Your Weekly Fantasy Football Primer: Week 9

Quarterbacks

Start

Colin Kaepernick - Kaep is not the first QB I normally think of when it comes to fantasy points production, unless he is facing a team where he can use his legs, as well as his arm to inflict damage. That will be the case this weekend when the 49ers square off against the St. Louis Rams. Back in week 6, he was able to hurt St. Louis with almost 350 yards through the air in addition to the yards he gained on the ground. He also threw for three scores against the Rams defense.

Russell Wilson - The Oakland Raiders secondary is a godsend for a passer looking to get back into top form. During the past few weeks they have been more than generous to opposing QBs. The silver and black clad DBs have been handing out touchdowns like trick-or-treat candy.

Nick Foles - Chip Kelly is putting the football in the air frequently over the past few weeks, and Foles is on a pace to set several team passing marks this season. Given the Texans recent trend of surrendering multi-score efforts to opposing passers, look for Nick to cash in big on Sunday.

Sit

Tony Romo - Will he play or not? We don't know, and don't look for the Dallas Cowboys Ministry of Misinformation for any clues. Coming off of a short week and a back injury suffered in that game, it is reasonable to expect Romo to be limited at best. Give him some time to recover.

Philip Rivers - Rivers has been very consistent this season and he has racked up plenty of points for me, but this week is  a good time to give him a rest. The Miami Dolphins have been limiting QB fantasy points all season long. They have been holding enemy passers to point totals in the low teens, so with better opportunities out there, why take the risk?

Robert Griffin, III - Even if Bobby Trey was not coming off of an injury that has side lined him since week 2, this would be a tough match up. Minnesota has a lot of work to do before Mike Zimmer has the kind of team he wants, but for now their D is stingy to opposing passers. Over the past three weeks they have surrendered an average of 13 points to a trio of solid QBs. Don't expect any more than that from RG3 in his return.

Running Backs

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Ahmad Bradshaw - Bradshaw will face his former team, a unit which happens to be the second best match up for RBs this year, and he will have a chip on his shoulder. He is proving to the league that when New York let him go they made a mistake, and he will be motivated to show GM Jerry Reese something special this weekend. When opportunity knocks, open the door....

Denard Robinson - Robinson has become a solid workhorse for Jacksonville, stringing together consecutive 100 yard efforts. He is currently picking up yards in chucks for the Jags. On the other hand, the Bengals' defense struggles to stop opposing backs. there is no reason to look for a dramatic turn around for the Cincinnati front seven this week.

Ronnie Hillman - Sure it is Manning vs Brady, and everyone is looking for an aerial circus, but with Hillman solidifying himself in the #1 position as a runner and the New England run defense struggling of late, this could turn into the Ronnie Hillman show. Averaging over 15 fantasy points per week, he will be ready to cash in for the Broncos.

Sit

Le'Veon Bell - Baltimore has yet to surrender a 100 yard performance to an opposing back in 2014. That includes an effort in week 2 where they held Bell to 59 yards. This one is a case of a quality back facing a terrible match up.

Darren McFadden - Sure DeMarco Murray had a great week against the Seattle Seahawks, but that was the exception not the rule. Run DMC might have the talent to get the job done, but he does not have the talent around him to make it possible. Pete Carroll's run defense is only allowing 3.3 yards per carry this season, and that is with the Murray performance figured in to the equation. This will not be his week.

Wide Receiver

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Antonio Brown - The Ravens will be without the services of Jimmy Smith in the secondary. Last week the Bengals were able to cash in on the weakened Ravens pass D (without A. J. Green). This week the Steelers will have their chance with their top receiver in the game. Brown should make the difference in this week's game.

Michael Crabtree - With a bye week to allow his foot to heal, Crabtree should be ready to perform. He may have the added advantage of not having to face the Rams top cornerback, Janoris Jenkins. With Jenkins in the lineup, St. Louis is the seventh best fantasy match up for WRs; without him...you do the math.

Jeremy Maclin - Fresh off of a career performance against the Arizona Cardinals, and with Chip Kelly becoming pass happy this season, Jeremy Maclin is the go to guy right now for Nick Foles. His match up this weekend should be Johnathan Lee Joseph, who has given up more yardage this season than any other starting CB except one.

Andrew Hawkins - Hawkins has the best fantasy match up of the week against Tampa Bay's defense. Without the services of tight end Jordan Cameron, Cleveland will look toward Hawkins to carry the load for the passing game. Opportunistic fantasy owners will cash in on a perfect storm-like set of conditions.

Sit

Julian Edelman - With Gronk available, Tom Brady is not looking to Edelman nearly as often. This, combined with a nasty New England pass defense, should combine to limit Julian's output this weekend.

Cecil Shorts - Shorts impact over the past few weeks has been dismal, and this week he faces the tenacious Bengals secondary. The Cincinnati D has surrendered a league low 3 touchdowns to opposing WRs this year.

Tight Ends

Start

Larry Donnell - The Colts have been generous to tight ends of late, and without Victor Cruz available, Eli Manning should be looking toward his man to help the Giants offense to get back on track offensively.

Sit

Heath Miller - Hey I like Miller; if it were not for Jason Witten, he would be my guy. Heath had a 17 point effort last week, but this is Ravens week for the Steelers. That means both sides will fight for every yard. There is little big play opportunity in the heart of the defense this week so give Miller a rest.