Fantasy Football Week 9 Start or Sit: Jermaine Gresham

By patrickpuzzo on October 31, 2014

A week after catching 10 balls on 12 targets, Jermaine Gresham had just four catches on four targets last Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. In most PPR leagues Gresham would be a solid option for fantasy owners since he has 22 catches in the last four games. However, he has only 165 receiving yards in those four games, making his non-PPR league owners furious.

The Ravens presented a much tougher defensive matchup last Sunday than the Cincinnati Bengals will be faced with this week. The Bengals host the 25th ranked Jacksonville Jaguars defense on Sunday. It’s a Jaguars defense which has played much better over the past three games, although the competition has not been intimidating with foes such as the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans.

The Jags allow the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, which would make it appealing to at least consider starting Gresham, especially with six teams on bye weeks. If you’re considering starting Gresham due to the favorable matchup alone, don’t be fooled. Andy Dalton‘s favorite target in A.J. Green will likely return this week after missing three straight games with a toe injury.

Gresham has hauled in 23 catches in the four games that Green has missed this season, clearly benefiting from the star receiver’s absence. Green’s presence in the lineup immediately diminishes Gresham’s value as he has caught just five passes in the three games that Green has played in.

Despite the favorable matchup against Jacksonville, the return of Green will take away any extra targets that Gresham would have seen this week without him. Gresham has been a disappointment to many, especially after Tyler Eifert was lost earlier in the season. Gresham is still without a touchdown and/or a 70-plus yard performance, which owners shouldn’t expect to change this Sunday, meaning that the tight end should be sitting in most leagues.

Patrick Puzzo is a Fantasy writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @patrickpuzzo_24, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google