Start: Philip Rivers, Quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers

If it weren’t for Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees, and Todd Gurley having stellar seasons, Philip Rivers might have been the frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player award as the NFL heads into Week 9.

The long-time quarterback is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes, while adding 2,008 yards on 9.13 yards per attempt. Rivers is also taking care of the football and generating touchdowns, throwing 17 scores to just three interceptions (fifth-fewest in the league when it comes to interceptions), trailing only Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Alex Smith.

Rivers has tallied at least 17 points in standard leagues six times. On top of that, he has scored 20 or more points five times, making him QB1 worthy for the entire season. Rivers has a tough road matchup against a Seattle defense that has played well this season. But Rivers had a difficult matchup against a Buffalo defense, and that turned out well for the veteran.

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Sit: Mitchell Trubisky (Chicago Bears) and Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans)

The Chicago Bears will be going against a Buffalo team that will be led by Nathan Peterman, which could cut Trubisky’s day short if the Bears end up blowing the doors wide open. The former UNC star will also be without his No. 1 receiver in Allen Robinson, who is dealing with a groin injury.

Marcus Mariota, on the other hand, is facing a Dallas Cowboy defense that is giving up just 217 yards a game through the air. The Titans have seemingly struggled to generate offense with the passing game, despite adding weapons for Mariota in Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor, and Dion Lewis. Tennessee is averaging an abysmal 173 passing yards a game, making Mariota an ugly choice for fantasy moving forward.