Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Lineup Advice, Stars to Exploit and Sleeper Options

If the 2024 NFL season has taught us anything, it's that there are fewer sure things than ever before in fantasy football.

Look no further than Cedric Tillman, who emerged from out of nowhere to become a legitimate threat in what had been a mostly ineffective Cleveland Browns offense.

He is one player worth starting in Week 9, but which other fringe starters are worth slotting in your lineup and who are the two typical starters managers should sideline amid unfavorable matchups and poor performances in recent weeks?

Find out with this preview of the upcoming week in fantasy football.

Through the first eight weeks of the season, Tony Pollard has proved every misconception about his inability to be an every-down back wrong.

The Tennessee Titans star has yet to hit 100 yards this season, but he has recorded double-digit fantasy points in five of his seven appearances in 2024.

While the 2022 Pro Bowler still shares time with Tyjae Spears, Pollard is the lead back, averaging 16 carries per game.

Against a New England Patriots defense ranked 28th against opposing running backs and conceding 26.89 fantasy points per game, he will have an opportunity to be one of the top performing backs in Week 9.

A back who can also contribute in the passing game, with 21 receptions thus far, he is a legitimate start for any managers in need due to injury, bye week or underperforming options at the position.

The Buffalo Bills are the fifth-most stingy defense against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy this season, giving up just 13.37 points per game.

That's not the most encouraging matchup for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in his second game back from injury.

The 26-year-old was workmanlike in his return to the field, completing 28-of-38 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown against a bad Cardinals defense. He averaged 6.2 yards per completion.

Against a division foe that knows him well and in just his fourth game all season, Tagovailoa is not worth the potential no-show game when there are other QB options to take from the waiver wire and start this week.

Sit the Dolphins signal-caller and consider Matthew Stafford of Los Angeles against division rival Seattle or Bo Nix of Denver against a suspect Baltimore Ravens defense giving up the third-most points to opposing quarterbacks in fantasy.

Josh Downs has developed into the Indianapolis Colts' big-play threat, as evidenced by 69-yard touchdown reception in Week 8 against Houston.

The second-year wide receiver out of the University of North Carolina only caught four of his nine targets against the Texans but averaged 27.3 yards and the score.

Downs was at his best with Joe Flacco under center but even with Anthony Richardson at quarterback, he is primed for a big day in a Week 9 matchup against a Minnesota Vikings defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers with 46.15.

In what should be a relatively high-scoring game, look for the 23-year-old to beat the Vikings' coverage for at least one big play and keep his Colts in the fight for a victory.

Downs is still available in 53 percent of Yahoo and 51 percent of ESPN leagues and is worth a start if you have a regular wideout on a bye or another who is underperforming through the first half of the season.

Javonte Williams may well have been the biggest dud in fantasy in Week 8.

Against the league's worst defense in Carolina, a team giving up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs at 31.31 (three more than any other team), he should have been the safest bet to deliver big numbers.

Instead, Williams carried 17 times for 44 yards, averaging 2.6 yards and finishing 38th among all running backs in standard and 35th in PPR leagues.

Against a Ravens run defense allowing just 20.20 to opposing backs, good enough for seventh in fantasy, there is no reason to think he will have a bounce-back week worthy of starting him.

If that isn't enough, Week 10 brings with it a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champs allow the fewest fantasy points in the league to running backs.

Perhaps sitting Williams is the right call for the next two weeks. In his place, consider Tyler Allgeier, who may be No. 2 in Atlanta but is still routinely contributing and faces a favorable matchup against a Dallas defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs.

No Amari Cooper, no problem for the Cleveland Browns, thanks in large part to the breakout performance of Cedric Tillman.

The second-year player out of the University of Tennessee gathered 15 catches on 21 targets for 180 yards and two touchdowns since the team shipped Cooper to Buffalo two weeks ago and is emerging as a breakout star in a Browns offense that was instantly better under Jameis Winston in an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Week 9 offers another tough matchup against a Los Angeles Chargers defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers with 24.94, but his chemistry Winston is undeniable. And of all of the options on the Browns roster, the 24-year-old is most likely to connect with his QB.

Tillman is a potential fantasy stud moving forward as head coach Kevin Stefanski searches for answers for an offense that had been hapless until Winston stepped in Sunday.

All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted.