Should you start new Titans running back Adrian Peterson in fantasy football for Week 9? What about Derrick Henry's original backup, Jeremy McNichols? And does Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson have upside on Sunday Night Football?
Our expert walks you through making these key start/sit decisions for Titans-Rams.
Start Titans RBs Adrian Peterson or Jeremy McNichols?
You likely didn't acquire Adrian Peterson for Week 9 — you acquired him for Week 10 and beyond.
I realize you likely just spent a lot of FAAB or your No. 1 waiver slot to roster AP, but he's a risky RB3 option this week. The Titans are likely going to ease AP in with 10-12 carries in his Titans debut.
It doesn't help that the Titans are 7.5-point road dogs against the Rams (check real-time NFL odds here), so this will likely be a pass-heavy game script that favors pass-catching back Jeremy McNichols.
Peterson should provide low-end RB2 value starting in Week 11.
McNichols is the better play this week, as a result. He's likely going to see a much more significant role in the run game, with Derrick Henry out and AP needing a week or two to see a full workload. As a result, I'm treating McNichols as a RB3/Flex option with added value in PPR formats.
Verdict: Adrian Peterson is a risky RB3; Jeremy McNichols is a RB3/Flex option
Start Rams WR Van Jefferson?
Van Jefferson is now a WR3.
Jefferson has seen his value shoot up over the past week. The Rams cut DeSean Jackson and placed Tutu Atwell on IR, which means Jefferson is now locked in as a 95%+ routes run wideout in one of the top passing offenses in the league.
Jefferson is set for a huge second half of the season, and you can confidently start him as a mid-range WR3 option this week. He is also a Cooper Kupp or Robert Woods injury away from offering WR2+ value.
Verdict: Van Jefferson is a mid-range WR3
Buy Low On Titans WR Julio Jones
I'm not saying to offer CeeDee Lamb in a one-for-one trade of Julio Jones or anything crazy like that, but I would imagine that Jones has been a headache for his fantasy managers this season.
The Titans offense should become more pass-heavy with Derrick Henry out for the season, so Jones should become a WR2 option once he's back to 100% health (though it's fair to question whether that will happen in 2021). So if you can pry him away from one of your leaguemates with a WR3/4 trade piece, I would try it — Jones managers may decide they'd rather not deal with the headache anymore.
Need More Fantasy Advice?
Consult our expert's real-time fantasy football rankings for standard, PPR and half-PPR scoring here.
