Start vs. Sit: Who to Play, Who to Bench Week 9

PLAYERS TO START

Blake Bortles, QB, UCF (vs. Connecticut)

Last week, Bortles and Central Florida vanquished undefeated Louisville on the road, and while you don't get fantasy points for pulling upsets, Bortles still had a good game. Now he gets the chance to go up against UConn, one of the worst teams in the FBS, at home. This is an excellent chance for Bortles to post big numbers against an easy opponent.

Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn (vs. FAU)

After a slow start after taking over as Auburn's starting quarterback, Marshall has really started rounding into form. He has run for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games, and last week he also threw for two scores against Texas A&M on the road. He's not the best passer, but he's good enough with how well he runs. Plus, Florida Atlantic is the weakest opponent he has faced so far, so that's a bonus.

Tyler Tettleton, QB, Ohio (vs. Miami (OH))

Tettleton had a big game last week, throwing for 375 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Of course, that was against Eastern Michigan, which is awful. Of course, this week's opponent, Miami (OH), is just as bad, and Ohio is at home. A repeat of last week's numbers could be on the docket for Tettleton.

Travis Greene, RB, Bowling Green (vs. Toledo)

Greene has rushed for 810 yards and three touchdowns this year, averaging 6.0 yards per carry, and he's added 116 yards and a score receiving as well. He even rushed for 99 yards in his last game, on the road against Mississippi State. A home game against Toledo, who are 73rd in the FBS in points allowed, is a nice matchup for Greene, especially if he has his first multiple touchdown game of the year, which is a possibility given how well he's run.

Charles Ross, RB, Rice (vs. UTEP)

Ross started the season in excellent fashion before a leg injury caused him to miss two games. After a somewhat middling performance in his first game back, last week he rushed 26 times for 167 yards and a touchdown. Now he gets to go up against UTEP, who have one of the worst defenses in the FBS. Now that he is seemingly completely healthy, Ross is a fine fantasy option again.

Jahwan Edwards, RB, Ball State (at Akron)

Edwards has taken a step back after three straight games with three touchdowns, but he still has 11 touchdowns on the season and 539 yards rushing as well. This is despite the fact he missed two games. However, he seems to have made up for lost time when he has played, and he should continue that against Akron.

Kasen Williams, WR, Washington (vs. California)

Washington has lost three consecutive games, and Williams has had a somewhat disappointing season so far. He only has 400 yards and one touchdown in seven games. Despite this fact, the Huskies are hosting Cal this week, which have given up points at a tremendous rate this season. If Williams is going to have a big game this season, it will be this one.

Jeremy Johnson, WR, SMU (vs. Temple)

It has been a disappointing season for SMU, aside from passing the ball, where it is eighth in the nation. Johnson has at least 100 yards receiving in five of his six games, and he has 735 yards receiving total. He has 62 receptions and is clearly the No. 1 option in this offense. Temple should not provide much of a challenge to Johnson this week.

Chandler Jones, WR, SJSU (vs. Wyoming)

Jones has put up good fantasy numbers every week except when he went up against Stanford on the road. He has touchdowns in back-to-back games and had a three-score game against Minnesota. This week, he is going up against Wyoming, which has struggled on defense recently. Last week, the Cowboys gave up 52 points to Colorado State, and they ceded 42 to Texas State. If this trend continues, this is a nice chance for Jones to rack up the fantasy points.

PLAYERS TO SIT

C.J. Brown, QB, Maryland (vs. Clemson)

Once again, injuries are starting to pile up on Maryland's offense, but this time it isn't the quarterbacks going down. Brown lost his two best weapons in Stefon Diggs and Deon Long, leaving him with pretty much nobody of note to target in the passing game. Sure, Clemson got blown out by Florida State last week, but it isn't as bad on defense as it looked, and the Terrapins aren't the Seminoles. Brown will likely struggle this week, and perhaps every week hereafter.

Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA (at Oregon)

Last week, there was reason not to believe in Hundley, and indeed he was held to 192 yards passing, one touchdown and two interceptions against Stanford. Well, it only gets slightly easier, at best, this week with a road game against Oregon. That stadium can get loud, and the Ducks defense, while overshadowed by the offense, is good. Plus, if Hundley tries to pad his stats late, Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Alioti will yell at him.

John O'Korn, QB, Houston (at Rutgers)

O'Korn was quite busy last week, throwing for 363 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions against BYU. Those picks are a concern, but on the season he has 14 touchdowns to a mere four interceptions, and he has thrown for 1,494 yards in six games. However, he hasn't been tested on the road yet, and this week he faces a good Rutgers defense. It could be another day with a couple turnovers for O'Korn.

Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina (at Missouri)

Davis has been excellent this year. In addition to running for more than 100 yards in six of his seven games, he's scored at least one touchdown in every contest, and he contributes a bit in the passing game as well. That said, he's avoided the tough defenses in the SEC so far, but that stops this week at Missouri. Additionally, Connor Shaw might miss this game, and while Dylan Thompson is better than most backups, it will allow the Tigers to focus more on Davis.

Treyvon Green, RB, Northwestern (at Iowa)

With Venric Mark out again, Green likely will be the lead running back for the Wildcats. However, since starting the season with three good games, Green hasn't done much of anything. He has been held particularly in check in Northwestern's three losses, which also happen to be its last three games. This week's matchup with Iowa isn't likely to cure what ails Green's numbers.

Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia (at Kansas State)

West Virginia's offense has taken a step, or two, back this year, but Sims is still having a nice season. He has 557 yards rushing, 211 yards receiving and five total touchdowns. Those are good numbers, but not great, and this week the Mountaineers are in Manhattan to face Kansas State. The Wildcats are the one team to sort of keep Baylor in check this season, and West Virginia isn't anywhere near as good as the Bears are. Sims could be in for an off week.

Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke (at Virginia Tech)

Crowder has at least six receptions in every game this season and has 731 yards so far, as well. However, he only has four total touchdowns, three receiving, and the competition hasn't been great. Certainly Crowder hasn't gone up against a team like the resurgent Virginia Tech Hokies, who have not let up more than 21 points to any team other than Alabama in the opener, and the 21 points Marshall scored against Virginia Tech came in a triple overtime game. Crowder could see himself shut down by Frank Beamer and company.

Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State (at Ohio State)

Robinson has had four big games this season, though three were in the season's first three games, but he has a good quarterback who, as a freshman, is still gaining experience, and he has only had one truly poor game. Still, Ohio State is a tough matchup for Robinson and company. A formidable opponent in a road game at night makes for a tricky matchup for Robinson.

Michael Campanaro, WR, Wake Forest (at Miami (FL))

Wake Forest has had a couple nice wins the last two weeks, and Campanaro has been a big part of both. He had 12 catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns against NC State, and he had 11 receptions for 122 yards and a score against Maryland. However, those were both home games, and neither of those teams is as tough as the Hurricanes. Campanaro is pretty much the first, second and third option for this passing game, so the Hurricanes know they can try to shut him down. They likely won't completely keep Campanaro off the stat sheet, but they can limit his fantasy output.