Fantasy QB’s Week 9 POV: Start Mahomes, Wilson; sit Stafford

Quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson seem to be widening the gap between them and the rest of fantasy football players.  They’ve leapt over the 200-point hurdle in fantasy football points (FFP) and have a healthy 10+ point lead over No. 3-ranked Alvin Kamara.

You will not see any Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia Eagles on the “Surefire Starters”, “Underrated” or “Sleeper” lists for week 9 because it is their “Bye” week.

Surefire Starters at Quarterback

• Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, is the best quarterback in fantasy football based on his 207.1 FFP and 25.9 points per game average.  Last week he threw for 416 yards and 5 touchdowns.   It added up to 36.64 fantasy points and an easy 35-9 win over the Jets.  Expect 25 points in a home game early Sunday afternoon against Carolina.
• Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks quarterback, had 261yards passing and 4 touchdown passes in week 8’s 37-27 win over the 49ers.  Wilson may struggle a bit against their week 9 opponent, the Buffalo Bills, but he is always good for 20+ points.
• Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills quarterback, makes his second consecutive appearance with Mahomes and Wilson on the “Surefire Starter” as he led the Bills to a 24-21 win over division –rival New England.  Though the Seattle defense has given up some big plays, Allen will be well-prepared to face the NFC team with the best record (7-1).

Riding the Bench

Note:  These quarterbacks have week 9 ”Byes”.

• Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns quarterback
• Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
• Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams quarterback
• Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback

Underrated

• Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee quarterback, has put the Titans (5-2) in a 1st place tie with the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.  Tannehill has averaged 21.7 FFP per game this season and he’ll need every one of those points to beat the Chicago Bears in week 9,

Overrated

• Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions quarterback, scored 22.44 FFP against Indianapolis but admitted to the press that he has to cut down on the mistakes.  He threw a”pick-6” interception, lost one fumble and was sacked 5 times in the 41-21 loss to the Colts. Stafford shouldn’t take the blame alone based on the Lions defense’s lackluster performance.  He will also be without the Lions’ best receiver, Kenny Golladay, for week 9 action.

Sleeper QB of the Week

• Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, used the solid performance of the Pittsburgh defense to jump-start the Steelers offense in the second half I of their victory over archrival Baltimore.  “Big Ben” threw for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 28-24 win over the Ravens.