Last week, we talked about the importance of eliminating overthinking when it comes to fantasy decision-making. In Week 7, Aaron Rodgers squared up with the lowly Oakland Raiders pass defense. But because Davante Adams was sidelined, some fantasy managers went against the numbers, opting to play another signal-caller ahead of Rodgers.
You probably remember what happened next: Rodgers amassed 429 passing yards and six total touchdowns, as he flourished against Oakland’s miserable pass rush. The matchup made it clear as day that an explosive performance was forthcoming.
But therein lies the fantasy conundrum: sometimes the matchup is deceiving. For example, in Week 8, Mike Evans went up against the Titans’ strong pass defense. The matchup sure didn’t look favorable. And then Evans had a casual 11 catches, 198 yards, and two touchdowns. If you put Evans on your bench because of the matchup, you played yourself.
The lesson here is clear: when it comes to a certain caliber of player (Rodgers, Evans, etc.), always play him. No matter what. It becomes less clear when you’re talking about guys on the next tier (Le’Veon Bell, Jared Goff, DJ Chark, and others of the ilk).
So, which players and storylines will define Week 9 of the 2019 NFL season? We’re here to give you a heads-up on what might unfold.
Below, we lay out players who are must-starts and must-sits for your fantasy lineup, based on variables such as opponent strength, recent trends, and injuries.
If you’d like to keep tabs on how we’ve been performing, check out our picks for Week 8.