It’s already Week 9, crazy how time flies by so fast. Week 9 features many big games, poised to impact the playoff landscape. Week 9 is also a huge week for fantasy football, as teams work to get a higher seed in the playoffs and attempt to work their way into the postseason. Let’s examine some of the best options and worst options in this crucial week.

Starts

Start of the Week: Donte Moncrief, WR, Indianapolis Colts - He’s back folks! Moncrief returned in style following a five week absence, putting up 10 fantasy points in Week 8. In Week 9, Moncrief will face a Packers defense that has allowed six touchdowns to wide receivers in the past four games. Moncrief will see more targets this week as Green Bay focuses on slowing T.Y. Hilton.

Cowboys’ Offense - The Cowboys have been the number one overall offense in fantasy football. This week, the Cowboys play the Browns. Enough said.

Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets - Let’s face it, Marshall has not lived up to his lofty expectations this year. In Week 9, he will get a shot at fantasy redemption as the Jets take on the Dolphins. Yes, the Jets offense as a whole has not been any good this year, but this matchup will give Marshall the chance he needs to put up big numbers. If he doesn’t do much this week, then we may need to hit the panic button.

Ty Montgomery, WR/RB, Green Bay Packers - No, the matchup isn’t particularly favorable, the Colts have surprisingly allowed the sixth fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. However, Montgomery serves as both a wide receiver and a running back, meaning that he has extremely high volume. In PPR leagues, Montgomery is a must start, and still remains a strong option in standard leagues. Montgomery did miss Week 8 with an illness linked to the sickle cell trait, but he practiced, with limitation, on Wednesday, a good sign for his potential return.

Devontae Booker, RB, Denver Broncos - Booker missed a portion of the Broncos game against the Chargers in Week 8 with a shoulder injury. However, he was still able to account for 54 yards on 19 carries as well as a touchdown. In Week 9, the Broncos face an Oakland defense that has allowed seven touchdowns to running backs in their eight games. Booker will still see the vast majority of the carries in this favorable matchup and is a must start for Week 9.

Terrance West, RB, Baltimore Ravens - The Steelers have allowed the fourth most points to running backs so far in 2016. The Ravens should look to exploit that weakness and pound the rock with Terrance West. The Ravens will want to extend their time of possession while keeping the Pittsburgh offense off the field; especially if Ben Roethlisberger plays. West could find success and hopefully provide the spark the Ravens offense desperately needs.

Sits

Marvin Jones/Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions - While both receivers have been fairly reliable overall this season, it has been hard to determine which of the two will have the more productive day in a given week. This week it will be hard to expect major production out of either of the duo as they face the vaunted Minnesota secondary.

Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders - Coming off by far and away the best game of his young NFL career, Carr is greeted with one of the toughest tests in the NFL, a showdown with the Broncos secondary. Oakland has one of the elite offenses in the NFL this season, so something has to give. In this case, Carr and the Raiders experience a hangover from last week’s offensive explosion and thrilling win and the Denver defense proves too much to handle. Plus, Denver, unlike the Buccaneers, will make Oakland pay if they are called for anywhere near the number of penalties as they were in Week 8.

Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts - The Packers have allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs all season, largely due to having only allowed two rushing scores. Gore has been bailed out of dud outings in each of his last two games with a receiving touchdown. His luck will run out against a stingy Packers run defense.

Isaiah Crowell, RB, Cleveland Browns - Despite having put up strong numbers this season, Crowell is a very risky play against Dallas in Week 9. Not only have the Cowboys allowed the second fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, but this game will likely be a blowout. If that proves to be the case, the Browns will lean heavily on the pass. Despite Cleveland’s commitment to running the ball, the potential for a blowout here is too great to rely on Crowell.

Mike Wallace, WR, Baltimore Ravens - Surprisingly, the Steelers have allowed the sixth fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this year. Unless the anemic Ravens offense figures out how to move the ball over the bye week, I’m not sure how much Wallace can be trusted. Yes, Wallace did have 10 catches for 120 yards in his last game, but that was against the Jets, a team with one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. This seems like a game that will be dominated by Terrance West on the offensive side of the ball, as previously stated.

Good luck this week!