Thursday Night Football ended up being more entertaining than many thought it could be. It featured two young quarterbacks looking to prove doubters wrong and also featured two future Hall of Famers going head-to-head. Most of the discussion from the game will center around the brewing quarterback controversy in Tennessee, but the performances of Derrick Henry, Diontae Johnson, and Jaylen Warren will also garner some attention. IDP storylines include Azeez Al-Shaair continuing to shine as a full-time starter, Cameron Hayward’s return, and Alex Highsmith finally getting his season back on track with two sacks of Will Levis. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.
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IDP Start em, Sit em – Week 9
Start em
Denzel Perryman (LB – HOU)
Denzel Perryman is back to starting in the middle for the Houston Texans and responded with six solos, three assists, 0.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss in Week 8. He reclaims LB3 status with the switch and has LB2 upside, given the right matchup. Treat him as a LB3 play for a tough on-paper Week 9 matchup against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team limiting opposing linebackers to the 10th fewest fantasy points per game. Start Perryman where possible.
Jack Sanborn (LB – CHI)
Jack Sanbon is back to fantasy relevance due to the knee injury Tremaine Edmunds suffered during Week 8. Edmunds missed the first two practices of the week and is trending toward an early rule out for Sunday’s matchup. Sanborn becomes an immediate LB2 option with the expanded role. He shined at a top-15 level when he got starter’s snaps last season. Start Sanborn wherever possible for a plus Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
Josh Metellus (S – MIN)
Josh Metellus is flourishing in the slot role for the Minnesota Vikings and has parlayed his excellent production into being the DB13/S9 overall on the season. He has recorded five or more solos in three of his last four games and deserves serious consideration as a DB1 play going forward. His production is quite remarkable when one considers the strong fantasy production from DB1 overall Camryn Bynum and Harrison Smith, as well as Danielle Hunter and Jordan Hicks. Start Metellus as a DB1 where needed.
Jonathan Greenard (DE – HOU)
The DL9 in fantasy points per game and the DL11 overall on the season, Jonathan Greenard recorded four solos, two assists, 2.5 sacks, and two tackles for loss in Week 8, putting him at six for the season. Greenard had eight sacks in 2021 and appears to be well on his way to a new career high in the double digits. Greenard has been inconsistent; 4.5 of his six sacks have come in two contests, but he has five total sacks in his last four games and has recorded at least a half sack in three of four. Tap Greenard as a borderline DL2 option for a plus Week 9 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Alohi Gilman (S – LAC)
Alohi returned in Week 8, and while the results were modest, Gilman was an elite DB2 option before his injury and should be counted on as one for Week 9. The Chargers have a plus matchup on tap against Zach Wilson and the New York Jets, putting Gilman in prime position to get back on track and make a DB1 push. Gilman should be re-inserted into starting lineups immediately. Tap him as a DB2 option for Week 9.
Sit em
Nicholas Morrow (LB – PHI)
Morrow was held under 40 percent of the snaps for the second straight week and should no longer be in consideration for starts. He’s worth a stash in case of an injury in front of him but should remain glued to benches for Week 9. Nakobe Dean is playing excellently and is seeing his snaps creep back up to his everydown snap role. Look elsewhere for your Week 9 LB3.
Pete Werner (LB – NO)
Pete Werner was supposed to have a breakout season that saw him push to be included in the LB1 conversation. Instead, whether or not to start him as an LB3 or LB4 is a legitimate conversation. Werner has topped four solos just twice all season and has yet to record a tackle for loss. He is oozing with upside, but the consistency we saw last season has evaporated. Tap him as an LB4 if in a roster crunch, but those looking for an LB3 option should look elsewhere despite the plus matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Donovan Wilson (S – DAL)
Cemented in the DB1 conversation last season, Wilson has struggled for consistency and has fallen to the DB3 ranks since returning from injury. He has put up solid tackle numbers over the last three weeks that put him back on the DB2 radar, but with so many other DB options at our avail, he remains in the DB3 conversation for Week 9. Depending on your roster and league settings, Wilson may be better off left on your bench for the time being. The matchup against the Dolphins is a plus one, but if you need to start only two DB/S plays or have two to three comparable to superior options, Wilson should be left on benches. Treat him as a low-floor but high-upside DB2 for Week 9.
Joey Bosa (DE/LB – LAC)
Bosa hasn’t quite been the same since returning in Week 5. He has the one sack in the three contests since but has been a near non factor in the tackle department. He is not on the injury report, so the hope is that he gets it going sooner rather than later, but the fact of the matter is that Bosa, with just four sacks on the season but just one since Week 3, is impossible to trust as anything more than a DL3 option. He is too good to bench in leagues where you are required to start three DL options but should not be started in leagues where you only need to start two. There are a handful of DL3s with higher floors, so carefully evaluate your options before plugging Bosa in based on name equity alone.
DeMarcus Lawrence (DE – DAL)
DeMarcus Lawrence isn’t close to the player he once was. Yes, he technically made the Pro Bowl last year, but a six sack season does not a true Pro Bowl season make. Lawrence has failed to record a sack since Week 3 and has just two all season. More name than game at this point of his career, at least as far as IDP is concerned, Lawrence should be glued to benches until he starts to show some signs of life. Look elsewhere for Week 9 while looking for long-term alternatives.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.