Start 'em/ Sit 'em Week 9 by John Scherer

Start’em

QB’s
Kyle Orton QB, Chicago
He has had a very good year statistically with 10 TDs to only 4 interceptions. He has a great matchup this week against the Lions’ 31st ranked passing defense. Detroit has surrendered 10 passing touchdowns this year and only come up with one interception. Orton also had his best game of the season last time he faced the Lions (334 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs).

Kurt Warner QB, Arizona
Facing the Rams this week should be your typical NFC West shootout. With Boldin & Fitzgerald back in the mix, Warner is a great start!

Chad Pennington QB, Miami
He has managed the Dolphins offense intelligently, and although he is never going impress you by throwing a 40 yard frozen rope, he has achieved marginal starter status this year. He should be a decent start against Denver, as the Broncos continue to have problems defending the pass, and have been typically allowing 254 pass yards per game

RB’s
Ernest Graham RB, Tampa Bay
Graham has lost carries to Warrick Dunn this season, but has still managed to put up decent numbers to this point. He should have the opportunity to make a big fantasy impact this week against the Chiefs, owners of the worst run defense in the league. Kansas City has given up almost 200 rushing yards a game and 14 rushing touchdowns to their opponents in 7 games. Ouch.

Tim Hightower RB, Arizona
He has all but replaced Edgerrin James as #1 RB in Arizona. Look for Hightower to see more touches and end zone carries this Week.

LenDale White RB, Tennessee
He is a goal line beast. When Tennessee gets in the red zone, you can bet that LenDale White will get the ball. Chris Johnson is a beast in himself, but White seems to get the call in the red zone, thus making him the leader in TD’s amongst RB’s w/10. Run LenDale RUN!!!

WR’s
Ted Ginn, Jr. WR, Miami
There is no one in the Bronco’s secondary healthy enough to keep pace with the speedster Ginn. Ginn will be able to run behind this secondary at will, and if Pennington can connect, Ginn should have no problems posting his second career 100 yard receiving game.

Calvin Johnson WR, Detroit
It's hard to believe, but the Chicago Bears are last in the league against the wide receiver position, and have been giving up about 16 catches, and 191 yards per game to opposing wide outs. While Dan Orlovsky is not the ideal guy you want throwing the ball, Johnson should still get enough opportunities this Week to make an impact.

Matt Jones WR, Jacksonville
Jones has seen his targets (and production) go up in three consecutive Weeks accumulating into a 16 target effort in Week 8. That is the type of one-sided dedication I like to see from a QB to a WR. I’m not expecting to see Jones continue to improve on his fantasy performance in Week 9, but I am still seeing him carving out a decent game.

Kevin Curtis WR, Philadelphia
Call this one a gamble but start Curtis this Sunday. Weak match-up vs. Seattle defense. McNabb will look to get him the ball.

Sit’em

QB’s
Jason Campbell QB, Washington
He has a had a better year than anyone expected. He has tossed eight touchdown passes and has yet to throw a single interception. He does not have a great match up this Week against the Steelers, however. The Steelers have the top passing defense in the NFL. This will likely be a defensive, low-scoring affair. Campbell’s job will be to stay mistake free and effective, but he will not necessarily be putting up big numbers.

Derek Anderson QB, Cleveland
The Ravens defense has been equally unforgiving against both the run and the pass this season. Against opposing QBs, they have an average of 196 yards per game, and against opposing RBs, only 55 yards per game. While the Browns offense has been showing some signs of a turnaround in recent Weeks, a matchup against Baltimore has really crimped fantasy prospects for almost all opposing players this year.

Tyler Thigpen QB, Kansas City
Thigpen had a great performance in Week 8. I don’t see that happening again in Week 9. Tampa Bay is great at baiting QBs into turnovers. I expect that to be the case again.

RB’s
Ryan Grant RB, GB
In his last game, Grant had his biggest fantasy game of the season. But, move that thought right out of your head because the Tennessee Titans are a tough group against the run. If you don’t have a reliable starter to throw in there, you can stick with Grant. However, we want you to look over your roster pretty hard before challenging the Titans.

Cedric Benson RB, Cincinnati
Cedric Benson has been playing fairly well as the new Bengals starter, but the Cincinnati offense is in such a state of disarray, it's probably best to steer clear for now. The Jaguars defense is nothing special, so Benson is a decent reach if you need him, but there are likely better options out on the waiver wire.

Steve Slaton RB, Houston
Slaton has been surprisingly (at least to me) effective in his rookie season, but I would not expect much from him this week. The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best run defenses in the NFL. The Vikes allow just over 70 rushing yards per game.

Edgerrin James RB, Arizona
- see Tim Hightower explanation on START’EM list.

WR’s
Roy Williams WR, Dallas
The newest Cowboy wide receiver caught his first touchdown pass with his new team last week, but I would not expect to see him putting up big numbers all of a sudden. The Cowboys still have noodle-armed Brad Johnson at quarterback, and this week they face one of the NFL’s best defenses in the New York Giants. Brad Johnson will have enough to worry about just trying to stay upright. I don’t expect to see him take many shots down field. Even when he does, I suspect TO will be the recipient of the majority of these passes.

Terrell Owens WR, Dallas
Don't hate the player, hate the lack of a quality 2nd string QB that can't get the ball down field. Don't expect much vs. NYG.

Chad Johnson WR, Cincinnati
See above (Terrell Owens).

Steve Breaston WR, Arizona
With Boldin back in the mix, Breaston moves to #3 WR. Less targets.