week 9 RB rankings
Let's continue going over fantasy football rankings for Week 9 by looking at the running back position!
We discussed quarterbacks and tight ends yesterday, and will cover wide receivers in a story to come! Also be sure to check back for more Week 9 start/sit content!
Week 9 fantasy football running back projections are live on FantasySP! Use the start/sit tool for all your lineup decisions!
1. Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs gets the No. 1 slot going into a pretty favorable matchup against the Dolphins.
He's been the top fantasy running back so far, and the matchup sets him up to deliver the top fantasy score again.
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Walker has a pretty average test coming in Week 9 against the Jets.
He's coming off a couple lower-scoring fantasy outings, but I think this matchup is good enough to get him rolling again, so I expect him to be great.
CMC's status needs to be monitored this week, as he's dealing with a hamstring issue.
A great matchup awaits against the Raiders, so if he's out there, expect McCaffrey to star. If he's inactive, Kaelon Black is worth adding and starting in most leagues.
Robinson will have a below-average test in Week 9 against the Bengals.
He's struggled a bit over the past three games. While the matchup doesn't favor him, I still expect Robinson to produce enough for a top-five fantasy RB finish.
5. James Cook
Cook has a pretty tough test as well in Week 9, taking on the Vikings.
I still expect the Bills' offense to move the ball enough for Cook to deliver a good fantasy score. He could find the end zone a couple of times too, so I'm not too worried about Cook.
Williams has a pretty favorable matchup coming against the Colts in Week 9.
This game could get out of hand, leading to more touches and production for Williams, so he should comfortably finish inside the top 10.
In that same Indianapolis-Dallas matchup, there's Taylor, the RB1 for Indy, for now.
It's a stellar matchup on paper, but I'm worried about the team limiting his touches, or not utilizing him much while getting blown out. If Taylor were not to suit up, then Seth McGowan could be worth adding and starting.
8. Chase Brown
Brown also has himself a stellar matchup in Week 9, taking on the Falcons.
I want to rank him even higher, but he's underwhelmed a bit over his past three games. I think he racks up a bunch of fantasy points in this favorable matchup.
Hubbard has an above-average matchup against Denver in Week 9.
He got back on track in Week 8 and had some extra time off, so Hubbard is primed for another big showing this coming week. Start him in all leagues.
10. Bucky Irving
Irving has one of the tougher fantasy tests this week, taking on the Bears.
He's been fantastic over the past two weeks though, so I'm not betting against Irving and I'm expecting him to produce a good fantasy score.
11. Kyren Williams
Williams is another high-end fantasy back with a tougher test in Week 9.
He takes on the Commanders. It's a winnable game for the Rams, and I think on volume alone, Williams can deliver a good fantasy score, so I am confident starting him in all leagues.
12. Ollie Gordon
Gordon has a very tough matchup coming in Week 9 against the Lions.
He's been heavily utilized over the past three contests, and so he's another RB who I expect big things out of based on volume. Gordon is a good starting option in all leagues this week.
13. Josh Jacobs
Jacobs lands the No. 13 spot despite a tough matchup against the Patriots in Week 9.
He's delivered well since returning to the field, and with his big workload, he too should put together a good fantasy showing.
14. D'Andre Swift
Swift has a very tough matchup in Week 9 against the Buccaneers.
He's been the team's workhorse of late with Kyle Monangai out, and even if Monangai returns, I still expect Swift to get enough touches to put together a big fantasy showing.
15. Bhayshul Tuten
Tuten is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game against the Ravens, so be watching his status before kickoff.
It's a below-average matchup, and dealing with an injury on a short week, that takes Tuten from a must-start guy to a better flex-level option - start him in an RB spot though, and save those flex spots for players in Sunday and Monday games.
16. Derrick Henry
Henry is not injured, but he's heading into a terrible matchup against the Jaguars on Thursday night, so he falls to No. 16.
He could post a big score if he finds the end zone, and the Ravens keep the game close, but I don't see that happening. It means Henry isn't a locked-in starter this week, especially if you have better alternative options.
17. Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty has an above-average matchup coming against the Niners in Week 9.
Jeanty was replaced by Mike Washington as the lead ball carrier in Week 8, but Jeanty still put up a decent fantasy score as a pass-catching option. I think Jeanty puts together a bounceback showing in Week 9, which starts a better second half of the season.
18. Quinshon Judkins
Judkins has the best fantasy matchup possible against the Saints, so he should be in most starting lineups in Week 9.
He struggled a bit last week, otherwise I'd have ranked him several spots higher. If Cleveland can win, or just keep the game close, Judkins could shine in this matchup.
19. Jonah Coleman
Coleman is the new lead back in Denver, and he gets the second-best fantasy matchup possible this week, taking on the Panthers.
I don't fully trust the Denver offense, otherwise, I'd have ranked Coleman a few spots higher - he should be starting in most leagues though.
20. Saquon Barkley
Barkley's status needs to be watched going into Week 9.
He has a matchup against his old team, the Giants. That's a below-average matchup, so 20th is as high as I feel comfortable taking the injured RB.
21. Woody Marks
Marks has an above-average matchup coming in Week 9 against the Chargers.
He should be the lead back again with David Montgomery out with his injury still. That gives Marks a good outlook, and makes him startable in most leagues.
22. Cam Skattebo
Skattebo is another RB dealing with an injury going into Week 9.
An average matchup against the Eagles awaits if he can suit up. This is as high as I could justify putting the injured RB.
23. Rachaad White
White has a below-average matchup coming in Week 9 against the Rams.
He has delivered a couple of solid fantasy showings in a row, but things don't look as favorable for him this coming week. White is a flex-level option in standard leagues, but is a more confident starting asset in deeper leagues.
Stevenson gets an above-average matchup against the Packers this week.
He's been utilized enough of late to have trust in him in most fantasy setups. That makes him a solid flex-level option in standard leagues, and a very good deep-league asset.
25. Zach Charbonnet
Charbonnet has a below-average matchup coming in Week 9 against the Cardinals.
He got nine touches in his first game back in Week 8, and I expect his role to expand this week. Throwing in that matchup though, Charbonnet is a better option in deeper leagues.
26. Breece Hall or Braelon Allen
The Jets' starting running back will rank No. 22 for me heading into a below-average test against the Chiefs.
I expect Kansas City to control this game, so that doesn't help whoever starts at RB for New York. That makes them more confident fantasy options in deeper leagues.
27. Jordan Mason
I'll give Mason the No. 27 spot heading into a great matchup against the Bills in Week 9.
He has been pretty involved since returning to the field, and in a favorable matchup led by the team's backup quarterback (Carson Wentz) most likely, I think Mason delivers a good fantasy showing.
28. Tyler Allgeier
Allgeier will get his chance to lead the Arizona backfield in a slightly above-average test against the Seahawks.
I don't love the matchup, especially with Gardner Minshew starting at QB for Arizona, so I'd only really want to be starting Allgeier in deeper leagues.
29. Blake Corum
The below-average matchup against the Commanders doesn't stop me from taking a second LA running back here.
He gets enough work every week to be a worthwhile fantasy starting option. Corum is a better deep-league option because of the matchup though.
30. Kendre Miller
Miller has a pretty average matchup coming against the Browns in Week 9.
He hasn't done too much, despite being the team's lead back the past few weeks. There's enough upside here to rank him 30th though.
