Start or set? Starting or seating decisions in fantasy football can be agonizing. While it feels great to make the right decision and achieve fantasy glory, it hurts just as much when someone throws a tantrum on the bench. You can use our “Who should I start with?” Tool to help you get advice from fantasy football experts as you make your lineup decisions. And you can also sync your fantasy football league with our My Playbook tool for free for customized advice, rankings and analysis.

Let’s take a look at some polarizing players and the recommendations of the Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR).

Fantasy football starting and sit-em lineup tips

Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR) | QB11 for Week 9

ECR’s quarterbacks are higher than Stafford’s:

• Sam Darnold (MIN)
• Kyler Murray (ARI)
• Dak Prescott (DAL)

The ECR has fewer quarterbacks than Stafford:

• Geno Smith (SEA)
• Caleb Williams (CHI)
• Bo Nix (DEN)

Some of the most popular “Who should I start with?” searches of the week:

• Matthew Stafford or Sam Darnold: 87% of experts chose Darnold
• Matthew Stafford or Kyler Murray: 91% of experts chose Murray
• Matthew Stafford or Geno Smith: 70% of experts chose Stafford
• Matthew Stafford or Caleb Williams: 70% of experts chose Stafford

Chris Olave (WR – NO) | WR13 for Week 9

Wide receiver has higher ECR than Olave:

• Puka Nacua (LAR)
• Cooper Kupp (LAR)
• Terry McLaurin (WHAT)

Wide receiver has lower ECR than Olave:

• DeVonta Smith (PHI)
• DJ Moore (CHI)
• Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI)

Some of the most popular “Who should I start with?” searches of the week:

• Chris Olave or Puka Nacua: 93% of experts chose Nacua
• Chris Olave or Cooper Kupp: 78% of experts chose Kupp
• Chris Olave or DeVonta Smith: 59% of experts chose Olave
• Chris Olave or DJ Moore: 78% of experts chose Olave

Mark Andrews (TE – BAL) | TE11 for Week 9

Tight Ends have ECR higher than Andrews:

• Jake Ferguson (DAL)
• Sam LaPorta (DET)
• Dalton Kincaid (BUF)

ECR’s tight ends are lower than Andrews:

• Tucker Kraft (UK)
• Zach Ertz (WHAT)
• Cole Kmet (CHI)

Some of the most popular “Who should I start with?” searches of the week:

• Mark Andrews or Jake Ferguson: 93% of experts chose Ferguson
• Mark Andrews or Sam LaPorta: 96% of experts chose LaPorta
• Mark Andrews or Tucker Kraft: 67% of experts chose Andrews
• Mark Andrews or Zach Ertz: 72% of experts chose Andrews

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If you want to delve deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning list Fantasy football tools as you navigate your season. From ours Start/seat assistant – that delivers your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus forecasts – for us Waiver Wire Assistantwhich allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.