Start vs. Sit: Who to Play, Who to Bench Week 9

Welcome to the Week 9 installment of our Start vs. Sit series where we have a number of intriguing matchups that make for tough lineup decisions. Games like LSU vs. Auburn, Michigan vs. Notre Dame and Ohio State vs. Michigan have playoff implications along with major fantasy relevance. Will elite defense defeat elite offensive talent? Can the likes of Jonathan Taylor bounce back against Ohio State's top-rated defense? Let's explore this week's toughest lineup decisions in each conference. 

START

Jordan Cronkrite, RB, South Florida at East Carolina

Cronkrite has been one of the few bright spots for the Bulls this season, especially lately. He ranks third in the conference in rushing yards per game in October (127.3) and is doing so on 6.0 yards per carry. This week he faces East Carolina, which allows the second-most rushing yards per game in conference among AAC teams, giving up 249.6 rushing yards per game. The only run defense in the AAC that's worse is, in fact, South Florida. So we have a collision course between a red-hot running back seeing 21.0 carries per game in October going up against a porous run defense. Advantage, Cronkrite. 

SIT

Isaiah Wright, WR, Temple vs. Central Florida

Temple's offense is surprisingly up-tempo (78.0 plays per game) and pass-heavy (38 attempts per game). Wright is getting in on the action for his part, seeing 8.9 targets per game. However, he has to compete for targets with Jadan Blue and Branden Mack, both of whom have higher target volume and YPT production. The matchup itself is also reason for pause; Central Florida ranks 24th in defensive S&P+ and gives up just 212 passing yards per game. The volume should continue to be there for Wright, but if you're in standard formats, his per-target production and lack of touchdown upside in a tough matchup make him a risky play in Week 9.

ACC

START

Tamorrion Terry, WR, Florida State vs. Syracuse

Terry continues to post consistent production despite shaky surroundings. Florida State averages 7.5 yards per pass attempt. When targeting Terry, Florida State averages 9.5 yards per pass attempt. He also has more than one-third of the Seminoles receiving touchdowns (6). 

A home matchup against Syracuse, which allows over 9.0 YPT to receivers, sets up extremely well for Terry even if there is chaos going on around him at quarterback. 

SIT

Chatarius Atwell, WR, Louisville

Louisville has come a long way in Year 1 under Scott Satterfield, and Atwell is one of the breakout performers, having racked up 546 yards and six touchdowns on 60 targets (9.1 YPT). A matchup against Virginia could be a bump in the road, though. 

Virginia ranks 14th in S&P+ and allows just 174 passing yards per game. The Cavaliers also rank second in the ACC in points allowed per game to wide receivers (14.6 in standard scoring). With Atwell catching a relatively low 58 percent of his targets, the likelihood of him having a clear path to a strong performance is rather low. 

BIG 12

START

Brennan Eagles, WR, Texas at TCU

This might come across as reactionary after Eagles busted out of a recent slump for 76 yards and a touchdown against Kansas on Saturday. Eagles is more than just a one-game wonder, though, and there's room for him in this offense even with Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson. 

Eagles (6-foot-4, 225) is yet another matchup nightmare who averaged 10.0 YPT before Saturday's game against the Jayhawks. That he was able to draw eight targets while Johnson and Duvernay combined for 20 targets shows that several receivers can eat in this offense with Sam Ehlinger at the helm. TCU ranks 32nd in S&P+ and gives up just 181 passing yards per game, but I give the edge to the Texas passing game, of which Eagles is becoming an increasingly important part.

SIT

Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State

The turnovers are starting to pile up at an alarming rate. I have no doubt that Sanders is the quarterback of the future in Stillwater, but it may be time to push pause on the hype until he starts to figure things out. 

Sanders has a 4:8 TD:INT in four conference games and has committed multiple turnovers in each conference game for a grand total of 12 giveaways in 160 minutes of game action. Heading up to Ames to face an Iowa State defense that ranks 17th in S&P+ is not a "get right" situation. Sanders ranks outside of our top 25 among quarterbacks this week and is worth considering for a bench spot, even in Power 5-only leagues. 

BIG TEN

START

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin at Ohio State

Ohio State has the No.1-rated defense in S&P+. It gives up — and I'm not exaggerating here — 0.3 yards per carry. Only Nebraska has averaged more than 4.5 YPC in a single game against the Buckeyes, and that is partially because Nebraska moved the ball in the second half after Ohio State had effectively put the game away. This game is also in Columbus, one of the toughest venues in college football. So this is Taylor's toughest test to date in 2019. 

Still, we're talking about Jonathan Taylor. Are you really going to bench him? You would need to have an almost unfair amount of running back depth to justify sitting Taylor this week, and even then I might question your decision. Taylor leads the nation in touchdowns from scrimmage among skill position players with 19, and his 15 rushing scores are tied for tops in the nation alongside Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard. He also ranks ninth in the nation in YPC among running backs with at least 100 attempts (6.10). We're also seeing Taylor get a ton of run in conference play, averaging 25 carries per game against Big Ten opponents. Even if Taylor's efficiency drops off Saturday (couldn't fault him for that), we're still going to see a heavy dose of arguably the nation's top running back. It may not be a vintage Taylor game in terms of production, but it should still fall well within the range of start-worthy.

SIT

Zach Charbonnet, RB, Michigan vs. Notre Dame

The bottom-line production with Charbonnet is tough to argue. He has seven rushing touchdowns, which is tied for second among Big Ten running backs. He also has a hold on the No. 1 role in the Michigan backfield with a 34 percent rushing share that is nearly double any other Wolverines rusher. But when Charbonnet averages just 4.8 YPC, it's fair to argue that his production has been touchdown dependent to this point. 

Notre Dame gives up an average of 1.0 rushing touchdowns per game, with just one such rushing score in the last three games. The Irish are also coming off a bye and will be rested and ready for this smashmouth Michigan offense. If Charbonnet doesn't find the end zone, starting him could mean being stuck with single-digit points from one of your starting running backs this week. 

CONFERENCE USA

START

Anthony Jones, RB, Florida International at Middle Tennessee

Jones has a firm grasp on the No. 1 role in Florida International's backfield, meaning that he's primed to see a heavy workload against one of the nation's worst defenses Saturday. Middle Tennessee ranks 118th in defensive S&P+ and coughs up 222 rushing yards per game. Jones, meanwhile, has seen no less than 15 carries in each of the last three games and has averaged 6.5 YPC in that span. This is a huge spot for Jones, and we expect him deliver one of his biggest performances of the season. 

SIT

Isaiah Green, QB, Marshall vs. Western Kentucky

The Hilltoppers continue to impress defensively, holding each of their last four opponents to 14 points or less. They've been especially tough on quarterbacks, too, allowing just 13.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Green struggles with accuracy (57 percent completion rate) and his six interceptions are tied for third most in Conference USA. Green can run a bit (247 rushing yards) and that helps bolster his floor, but overall this is not a spot where he's projected to post starter-worthy production.

MAC

START

Tre Harbison, RB, Northern Illinois vs. Akron

This is another situation where we have a quality running back with a heavy workload going against a poor defense. Harbison owns a 55 percent share of the rushes and has gotten at least 20 carries in three consecutive games. He produced 83 yards and no touchdowns on 26 carries against Miami (Oh) in Week 8, whose run defense is in the bottom third of the MAC. Don't jump ship just yet, though. 

Akron has the 105th-rated defense in S&P+ and gives up 198 rushing yards per game. Harbison seeing upward of 25 rushes against that defense should result in a bounce-back game.

SIT

Quinten Dormady, QB, Central Michigan at Buffalo

Dormady may be coming off one of his better outings of the season, but I'm not ready to buy in just yet. First of all, his 295-yard outing in Week 8 came against Bowling Green, which has a worse defense than aforementioned Akron, checking in at 119th in S&P+. Now he goes on the road to face a Buffalo defense that allows the least fantasy points to quarterbacks in the MAC. Unless you're really in a bye-week pinch, Dormady deserves a spot on your bench in Week 9.

MOUNTAIN WEST

START

Juwan Washington, RB, San Diego State at UNLV

After a slow start, Johnson has rounded into form since the bye with three games above 75 rushing yards and touchdowns in back-to-back outings. This week he gets to face a sieve of a UNLV defense that gives up 5.7 YPC. Washington hasn't hit the 100-yard mark yet this season. Look for that to change Saturday.

SIT

Elijah Cooks, WR, Nevada at Wyoming

A matchup at Wyoming is already tough enough, but going there in the midst of a continually revolving quarterback carousel makes it even tougher for Nevada. Malik Henry is away from the team, leaving Carson Strong to take back over at quarterback for the Wolf Pack. Strong is experienced, having started the first three games of the season and threw for 683 yards and three touchdowns in that stretch. Cooks was effective in that stretch, racking up 14 receptions and catching two of Strong's three touchdowns. 

Cooks has a modest 6.9 YPT this year and hasn't found the end zone in any of his last three games. When the YPT is that low, touchdowns are necessary to offset the low yardage. Facing a Wyoming defense that allows just one passing touchdown per game doesn't project to help Cooks break out of that scoreless slump. 

PAC-12

START

Kedon Slovis, QB, USC at Colorado

Slovis has shown some serious promise since returning from injury in Week 7, completing 68.3 percent of his passes for 487 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions against Notre Dame and Arizona. He's going to be relied upon even more than usual this week with USC's backfield completely banged up and without Vavae Malepeai and Markese Stepp out and Stephen Carr banged up. And a high passing volume against Colorado's defense should result in one of Slovis' best outings of the season. The Buffs surrender 316 passing yards per game and rank an embarrassing 111th in S&P+ on defense. 

SIT

Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State

I'm hunting big game here, suggesting that you bench one of college football's preeminent fantasy beasts, a Washington State quarterback. And Gordon has been nothing short of spectacular this season, leading the nation in passing yards and passing touchdowns (29) through seven games. Only the great Jalen Hurts averages more fantasy points per game. So why are we sitting him this week? 

Simple. Oregon's defense.

Oregon ranks eighth overall in S&P+ defense and 11th in RotoWire's defensive efficiency metric. The Ducks have allowed just 4.8 points per game at home this season. It hasn't exactly been a murderer's row there, but a four-game sample is a four-game sample and when we don't have the luxury of time to decide whether a trend is real or bunk, that's a good enough sample for me. 

Touchdowns will be the key. We know Gordon will be throwing it upward of 50 times Saturday, so the yardage will be there even if it's not up to his usual efficiency. But relying on touchdowns from a quarterback facing the Ducks has been a losing proposition this season. Oregon has allowed six passing scores in seven games while recording 12 picks, which ranks second in the nation. Gordon's bottom line could look eerily similar to his outing at Utah when he went 30-for-49 for 252 yards, one touchdown and two picks. 

SEC

START

Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State

Mond disappointed against Mississippi last weekend, mustering just 248 yards of total offense and one touchdown while also committing two turnovers. This weekend he returns home to face a reeling Mississippi State defense, making this an opportunity for Mond that last weekend was a fluke. 

Mond has been a different quarterback at home, too. He averages 277.5 yards per game on 7.6 YPA at Kyle Field, and holds a 8:2 TD:INT there as well. On the road his passing goes down to 219 yards on 6.3 YPA while posting a 5:4 TD:INT. So the fact that Mond is playing at home is a definite plus. Toss in that Mississippi State has the second-worst passing defense by yards allowed per game among SEC teams in conference play (271) and ranks third-worst in the SEC in QB Rating allowed and we have a great matchup for Mond in Week 9. 

I'd also start my normal Alabama players as usual this week. Najee Harris is in a great spot and while not having Tua hurts the receivers to an extent, going up against Arkansas should help matters. 

SIT

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU vs. Auburn

Auburn has its flaws, but run defense isn't one. It holds rushers to 3.07 yards per carry and 94 rushing yards per game and the defense as a whole ranks sixth in S&P+. This is not to say LSU's offense will struggle to put up points, but this will be its toughest test to date and the run game could go by the wayside if Edwards-Helaire doesn't find traction fast. 

Edwards-Helaire owns a 38 percent share of the rushes in the offense, more than double any other LSU back. But he hasn't gotten more than 15 carries in any game this season, and LSU likely will continue with what's worked offensively, and that means skewing toward the pass. Look for light production from CEH in Week 9.

SUN BELT

START

Tra Barnett, RB, Georgia State vs. Troy

The 5-2 Panthers are favored in a quality Sun Belt matchup against Troy, and Barnett is part of the reason why. Barnett is third in the Sun Belt in rushing yards per game at 98.0 per game, and it's been even better against conference competition, averaging 101 in those outings. Troy ranks 108th in overall S&P+, and while the run defense has been stout, I give Barnett the edge. The fact that quarterback Dan Ellington poses a rushing threat helps prevent the Troy defense from cheating up against Barnett. 

SIT

Cephus Johnson, QB, South Alabama vs. Appalachian State

Appalachian State is a defense I'd want to steer clear of if I have a lot of Sun Belt exposure on my roster. South Alabama players are no exception. The Mountaineers allow just 17.0 points per game to conference foes and have held opponents to 7.0 points per game in each of the last two outings. When Johnson is completing just 53 percent of his passes with a 5.9 YPA, his rushing production needs to be strong to maintain fantasy relevance. Instead, Johnson has just one game with more than 50 rushing yards and hasn't run for a touchdown in either of his last two games. Steer clear of Johnson against this App State defense.