Fantasy Football Over/Under: Week 9

Aside from must-starts LaDainian Tomlinson, Ray Rice and Jamaal Charles (all who drew unanimous "over" votes as RB1s this week), the FanHouse fantasy staff only put complete confidence in two of our start/sit candidates. One was Patrick Crayton, the Chargers receiver that's likely to have a big game against the Houston pass defense, as we discussed in this week's sleeper column.

The other is Visanthe Shiancoe. The Vikings tight end exploded onto the fantasy scene in September, posting 162 yards and a TD in his first two games. Teams that waited on a tight end and selected Shiancoe at the end of their drafts were looking pretty smart.

Flash forward to Week 9. Shiancoe is currently 20th on the fantasy charts at his position, behind such fantasy forces as Anthony Fasano, Daniel Fells and Jermichael Finley, who only put up four weeks of fantasy stats before hitting the IR. So what happened?

Oh, right. That guy.

The addition of Randy Moss opened up the field for Percy Harvin, who stole Shiancoe's role as Favre's go-to guy. In the four games since the trade, Shiancoe averaged just 24 yards per game and scored no TDs.

As I know you've heard, Moss has been given his parting gift and exited stage right, leaving the Minnesota passing game much like he found it. Harvin may miss this week, but if he plays, teams are going to show him the same respect they showed Moss. Cue Shiancoe's stock rising. It also helps that Arizona, the Vikings' Week 9 opponent, has shown a penchant for allowing TEs to score, ranking 26th in the league in that respect.

Taking everything into account, we expect Shiancoe's return to fantasy glory to happen in Week 9. Grab him, use him, and thank Moss on his way out.

Here are your benchmarks in each category (normal 20/4 pass, 10/6 rush/rec scoring applies):

QB - 18 points (200 yards passing, 2 TDs; 220 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT, etc.)
RB1 - 16 points (100 yards and 1 TD)
RB2 - 10 points (100 yards, zero TDs; 40 yards, 1 TD)
WR1 - 12 points (120 yards, zero TDs; 60 yards, 1 TD)
WR2 - 10 points (100 yards, zero TDs; 40 yards, 1 TD)
WR3 - 8 points (80 yards, zero TDs; 20 yards, 1 TD)
FLEX - 6 points (60 yards or a TD)
TE - 8 points (80 yards, zero TDs; 20 yards, 1 TD)

Position	Player	Matchup	R.J.	Paul	Antonio	Ryan	Sean	O/U
QB	Vick	vs. IND	Over	Under	Over	Over	Over	4/1
QB	Ryan	vs. TB	Under	Over	Over	Under	Over	3/2
QB	McCoy	vs. NE	Under	Under	Under	Under	Under	0/5
QB	Stafford	vs. NYJ	Under	Under	Under	Over	Over	2/3
QB	Cutler	at BUF	Under	Under	Over	Over	Under	2/3
QB	Freeman	at ATL	Over	Over	Over	Under	Under	3/2
RB1	Tomlinson	at DET	Over	Over	Over	Over	Over	5/0
RB1	Charles	vs. OAK	Over	Over	Over	Over	Over	5/0
RB1	Rice	vs. MIA	Over	Over	Over	Over	Over	5/0
RB1	Hillis	vs. NE	Under	Over	Over	Over	Over	4/1
RB2	Best	vs. NYJ	Over	Over	Over	Over	Under	4/1
RB2	Benson	vs. PIT	Over	Over	Under	Over	Under	3/2
RB2	Green-Ellis	at CLE	Under	Over	Over	Under	Over	3/2
RB2	B.Jackson	vs. DAL	Over	Under	Over	Under	Over	3/2
RB2	Mathews	at HOU	Under	Over	Under	Under	Under	1/4
RB2	Blount	at ATL	Under	Over	Over	Under	Over	3/2
WR1	C.Johnson	vs. NYJ	Over	Over	Under	Over	Over	4/1
WR1	A.Johnson	vs. SD	Over	Over	Over	Under	Under	3/2
WR1	Nicks	at SEA	Over	Over	Over	Under	Over	4/1
WR1	Marshall	at BAL	Over	Under	Over	Under	Under	2/3
WR2	Crayton	at HOU	Over	Over	Over	Over	Over	5/0
WR2	Smith(CAR)	vs. NO	Under	Over	Over	Under	Over	3/2
WR2	Smith(NYG)	at SEA	Under	Under	Under	Under	Over	1/4
WR2	Williams(TB)	at ATL	Over	Over	Over	Over	Under	4/1
WR2	Williams(SEA)	vs. NYG	Under	Under	Under	Under	Under	0/5
WR3	Holmes	at DET	Over	Under	Under	Over	Over	3/2
WR3	Tate	at CLE	Under	Under	Under	Over	Over	2/3
WR3	Jam.Jones	vs. DAL	Over	Over	Under	Under	Over	3/2
WR3	Burleson	vs. NYJ	Over	Under	Under	Under	Under	1/4
WR3	Jac.Jones	vs. SD	Under	Under	Over	Under	Over	2/3
WR3	Moore	at CAR	Under	Over	Over	Under	Over	2/3
FLEX	D.Ward	vs. SD	Under	Under	Under	Under	Over	1/4
FLEX	Gerhart	vs. ARI	Under	Under	Under	Under	Under	0/5
FLEX	Woodhead	at CLE	Under	Over	Over	Over	Under	2/3
FLEX	Spiller	vs. CHI	Under	Under	Under	Over	Under	1/4
FLEX	Ajirotutu	at HOU	Over	Over	Over	Under	Over	4/1
FLEX	Benn	at ATL	Over	Under	Under	Over	Over	3/2
FLEX	Nelson	vs. DAL	Over	Under	Over	Under	Over	3/2
FLEX	LaFell	vs. NO	Under	Over	Under	Under	Over	2/3
TE	Hernandez	at CLE	Over	Under	Over	Over	Over	4/1
TE	Olsen	at BUF	Over	Under	Under	Under	Under	1/4
TE	Tamme	at PHI	Over	Under	Over	Over	Over	4/1
TE	Shiancoe	vs. ARI	Over	Over	Over	Over	Over	5/0
TE	Heap	vs. MIA	Over	Over	Under	Over	Over	4/1

• With Michael Vick returning, he becomes a must-start to everyone but Paul Bourdett, who rates him as getting under 18 points this week. I bet you're using him in most cases, anyway. Colt McCoy has a little bit of sleeper buzz going, but our no-over rating should squash any idea you had of starting him in standard leagues. Of our remaining four guys, the only one I'm endorsing is Josh Freeman, who has been a top-ten QB this year.

• I expected there to be a bit more resistance to Jahvid Best as a RB2. He's facing the stout Jets run defense, and he now has to contend with Kevin Smith for touches. Those two things were enough to knock Best to an "under" on just one RB2 ballot. After a disappointing season, Ryan Mathews only secured one "over" vote as an RB2.

• You should definitely be starting Crayton and Tampa Mike Williams this week, as Crayton swept the "overs" while Williams earned just one detractor as a WR2. Seattle Mike Williams' injury status and tough opponent has him as an "under" across the board.

• Toby Gerhart is emerging as the third-down back in Minnesota, but his solid Week 8 isn't enough to earn him an "over" vote from anyone as a flex play this week. We're generally avoiding Derrick Ward, C.J. Spiller and Danny Woodhead, too. As a potential flex receiver, we're mostly buying the stock of Seyi Ajirotutu, and both Arrelious Benn and Jordy Nelson also drew more "over" flex votes than "under."

• Along with Shiancoe, we're mostly enthused about the prospects of Aaron Hernandez, Jacob Tamme and Todd Heap in Week 9. I'm the only one willing to take Chicago's Greg Olsen as an "over" tight end as well. He's facing a defense that surrenders 70 yards and a TD to fantasy TEs in an average game. I expect him to reach the end zone, making eight points all but assured.