Start vs. Sit: Players to Start, Players to Bench for Week 9

Last week, the Big Ten began its season. We saw things expected (Ohio State dominating), intriguing (Michigan's run game), and alarming (seven turnovers from Michigan State). What can we expect from Week 9, not just for the Big Ten but all the conferences in action this week? Here are some guys to start, some guys to sit, and a look at the fun to be had in Week 9.

AAC

START

Gerrid Doaks, RB, Cincinnati vs. Memphis

I don't know if I've ever referred to a defense as eye-wateringly bad, but Memphis has put up defensive numbers that at least give me a little sting from the ocular region. The Tigers have allowed 567.8 yards per game, most in the FBS, to go along with 33.0 points. Doaks has been excellent in the run game for the Bearcats, primarily in terms of his six rushing touchdowns. Memphis has allowed 440.3 yards per contest through the air, so you like think Doaks won't be as involves. Ah, but though he's a running back, the senior has 135 yards and two touchdowns in the passing game.

SIT

Brady White, QB, Memphis at Cincinnati

I'm flipping this matchup around because Cincy's defense under Luke Fickell is dominant. The Bearcats have allowed a mere 12.5 points and 302.5 yards per game. That includes only giving up 182.5 passing yards per contest. Granted, that includes a game against Army, but Cincinnati held SMU to a mere 13 points last week, and that offense is no joke. White has been stellar, but on the road at Cincy is a tough spot to be in.

ACC

START

Jaquarii Roberson, WR, Wake Forest at Syracuse

Both of these defenses have been generous, so this could be a high-scoring game, but Wake certainly has the better end of things. Syracuse has allowed 479.7 yards per game after giving up 493.7 last season. A porous defense isn't new to the Orange. Roberson only has one touchdown so far, but he's been the clear top target for Wake's passing game. He's notched 26 catches for 360 yards through five games.

SIT

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College at Clemson

In the past, Boston College has been more run-focused, but this season it's about the passing game. Flowers is off to a hot start with 29 catches for 473 yards and four touchdowns. That's through six games, though, including a game against Texas State and an overtime outing against Pittsburgh. Of course, this is really about Clemson's defense. The Tigers have given up a mere 13.5 points per contest, so I don't expect Flowers to end up in the end zone Saturday.

Big 12

START

Kene Nwangwu, RB, Iowa State at Kansas

This is a bit of a gamble, but hear me out. Nwangwu is the backup to Breece Hall, but you don't need me to tell you that starting Hall is a smart bit of business. That's true in any matchup, let alone a game against the Jayhawks. I'm thinking this game could be a blowout, which could mean more time for Nwangwu. He's done well in limited carries, as the senior has averaged 6.9 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns. This is a bit of a deep pull, but it could pay off big time.

SIT

Joshua Moore, WR, Texas at Oklahoma State

Sam Ehlinger is good enough to be basically matchup proof, but that's not true of all his weapons. Moore has six touchdowns through the air, but on 21 catches, which is a rate of return that is hard to keep up. Oklahoma State's defense is stout, as the Cowboys have only allowed 12.0 points per game, and only one team has scored more than 13 points on them so far. The Cowboys have also been rigid against pass offense (176.0 passing yards allowed per game).

Big Ten

START

Peyton Ramsey, QB, Northwestern at Iowa

I think I'm ready to believe in Northwestern's offense under Mike Bajakian and new starting quarterback, the transfer Ramsey. Maryland is going to be really bad, but it's still notable that Ramsey went 23-for-30 for 212 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 47 yards and a score. Iowa's defense looked a little iffy against a Purdue team without Jeff Brohm or Rondale Moore around. The Hawkeyes gave up 24 points, including three passing touchdowns, and 282 yards through the air.

SIT

Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State vs. Ohio State

Usually, Freiermuth is one of the rare tight ends you can rely on in college fantasy football. He's a fine NFL prospect. I do not recommend starting players against Ohio State if you can avoid it this season. The Buckeyes allowed a mere 260.0 yards per game last season and only gave up 160 yards through the air to Nebraska in their opener.

Conference USA

START

Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas at UTEP

If you're in the know, this is a clear choice, but you may not be in the know. No judgment, given that the Mean Green are a 2-3 Conference USA team. However, Darden may be the top receiver in the country from a fantasy perspective, especially if you are getting points per reception. Darden has 46 catches for 689 yards and 10 touchdowns. In five games. You really want to get to know Darden for fantasy purposes.

SIT

Aaron McAllister, RB, Charlotte at Duke

After a slow start to the season, McAllister has 208 yards and three touchdowns over his last two games. That being said, that's only two games out of four, and those first two games still count. Duke's defense has been middling, it has allowed 400.5 total yards per game, but that's playing an ACC schedule. Usually, an ACC defense can handle a Conference USA offense.

MAC

The MAC starts next week! Although, every game is on a Wednesday, so that's going to be weird for fantasy purposes.

Mountain West

START

Nick Starkel, QB, SJSU vs. New Mexico

Starkel, a transfer from Arkansas, just made his debut as the Spartans' starter. It was a tough matchup with Air Force, but he still threw for two touchdowns (and one pick) in a win. New Mexico will be an easier matchup. The Lobos couldn't play last week due to a postponement, but last season they gave up 479.4 yards per game. This should be an easier outing for Starkel.

SIT

Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State vs. San Diego State

Warren impressed against Boise State in the opener, rushing for 89 yards and two touchdowns. However, that took 23 carries. The Aztecs only allowed 186 yards in their opener, and only 80 yards rushing. This is not new, as San Diego State ceded a mere 298.6 yards per game last season. I could easily see Warren getting shut down completely against the Aztecs

Pac-12

One more week until the Pac is back!

SEC

START

Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn vs. LSU

Bigsby is a promising freshman who has become the lead back for the Tigers over the last three weeks. In that time, he's run for over 100 yards in each game and notched three touchdowns. LSU looked better last week, but its defense still allowed 24 points to South Carolina. I trust Bigsby against the Tigers, because LSU hasn't proven that its slow start defensively is a fluke.

SIT

George Pickens, WR, Georgia at Kentucky

Pickens came into the year with a lot of promise and buzz, but so far he hasn't lived up to it. The sophomore only has 13 catches for 140 yards and made as much noise for squirting water on a Tennessee player as anything he's done while playing. Kentucky has a tough defense, especially against the pass. The Wildcats have only allowed 228.2 yards per game through the air, and that's with playing an overtime game against Ole Miss.

Sun Belt

START

Elijah Mitchell, RB, Louisiana at Texas State

Mitchell has a reputation that proceeds him. He rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time last season, and he had 17 total touchdowns after having 16 in 2018. The senior already has four touchdowns even though he missed a game. There's plenty of touches to go around in the Louisiana run game, and Texas State has allowed 34.6 points per contest thus far.

SIT

Josh Johnson, RB, ULM vs. Appalachian State

Last season, Johnson rushed for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns. Just as importantly, he averaged 6.5 yards per carry. This year? Johnson has averaged a mere 3.3 yards per carry, and that's through six games. This isn't a small sample size at this point. I don't know what's happened, but it's definitely discouraging. App State's defense is traditionally formidable, and this year its allowed 18.8 points per contest.