Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em (2017): Week 9: Kirk Cousins, T.Y. Hilton, Alex Collins & More

by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)

Trying to decide who you should start or sit this week? Let’s take a look at a few potential decisions owners have and try to sort through them:

Quarterbacks
Start – Kirk Cousins – Washington Redskins – at Seattle
The easy thing to do would be to look at the matchup and simply write Cousins off as unusable.  That said the Seahawks are hardly the defense they once were, as they are more middle of the pack against opposing quarterbacks as opposed to being among the elite.  While we aren’t about to project Cousins to replicate the numbers that Deshaun Watson did a week ago (402 yards, 4 TD and 3 INT), it also shows what’s possible.

Cousins is currently completing 67.9% of his passes, throwing for 1,900 yards, 13 TD and 4 INT.  He also hasn’t been phased by taking his show on the road, completing 68.1% of his passes with 6 TD vs. 1 INT.  In a week full of byes and uncertainty, he’s well worth using.

Sit – Marcus Mariota – Tennessee Titans – vs. Baltimore
The name is going to bring appeal, but everything appears to be slanted in the wrong direction:

• Mariota himself has struggled, with 4 TD vs. 4 INT over 6 games, with his value only being saved by his ability to run (3 TD)
• The Ravens are allowing the second fewest points per week to opposing quarterbacks, trailing only the Jacksonville Jaguars

You put those two things together and how exactly are we going to trust him?

Running Backs
Start – Ameer Abdullah – Detroit Lions – at Green Bay
It’s been a highly disappointing season for Abdullah, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.  Despite that he continues to get an opportunity, with at least 10 carries every week (he’s averaging over 14 carries per game), and considering the matchup there’s a good chance he has a strong day.  While he’s not the main focus in the passing game, Abdullah can play role there as well.  With the Packers allowing the fourth most points per week to opposing running backs (779 rushing yards, 8 total TD) this is a good “gamble” to take.

Start – Alex Collins – Baltimore Ravens – at Tennessee
It’s not the best matchup, but with the bye weeks it’s also not one we’d be looking to avoid.  The question hovering over Collins was fumble issues, and he’s held onto the ball in each of the past four weeks and put up strong performances in the process (he’s averaged 4.9 yards per carry with at least 10 carries per week).  While it appears that Joe Flacco is going to play, regardless there’s a good chance that the running game remains the focus of the offense.

Sit – Marshawn Lynch – Oakland Raiders – at Miami
Maybe the week off due to suspension helps get Lynch right, but is anyone ready to bank on that?  He was supposed to be the missing piece to the offense, giving them a star at a position they needed help at, but instead he’s averaged 3.7 yards per carry, has topped 50 yards twice (never more than 76) and is a non-factor in the passing game.  The Dolphins also don’t represent a great matchup, and while the bye weeks justify using him as a FLEX he’s more of a player to avoid.

Sit – Eddie Lacy – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Washington
What a mess this running back “committee” has evolved into.  Sure the Redskins are not an imposing matchup, but does anyone have faith in Lacy, whether he’s “starting” or not?  How long will it be before he cedes carries to Thomas Rawls?  There’s too much uncertainty and struggles.

Wide Receivers (Two-Receiver Formats)
Start – T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts – at Houston
This could be a situation where they feed the “squeaky wheel”.  That’s not to say that Hilton has been outspoken about his struggles, but coach Chuck Pagano has been talking about finding ways to get him the ball.  The Colts have the matchup to do it (the Texans are allowing the seventh most points per week to opposing wide receivers), and we know that Hilton has the potential to pop a big game at any moment (7 receptions for 177 yards against the 49ers a few weeks back).  Look for the Colts to try and turn this into a “get right” situation, and you don’t want to miss that with him sitting on your bench.

Sit – Ted Ginn – New Orleans Saints – vs. Tampa Bay
The matchup would scream to utilize Ginn, but is it really a guarantee that the looks go his way?  Michael Thomas is going to be the leader, eventually Willie Snead is going to see his role expand and Brandon Coleman is going to syphon away a few opportunities as well.  Ginn is a boom or bust option dependent on finding the end zone, and he’s got just 2 TD and isn’t a red zone threat.  In three-receiver formats we’d be all for using him, but in shallower formats it’s a tough sell.

Wide Receivers (Three-Receiver Formats)
Start – Robert Woods – Los Angeles Rams – at New York Giants
He’s been the Rams’ best receiver, despite not yet finding the end zone, and over his past five games he’s averaged 64 yards off of 7 targets per week.  While there was a time the Giants’ secondary posed a threat to opposing wide receivers, the entire team is in disarray and Janoris Jenkins is going to miss the game due to a team imposed suspension.  You could argue for Cooper Kupp or Sammy Watkins here, but the fact is all three are viable WR3.

Sit – Marqise Lee – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Cincinnati
In a pinch we would use him (and that’s assuming he’s going to play), but it’s not a very attractive situation.  Lee has been battling a knee injury, even coming off the bye week, and the Bengals pose a difficult matchup (sixth fewest points per week to opposing wide receivers).  Throw in fairly pedestrian numbers, having not scored a TD (and only having 5 TD in 46 career games), he’s tough to trust even in deeper formats.

Tight Ends
Start – Jared Cook – Oakland Raiders – at Miami
The Dolphins have allowed 4 TD to opposing tight ends, and while Cook hasn’t found the end zone much (he has just 1 TD) he’s been popping off some big days of late.  Over the past two games he’s totaled 10 receptions (on 12 targets) for 164 yards.  Considering the questions in the running game there’s reason to believe that the Raiders are going to continue throwing the football, and Cook should be among the beneficiaries.

Sit – Cameron Brate – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at New Orleans
He isn’t a must sit, due to the bye weeks, but I wouldn’t use him if I didn’t have to.  We’ve seen the role of O.J. Howard grow of late, and those opportunities are going to come at the expense of Brate (his 5 targets last week were his fewest since September 24).  The Saints have also allowed the third fewest yards to opposing tight ends, so if the opportunities decrease the results simply aren’t likely to be there.

Sources – ESPN, NFL.com

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Make sure to check out all of our Week 9 rankings: