Early Week 9 Starts and Sits
	written by: Ralph Mancini 11/05/2009

The heat is on in most fantasy leagues with contenders vying for top playoff seeds and lesser teams trying to put a late-season winning streak together to sneak into postseason play.

START

MATT HASSELBECK (SEA-QB): The bald bomber is a fragile sort with declining skills, but this is the week to overlook those obvious realities and place your chips on the Seattle striker, who faces a butter soft Detroit secondary. The concern, of course, is how Hasselbeck will hold up behind his makeshift line sans left tackle Walter Jones and a hobbled Sean Locklear, who remains very iffy on the right side. But then again, this is the same Detroit defense that was unable to lay a hand on the equally immobile Marc Bulger last Sunday.

JAMAAL CHARLES (KC-RB): The lightening-fast Texas product has the opportunity of a lifetime staring him in the face, as coach Todd Haley has anointed him Kansas City’s new feature back. A soft group of Jacksonville defenders that were last seen tripping over themselves in pursuit of Chris Johnson is all that stands in the way of Charles achieving flex-back numbers in the neighborhood of 80 to 100 yards and about five receptions.

MIKE BELL (NO-RB): While some expect a letdown from the New Orleans Saints, it’s hard to imagine the ultra-competitive Drew Brees from allowing that to happen versus the division rival Carolina Panthers. Look for the Saints to jump to a sizeable lead in this one with Bell acting as the late-game sledge hammer sealing the deal against a toothless Cats offense that won’t be able to keep pace. Yes, a repeat of Bell’s magnificent fourth quarter in the Miami game two weeks ago is very much possible here. Mark the veteran down for 50 to 60 rushing yards and a cheap one-yard score.

MIKE SIMS-WALKER (JAX-WR): While MSW is no longer a sleeper these days, fantasy owners may be hesitant about starting him after an uninspiring two-catch for nine-yard effort last week. One bad game shouldn’t dissuade anyone from going with the 6’2” playmaker since the Jags had deal with an extra motivated Cortland Finnegan, who acted as Walker’s shadow in Week 8. A terrible performance on the part of David Garrard, who was off the mark on most of his throws, didn’t help either. This week’s matchup is an especially favorable one for the Jacksonville passing game due to a Kansas City defensive backfield that has allowed the fourth most touchdown passes. Making matters worse for the Chiefs is the fact that starting free safety Jared Page has officially been ruled out for the season.

HAKEEM NICKS (NYG-WR): Hakeem “The Dream” stands a good chance of seeing a few more passes going his way given the fact that the slippery-handed Mario Manningham is battling a shoulder injury. Eli Manning and company will probably have to air it out in their must-win game versus San Diego’s potent aerial attack. The rookie is averaging a healthy 18.4 yards-per-reception, which makes the possibility of a couple of long connections very possible, particulary in the play action game.

BENCH

MATT FORTE (CHI-RB): Forte owners would’ve been wise to trade the struggling back after his strong showing versus Cleveland. Things won’t be as easy in the next month, including this week with an embarrassed Arizona defense coming to town. Chicago’s unathletic and slow offensive line is quite simply not as good as Carolina’s front five.
Expect the likes of Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell to gain penetration, leaving Forte little room to operate.

HEATH MILLER (PIT-TE): With the exception of Antonio Gates’ five-receptions for 80 yards in Week 6, the Orange Crush haven’t been very accommodating to opposing tight ends. The likes of Jason Witten, Zach Miller, Ben Watson and Todd Heap have all been limited to 31 yards or less.