Jonathan Taylor might have won the week for a lot of fantasy managers before it even really started. He gained 200 total yards and scored two touchdowns to help the Colts cruise to an easy win over the Jets on Thursday night.
Taylor wasn’t the only Colt who found success against the struggling Jets. Even Nyheim Hines, who’s struggled to maintain fantasy relevance, gained 74 rushing yards and scored. He added 34 receiving yards as well.
More: Fantasy football: Week 9 position rankings
Michael Pittman, as predicted, had another strong day catching the ball. He had five receptions for 64 yards and scored. Carson Wentz continues to be good for fantasy managers, though he does make you cringe at times, throwing for 272 yards and three scores.
More: Fantasy football: 21 predictions for the 2021 season to help you make the best picks
The Jets had some players contribute to fantasy scores — if they were started, that is. Elijah Moore might have finally broken out with seven receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Ty Johnson and Michael Carter also found the end zone and contributed at least 60 yards of offense apiece.
Here’s a look at other players who should start, and some who should sit, heading into Week 9 of NFL action.
Quarterbacks
Start
Kirk Cousins, Vikings: Cousins struggled against a Cowboys defense that’s playing better, but he gets to face a Ravens defense that allowed Joe Burrow to throw over 400 yards and three touchdowns before Baltimore’s bye. The Ravens have allowed three 400-yard passing games this season.
Derek Carr, Raiders: He’s had only two dud games and has thrown at least two TDs in all but one game. The matchup with the Giants is pretty good, though he no longer has Henry Ruggs to throw to.
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: The Texans defense has allowed at least two scores against the position in all but one week this season. Tagovailoa doesn’t have to worry about Deshaun Watson taking his spot and has put up solid fantasy scores in two of the past three weeks.
Sit
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers: The Cardinals are third-best in points allowed to the position, and Garoppolo doesn’t inspire enough confidence to start him in the tough matchup.
Matt Ryan, Falcons: Ryan is without Calvin Ridley, and he should’ve had a decent game against the Panthers last week but struggled. The Saints are in the top five in points allowed to quarterbacks.
Ryan Tannehill, Titans: The Rams are pretty good at limiting quarterbacks, and they just added Von Miller to help on that front. Tannehill is coming off back-to-back strong performances and is due a tough outing.
Running backs
Start
Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons: With Atlanta down a playmaker as Ridley takes care of personal matters, Patterson should continue to be a useful asset. He has five TDs over the past four games.
Elijah Mitchell, 49ers: Mitchell has been outstanding over the past two weeks, totaling 244 rushing yards and two scores. He had nine carries for 43 yards the last time he played Arizona in Week 5, but he’ll probably have nearly double those opportunities.
Zack Moss, Bills: His consecutive lackluster performances should end this week against the Jaguars. Moss has had at least eight rushes over the past three games and has 11 receptions in that span as well. The Bills should lead this game and end up running out the clock.
Sit
Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles: The Eagles’ backfield is a mess in terms of who is the lead back. They don’t have one. Both Boston Scott and Jordan Howard carried the ball 12 times and scored twice last week. Gainwell was the odd man out.
Chase Edmonds, Cardinals: He faces a pretty tough 49ers defense, which is one of the better ones against running backs. Edmonds finished outside of even flex-play territory the last time the teams played in Week 5.
Carlos Hyde, Jaguars: James Robinson might miss Week 9, but I wouldn’t slot Hyde into a starting role. The Bills are the best team at limiting running backs.
Wide receivers
Start
Robert Woods, Rams: Though he had just 35 yards receiving last week, he did score twice for a top-five wide receiver performance. He’s struggled to find even a fraction of the success that Cooper Kupp has, but the matchup against the Titans is favorable.
Brandin Cooks, Texans: It should be an interesting matchup with the Dolphins, who are the second-worst team at limiting wideouts. Cooks has been steady if not exciting.
Chase Claypool, Steelers: Claypool should be able to take advantage of the matchup with the Bears. They’re fifth-worst in points allowed to the position.
Sit
DeVonta Smith, Eagles: If he couldn’t benefit from facing the Lions last week, it might not happen for him this season. It’s not entirely his fault as Jalen Hurts struggles in the passing game.
Jaguars receivers: Facing the Bills’ defense would make it tough to start any wide receivers, let alone the receivers for the worst team in the league.
Christian Kirk, Cardinals: Kyler Murray might not play, but even if he does he’ll be doing so right after spraining his ankle in Week 8. That could hurt Cardinals receivers not named DeAndre Hopkins.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Fantasy football: Players to start, and others to sit, in NFL’s Week 9