As Week 9's initial injury reports begin to roll in, fantasy football owners with ailing running backs like Jonathan Taylor, Cordarrelle Patterson, D'Andre Swift, James Conner, Gus Edwards, and Chuba Hubbard need to remain in the loop on their most recent updates. Knowing their current statuses plays a key role in spotting potential sleepers and navigating your start 'em, sit 'em decisions with the fantasy playoffs looming.
Below, we'll give you the latest news on these running backs and break down how their injuries could potentially affect the Week 9 fantasy landscape. For more on injured WRs Keenan Allen, Cooper Kupp, and Allen Lazard, go here; for the latest on banged-up TEs Mark Andrews and Darren Waller, click here.
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WEEK 9 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Jonathan Taylor injury update, Week 9 fantasy outlook
UPDATE: Taylor (ankle) has been declared OUT for the Colts' Week 9 game against the Patriots, according to ESPN reporter Stephen Holder.
Indy coach Frank Reich said "we gotta do what's right with the player," alluding to the possibility that the reigning rushing champ could be "week-to-week" after re-aggravating his ankle injury. If Deon Jackson somehow finds himself on your waiver wire, now would be a good time to scoop him up. The Patriots are not a great matchup by any stretch of the imagination, but the Colts offense revolves around the running game and JT could be out longer than just the week.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Cordarrelle Patterson injury update, Week 9 fantasy outlook
Patterson (knee) was designated to return to practice off injured reserve on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Atlanta has 21 days to activate him to their 53-man roster, which could happen any day now. So far, that hasn't happened.
Patterson's potential return complicates Atlanta's backfield even more for fantasy owners. There's a chance he's eased into action during his first game back, but ultimately, he's likely to see at least 12 touches in his first game back. Patterson is a must-start if active, but backup RBs Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley still garner flex appeal in deeper leagues in a juicy matchup against the league's worst run defense. It's unlikely that both will have good games, but it's unclear which will get the bulk of the backup carries.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
D'Andre Swift injury update, Week 9 fantasy outlook
UPDATE: Swift (ankle, shoulder) was a limited participant in the Lions' Thursday practice, and remains questionable ahead of Detroit's Week 9 matchup against the Packers.
Swift produces for fantasy owners when on the field (16.3 FPPG in PPR formats), but the third-year Georgia product has played in just four games this season. Swift leads all RBs in yards per touch (7.6) and breakaway-run rate (12.5 percent), but his lack of usage in the red zone (six touches) caps his upside. Jamaal Williams is still a weekly starter in all formats and would be a borderline RB1 should Swift miss Week 9. A DNP on Thursday or Friday could lead to Swift being ruled "out" before we even get to Sunday.
WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
James Conner injury update, Week 9 fantasy outlook
UPDATE: Kliff Kingsbury called Conner (ribs) a "game-time decision" for Arizona's Week 9 tilt with the Seahawks, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Conner practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday, according to the team's official injury report. He has missed the past three weeks despite participating in practice, so it's anyone's guess as to whether he'll suit up this Sunday or not.
Eno Benjamin has assumed a larger role in the offense during Conner's absence, playing upward of 74 percent of the Cardinals' offensive snaps in three-straight weeks. Should Conner miss Sunday's favorable home matchup against the Seahawks, Benjamin's worthy of a starting spot in PPR and standard formats.
WEEK 9 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Gus Edwards injury update, Week 9 fantasy outlook
UPDATE: Edwards (hamstring) once again did not practice on Friday, according to Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley. He missed Thursday's practice, as well.
Edwards (hamstring) has a shot to carry a "questionable" tag ahead of Monday night's matchup against the Saints after straining his hamstring in the second half of Baltimore's Week 8 victory over Tampa Bay.
Edwards has been effective in the two games that he's played this season after returning from a torn ACL that cost him all of 2021. We'll get a better feel for his Week 9 outlook once the Ravens release their initial injury report of the week on Thursday. Should Edwards fail to play on Monday night, expect an increased workload for Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill. Drake is the preferred option over Hill, as he'll carry RB2 appeal in deeper leagues while Hill sits as a borderline flex play.
Chuba Hubbard injury update, Week 9 fantasy outlook
Hubbard (ankle) has been declared OUT for Carolina's Week 9 game against the Bengals, according to AP Panthers writer Steve Reed on Friday. that He had previously been a limited participant in the Panthers' Wednesday practice after missing Week 8, but beat writer David Newton said the young running back is still in the "rehab" stage.
Even when Hubbard returns, he's likely to take a backseat to D'Onta Foreman, but he does garner flex appeal in deeper leagues especially during heavier bye weeks. Prior to his injury in Week 7, Hubbard was operating as Carolina's lead back, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him at least be the primary receiving back.
