On paper, there aren't a lot of Week 9 matchups that jump off the page. But this is the kind of week where fantasy playoff spots are earned. There are points to be mined ... and we're here to help you get it done. To the matchups we go!
Analysis:Russell Wilson should continue his trend of being solid, but not spectacular. However, fantasy owners could do worse this week. It makes Doug Baldwin a nice sleeper option along with Golden Tate. Have no fear about Marshawn Lynch. Beast Mode should be in effect yet again. Seattle's defense has had its recent struggles, but you should still be wary of Matt Ryan and his pass-catchers. The Legion of Boom excels against big receivers like Roddy White. Start Steven Jackson as a flex at best -- he could find some room against a Seahawks run defense that has had issues in recent weeks.
Analysis: After a hot stretch, Andy Dalton has cooled off and this doesn't look like the week he re-ignites. But don't let that scare you off of playing A.J. Green, who should continue his productive ways. Giovani Bernard is a better option than BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but temper your expectations for both Bengals backs. Joe Flacco will once again remind you that he's not a fantasy stud. Avoid the slumping Ray Rice if you can (though you might not be so fortunate) and beware of any Ravens pass-cathers.
Analysis: A depleted Bears defense makes this a very nice matchup for Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush. All three of them should be in your lineup this week. It's likely you'll find another Detroit player who contributes this week, but they've been too inconsistent to reasonably bank on. The return of Jay Cutler will do quite a bit for the values of the already-productive Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Matt Forte's numbers could be depressed this week, but he should still be quite productive. If you're streaming kickers, Robbie Gould has nice value against the Lions.
Analysis: It goes without saying, but don't expect another seven touchdown passes from Nick Foles. However, that doesn't mean he can't provide quality fantasy scoring for you this week. It's also time to stop ignoring Riley Cooper. He and Foles obviously have a rapport. Don't worry about the struggling LeSean McCoy -- expect Philly to feed him plenty this week. Seneca Wallace under center is a concern if you have a Packers receiver. Jordy Nelson is still worth starting, but exercise caution about James Jones and Jarrett Boykin. Look for Green Bay to go with a heavy dose of Eddie Lacy and James Starks.
Analysis: If there's a Rams offensive player beyond Zac Stacy that you can start with confidence this week, we've yet to find him. Kellen Clemens and his receiving corps are all shaky options against a solid Colts defense. While you may have some trepidation over starting Andrew Luck, he's been too good recently to keep on your bench. The matchup might look good for Trent Richardson, but his struggles have allowed Donald Brown to gain traction in the running game. Richardson might be a flex play at best this week.
Analysis: The Giants defense has picked itself up after a poor start, which makes Terrelle Pryor a risky start in Week 10. With Darren McFadden looking questionable, Rashad Jennings becomes a necessary handcuff for fantasy owners. Play Denarius Moore if you must, but seek other options if you can. Eli Manning isn't the best starting option, but he has been improving in his past few games. Oakland's defense won't be shredded like it was last week, but it could have problems slowing New York's receivers.
Analysis:EJ Manuel's return to the lineup might not be a great one. He -- along with Stevie Johnson -- could have a tough time dealing with the Pittsburgh defense. However, it should be a quality outing for both C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. Start both of them with confidence. Le'Veon Bell could find it tough sledding against the Bills defensive front. But Buffalo's porous secondary should allow Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders room to run. Ben Roethlisberger won't be the best fantasy option this week, but owners could do worse at the quarterback spot. Consider Pittsburgh's defense if you're streaming the position.
Analysis:Maurice Jones-Drew has started to turn things around lately and could continue to find success this week. He's not a bad option at RB2 or flex start. Justin Blackmon is out, but that doesn't automatically mean Cecil Shorts is primed for big success. Start him with caution. Chris Johnson could put together back-to-back quality starts for the first time in awhile against the Jaguars while the duo of Jake Locker and Kendall Wright could be quality sleeper picks for fantasy owners. The Tennessee defense is one of the best starting options you can find this week.
Analysis: This is one of the more interesting matchups of the week -- both on the field and in fantasy. Cam Newton is hard to sit, but temper your expectations for a player who hasn't been at his best against some of the league's better teams. The same goes for the Panthers' stable of rushers against a defense that has clamped down on the run after some early season struggles. The exact same thing could be said about the re-emerging Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers running game. However, Kap, Frank Gore and Vernon Davis have all been far too productive (especially in recent weeks) to be left on the bench.
Analysis:Arian Foster's absence this week means Ben Tate will see a heavy workload, but he's a cautious start against the Cardinals tough defense. You might also choose to proceed carefully if starting Case Keenum and Andre Johnson this week. Rashard Mendenhall could return this week, but Andre Ellington is still the back to own in Arizona. But keep in mind that the Texans have been stingy against running backs.
Analysis: This has the potential to be a high-scoring affair. At this point, it's redundant to tell you to start any of your Broncos because you've probably already figured that out by now. Similarly, Philip Rivers should put the ball in the air quite a bit to keep up with Denver's offense. Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead should be in line for big days while Antonio Gates could be a nice option as well.
Analysis: Here's yet another game that could pack in the fantasy points. On paper, the matchup isn't good for Tony Romo and Dez Bryant, but they've been two of this season's most productive options and it would be foolish to go away from them now. Drew Brees against the Cowboys secondary is about as good a matchup as you could ask for. It also makes Lance Moore a nice spot start. If you're thinking about a running back, Pierre Thomas is a slighty more attractive option than the banged-up Darren Sproles.
Analysis: You have to love a lot of the Dolphins options this week. You might not roll with Ryan Tannehill, but you can play Brian Hartline or Mike Wallace as flex options with a degree of confidence. You can also feel good about having Lamar Miller in your lineup after his recent run of success. Now that Mike James is the undisputed No. 1 back in Tampa, he should definitely play against a poor Dolphins front. It's also not a bad idea to give Timothy Wright some love if you're missing Rob Gronkowski or Jordan Cameron due to byes.
Marcas Grant is a fantasy editor for NFL.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarcasG
