Week 9 RB Fantasy Football Rankings
A couple players from Week 8 have shaken up the middle of the Week 9 RB Fantasy Football Rankings for this week. The top 12-14 are filled with the same guys. But after last week, I’m going to throw some new faces into the mix.
Before I get into the rankings, I want to discuss one of the biggest question marks that will affect many owners going into this weekend’s matchups.
Jonathan Dwyer Deserves To Start Again, But Will He?
After both Isaac Redman and Dwyer looked inept at the beginning of the season, Rashard Mendenhall was supposed to be the Steelers’ running back savior, and fantasy football savior, after coming off a major knee injury. Against the Eagles in Week 5, we thought the old Mendy was back after putting up 101 total yards and a score. Unfortunately, that comeback was short lived after Mendy went down with an Achilles’ injury that he has been dealing with ever since Week 6. With Redman also out, Dwyer has made the most of his starting chances, reeling in back-to-back 100 yard games against the Bengals and the Redskins. There is no word yet on how the backfield will shape up going into Week 9, but my opinion is to keep Dwyer in there as the starter going forward. His 2 straight 100-yard games was something a Steeler hadn’t done since “Fast” Willie Parker did it in 2008. Will Mike Tomlin go with the hot hand? We might not know until the end of the week. But with Mendenhall entering free agency in 2013, seeing what Dwyer can do now will weigh heavily on what the team does during the offseason. As a Dwyer owner, I’ll hope the Steelers feel the same way I do.
Now that I got that out of the way, lets take a look at the Week 9 RB Fantasy Football Rankings. Like every week, make sure to check out the rest of our rankings in our RANKINGS SECTION (Including IDP).
Also, make sure to check the rankings again between now and Friday to see if anyone has moved up or down due to latest news.
UPDATE: 11/2 – Per Mike Triplett, Saints RB Darren Sproles is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on a broken hand. Pierre Thomas will get the start, with Mark Ingram seeing an increase in touches.
Jonathan Dwyer is now doubtful to play against the Giants with a quad injury, leaving Isaac Redman as the starter with Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) also doubtful.
RANK PLAYER TEAM OPPONENT NOTES
1. Arian Foster Houston vs. Buffalo Coming off the bye, it's hard not ranking Foster No. 1.
2. Willis McGahee Denver @ Cincinnati
3. Ray Rice Baltimore @ Cleveland I know Rice was held in check in the first meeting, but he was exhausted by that game. He'll improve drastically this week.
4. Adrian Peterson Minnesota @ Seattle Tough matchup, but it's AD. C'mon.
5. Jamaal Charles Kansas City @ San Diego Expect JC to get a much bigger role this week compared to Week 8.
6. Matt Forte Chicago @ Tennessee
7. Marshawn Lynch Seattle vs. Minnesota The Vikings run defense isn't as formidable as it used to be the last 2 weeks.
8. LeSean McCoy Philadelphia @ New Orleans
9. Trent Richardson Cleveland vs. Baltimore
10. Doug Martin Tampa Bay @ Oakland I don't think anyone could predict his numbers from last week.
11. Alfred Morris Washington vs. Carolina
12. Ryan Mathews San Diego vs. Kansas City Chargers didn't give up on Mathews after another fumble, but will Ronnie Brown rack of up the receptions?
13. Chris Johnson Tennessee vs. Chicago Really rough matchup this week. Be cautious when considering him.
14. Darren McFadden Oakland vs. Tampa Bay
15. Reggie Bush Miami @ Indianapolis
16. CJ Spiller Buffalo @ Houston Still in a timeshare, but has continued to put up respectable numbers.
17. Rashad Jennings Jacksonville @ Detroit
18. Jonathan Dwyer Pittsburgh @ New York Giants This could change once we hear what the Steelers plan on doing. But like I said, Dwyer deserves to start. If his quad injury hinders him, I'll bump him down Thursday.
19. Fred Jackson Buffalo @ Houston
20. Darren Sproles New Orleans vs. Philadelphia Has had to rely heavily on his receptions. But with the Eagles Defense in disarray, he could surprise.
21. Jonathan Stewart Carolina @ Washington Has the backfield all to himself, but the offensive line is doing him no favors.
22. Mikel Leshoure Detroit vs. Jacksonville Appears to be okay after a minor calf injury, but the Lions used a lot of Joique Bell at the end of the Week 8 game.
23. Michael Turner Atlanta Vs. Dallas
24. BenJarvus Green-Ellis Cincinnati vs. Denver Not as much of an enticing option as he used to be. He just doesn't offer game-breaking ability and could be wearing out.
25. Ahmad Bradshaw New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Even if he is limited in practice, it looks like that won't be a factor come Sundays.
26. Felix Jones Dallas His numbers have bottomed out over the course of the past 3 weeks. DeMarco Murray has an outside chance to play, but that if far from a given.
27. Alex Green Green Bay vs. Arizona Green simply isn't the answer in the backfield. Don't be surprised to hear the Packers linked to every available running back before the trade deadline.
28. Larod Stephens-Howling Arizona @ Green Bay Did even worse than I thought against the 49ers.
29. Michael Bush Chicago @ Tennessee With the Titans that bad against the run, Bush could get some goal-line touches and a bigger role than usual.
30. Pierre Thomas New Orleans vs. Philadelphia
31. Donald Brown Indianapolis vs. Miami Bad matchup and Vick Ballard lingers to.
32. Philip Tanner Dallas @ Atlanta
33. Andre Brown New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh
34. Joique Bell Detroit @ Jacksonville Value is just too inconsistent as the backup.
35. Rashard Mendenhall Pittsburgh @ New York Giants If Mendy can play, he will either start or come in as a change of pace option behind Dwyer. Could add Isaac Redman here if Mendy is out again
36. Vick Ballard Indianapolis vs. Miami Made an outstanding play in overtime last week, but his role with Donald Brown around is too much of a question mark.
37. Ronnie Hillman Denver @ Cincinnati
38. Daniel Thomas Miami @ Indianapolis
39. James Starks Green Bay vs. Arizona If the Packers don't make a move for a running back, they have to get Starks more involved.
40. William Powell Arizona @ Green Bay This backfield and offense as a whole just isn't that good.