Week 9 Fantasy Start or Sit: Donte Moncrief or Hakeem Nicks

This post comes from Justin Becker of FantasyFootballOverdose.com. You can follow him on Twitter @NBAandNFLInfo or on the Fantasy Football Overdose Google+ Page, and for more Indianapolis Colts Rumors and News visit Fantasy Football Overdose.

Injuries can ruin everything in fantasy football, or they can save your season. It’s such an odd catch-22 that you’d rather just not have to deal with. If all of the players we draft in fantasy football could just stay healthy and produce, though, we’d never have any tough start and sit calls to make.

One big decision fantasy owners may be forced to make this week could be who they play between Donte Moncrief and Hakeem Nicks. The Indianapolis Colts wide receivers both could have solid value in week nine, as Indy travels to the Big Apple to take on the New York Giants. With the G-Men not especially stout against the pass, it’s likely the Colts will be throwing quite a bit and finding success in the process.

In fact, even if Big Blue were good against the pass, you still wouldn’t have much to worry about. Andrew Luck has fired up an amazing eight 300+ yard games on the year and there is very little to suggest he’ll stop doing so this week.

Another big reason you may be deciding between Moncrief and Nicks this week is the unknown status of Reggie Wayne. A key cog in Indy’s passing attack, the possession stud could miss a second straight game with an elbow issue. The Colts have played coy about his availability all week, but with a week 10 bye looming, it’s fairly likely Indy plays it safe and sits their number two wide receiver.

If Wayne is out, that should mean the Giants put a lot of their energy on two things: stopping the run and containing the explosive T.Y. Hilton. While Hilton seems virtually unstoppable these days, it’s entirely possible he gets shut down and someone else on the Colts is going to have to step up.

Last week that was Moncrief (even though Hilton was still productive), as the rookie notched career highs across the board in receptions (seven) and yardage (113 yards) and even scored his first career touchdown.

Nicks, meanwhile, caught just one ball for 27 yards.

This is a no-brainer on paper. Wayne needs to be started with Hilton if he’s active, which would then make Moncrief a respectable WR4 in a potential shootout. On the flip side, no Wayne would shoot Moncrief back into a starting role and make him a high upside WR2. Either way, the reality of Moncrief’s role and upside make him a WR3, and one worth taking a chance on for when the Colts take on the Giants on Monday Night Football.

Of course, you can’t completely rule out Nicks. After all, while he only caught the one pass last week, it was for a solid 27-yard gain. He also drew six targets, which could still bode well for his role if Wayne is out again.

That, and the revenge factor. Nicks is facing his former team in the Giants, and there is at least a possibility he’ll come into this showdown with a huge chip on his shoulder.

While the revenge factor keeps Nicks in the mix, ultimately you just can’t trust him. Roll with Moncrief over Nicks in fantasy football leagues in week nine and you shouldn’t be disappointed.