Week 9

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Last week the Dolphins surprised the Bills, the Giants outlasted the Steelers, the Titans stayed perfect against the Colts, and the Chargers and Saints put on an offensive show on the other side of the Atlantic. This week has its own share of good matchups, featuring divisional matchups such as Cowboys-Giants and Bills-Jets. We will also get to see a New England-Indianapolis Sunday Night game that may have lost some of the luster it had in recent years, and a matchup between current AFC and NFC heavyweights when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Monday Night. What players will lead their teams with big games in Week 9? Our Cafe rankers have their opinions… see for yourself!

Our rating system is based on two sets of rankings. The first set is a value between 1-20, given based on a player’s Fantasy Value If Playing (FVIP). The second set is that player’s Playing Probability (PP). These two sets are thrown into a giant machine, twisted around a little, mixed up, sorted, resorted, then eventually darts are thrown at the results. If you require any further help, our start/sit forum is top notch. You will find quick replies to your questions there and many eager helpers!

Quarterbacks	Team	Opp.	FVIH	PP	Value
Kurt Warner	ARI	at STL	20.00	100%	20.00
Jay Cutler	DEN	MIA	18.00	100%	18.00
Kyle Orton	CHI	DET	17.67	100%	17.67
Matt Schaub	HOU	at MIN	17.33	100%	17.33
Donovan McNabb	PHI	at SEA	17.00	100%	17.00
Peyton Manning	IND	NE	16.67	100%	16.67
Eli Manning	NYG	DAL	16.33	100%	16.33
Jeff Garcia	TB	at KC	16.00	100%	16.00
Chad Pennington	MIA	at DEN	16.00	100%	16.00
David Garrard	JAX	at CIN	15.67	100%	15.67
Brett Favre	NYJ	at BUF	15.33	100%	15.33
Marc Bulger	STL	ARI	15.00	100%	15.00
Trent Edwards	BUF	NYJ	14.33	100%	14.33
Aaron Rodgers	GB	at TEN	14.00	100%	14.00
Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	at WAS	14.00	100%	14.00
Matt Ryan	ATL	at OAK	14.00	100%	14.00
Gus Frerotte	MIN	HOU	13.67	100%	13.67
Matt Cassel	NE	at IND	13.33	100%	13.33
Jason Campbell	WAS	PIT	12.33	100%	12.33
Joe Flacco	BAL	at CLE	11.33	100%	11.33
JaMarcus Russell	OAK	ATL	11.33	100%	11.33
Dan Orlovsky	DET	at CHI	10.67	100%	10.67
Seneca Wallace	SEA	PHI	10.67	100%	10.67
Derek Anderson	CLE	BAL	10.00	100%	10.00
Ryan Fitzpatrick	CIN	JAX	10.00	100%	10.00
Brad Johnson	DAL	at NYG	9.33	100%	9.33
Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	PHI	14.00	13%	1.87
Carson Palmer	CIN	JAX	15.67	0%	0.00

Start: Kyle Orton (Rank: 17.67) – Kyle Orton 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).

Sit: Jason Campbell (Rank: 12.33) – Campbell 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 matchup 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.
 

Running Backs	Team	Opp.	FVIH	PP	Value
Brian Westbrook	PHI	at SEA	19.33	100%	19.33
Adrian Peterson	MIN	HOU	19.00	100%	19.00
Matt Forte	CHI	DET	18.67	100%	18.67
Ronnie Brown	MIA	at DEN	18.00	100%	18.00
Brandon Jacobs	NYG	DAL	16.33	100%	16.33
Maurice Jones-Drew	JAX	at CIN	16.00	100%	16.00
Earnest Graham	TB	at KC	16.00	100%	16.00
Chris Johnson	TEN	GB	16.00	100%	16.00
Michael Turner	ATL	at OAK	16.00	100%	16.00
Marion Barber	DAL	at NYG	15.67	100%	15.67
Marshawn Lynch	BUF	NYJ	15.67	100%	15.67
Willis McGahee	BAL	at CLE	15.33	100%	15.33
Steven Jackson	STL	ARI	17.33	83%	14.44
LenDale White	TEN	GB	14.33	100%	14.33
Thomas Jones	NYJ	at BUF	14.33	100%	14.33
Clinton Portis	WAS	PIT	14.33	97%	13.86
Mewelde Moore	PIT	at WAS	13.67	100%	13.67
Tim Hightower	ARI	at STL	13.67	100%	13.67
Dominic Rhodes	IND	NE	13.00	100%	13.00
Edgerrin James	ARI	at STL	13.00	100%	13.00
Kevin Faulk	NE	at IND	13.00	100%	13.00
Steve Slaton	HOU	at MIN	12.67	100%	12.67
Ryan Grant	GB	at TEN	12.33	100%	12.33
Justin Fargas	OAK	ATL	12.33	100%	12.33
Michael Pittman	DEN	MIA	12.00	100%	12.00
Benjarvis Green-Ellis	NE	at IND	12.00	100%	12.00
Warrick Dunn	TB	at KC	12.00	93%	11.20
Jamal Lewis	CLE	BAL	11.00	100%	11.00
Ricky Williams	MIA	at DEN	10.67	100%	10.67
Julius Jones	SEA	PHI	10.33	100%	10.33
Leon Washington	NYJ	at BUF	10.33	100%	10.33
Fred Taylor	JAX	at CIN	10.33	100%	10.33
Chester Taylor	MIN	HOU	10.00	100%	10.00
Ahman Green	HOU	at MIN	9.67	100%	9.67
Joseph Addai	IND	NE	15.00	63%	9.50
LeRon McClain	BAL	at CLE	9.33	100%	9.33
Derrick Ward	NYG	DAL	9.00	100%	9.00
Cedric Benson	CIN	JAX	9.00	100%	9.00
Ryan Torrain	DEN	MIA	9.00	100%	9.00
Rudi Johnson	DET	at CHI	9.00	100%	9.00
Jerious Norwood	ATL	at OAK	8.33	100%	8.33
Antonio Pittman	STL	ARI	8.67	93%	8.09
Kevin Smith	DET	at CHI	8.00	100%	8.00
Darren McFadden	OAK	ATL	10.00	80%	8.00
Michael Bush	OAK	ATL	7.33	100%	7.33
Correll Buckhalter	PHI	at SEA	7.00	100%	7.00
Ray Rice	BAL	at CLE	7.00	100%	7.00
Willie Parker	PIT	at WAS	14.00	50%	7.00
Brandon Jackson	GB	at TEN	6.67	100%	6.67
Felix Jones	DAL	at NYG	11.33	10%	1.13
Sammy Morris	NE	at IND	15.00	7%	1.00
Larry Johnson	KC	TB	13.67	0%	0.00
Laurence Maroney	NE	at IND	13.00	0%	0.00

Start: Earnest Graham (Rank: 16.00) – 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 allowed 14 rushing touchdowns to their opponents in 7 games. Ouch.

Sit: Steve Slaton (Rank: 12.67) – 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.

Wide Receivers	Team	Opp.	FVIH	PP	Value
Anquan Boldin	ARI	at STL	20.00	100%	20.00
Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at STL	19.67	100%	19.67
Andre Johnson	HOU	at MIN	19.00	100%	19.00
Brandon Marshall	DEN	MIA	18.33	100%	18.33
Reggie Wayne	IND	NE	18.00	100%	18.00
Plaxico Burress	NYG	DAL	17.33	100%	17.33
Calvin Johnson	DET	at CHI	17.33	100%	17.33
Bernard Berrian	MIN	HOU	17.00	100%	17.00
Lee Evans	BUF	NYJ	17.00	100%	17.00
DeSean Jackson	PHI	at SEA	17.00	100%	17.00
Roddy White	ATL	at OAK	16.67	100%	16.67
Randy Moss	NE	at IND	16.33	100%	16.33
Donnie Avery	STL	ARI	16.33	100%	16.33
Greg Jennings	GB	at TEN	16.00	100%	16.00
Antonio Bryant	TB	at KC	15.00	100%	15.00
Laveranues Coles	NYJ	at BUF	15.00	100%	15.00
Ted Ginn Jr.	MIA	at DEN	15.00	100%	15.00
T.J. Houshmandzadeh	CIN	JAX	15.00	100%	15.00
Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	at BUF	14.67	100%	14.67
Kevin Walter	HOU	at MIN	14.67	100%	14.67
Eddie Royal	DEN	MIA	14.33	100%	14.33
Dwayne Bowe	KC	TB	14.33	100%	14.33
Hines Ward	PIT	at WAS	14.33	100%	14.33
Wes Welker	NE	at IND	14.00	100%	14.00
Santana Moss	WAS	PIT	14.67	93%	13.69
Greg Camarillo	MIA	at DEN	13.67	100%	13.67
Braylon Edwards	CLE	BAL	13.67	100%	13.67
Steve Breaston	ARI	at STL	13.67	100%	13.67
Terrell Owens	DAL	at NYG	13.67	100%	13.67
Reggie Williams	JAX	at CIN	13.33	100%	13.33
Derrick Mason	BAL	at CLE	12.33	100%	12.33
Bobby Wade	MIN	HOU	12.00	100%	12.00
Nate Washington	PIT	at WAS	12.00	100%	12.00
Joey Galloway	TB	at KC	12.00	100%	12.00
Devin Hester	CHI	DET	14.00	83%	11.67
Brandon Stokley	DEN	MIA	11.33	100%	11.33
Rashied Davis	CHI	DET	11.33	100%	11.33
Donald Driver	GB	at TEN	11.33	100%	11.33
Antwaan Randle El	WAS	PIT	11.33	100%	11.33
Marty Booker	CHI	DET	11.00	100%	11.00
Bobby Engram	SEA	PHI	11.00	100%	11.00
Marvin Harrison	IND	NE	11.00	100%	11.00
Javon Walker	OAK	ATL	11.00	100%	11.00
Chansi Stuckey	NYJ	at BUF	10.67	100%	10.67
Chad Ocho Cinco	CIN	JAX	10.67	100%	10.67
Roy Williams	DAL	at NYG	10.33	100%	10.33
Steve Smith	NYG	DAL	10.00	100%	10.00
Torry Holt	STL	ARI	10.00	100%	10.00
Reggie Brown	PHI	at SEA	10.00	100%	10.00
Kevin Curtis	PHI	at SEA	14.00	70%	9.80
Michael Jenkins	ATL	at OAK	9.67	100%	9.67
Matt Jones	JAX	at CIN	15.33	60%	9.20
Santonio Holmes	PIT	at WAS	13.67	67%	9.11
Anthony Gonzalez	IND	NE	8.67	100%	8.67
Justin Gage	TEN	GB	8.67	100%	8.67
Amani Toomer	NYG	DAL	8.33	100%	8.33
Brandon Jones	TEN	GB	8.00	100%	8.00
Hank Baskett	PHI	at SEA	7.67	100%	7.67
Patrick Crayton	DAL	at NYG	7.67	100%	7.67
Sidney Rice	MIN	HOU	7.33	100%	7.33
Chris Henry	CIN	JAX	7.00	100%	7.00
Jabar Gaffney	NE	at IND	5.33	100%	5.33

Start: Desean Jackson (Rank: 17.00) – Although just a rookie, Jackson has proven to be an explosive, and even somewhat consistent, fantasy threat. He’s only had two games under 70 yards and those were both against defenses much better than the Seattle defense he will face this week (Pittsburgh and Washington). The Seahawks have the 30th ranked passing defense and have allowed 11 passing touchdowns this season. This may be the week that Jackson catches his second career touchdown pass.

Sit: Roy Williams (Rank: 10.33) – 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 downfield. Even when he does, I suspect TO will be the recipient of the majority of these passes.

Tight Ends	Team	Opp.	FVIH	PP	Value
Greg Olsen	CHI	DET	16.33	100%	16.33
Dallas Clark	IND	NE	16.00	100%	16.00
Owen Daniels	HOU	at MIN	15.67	100%	15.67
Tony Gonzalez	KC	TB	15.67	100%	15.67
Chris Cooley	WAS	PIT	14.67	100%	14.67
Anthony Fasano	MIA	at DEN	14.33	100%	14.33
John Carlson	SEA	PHI	13.67	100%	13.67
Kellen Winslow	CLE	BAL	13.33	100%	13.33
Zach Miller	OAK	ATL	12.67	100%	12.67
Alex Smith	TB	at KC	12.33	100%	12.33
Bo Scaife	TEN	GB	12.33	100%	12.33
Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	HOU	12.00	100%	12.00
Desmond Clark	CHI	DET	12.00	100%	12.00
Robert Royal	BUF	NYJ	11.67	100%	11.67
Donald Lee	GB	at TEN	11.67	100%	11.67
Kevin Boss	NYG	DAL	10.67	100%	10.67
Heath Miller	PIT	at WAS	10.67	100%	10.67
Tony Scheffler	DEN	MIA	15.00	70%	10.50
Dustin Keller	NYJ	at BUF	10.33	100%	10.33
Marcedes Lewis	JAX	at CIN	10.33	100%	10.33
L.J. Smith	PHI	at SEA	14.33	70%	10.03
Jason Witten	DAL	at NYG	16.00	60%	9.60
Alge Crumpler	TEN	GB	8.67	100%	8.67
Ben Watson	NE	at IND	8.33	100%	8.33
Todd Heap	BAL	at CLE	7.33	100%	7.33
Chris Baker	NYJ	at BUF	7.33	83%	6.11

Start: Dallas Clark (Rank: 16.00) – Clark had his breakout game last week, scoring his first two touchdowns of the season against the Tennessee Titans. Peyton Manning still looked off connecting with his other receivers, but it seems his timing with Clark is back. Clark tends to string big games together, so I look for good production from him this week.

Sit: Jason Witten (Rank: 9.60) – The Cowboys’ star tight end fractured a rib last week against Tampa Bay and his status is questionable this week. Start looking for a temporary replacement for Witten in your starting lineup. Even if Witten does manage to gut it out and play this week, a tough matchup against the Giants with a broken rib is not a very favorable one.

Start: Stephen Gostkowski (Rank: 18.00) – Gostkowski has made 16 of his 17 field goal attempts this year, and has scored double digit points in 3 of his last 4 games. The Colts have given up the 4th most field goals in the NFL this season. Looks like a good matchup for the Pats’ kicker.

Sit: Matt Stover (Rank: 11.66) – It has been a tough year for the usually reliable Stover. He has made only 9 of his 12 attempts, including a worrisome 1/4 from 40+ yards. The Ravens do not usually give Stover a lot of chances, and they play on the road this week against a Cleveland defense that has somehow allowed only four field goals all year.

Start: Jacksonville Jaguars (Rank: 15.67) – The Jags’ defense has not played at quite the level they have in recent years, but they draw one of the worst offenses in the league this week in the Bengals. Cincinnati’s quarterback and running back situations are both still a mess. The Bengals are scoring a league-low 13 points a game. Get Jacksonville in your starting lineup.

Sit: Arizona Cardinals (Rank: 12.67) – Four weeks ago the Cardinals’ defense would have looked like a good start against the winless St. Louis Rams. But since then the Rams have made an impressive turn-around, winning 2 of their next 3 games. The offense has woken up, and Marc Bulger is now finding Torry Holt and rookie wideout Donnie Avery for big gains. Standout runningback Steven Jackson should be back on the field this week as well after sitting out last week’s game against the Patriots. The Rams are no longer a team to be taken lightly, and as such, you should find a different matchup to exploit this week.
 

 
Many thanks to the people who helped put this together: treat24, utility-hook, Amuk, WaCougMBS, and Dan Lambskin who helped with the rankings! If you would like to help with the rankings you can do so here each week.