Sit/Start Week 9: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, November 7th at 4:25 PM ET

Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Betting Odds: ARI -1.5, 46 Total on Oddshark

Network: FOX

Arizona Cardinals

QUARTERBACK

Kyler Murray (Start), Colt McCoy (Sit)

Kyler Murray sprained his ankle on his last play of the game in Week 8; he did not participate in practice on Wednesday. His ceiling is obviously lower, but more concerning to us is his floor, usually buttressed by a threat to take off and run on any given play. Murray hasn’t run for more than 25 yards in a game since Week 4; odds of that changing this week are slim.

We usually reserve a Top 5 ranking for Murray, but he barely makes the cut as a Top 10 option this week. Start Murray, but temper expectations accordingly. He appeared to be a game-day decision as of Wednesday night. In the event Colt McCoy is forced to start, downgrade the entire offense accordingly.

RUNNING BACKS

Chase Edmonds (Start, RB2), James Conner (Start, RB2)

We don’t especially love the matchup for either of these two running backs, but we don’t hate their prospects, either. Given the most likely game script, we foresee Chase Edmonds getting more work than the touchdown-dependent James Conner for the third week in a row:

Chase Edmonds is only $5,300 on DraftKings

– Kyler Murray is limited with an ankle injury and likely checks it down more
– Edmonds has out-carried James Conner each of the past 2 games
– 4+ targets in all but 1 game this year
– Finally scored a TD in Week 8 ✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/miKJiH6wSu

— Josh Larky (@jlarkytweets) November 4, 2021

Conner has been a goal-line beast in 2021: Edmonds managers might see him as a vulture, but eight touchdowns in eight weeks are hard to ignore. Nevertheless, the Edmonds is the clear preference in PPR leagues, given his steady and significant work in the passing game. Edmonds has also outsnapped Conner in seven of the Cardinals’ eight games, and 37 of 42 passes thrown to running backs were intended for him. Start Edmonds with confidence as a mid-tier RB2 this week; Conner barely makes the cut as a low-end WR2, but we love him more as a flex option.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

DeAndre Hopkins (Start, WR1), Christian Kirk (Start, Flex), Rondale Moore (Sit), A.J. Green (Sit/COVID), Zach Ertz (Start)

Ok, I admit: I’ve been higher than consensus on DeAndre Hopkins for a very long time, going back to his days at Clemson. My Tweet below, a reply to @CharlieFriar, who pointed out Hopkins’ insane 8-year averages as an NFL wide receiver: 151 targets, 93 receptions, 1,251 yards, and 7.5 touchdowns. The Tweet features a bit of an overzealous prediction for Hopkins in 2021, yet it perfectly illustrates why I’m unconcerned for his prospects if Colt McCoy finds himself under center in Week 9:

QB Deshaun Watson started 37 of those games. Kyler Murray: 16; Ryan Fitzpatrick: 12.

In *62* others, DHop caught passes from

Matt Schaub
Case Keenum
Brian Hoyer
T.J. Yates
Ryan Mallett
Tom Savage
Brock Osweiler
Brandon Weeden
Sage Rosenfels

🤯

DeAndre Hopkins: WR2 in 2021 https://t.co/uUQ56yFTju

— Drew DeLuca (@DrewDeLaware) July 21, 2021

Few players have proven to be as “quarterback proof” as Hopkins. As long as his hamstring cooperates, start him as a WR1 without worry this week, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the quarterback position. I’m not as bullish on Christian Kirk, who becomes much less attractive with McCoy at the helm. Nevertheless, Kirk has produced 10 or more fantasy points in three of his last four outings, so he’s as good of a flex option as any this week.

Rondale Moore has gotten a lot of mileage out of one play on which there was busted coverage, but we’re intrigued by his talent. He should see a few more opportunities this week thanks to A.J. Green recently testing positive for COVID, but I don’t expect a massive breakout performance this week. Meanwhile, we like Zach Ertz as a low-end starter this week at a paper-thin position further weakened by BYE weeks.

San Francisco 49ers

QUARTERBACK

Jimmy Garoppolo (Sit), Trey Lance (Sit)

The (3-4) San Francisco 49ers are electing to give Jimmy Garoppolo another start against the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals (7-1), robbing the third overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft of yet another opportunity to log meaningful snaps for a team with a 29.8 percent chance of making the playoffs. Trey Lance will likely be featured in a package or two, probably near the goal line, but neither he nor Garoppolo can be counted on to produce in fantasy football lineups this week.

RUNNING BACKS

Elijah Mitchell (Start, RB2), JaMycal Hasty (Sit), Kyle Juszczyk (Sit), Trey Sermon (Sit), Trenton Cannon (Sit)

Elijah Mitchell led all 49ers running backs in snap share (64 percent), as he’s done in every game he’s played since the start of the season. He posted his second consecutive 100-yard rushing day, his third in the five games he’s started. While his contributions in the passing game have been lacking so far, there’s no doubt who Kyle Shanahan is relying on to tote the rock.

Some analysts might be scared away by the matchup, as only five teams have allowed fewer points per game to opposing running backs than the Arizona Cardinals. However, Mitchell just ran all over an Indianapolis Colts defense that’s currently the third toughest on opposing running backs, inclusive of his own performance. We see no reason why he can’t repeat the feat against the Cardinals, who’ll be led by either a dinged-up Kyler Murray or Colt McCoy.

A fairly neutral game script should afford plenty of opportunities for Mitchell to pound out a nice stat line for his fantasy football managers. We therefore don’t foresee a big day for JaMycal Hasty, the recipient of eight of the last nine passes thrown to 49ers running backs. While Hasty is starting to carve out a role as receiving option out of the backfield, at least for the time being, we don’t see enough volume to warrant consideration as a flex option. Likewise, Kyle Juszczyk, Trey Sermon, and Trenton Cannon should be fantasy football afterthoughts until further notice.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

Deebo Samuel (Start, WR1), Brandon Aiyuk (Start, Flex), Mohamed Sanu (Sit), Trent Sherfield (Sit), George Kittle (Start), Ross Dwelley (Sit)

For the seventh time in seven games, Deebo Samuel led all 49ers wide receivers in targets, logging an impressive 33% target share in Week 8. However, Brandon Aiyuk played more snaps (49-46) for the first time all season. Aiyuk was the recipient of seven targets last week, his largest total so far in 2021. We’re a bit higher than consensus on Aiyuk, so we like him as a flex option this week. Conversely, we’re lower than consensus on Samuel, yet we still view him as a low-end WR1 this week.

We don’t see Mohamed Sanu or Trent Sherfield hauling in enough passes to make either a viable fantasy asset in Week 9. However, if George Kittle plays, we’re starting him and hoping for the best. If not, we’re sitting Ross Dwelley. The Cardinals were the laughing stock of the league for their historic ineptitude in terms of shutting down opposing tight ends. This season, they are the league’s stingiest.