The fantasy football Thursday night matchup is here and some start or sit options for Week 9 for the Panthers and Saints include Jimmy Graham, Cam Newton, Mark Ingram, Drew Brees, DeAngelo Williams, Brandin Cooks, Marques Colston, Khiry Robinson, Pierre Thomas, Kelvin Benjamin and Jonathan Stewart, as some of those players are on the injury report and others could have a huge performances for fantasy owners.
Graham comes into the game as questionable for the Saints and fantasy owners are hoping he can go, as Graham has been a frustrating player this season. Graham is one of the most dominant players at his position, but he has missed time and is not on the pace he was last season. Graham is a START option as long as he plays, but fantasy owners should temper expectations. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are START picks, as Williams is coming back from an injury and will be the main back in the matchup with the Panthers.
Drew Brees is always a START pick and that goes for Thursday and along with him, Mark Ingram, Travaris Cadet and Brandin Cooks are also solid options. Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson are SIT options, as Thomas has been ruled out and Robinson is questionable for the game. Even if Robinson plays it's likely he will not get many touches and fantasy owners should stay away from him. Thomas will return soon and him being out makes Ingram a great starter on Thursday night.
Cam Newton is also a START option and getting Williams back should really help the offense. The team has Greg Olsen as another solid starter, while Kelvin Benjamin is a hard START with how he has played this season. Benjamin has been the top target for the Panthers and the most consistent option for Cam Newton. The Panthers could use a win, but the division has been weak this season and that gives the Saints a chance to get back into things.
Brees comes into the game with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season and he is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes once again. Brees has been one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in the league over the past five years and expect him to perform again in Week 9. Last week Brees had 311 yards and three touchdowns in the win against the Packers and getting a division win here on the road would be huge for the Saints.
Colston has been dealing with injuries this season and he has just 25 catches for 408 yards and he could be a FLEX option, but now a hard START at WR. Brandin Cooks has a higher upside for this game and Colston comes in after making four catches last week. Graham being injured could open things up for him, but Cooks is the better option after going for six catches for 94 yards last week and a touchdown. Cooks is still looking for his first 100 yard game of the season and this was his best performance since Week 5 when he had nine catches for 56 yards against the Buccaneers.
