Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 9

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and 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 Week 9 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 9 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

Start

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

at Cowboys

The Cowboys' defense has struggled in 2020, but without Dak Prescott, their offense might be even worse. That means the Steelers should be able to do whatever they want in Dallas this week.

As we saw with Aaron Rodgers on Thursday night, good quarterbacks can quickly rack up touchdowns against toothless defenses. The Cowboys have allowed multiple passing scores in six of their last seven games, including four touchdowns to Matt Ryan and five to Russell Wilson.

Though Roethlisberger likely won't be pushed enough to air it out for a big-yardage day, ample scoring opportunities will propel him to a QB1 finish in Week 9.

Boone's projection: 244 passing yards, 3 TDs

Other QBs to start

• Cam Newton at Jets
• Derek Carr at Chargers
• Drew Lock at Falcons

Chase Edmonds, Cardinals

vs. Dolphins

Kenyan Drake's ankle injury doesn't appear to be serious, but he's likely to miss at least a couple of games.

Edmonds became a full-time player in Drake's absence in Week 7, amassing 145 yards from scrimmage. It was reminiscent of Edmonds' lone start in 2019, which saw him produce 150 yards and three touchdowns while playing over 90% of the team's offensive snaps.

There's no question Edmonds can deliver against a Dolphins defense that ranks third-best in Football Outsiders' DVOA against the pass but last versus the run.

Coming off the bye, Edmonds is a locked-in top-10 option at running back this week.

Boone's projection: 76 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• Antonio Gibson vs. Giants
• Justin Jackson vs. Raiders
• Damien Harris at Jets

Brandin Cooks, Texans

at Jaguars

After an up-and-down start to the year, Cooks has quietly seen at least nine targets in each of the Texans' last three contests.

During that time, he's put up stat lines of 8-161-1, 9-68-1, and 7-60-0. His biggest performance in that stretch came against the Jaguars - the same team he'll face Sunday.

As long as he stays healthy, Cooks will be in the conversation as a top-30 fantasy wideout for the remainder of the season.

Boone's projection: 91 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• Mike Williams vs. Raiders
• Antonio Brown vs. Saints
• Jerry Jeudy/Tim Patrick at Falcons

Evan Engram, Giants

at Washington

For all of Jason Garrett's flaws, the Giants' offensive coordinator appears to be realizing it's a good idea to utilize his talented tight end.

Engram has been heating up over the last two weeks with 19 targets, 11 receptions, and 107 yards. But he still hasn't scored a receiving touchdown this year.

If this volume continues, it's only a matter of time before Engram breaks out with a big game. Allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, Washington will help him get there this week.

Boone's projection: 58 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Hayden Hurst vs. Broncos
• Eric Ebron at Cowboys
• Logan Thomas vs. Giants

Sit

Ryan Tannehill, Titans

vs. Bears

Tannehill has continued his career resurgence by averaging the ninth-most fantasy points at his position in 2020.

But his efficiency will be put to the test against a Bears defense that's been the sixth-best at shutting down opposing passers. Chicago has only permitted one top-16 performance to a quarterback this season.

It's possible Tannehill escapes with an average fantasy line, as he managed to do against the Steelers two weeks ago, but the Bears lack the offensive firepower to turn this into a shootout. With Tannehill trending as a QB2 this week, there might be a better streaming option available.

Boone's projection: 231 passing yards, TD, INT, 17 rushing yards

Other QBs to sit

• Drew Brees at Buccaneers
• Philip Rivers vs. Ravens
• Tua Tagovailoa at Cardinals

Devin Singletary, Bills

vs. Seahawks

Singletary is coming off one of his best performances of the season after amassing 92 yards from scrimmage in a win over the Patriots. Unfortunately, he wasn't even the best fantasy back on his team in that game: Rookie Zack Moss rushed for 81 yards, scoring two touchdowns in the process.

Whether it's Moss or quarterback Josh Allen stealing work around the goal line, Singletary's chances of scoring a touchdown are slim.

That makes him a low-ceiling RB3, and he'll likely need a big play to cash in for fantasy against a Seahawks defense that's solid against the run.

Boone's projection: 37 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• Jonathan Taylor/Jordan Wilkins vs. Ravens
• Ronald Jones vs. Saints
• La'Mical Perine vs. Patriots

DeVante Parker, Dolphins

at Cardinals

Parker had everything working against him last week: It was his first game back after a groin injury, he had to deal with Jalen Ramsey's coverage, and rookie Tua Tagovailoa only threw for 93 yards in his first NFL start.

He salvaged his final stat line of one catch for three yards on two targets by scoring a touchdown on that grab. But things won't get much easier this Sunday when Parker squares off with Cardinals top cover man Patrick Peterson.

Until we see the Dolphins' pass offense take shape with Tua at the helm, Parker needs to be downgraded to a WR3 - and a risky one at that.

Boone's projection: 34 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• CeeDee Lamb/Michael Gallup vs. Steelers
• Corey Davis vs. Bears
• Mecole Hardman vs. Panthers

Jimmy Graham, Bears

vs. Titans

With bye weeks and injuries to stars like George Kittle, you might not have many options to start at tight end this week.

Graham always offers touchdown upside, but that's about all he's bringing to the table in Chicago. The veteran has seen at least five targets in seven of the Bears' eight games this year, yet he's only topped 35 yards once.

He's a touchdown-or-bust TE2 in fantasy, and he'll leave you disappointed more weeks than not.

Boone's projection: 32 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Mike Gesicki at Cardinals
• Dalton Schultz vs. Steelers
• Greg Olsen at Bills

Stash

DeAndre Washington, Dolphins

With Myles Gaskin on injured reserve and Matt Breida dealing with a hamstring injury, the Dolphins might have to start Jordan Howard this week - a veteran they'd soured on enough to make him a healthy scratch in recent games.

Washington (2% rostered) won't be eligible to play Sunday after joining Miami in a trade from the Chiefs prior to the deadline, but he's worth stashing as an all-round back who could quickly move up the depth chart.

Marcus Johnson, Colts

T.Y. Hilton has struggled this season, and now his status for Week 9 is in doubt due to a groin injury.

Even with Hilton in the lineup, Johnson (1% rostered) has started to emerge lately, posting 200 receiving yards over the Colts' last three outings while playing more than 50% of the team's offensive snaps.

Johnson, Zach Pascal, and rookie Michael Pittman Jr. are all worth speculative adds in deeper leagues in case one of them can step up as Hilton's production fades.

Quit

Mark Ingram, Ravens

An ankle injury continues to keep Ingram (62% rostered) sidelined, and it's allowed rookie J.K. Dobbins to show just how much more he brings to the Ravens' offense at this point.

Prior to getting hurt, the 30-year-old Ingram was the RB40 after six weeks. In his first game without Ingram, Dobbins erupted for 121 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches against a very stout Steelers front.

Dobbins' role will only grow from here. Even when Ingram is healthy, the best he can hope for is a return to the three-man committee that rendered him useless in fantasy early in the year.

Tyler Higbee, Rams

Outside of his three-touchdown game in Week 2, Higbee (55% rostered) hasn't found the end zone and has eclipsed 40 yards just once.

His standing within the Rams' offense is also on the decline as Gerald Everett takes on a larger portion of the receiving work.

There's no reason to hold on to Higbee, who's on bye this week. Drop him in favor of a better streamer at tight end.