with a shoulder injury and third-stringer Benny Snell Jr. on the shelf for a couple weeks, Samuels is set up for a massive workload Sunday. The running back was vaulted into the starting lineup late last season and had three games where he posted at least 10 touches, which also happened to coincide with the fantasy playoffs. In those contests, he posted:

• 92 yards from scrimmage
• 162 yards from scrimmage
• 64 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown

Samuels was a top-13 fantasy back during that stretch and proved he could produce with increased volume. Having Mason Rudolph under center instead of Ben Roethlisberger lowers his projection though, putting him in the RB2 range as a top-20 option, as long as Conner sits out.

Boone's projection: 68 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• Jordan Howard vs. Bears
• Adrian Peterson at Bills
• Devin Singletary vs. Redskins

DK Metcalf, Seahawks

vs. Buccaneers

Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Fresh off his first multi-score game as a pro, Metcalf gets to tangle with another bottom-five pass defense. The Bucs have allowed 10 different receivers to reach 70 yards against them this season, and even though they held the Titans' receivers in check last week, they still permitted two touchdowns to Tennessee wideouts. Metcalf is among the league leaders in red-zone targets and has been remarkably consistent in his first year, with 50 yards or a touchdown in all but one game. Chase his upside and you'll be rewarded with WR2 stats in Week 9.

Boone's projection: 81 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• John Brown vs. Redskins
• Marvin Jones at Raiders
• Michael Gallup at Giants

Greg Olsen, Panthers

vs. Titans

Robert Deutsch / USA TODAY Sports

Olsen's been fairly quiet since his 6-catch, 75-yard, two-touchdown day against the Cardinals in Week 3. Matchups have played a part, and he did take advantage of his one easier outing during that stretch by putting up 52 yards on the Bucs. This week's opponent - the Titans - have a solid defense, but if they have a weakness it's tight-end production. Tennessee has permitted 90 yards or a touchdown to the position in six of its 8 games this season. When it comes to streamers, Olsen is at the top of the list this week.

Boone's projection: 67 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• T.J. Hockenson at Raiders
• Dallas Goedert vs. Bears
• Jonnu Smith at Panthers

SitCarson Wentz, Eagles

vs. Bears

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Wentz could have been the featured "Sit" quarterback for the last month as he squared off with the Vikings, Cowboys, Bills, and now gets the Bears before taking on the Patriots after Philly's Week 10 bye. Chicago's defense has been beat up a bit recently, but most of the damage is coming on the ground. Weekly fantasy finishes for quarterbacks facing the Bears have not been pretty:

• QB26 (Philip Rivers)
• QB13 (Teddy Bridgewater)
• QB26 (Derek Carr)
• QB25 (Kirk Cousins)
• QB27 (Case Keenum)
• QB16 (Joe Flacco)
• QB24 (Aaron Rodgers)

So, dial down your expectations for Wentz again this week, but know that his schedule softens considerably after Week 11 with the Seahawks, Dolphins, Redskins, and Giants on tap.

Boone's projection: 236 passing yards, TD, INT, 11 rushing yards

Other QBs to sit

• Philip Rivers vs. Packers
• Baker Mayfield at Broncos
• Daniel Jones vs. Cowboys

David Montgomery, Bears

at Eagles

Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It was great to see Montgomery finally reward fantasy managers with 135 rushing yards, 12 receiving yards, and a touchdown in Week 8. The celebration's over unfortunately, as his next challenge comes in the form of the Eagles' shutdown run defense. Outside of Ezekiel Elliott, the Jim Schwartz-coordinated crew have stifled opposing backs, holding players like Dalvin Cook, Aaron Jones, and Le'Veon Bell under 45 rushing yards. It's tough to bench a runner getting the volume Montgomery has been seeing, but hopefully you have a better alternative this week.

Boone's projection: 36 rushing yards, 9 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• LeSean McCoy vs. Vikings
• Duke Johnson at Jaguars
• Ronald Jones/Peyton Barber at Seahawks

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

vs. Browns

Joe Amon/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Denver Post / Getty

Sutton is in the midst of a breakout campaign (WR13 in PPR leagues) and has delivered for fantasy owners almost every week in 2019. However, his consistency and overall fantasy ceiling are about to take a hit with fourth-year backup quarterback Brandon Allen making his first start in place of an injured Joe Flacco. On top of the downgrade at QB, Sutton will also have to contend with coverage from star Browns corner Denzel Ward this week, pushing him down the ranks into the WR3 range.

Boone's projection: 45 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• Terry McLaurin at Bills
• Alshon Jeffery vs. Bears
• Jarvis Landry at Broncos

Jimmy Graham, Packers

at Chargers

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

As I said last week, with the tight-end position a wasteland beyond the top seven or eight options, it's hard to recommend sitting many players, especially with bye weeks in full swing. So depending on your desperation level, you may have no choice but to roll with Graham. The reason he's worth fading this week is due to his up-and-down production in a Packers offense that's finding its stride and a matchup with a Chargers defense that's quietly limited tight ends despite an endless string of injuries. The Bolts are giving up the 11th-fewest fantasy points to the position. Graham's been held to 20 yards or fewer in two of his last three games, making him hard to trust in your lineup.

Boone's projection: 34 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Jason Witten at Giants
• Ben Watson at Ravens
• Trey Burton at Eagles

StashJosh Reynolds, RamsMediaNews Group/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images / Digital First Media / Getty

The Rams are on their bye, which explains why Reynolds is still just 1% owned in fantasy leagues. Brandin Cooks, who has a history with concussions, suffered his second of the season in Week 8. Cooks is visiting a specialist during his week off, but his availability is now in doubt for Week 10 and beyond. Reynolds is the next man up and has flashed potential in relief duty in the past, especially as a red-zone weapon.

Rex Burkhead, PatriotsBrett Carlsen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It's funny how the fantasy season ebbs and flows. Early in the year, Burkhead was cracking starting lineups as he outproduced Sony Michel. Then an injury sidelined the veteran for nearly a month, before he returned to a backup role in Week 8. With Burkhead healthy, he needs to be owned in more than just 11% of leagues. An injury to Michel or James White would make Burkhead a startable fantasy asset.

QuitO.J. Howard, BuccaneersReinhold Matay / USA TODAY Sports

Howard being a fantasy bust has been one of the most bizarre outcomes of the 2019 season and one of the few complete misses on my ledger this year. Though he's made some boneheaded plays at times, Howard remains one of the highest upside real-life tight ends. It's too bad the Bucs didn't decide to move him when other teams showed interest at the NFL trade deadline. As it stands, Howard, who is still occupying a spot on 39% of fantasy rosters, is likely going to miss another game due to his hamstring injury. It's time to let him go if you haven't already.

Chase Edmonds, CardinalsRalph Freso / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Edmonds is dealing with a hamstring issue that could keep him out through the team's Week 12 bye. Meanwhile, David Johnson is listed as day-to-day, making him likely to beat Edmonds back to the field. Johnson could form a two-man committee with Kenyan Drake, who just rattled off 110 rushing yards, 52 receiving yards, and a touchdown against one of the best defenses in the league Thursday night. Until everyone's healthy, we won't know how Kliff Kingsbury plans to deploy his three talented backs, but with Drake's performance and Johnson nearing a return, Edmonds can be dropped in favor of more immediate help.

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