For eight weeks now, we have done our best to sort through the ever-turbulent nature of the running back position in PPR formats. We've navigated injuries, predicted breakouts and busts, monitored and forecasted rookies, and hopefully guided you to a bunch of wins along the way. The grind doesn't stop, so let's run it back and get you set up for success with our Week 9 fantasy RB PPR rankings.
Each week, we break down the RB position and discuss the most elite options for the upcoming games. We unveil the sleepers you should consider unleashing, as well as the waiver-wire pickups who should be on your radar. We also warn you against starting the RBs we view as busts and get you up-to-date on all the most important RB injuries (which never seem to end). We don't just give you the seven-day forecast — we tell you what to do if and when the rainy-day weather comes.
Once we've covered all that, we get to the most important part: our full running back rankings for the week. So, let's get to it! Read on below to get up to speed on all things RB, and get set to win your Week 9 matchups.
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Which RBs are on bye in Week 9?
After a week free of byes last weekend, four teams with strong running backs will be off in Week 9: The 49ers, Lions, Jaguars, and Broncos.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
The most heavily missed back will obviously be Christian McCaffrey, who's scored a TD in 17 straight games, but don't overlook how much Travis Etienne, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Javonte Williams will be missed by their respective teams in real life and in fantasy land.
WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy RBs in Week 9?
With CMC on bye, Austin Ekeler (@ Jets in Week 9) launches to No. 1 in our rankings. Ek looked back on Sunday night against the Bears with over 100 total yards and a TD by halftime. Speaking of the Bears, we like Alvin Kamara (vs. Bears) to be the next back to feast on this troubled D. We also love Raheem Mostert (vs. Chiefs) in the Germany game, as Kansas City just allowed Javonte Williams to rack up 18.8 PPR points.
Kenneth Walker III (@ Ravens) underwhelmed in Week 8, but let's take note that Arizona's Emari Demercado netted 79 all-purpose yards on Baltimore last week. KW3 should hit 100 by the end of the third frame. Breece Hall (vs. Chargers) should have a bounce-back performance against the Bolts, who have surrendered a whopping 23.8 PPR points per game to RBs. We're also envisioning big numbers for Bijan Robinson (vs. Vikings) and Josh Jacobs (vs. Giants), who both have plus matchups in just about every way.
Saquon Barkley (@ Raiders) looks better and better each week, and now he draws a Vegas D that ranks among the five most generous defenses to RBs in PPR formats. Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss (@ Panthers) both rank among our top 20 against an abysmal Carolina run defense. They could easily both score 20 PPR points.
Isiah Pacheco (vs. Dolphins) and Chuba Hubbard (vs. Colts) are "the guys" atop the RB pecking order in KC and Carolina, and their matchups make them strong options this weekend. The same applies to Baltimore's Gus Edwards (vs. Seahawks) against a Seattle D that just allowed 155 ground yards to Browns RBs.
WEEK 9 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start 'em, sit 'em
Who are the best fantasy RB sleepers, waiver pickups Week 9?
We already told you about Chuba Hubbard (vs. Colts) and Gus Edwards (vs. Seahawks), and they're probably not real "sleepers" at this point, anyway. Darrell Henderson (@ Packers), however, is a legit sleeper and possible waiver-wire pickup. Just 45-percent in Yahoo leagues rostered at the start of the week, the Rams' veteran back has turned 35 opportunities into 25 PPR points over the past two games. Now he faces a Packers defense that has given up the third-most PPR points to RBs this season. His backfield partner, Royce Freeman (@ Packers) is also in play as a flex.
Jeff Wilson Jr. (vs. Chiefs) could be more involved in the Fins' Week 9 Germany game now that he's been off IR for a few weeks. He quietly turned seven touches into 37 yards against New England in Week 8, so we like him a lot against a Chiefs D that just got gashed by Javonte Williams.
Decimated by injuries or inconsistent starters? You could do worse than Rachaad White (@ Texans) and Kareem Hunt (vs. Cardinals), two PPR-upside backs who posted solid Week 8 efforts. Both Houston and Arizona rank among the 10-most generous defenses to PPR RBs this season.
WEEK 9 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Who are the biggest potential fantasy RB busts in Week 9?
We're starting to really lose confidence in the Packers' Aaron Jones (vs. Rams) and the team around him, and we're hesitant to even stick him in our top 25 PPR rankings at this point. He only saw 11 touches — seven carries and four catches — in Green Bay's Week 8 loss to the Vikings. We still like Jones better than the Steelers' Najee Harris (vs. Titans) against a strong run defense or Carolina's Miles Sanders (vs. Colts) behind the better, stronger Chuba Hubbard.
The Browns (@ Cardinals) have a good running identity, but we're not so certain who exactly fits as their RB1 from one week to the next. We saw Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt, and Pierre Strong all garner double-digit opportunities against Seattle, and all three netted four-plus yards per touch. Hunt's our pick to feast the most against Arizona, but they could just as easily eat into each other's production as they could all land in the top 35. Temper your expectations if you roster any of them, especially Ford or Strong.
What are the biggest RB injuries in Week 9?
Jerome Ford (ankle) was declared active prior to Cleveland's Week 8 tilt with Seattle, then he took one carry and sat for a long while before coming in as the "closer." Who knows what to think in that Browns backfield at this point?
Miles Sanders (shoulder) played last week, but not well, and we're starting to think the veteran just won't be "well" for the majority of this season. Hopefully, all the disappointed Sanders owners invested in the Chuba Hubbard handcuff earlier this season because Hubbard (vs. Colts) has been the better back.
David Montgomery (ribs) will hopefully take Detroit's bye week to heal up. We're also crossing our fingers that Kyren Williams (ankle), James Conner (knee), De'Von Achane (knee), and Khalil Herbert (ankle), all of whom remain on IR until at least Week 10, will return when first eligible.
We'll continue to update our RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for updates.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 9: Who to start, sit at running back
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring formats
Rank Player
1 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Jets
2 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Chiefs
3 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Bears
4 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Ravens
5 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Chargers
6 Bijan Robinson, Falcons vs. Vikings
7 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Giants
8 D'Andre Swift, Eagles vs. Cowboys
9 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Eagles
10 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Raiders
11 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Panthers
12 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
13 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Steelers
14 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Commanders
15 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Colts
16 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Seahawks
17 James Cook, Bills @ Bengals
18 Darrell Henderson, Rams @ Packers
19 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Bills
20 Zack Moss, Colts @ Panthers
21 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Falcons
22 Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Rams
23 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Texans
24 Devin Singletary, Texans vs. Buccaneers
25 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins vs. Chiefs
26 Jerome Ford, Browns vs. Cardinals
27 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Cardinals
28 D'Onta Foreman, Bears @ Saints
29 Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Titans
30 AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Rams
31 Cam Akers, Vikings @ Falcons
32 Roschon Johnson, Bears @ Saints
33 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Patriots
34 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Titans
35 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ Browns
36 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks @ Ravens
37 Pierre Strong, Browns vs. Cardinals
38 Miles Sanders, Panthers vs. Colts
39 Latavius Murray, Bills @ Bengals
40 Royce Freeman, Rams @ Packers
41 Dalvin Cook, Jets vs. Chargers
42 Tyjae Spears, Titans @ Steelers
43 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Cowboys
44 Jamaal Williams, Saints vs. Bears
45 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots vs. Commanders
46 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Vikings
47 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Patriots
48 Zamir White, Raiders vs. Giants
49 Darrynton Evans, Bears @ Saints
50 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Seahawks
51 Mike Boone, Texans vs. Buccaneers
52 Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers @ Texans
53 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
54 Joshua Kelley, Chargers @ Jets
55 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Dolphins
56 Rico Dowdle, Cowboys @ Eagles
57 Boston Scott, Eagles vs. Cowboys
58 Matt Breida, Giants @ Raiders
Week 9 RB PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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