Start/Bench - Week 9 Oct 31, 2012 | More
More articles from Jim Bukowski

Welcome to Week 9 of Start/Bench and Happy Halloween! Can you believe that we're already more than halfway through the fantasy season/playoffs!? With all the little ones in full Halloween mode today please remember to drive carefully and be on the lookout for all the little revelers. Now, onto some serious business.
 

QUARTERBACKS

STUDS

Tom Brady *Bye*
Drew Brees
Robert Griffin III
Eli Manning
Peyton Manning
Aaron Rodgers
Ben Roethlisberger
Matt Ryan

START

Michael Vick, Philadelphia at New Orleans: Vick couldn't have picked a better defense to face with his job on the line than New Orleans. The Saints are the most generous defense in fantasy when it comes to giving up points to opposing quarterbacks as they've allowed 2,219 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes while only picking off three passes. If Vick can't get the job done versus this defense then he really should cede the starting job to rookie Nick Foles.
 

Matt Schaub, Houston vs. Buffalo: The Bills defense is terrible no matter which way you slice it. It's run defense is the most generous in fantasy to opposing running backs and its passing defense is the second most generous in fantasy to opposing quarterbacks. The Bills are giving up a league worst 32.4 points per game so there is plenty of fantasy goodness to go around.

Cam Newton, Carolina at Washington: This may be the matchup that Newton needs to get back on track. Not only are the Redskins one of the most generous teams versus opposing quarterbacks but when Newton looks across the field he will get a chance to relive his magical rookie season when he sees 2012 rookie phenom Robert Griffin III. At this time last year Newton was the hottest thing in fantasy football, now he's a mid-QB2.   

BENCH

Christian Ponder, Minnesota at Seattle: Ponder will be facing a Seahawks defense that has allowed only eight touchdown passes while picking off seven in eight games. After not throwing an interception in his first four games this season Ponder has seven picks in his last four games combined. On the road against a tough Seattle defense look for Ponder to extend his streak of games with an interception to five.

Brandon Weeden, Cleveland vs. Baltimore: The last time Weeden faced the Ravens back in Week 4 he threw for 320 yards and zero touchdowns with one interception. Expect more of the same except less passing yards this time around as the Ravens are the fifth toughest defense versus opposing quarterbacks having allowed only six touchdown passes on the season.

Tony Romo, Dallas at Atlanta: Romo will be facing a Falcons defense that has allowed multiple passing touchdowns only once this season (two back in Week 4 to Carolina). While the Falcons are a Top 10 fantasy defense versus quarterbacks, their defense is one of the 10 worst versus the run, so expect the Cowboys to try and establish the run especially if DeMarco Murray is healthy enough to play this week.

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