Week 9 START/BENCH players GURU Style!

Week 9 brings a soft BYE week with top fantasy players not playing including Plaxico Burress, Eli Manning, The Bears defense, and Torry Holt.

Automatically bench any players on the following teams:
Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, and New York Giants

(Sleepers will not appear in this blog. If you do not see a player, read our sleeper blog for this week.)

QUARTERBACKS
1st Tier Quarterbacks MUST Start:

Tom Brady

Derek Anderson

Jon Kitna

Peyton Manning

Tony Romo

Carson Palmer

Phillip Rivers

2nd Tier Quarterbacks You have to Start:

Brett Farve

Jeff Garcia

Drew Brees

Matt Hasslebeck

Vince Young (Watch Injury Status)

Jay Cutler

Kurt Warner

3rd Tier Quarterbacks Start At Your Own Risk (Big Payoff or Big Fall):

Donovan Mcnabb - He owns Dallas, and should do well, but that was the McNabb of the past. We think he will have a solid game and get some garbage points, so start him if you have no other reasonalbe choice.

Steve McNair - Playing a tough Pittsburgh Def. He knows them well and should find some open WRs.

Alex Smith - He showed some flair last week, but he is still a major risk and not worth starting in our book.

Damon Huard - Green Bay's defense is solid and will apply pressure, but Huard is at home, and coming off a BYE week. He is a risky start, and if you have a less risky QB, go with them.

4th Tier Quarterbacks MUST BENCH:

Ben Roethlisberger

Daunte Culpepper

David Carr

Kellen Clemens

Quinn Gray

Byron Leftywich

RUNNINGBACKS
1st Tier Runningbacks MUST Start: .
Marshan Lynch

Lendall White

Marion Barber

Joseph Addai

LaDainian Tomlinson

Shaun Alexander

Brian Westbrook

2nd Tier Runningbacks You have to Start:

Adrian Peterson

Willie Parker

Reggie Bush

DeShaun Foster

Watson/Johnson - Check injury status on Rudi Johnson.

LaMont Jordan

Larry Johnson

Kevin Jones

Houston RB - Green Or Dayne. Check injury status.

Frank Gore

3rd Tier Runningbacks Start At Your Own Risk(Big Payoff or Big Fall):

Julius Jones - We like this match up and his chances of putting up yards and points are good, but the question is how much will Marion Barber take away?

Atlanta RBs - They have a solid match up in Atlantas against the 49ers but Norwood nro Dunn has been all that great this year. Look for them to run, and there should be points out there to get.

Clinton Portis - He is a BUST this year, but has a great match up. Do you have the confidence to start him?

Maurice Jones-Drew - He still hurting, but playing a week defense in the Saints. Also account for Toefield who is back in the rotation. Its a tough call to start him. If he's healthy, go for it.

Edgerrin James - Tough match up against Tampa's defense. We don't expect much running, but passing should reel in the serious points.

4th Tier Runningbacks MUST BENCH:

Thomas Jones

Earnest Graham

Laurence Maroney/Kevin Faulk

Jamal Lewis

Willia McGahee

WIDE RECEIVERS
1st Tier Wide Receivers MUST Start:

Arnez Battle

Terrell Owens

Randy Moss

Reggie Wayne

Roy Williams

Marvin Harrison - If he plays. Check his injury status.

Braylon Edwards

Lee Evans
T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Chad Johnson

Wes Welker

Bobby Engram

2nd Tier Wide Receivers You have to Start:

Donte Stallworth

Patrick Crayton

Deion Branch

Chris Chambers

Marques Colston

Donald Driver

Santonio Holmes

Brandon Marshall

Shaun McDonald

Dwyane Bowe

Joey Galloway

Greg Jennings

Hines Ward

Kevin Curtis

Antwaan Randle El

Steve Smith

3rd Tier Wide Receivers Start At Your Own Risk(Big Payoff or Big Fall):

Vincent Jackson - He is being overshadowed by Chris Chambers. He is a risky start.

Hines Ward - Big game last week, but now is locking horns with the Baltimore defense.

Santana Moss - At this point he's a risk every week. We like him this week, so start him if you can, but don't be shocked if does bad.

Greg Jennings - He had a great game last week, but he's never put two together in a row, and is playing a good defense at home.

Roydell Williams - He's good, he's bad, and so on. What will he be this week? Find a better starter.

4th Tier Wide Receivers MUST BENCH:

Roddey White

Kevin Walter

Ronald Curry

Laveranues Coles

Jerry Porter

Jerricho Cotchery

Derrick Mason

TIGHT ENDS
1st Tier Tight Ends MUST Start:

Chris Cooley

Dallas Clark

Antonio Gates

Heath Miller

Kevin Winslow

Kyle Brady

Jason Whitten

2nd Tier Tight Ends You have to Start:

Bo Scaife

Tony Scheffler

Tony Gonzalez

Eric Johnson

Vernon Davis

3rd Tier Tight Ends Start At Your Own Risk(Big Payoff or Big Fall):

Todd Heap - He should be healthy, but is facing a defense that covers TEs well. You almost have to start him, but keep your expectations tamed.

4th Tier Tight Ends MUST BENCH:

Bubba Franks

Alge Crumpler

DEFENSES

1st Tier Defenses MUST Start:

Pittsburgh

Tennessee

Washington

2nd Tier Defenses You have to Start:

Arizona

San Fransisco

Tampa Bay

Green Bay

New Orleans

Jacksonville

Oakland

Dallas

Baltimore
3rd Tier Defenses Start At Your Own Risk:

Indianapolis - Wow, does anyone know what will happen. We think this defense at home matches up will with New Englands arsenal, but we wouldn't start them.

New England - Its your call. You know Manning will be throwing all day.

Jacksonville - Suffering with some injuries, and on the road. If the Saints stay hot, DON'T START. We they the Saints will stay hot.

Buffalo - They are playing Cincy, but they are at home and Palmer is throwing some INTs. Good chance for a defensive score in this game.

Seattle - They have been tough all year, but they are on the road and playing the hot Cleveland offense.

4th Tier Defenses MUST BENCH:
Philadelphia

Denver

Minnesota
Carolina

Cleveland
Cincinnati

We are no longer going to do kickers. They are way to hard to predict. and most teams only have one anyway. If you need to find a kicker cause of a BYE week base your decisions on 3 factors:
1. Is the kicker kicking in a Dome? (that's good)

2. Is the Defense the kicker facing a tough defense?
3. Is the kicker's offense very good?

Watch for our week 9 sleepers coming next!

Listen at 6:30 pm PST every Thursday on Blogtalkradio.com for the Fantasy Football GURU Show with AJ Pelletier, Mike Bowser, RC, and weekly guests. This Thursday we will be discussing a overview of last weeks games, give you advice on who to start THIS week, and go over rumors and injuries. As always we will discuss our weekly sleeper picks. Join us! Call in for questions at (646) 716-9203 or email us at guru@fantasyfootballsearch.com . To logon to our radio show goto The Fantasy Football Guru Show!. Click on the Click to Listen button and you are all set