The weeks have passed, injuries have skyrocketed and another revelation is upon us. With six teams scheduled for this week, it’s safe to say the runner pool has never been shallower this season. But, somehow, it doesn’t Fantasy NFL be more exciting? Every last team is affected by injuries or a bye, so every owner has to make critical decisions to start or sit.
Let’s start with the guys who aren’t ranked with a bye. Saquon Barkley, Nick Chubb, Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard and Najee Harris are the biggest names in the bye week. and we will be without the services of Melvin Gordon III, Latavius Murray and Kareem Hunt.
Breathe, take a sip of water and keep going. It’s time to talk studs, and who’s studder for the last half decade than the king? Derrick Henry (@Chiefs in Week 9) is starting to heat up and could go nuclear in the second half of the season. Austin Ekeler ( @Falcons ) only knows one speed and will have to hit an Atlanta D that has given up 10 career TDs this season. Honestly, the top tiers of our rankings have never felt more concrete.
One of the players who has become the “cream” it’s Travis Etienne Jr (vs. Raiders). The second-year running back had 162 yards and a TD against a strong Broncos D in London, and it should hurt a Las Vegas team that just allowed Alvin Kamara to total 158 yards and three TDs. We’ve even moved ETN up on Jonathan Taylor ( @Patriots ), but obviously, he’s still a must-start as long as he doesn’t have any new ankle issues.
More | Fantasy NFL QB Rankings Week 9: Who to bench and who to sit?
As for other injuries to watch out for this week, Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) may come off IR and James Conner (rib) looks closer to a return. Both will start if active, but if he’s out again, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley (vs. Chargers) are top picks in a favorable matchup and Eno Benjamin will be a solid RB2 in a big matchup of their own. Chuba Hubbard (ankle) could also return, but D’Onta Foreman ( @Bengals ) looks set to remain Carolina’s RB1 (and an RB2 in Fantasy NFL).
What can we learn about the Ravens’ backfields, running backs and captains? Well, Baltimore’s situation is completely health dependent. If Gus Edwards (@Saints) is healthy after a little hamstring tweak last Thursday, that’s the man. If it’s a scratch, shoot Kenyan Drake with confidence. As for Washington, we’re starting to lean more toward Antonio Gibson over Brian Robinson in PPR leagues — Gibby has more explosive playability — but B-Rob is still a good flex in standard formats. And with Kansas City, your guess is as good as mine. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Titans) no longer owns this backfieldbut in a shallow week, we can’t blame you for starting him or Isiah Pacheco.
Perhaps the most confusing backfield is Los Angeles, where Ronnie Rivers (@Buccaneers) faced Darrell Henderson Jr. last week. Rookie Kyren Williams (ankle) could easily be the best man this week if he’s active, but if it’s not, we’re giving Rivers a slight edge over Henderson. We wouldn’t want to start either player given the matchup, but Rivers can work as a flex in deep leagues.
More | Fantasy NFL WR Rankings Week 9: Who to bench and who to sit?
As for the deeper leagues, Khalil Herbert (against the Dolphins) has been better than fellow veteran David Montgomery, and Miami has given up a total of nine points to running backs this season. We could also see some points from Kenneth Gainwell ( @Texans ), as Houston has been the most generous defense to running backs this season. Additions AJ Dillon (vs. Lions) and Damien Harris (vs. Colts) are also in good position and should follow Aaron Jones and Rhamondre Stevensonrespectively, while Dontrell Hilliard (@Chiefs) also has some upside, especially in PPR leagues.
As for fadeouts, look out for Michael Carter and James Robinson (vs. Bills). This is a great defense they will face and second year QB Zach Wilson won’t be doing them many favors. But, as we said about the Chiefs and Rams running backs, in such a thin week, we wouldn’t blame you for starting either.
RB Rankings Week 9 for standard leagues | RB Rankings Week 9 for PPR leagues
RB Rankings Week 9 for standard leagues
Position player
1 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Chiefs
2 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Falcons
3 Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Commanders
4 Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Jaguars
5 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. panthers
6 Miles Sanders, Eagles @ Texans
7 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Lions
8 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. rams
9 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. crows
10 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. raiders
11 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Patriots
12 Rhammondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Baby chicks
13 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Cardinals
14 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. explosives
15 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Bears
16 James Conner, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
17 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. eagles
18 David Montgomery, Bears vs. Dolphins
19 D’Andre Swift, Lions vs. packers
20 D’Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Bengals
21 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Saints
22 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Lions
23 Damien Harris, Patriots vs. Baby chicks
24 Devin Singletary, Bills @ Jets
25 Caleb Huntley, Falcons vs. explosives
26 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Vikings
27 Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. packers
28 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. Vikings
29 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. titans
30 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. titans
31 Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Dolphins
32 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Texans
33 Michael Carter, Jets vs. Accounts
34 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Bengals
35 James Robinson, Jets vs. Accounts
36 Kenyan Drake, Ravens @ Saints
37 Ronnie Rivers, Rams @ Buccaneers
38 Dontrell Hilliard, Titans @ Chiefs
39 Nyheim Hines, Colts @ Patriots
40 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. rams
41 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins @ Bears
42 Sony Michel, Chargers @ Falcons
43 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
44 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Commanders
45 Mark Ingram, Saints vs. crows
46 Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. panthers
47 Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams @ Buccaneers
48 Travis Homer, Seahawks @ Cardinals
49 James Cook, Bills @ Jets
50 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. titans
51 Rex Burkhead, Texans vs. eagles
52 JD McKissic, Commanders vs. Vikings
53 Justice Hill, Ravens @ Saints
54 Zack Moss, Bills @ Jets
RB Rankings Week 9 for PPR leagues
Position player
1 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Chiefs
2 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Falcons
3 Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Commanders
4 Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Jaguars
5 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. panthers
6 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Lions
7 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. crows
8 Miles Sanders, Eagles @ Texans
9 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. rams
10 Rhammondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Baby chicks
11 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. raiders
12 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Patriots
13 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Cardinals
14 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. explosives
15 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Bears
16 James Conner, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
17 D’Andre Swift, Lions vs. packers
18 David Montgomery, Bears vs. Dolphins
19 D’Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Bengals
20 Devin Singletary, Bills @ Jets
21 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. eagles
22 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Saints
23 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Lions
24 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. Vikings
25 Damien Harris, Patriots vs. Baby chicks
26 Caleb Huntley, Falcons vs. explosives
27 Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. packers
28 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Vikings
29 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. titans
30 Michael Carter, Jets vs. Accounts
31 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. titans
32 Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Dolphins
33 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Texans
34 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Bengals
35 Kenyan Drake, Ravens @ Saints
36 Dontrell Hilliard, Titans @ Chiefs
37 Nyheim Hines, Colts @ Patriots
38 James Robinson, Jets vs. Accounts
39 Ronnie Rivers, Rams @ Buccaneers
40 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. rams
41 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins @ Bears
42 Sony Michel, Chargers @ Falcons
43 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals vs. Seahawks
44 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Commanders
45 Travis Homer, Seahawks @ Cardinals
46 JD McKissic, Commanders vs. Vikings
47 Mark Ingram, Saints vs. crows
48 Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. panthers
49 Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams @ Buccaneers
50 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. titans
51 James Cook, Bills @ Jets
52 Rex Burkhead, Texans vs. eagles
53 Justice Hill, Ravens @ Saints
54 Zack Moss, Bills @ Jets
