Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 9
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our weekly rankings.
Start
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins
vs. Chargers
On a week where Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan are on bye, Ryan Tannehill represents a strong fill-in option – and he's available on the waiver wire in most leagues. The Chargers are statistically poor against the pass and Tannehill is producing strong fantasy numbers on a consistent basis. The bonus with Tannehill is his rushing ability. In his last three games, he's topped 40 yards on the ground. That's like getting one extra passing touchdown per week.
Fearless prediction: 235 yards passing, 2 TDs, 41 yards rushing
Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals
vs. Jaguars
Giovani Bernard has a banged-up hip and could miss this contest. Even if he doesn't, look for the Bengals to give rookie Hill an increased workload. Hill hasn't been the thunder to Bernard's lightning that many fantasy prognosticators expected him to be, but he's been a competent runner and he may not need to be anything more than that to have success against a very poor Jaguars defense that's dealing with the recent loss of middle linebacker Paul Posluszny.
Fearless prediction: 85 yards rushing, TD
Rueben Randle, WR, Giants
vs. Colts
Top Colts cornerback Vontae Davis could miss this contest with a knee injury, opening the door for Giants wideouts Randle and Odell Beckham Jr. to go wild (though probably not quite as wild as the 500-plus yards receiving the Steelers wideouts dropped on the Colts last week). Randle is among the NFL's per-game leaders in targets, with many of them coming in the red zone. Deploy him with confidence.
Fearless prediction: 87 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Larry Donnell, TE, Giants
vs. Colts
Donnell will get over his recent slump this week against a Colts defense that suddenly looks very, very shaky. The Colts are surrendering over 10 points per game this season to opposing tight ends, including nearly 20 points to Heath Miller last weekend.
Fearless prediction: 65 yards receiving, TD
Sit
Michael Vick, QB, Eagles
at Chiefs
Yes, Vick was a QB1 for a brief but ridiculously productive stretch in Philadelphia. He hasn't been one since then and he almost certainly will never be one again. Resist the temptation to insert him as a bye-week replacement. Vick has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league this season and he's in tough on the road against a surging Chiefs team.
Jonas Gray, RB, Patriots
vs. Broncos
Temper your enthusiasm about Gray's apparent role as the Patriots' hammer back. He led the Patriots with 17 carries for 86 yards last week against the Bears, but it was a blowout and the Patriots had ample time to grind out clock. This week's matchup against the Broncos figures to be much closer and the game flow could favor receiving back Shane Vereen. Gray has a chance to punch in a goal-line touchdown, but his floor in this game is so low that you're better off looking elsewhere.
Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers
at Browns
Jackson wasn't traded away at the deadline like many predicted. Instead, he'll play out the string on a terrible Buccaneers team and then perhaps be a salary cap casualty after the season. If those prospects weren't enough to quash his motivation, he gets to square off against shutdown cornerback Joe Haden this weekend. Yuck.
Heath Miller, TE, Steelers
vs. Ravens
Miller feasted on the Colts last weekend, but he's in for much tougher sledding with the Ravens coming to town. Baltimore is among the five best defenses in the league in terms of points allowed to tight ends and Miller has struggled historically against his divisional rivals. Sit him down.
Stash
Paul Richardson, WR, Seahawks
Percy Harvin's departure opens the door for second-round pick Richardson to take on a major role in the Seahawks' offense. The speedster should begin his career as a deep threat in the mold of DeSean Jackson. Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse remain ahead of him on the depth chart, but neither is a special player. Richardson can carve out a big role for himself if he shows signs of success.
Quit
Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers
Rumors of the Buccaneers shopping Martin at the trade deadline turned out to be false. He remains on the woeful Tampa Bay offense and now he's battling an ankle injury that appears likely to prolong his ineffectiveness. Rookie Charles Sims will soon be activated off IR-recall and it's not crazy to think the Buccaneers are better off demoting Martin and moving on to a timeshare consisting of Sims and Bobby Rainey. If you need to free up a roster spot to cover bye weeks, Martin is safe to cut.