Fantasy Football Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: QB and TE

Cincy Jungle adds to its weekly Fantasy Football report by taking an inside look on which quarterbacks and tight ends are set to put up big numbers, and which you should avoid starting on your roster for Week 9.

START:

Ben Roethlisberger

Big Ben put up the second 500+ yard passing game of his career last week against the Indianapolis Colts. Looking at the pass defense rankings between both last week's Colts and this week's Ravens, you find that the numbers are very similar, ranking 21^st and 22^nd, respectively.

The Steelers offense has been inconsistent this year, but doubt the team once they find a groove at your own peril. Roethlisberger is perhaps the most underrated quarterback in the league, and never fails to show up in a big way in primetime games. Look for big numbers from the big signal-caller.

Andrew Luck

This is an obvious number producer. However, with the porous Giants defense opposing him, look for Luck to get his team back on track in a big way through the air. Even in defeat at the hands of Pittsburgh last week, he still managed 400 yards and three touchdowns.

Colts fan may not have been overly excited at the outcome, but Luck's fantasy owners probably didn't have many issues. In fact, he's been the most consistent Fantasy quarterback this season, alongside Peyton Manning. Look for that trend to continue against a defense that simply doesn't have the tools to stop him.

Tom Brady

Brady against Peyton should be yet another exciting episode to the quarterback rivalry. While both are primed to put up big numbers, the Patriots pass defense has quietly become a force to be reckoned with, as it now stand as the second best in the league.

Denver's defense is much improved, but I'd put money on Brady being able to reach and surpass Rivers' success against through the air, especially with the veteran signal-caller coming off a game in which his incompletions number equaled the touchdowns he threw. That's scary.

Travis Kelce

After emerging as a go-to fantasy TE, Travis Kelce has been a letdown the past two games with just eight catches for 78 yards and no touchdowns against San Diego and St. Louis. The good news is he had 10 targets in those games, and a matchup with the Jets fixes his problem since they have struggled with TEs all season.

The Jets have allowed nine touchdowns to opposing tight ends, including six in the past four games, and five have allowed the fourth most fantasy points this season. This is a good week to start Kelce.

Larry Donnell

Injuries to New York's top receiver have led to Larry Donnell becoming a relevant fantasy tight end. In the five games where the Giants have been missing either Victor Cruz or Odell Beckham, Donnell has either caught a touchdown or registered 80 receiving yards in four of them.

The Colts have allowed the sixth most points to fantasy TEs this season, and Donnell has at least six targets in five games this year, so there's a good chance he'll come through in this game.

Tim Wright

If you're not lucky enough to have Rob Gronkowski, his running-mate in Tim Wright will be a decent start as well this week. The Broncos give up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing TEs. Not many teams have the personnel to run with Gronkowski and Wright down the field.

Denver will do everything possible to force Tom Brady to throw away from Gronk. With Chris Harris Aqib Talib shutting down Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman, it's going to flush a lot of Brady's throws to Wright this week.

SIT:

Tony Romo

I'm not suggesting any quarterback against the Cardinals defense, other than maybe Peyton Manning. And Tony Romo is no Peyton Manning. The Dallas quarterback has been solid this season, but the fact of the matter is that his success is greatly aided by the running game.

On top of that, after coming back into the game against Redskins following his injury, he played like....well, like he was hurt. He's a tough quarterback, and he'll start this week, but I certainly wouldn't count on him putting up great Fantasy numbers.

Austin Davis

If you picked Davis up towards the beginning of the season, I''m sure it was only because you had to. And then I'm sure he surprised you with the solid numbers that he's put up against good defenses so far this season. However, following a dismal performance against the Chiefs, I would be wary of starting him against San Francisco.

The 49ers haven't fully been their usual selves on defense, but a bye week has given the players plenty of rest. Without any momentum from the Rams' quarterback coming into this game, I'd be looking to start someone else...anyone else.

Ryan Tannehill

The Dolphins quarterback has had a very inconsistent season, which doesn't bode well for his fantasy owners. Against the Jaguars, he failed to break the 200 yard clip, and only threw for one touchdown. When they face the San Diego Chargers, don't expect those numbers to climb much higher against a team that needs a morale booster over an AFC opponent.

Tannehill is a serviceable game-manager and, at times, can be more. But I'd be looking towards another quarterback to start this week.

Heath Miller

After catching seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown on eight targets vs. the Colts, Heath Miller now looks like a solid fantasy TE again.

Not so fast. Miller had just four catches for 35 yards and a lost fumble against the Ravens in Week 2, and Baltimore has allowed just one TE to reach double digit in fantasy points this year, which was Dwayne Allen in Week 5.

In fact, Baltimore has given up the fifth fewest fantasy points to TEs this year. Sit Miller this week if he's on your roster.

Jermaine Gresham

With injuries to Tyler Eifert, A.J. Green and Marvin Jones, Jermaine Gresham became a relevant TE again, but that will likely end this week with Green set to return. He has eight combined catches in games that Green has played in this year vs. the combined 20 in three games without Green. Keep Gresham on the bench if you've not already dropped him altogether.