Fantasy Football: Titan Sized Staff Predictions – Week 9
By Jason Peters
Hello everybody and welcome to another week of fantasy football advice from the best Tennessee Titans fan site on the internet, humbly speaking of course. From here on out, it will be just David Fleming and myself, Jason Peters, but we’ll make sure you guys stay on course with 100% accurate* fantasy football advice for you. Let’s take a look at how we did previously before we launch forward into the future!
*Fantasy advice is not 100% accurate
Week 8 Recap
David Fleming
Start ‘em – Willis McGahee – 19 points
Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE
Sit ‘em – Panther’s RBs (Tolbert/Williams) – 10 points
Sleeper – Robert Meachem – 0 points
Waiver Wire Pickup – Rashad Jennings – 8 points
PPR Player – Antonio Brown – 7 points (PPR)
Jason Peters
Start ‘em – Jamaal Charles – 0 points
Sit ‘em – Vernon Davis – 3 points
Sleeper – Leonard Hankerson – 1 point
Waiver Wire Pickup – Chris Givens – 12 points
PPR Player – Heath Miller – 12 points (PPR)
Week 9 Projections
Start ’em
Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE
Jason: Ray Rice @ Cleveland Browns – Ray Rice is coming off a bye week and should be feeling fresh and ready to grind against the Browns, who are allowing 132 yards per game against opposing running backs. The Ravens and Browns played previously this season, during which Ray Rice ran for just 49 yards. Expect the Ravens to take a different approach this week, as they are no longer toying with the idea of Flacco as an elite quarterback who can sling the rock around like Brady.
David: Andre Johnson vs. Buffalo Bills – Johnson started the season slowly, accumulating only 17 receptions in his first five games. But in just two games since he has matched that number, and he and Schaub seem to be more in sync. This week he faces an abysmal Bills defense, allowing the most points and rushing yards per game. The Bills will be terrified of Arian Foster, stacking the box in a feeble attempt to slow the run. Fresh off a bye week, Johnson will face single coverage and find the end zone for the first time since week three.
Sit ’em
David: Joe Flacco @ Cleveland Browns – There’s a hard-and-fast rule in fantasy football land: don’t start Joe Flacco when he’s playing on the road. Yes, even against the 2-6 Browns. Flacco has been very steady at home this season, producing nearly 20 fantasy points per game. But on the road, Flacco’s evil twin brother averages a dismal 6.7 fantasy points. In those three road games, he’s thrown just 2 touchdowns to 4 interceptions. He can’t be trusted, and I’d rather roll the dice with another signal caller come Sunday.
Jason: Donald Brown vs. Miami Dolphins – Donald Brown is not an NFL-caliber starter. He has been given opportunity after opportunity, and has failed to take advantage and show he belongs on the field. He has cracked double-digit points only twice this year (both performances of 10 points), and is facing a Miami Dolphins defense that is among the best in the league at stopping the run, having failed to give up a rushing touchdown in the last 6 games.
Sleeper
Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE
Jason: Jacob Tamme @ Cincinnati Bengals – Tamme hasn’t exactly led any fantasy players to victory this season, but as the weeks progress, his quarterback Peyton Manning just keeps looking more and more like his old self. Everyone should remember the rapport Manning developed in Indianapolis with Dallas Clark, his tight end for a long time. Look for Tamme to break out this week, and just continue to get better.
David: Denarius Moore vs. Tampa Bay Bucs – Denarius Moore has emerged as the best receiver in Oakland, and we know that Carson Palmer is not afraid to sling it. In Moore’s last five games, he has 23 receptions with 4 touchdowns. He’s a big-play threat, and this week he faces a Bucs team that has allowed the 3rd most passing plays over 20 yards this season. Tampa Bay has good run defense, so the Raiders will pass to move the chains, providing numerous opportunities for Moore to shine.
Waiver Wire Pickup
David: Dolphins D/ST (owned in 15.7% of ESPN leagues) – During the past four weeks, the Dolphins D/ST has been one of the top fantasy units, averaging more than 12 points. This is no fluke. Miami gets after the quarterback, ranking 6th overall in sacks. Miami has given up the 3rd fewest total points all season, and they face one of the easiest schedules down the stretch. The Dolphins D/ST could very well end up a top-five unit by the end of the season.
Jason: Kendall Wright (owned in 16.4% of ESPN leagues) – For those of us that pay attention, it is obvious that Kendall Wright is a special player for the Tennessee Titans who is only going to get better as the years progress. Despite his rookie status, Wright is top ten in receptions through the season among all wide receivers, and his value definitely goes up even higher in PPR leagues. Keeper league players will also benefit, as he should take a huge leap forward over the next two seasons.
PPR Player
Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE
Jason: Titus Young @ Jacksonville Jaguars – In light of Nate Burleson’s injury, Young has stepped up as the de facto number two in Detroit. While Calvin Johnson is having a somewhat disappointing season, at least in comparison to the lofty standards he set last year, Young has had 15 receptions in the last two games, to go along with two touchdowns which both came last week against a generally staunch Seatle defense. This weak he takes on a Jaguars defense that is among the worst in the league, and it only helps matters that Matt Stafford is starting to heat up.
David: Steve Smith @ Washington Redskins – Steve Smith hasn’t caught a touchdown yet this season, but that will change this week against the most favorable matchup in the league. The Redskins secondary is bad, potentially NFL record-setting bad. Midway through the season, the Redskins are on pace to allow over 5,000 yards passing and 38 touchdowns. This recommendation is not so much a vote of confidence for Steve Smith, as it is a vote against the Redskins. Oh, and their best cornerback DeAngelo Hall will probably be suspended for his outrageous incident with the referee last week.
Now of course none of this would be as fun for any of us if you didn’t let us know what you think about our picks, or curse us for a blown recommendation, so be sure to note the following Twitter-related contact info:
Follow Jason Peters @TitanSizedJason
Follow David Fleming @dfleming22
We love when you hit us up, so feel free to send anything you want our way, and good luck to everyone in Fantasy Football Land.