Falcons/Buccaneers Start/Sit review

Week 9 started with the Atlanta Falcons beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 43-28. Most fantasy players don't care about the final score, but the stats that their players put up. Let's take a list at who I had starting and who I had sitting and will see how things worked out. As you know I'll use the scoring system from my 20-team Yahoo league.

Quarterback:

Matt Ryan threw for 344 yards and 4 touchdowns last night. He had 2 rushing attempts for 0 yards and was sacked 2 times. Ryan was a START for me yesterday and his 28.38 fantasy points is a good start for your team this week.

Jameis Winston was a START for me yesterday as well. Winston did leave the game early with a knee injury, but was up and walking on the sidelines and probably would've re-entered the game had it been close. Winston scored 21.62 fantasy points by throwing for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. Winston ran the football twice for 14 yards and was sacked 3 times in the game. Winston is a good START this week.

Running Back:

Devonta Freeman carried the ball 17 times for 77 yards and caught 2 passes for 28 yards. Freeman out up 16.25 fantasy points, but honestly I was expecting more from him. I had him as a START and I think his point total was good enough for that, but I really thought he'd score in the 20's.

Peyton Barber was Tampa Bay's leading fantasy running back. Barber carried the football 11 times for 31 yards and caught 4 passes for 24 yards. I had Barber as a SIT and his 12.50 probably isn't good enough for a running back.

Antone Smith was a SIT last night and I hope you went that route with him. Smith rushed for 25 yards on 5 carries and caught 3 passes for 27 yards. Smith did lose some pints as he had a fumble in the game. Smith ended up with 6.70 fantasy points last night.

Wide Receiver:

Julio Jones is a must START every week; so I'm sure you had him in your line up. It was worth it last night as Jones scored 23.35 fantasy points. Jones was targeted 11 times caught 8 of them for 111 yards and a touchdown.

Mohamed Sanu had a solid night and if you're in a deep league he might've been a good play for you. Sanu caught 5 of the 7 passes he was targeted on for 74 yards. Sanu was a SIT for me and I needed more out of him than the 11.15 fantasy points he scored last night.

I missed the boat on Taylor Gabriel last night, but he ended up being a big part of the Falcons offense. Gabriel caught all 5 of the passes he was targeted on for 52 yards. Not a huge receiving day, but Gabriel also ran the football 2 times for 24 yards and a touchdown. I didn't have Gabriel on my list yesterday, but his 17.85 fantasy points would've made him a START last night.

Mike Evans falls into the same category as Julio Jones does; if you own him you START him. Evans had a big night as he caught 11 passes and was targeted 17 times in the game. Evans had 150 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. I'm sure you had Evans in your line up and he paid off for you with 35.50 fantasy points.

Adam Humphries was a SIT for me last night and his 14.35 fantasy points kind of puts him right in the middle of what you should do with him. Humphries was targeted 7 times and caught 5 of them for 46 yards and a touchdown. I'm going to count this against myself, but I hope Humphries works out for you this week. 

Tight End:

Austin Hooper caught 3 of the 6 passes he was targeted on. Hooper went for 46 yards and a touchdown. I had Hooper as a SIT, but with his 12.85 fantasy points he could be very helpful to your team this week.

Levine Toilolo caught just 1 pass last night, but it was for 32 yards and a touchdown. It was the only pass he was targeted on; so he made the most of it. I had Toilolo as a SIT and while he did score 9.95 fantasy points I don't think it will be good enough for your team.

Cameron Brate ended up being the best tight end fantasy play of the night. Brate was targeted 6 times and caught 5 of them for 43 yards and a touchdown. I had Brate as a SIT, but I think his 14.80 fantasy points is a good total for your tight end this week.

Defense/Special Teams:

Atlanta was a SIT for me and I hope they where for you as well. The Falcons Defense/Special Teams put up 7.70 fantasy points last night. I hope you had another option for this week.

Tampa Bay was a SIT for me as well and they ended up with -0.50 fantasy points on my league. It just wasn't a good night to play either of these defense/Special Teams and I hope you where able to avoid them.

Not too bad of a week as I hit on 10 and missed on 5. I hope your Week 9 got off to a good start. Thanks for checking back to see how I did and good luck with the rest of your Week 9 match ups.