Week 9 brings a less than inspiring Thursday Night Football fantasy matchup than most with the Jets and Colts, two of the league's most limited offenses, playing each other in Indianapolis. The options for both teams have further dwindled with veteran wide receivers T.Y. Hilton (concussion) and Corey Davis (hip) set to miss more action. However, there are still plenty of players on the start 'em, sit 'em bubble for fantasy football owners, and we're here to break it all down so you know who to start.
If you don't have any players in this game (and we don't blame you if you don't), you can still find some value here by checking our single-game DFS picks at the bottom of the article.
WEEK 9 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Jets: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Sit: QB Mike White
White shocked the world with 405 yards and three TDs to go with his pair of bad interceptions to rally the Jets past the Bengals last week. But now there's almost two full games of film on him in the regular season for Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Look for a Patriots-like outing for Zach Wilson's young fill-in.
MORE TNF: FD lineup | DK lineup
Start: RB Michael Carter
Carter finally was given workhorse duties in Week 8, turning 24 touches, including nine catches, into 172 yards from scrimmage, including a team-high 95 receiving yards. New York isn't messing around with Tevin Coleman (hamstring) out. Ty Johnson did score last week, but this backfield belongs to Carter, living up to his expectations as a dynamic rookie playmaker from North Carolina.
Start: WR Jamison Crowder
There's also Michael Carter who plays on defense for the Jets. He went to UNC rival Duke, but he's not the Blue Devil fantasy owners care about. Former Dukie Crowder is the Jets' most reliable short-area target again for White. With Corey Davis (hip) out, the veteran should be busy on underneath routes with a good chance to score. Crowder is a sneaky WR3.
WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo
Sit: WRs Elijah Moore, Keelan Cole Sr. and Braxton Berrios
Moore looked pretty good supporting Crowder, but he's a stretch as a deep-league flex play given White fed so many mouths last week. The Colts' secondary has been vulnerable, but the Jets won't spread it around well enough with probably half of last week's yardage.
MORE WEEK 9 DFS: Best values | Lineup Builder
Sit: TE Tyler Kroft
Kroft scored last week with White in the lineup, but the tight end has been mostly injured/ineffective and no longer has a revenge game after playing the Bengals.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Sit: Jets D/ST
The Jets have some young playmakers, but it's hard for them to piece together pleasing fantasy production, as they tend to struggle on the road.
Sit: K Matt Ammendola
No relation to Danny. The extra "M" doesn't impress us, either.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Colts: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Start: QB Carson Wentz
Wentz hasn't been spectacular for fantasy, but he's been one of the steadiest streamers, scoring consistently in the 20s with his ability to get to multiple TDs in most games this season. He should get there again with lower volume. The running game will facilitate some easy throws again in the red zone.
Start: RB Jonathan Taylor
Taylor is your best fantasy football workhorse now that Derrick Henry (foot) is down for the season. He's still being rather underused, averaging 15 carries and 18 touches per game. He's a big play waiting to happen with every touch, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 12.6 yards per reception. He has a 83-yard run and a 76-yard catch this season. Taylor should be booked for 20-plus touches, and that should add up to more than 125 yards from scrimmage with at least one TD.
Sit: RB Nyheim Hines
Hines is a pass-catcher and checkdown guy, but he won't be needed much this week. Wentz doesn't check down the way Philip Rivers did, so your best bet for game-script-related garbage is Marlon Mack, as he perhaps gets the action he wants in the second half.
Start: WR Michael Pittman Jr.
Pittman has arrived as a top fantasy asset as many expected. He's locked into Wentz, and he's on pace for 96 receptions, 1,262 yards and 8.5 TDs over 17 games. He was uncoverable by the Titans' secondary last week. He should follow what the Bengals' wideouts did in the red zone against the Jets in Week 8.
Sit: WR Zach Pascal
Just pass on Pascal. You're just forcing something that isn't there with no T.Y. Hilton (concussion) and no Parris Campbell (foot).
Sit: TEs Mo Alie-Cox and Jack Doyle
Alie-Cox was an intriguing play against the Titans until he posted a big fat zero and Doyle walked into the end zone. Start either at your own risk, because it's either total score or absolute bore.
Start: K Michael Badgley
The former Chargers fantasy star has done well replacing Rodrigo Blankenship (hip), and that will continue here with several chances in store.
Start: Colts DST
White still made big mistakes last week, and the Bengals remained a strong play despite giving up all those yards and points. The Colts' defense has enough playmakers to give you the sacks and takeaways you need for the top 12.
Jets vs. Colts: FanDuel single-game lineup
- MVP (1.5X): RB Jonathan Taylor $16,000
- AnyFLEX: WR Michael Pittman Jr. $13,500
- AnyFLEX: RB Michael Carter $13,000
- AnyFLEX: WR Jamison Crowder $11,000
- AnyFLEX: RB Marlon Mack $5,500
Taylor has to be the centerpiece of any lineup here thanks to being in the best spot of any workhorse running back in fantasy for Week 9. Playing Mack behind him hoping for late garbage return allowed us to get Pittman, Carter and Crowder into the lineup for this matchup.
Jets vs. Colts: DraftKings Showdown lineup
- Captain (1.5x): RB Jonathan Taylor $17,400
- FLEX: QB Carson Wentz $10,800
- FLEX: RB Michael Carter $8,600
- FLEX: WR Jamison Crowder $7,800
- FLEX: TE Jack Doyle $4,600
- FLEX: RB Marlon Mack $800
The same sentiments apply to this lineup, but we can't quite afford Pittman and would prefer to have some QB scoring here. Mack and Doyle allowed us to get four of the game's principals in the lineup. Mack just needs 2.4 points to help us, and we're golden should Doyle score for the second straight week.
