Week 9 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: Running Backs

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Running Backs

1. Alvin Kamara vs. Bears
2. Austin Ekeler at Jets (Mon.)
3. Saquon Barkley at Raiders
4. Breece Hall vs. Chargers (Mon.)
5. Joe Mixon vs. Bills
6. Jonathan Taylor at Panthers
7. Raheem Mostert at Chiefs (Frankfurt)
8. Josh Jacobs vs. Giants
9. D’Andre Swift vs. Chargers (Mon.)
10. Bijan Robinson vs. Vikings

Week 9 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 9 Start ’Em: Running Backs

Byes: 49ers, Broncos, Jaguars, Lions

Start of the Week

Rachaad White at Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Rachaad has been White hot in the stat sheets, scoring a combined 33.8 points in his last two games. A big part of that has been an increased role as a pass catcher, as White has posted 13 catches on 13 targets in that time. The Texans have allowed eight running backs to beat them for 11-plus points including three with more than 17, so White is a nice option.

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Start ’Em

Zack Moss at Panthers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): The return of Jonathan Taylor has not been a death blow to Moss’s value. In fact. He’s scored 14-plus points in two of his last three games and continues to see comparable snaps and touches to his backfield mate. I consider Moss a nice flex option this week, as he faces a Carolina defense that’s allowed 15-plus points to six running backs this season.

Kareem Hunt vs. Cardinals (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Hunt has posted strong totals in each of his last three games, and he even got the start in a loss to the Seahawks. He should remain in the RB2 conversation this week, too, as the veteran faces a Cardinals defense that’s given up 13 points to nine running backs, including four who have scored more than 21 and one who beat them for 48.7 points.

Brian Robinson at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Robinson’s numbers have taken a hit in recent weeks, as he’s scored single digits in three of his last four games. Still, he’ll be a viable flex starter when the Commanders travel north to face the Patriots. Their defense has allowed 10-plus points to opposing running backs seven times, and three of them have scored more than 18 points against them.

Darrell Henderson at Packers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Henderson isn’t putting up huge totals, but he has averaged 12.6 points in two games since the Rams signed him off his couch. While he does share the work with Royce Freeman, Henderson is the Rams back to start when they travel to Lambeau Field. The Packers have been bad against backs, allowing the sixth-most points per game to the position.

More Starts

Gus Edwards vs. Seahawks (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
James Cook at Bengals (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
Chuba Hubbard vs. Colts (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Kareem Hunt vs. Cardinals ($5,500)
Darrell Henderson at Packers ($5,100)
Chuba Hubbard vs. Colts ($5,000)

Week 9 Sit ’Em: Running Backs

Sit of the Week

Aaron Jones vs. Rams (1 p.m. ET, Fox): I’m not sure if it’s his hamstring or just a bad rushing offense (maybe both), but Jones has been a dud for most of the year. He’s failed to score more than 8.7 points in each of his last three games, and Jones continues to lose work to AJ Dillon. He’ll be a shaky RB2 or flex this week against the Rams, who have allowed the fifth-fewest points per game to runners.

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Sit ’Em

Najee Harris vs. Titans (Thur. 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video): Harris continues to put up weak totals for fantasy managers, scoring in single digits in four of his seven games on the season. He’ll be tough to trust against the Titans, who have given up an average of just 17.3 fantasy points per game to opposing runners. Harris, who is also losing work to Jaylen Warren, is a risk-reward flex at best this week.

Alexander Mattison at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Mattison continues to get most of the work in the Vikings backfield, but Cam Akers has taken away more touches in recent weeks. That’s resulted in Mattison scoring a combined 10.5 points in the last two games. With Kirk Cousins out and rookie Jaren Hall under center, plus a difficult matchup against the Falcons, Mattison is a huge risk this weekend.

Dameon Pierce vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pierce has regressed in the stat sheets, failing to score double digits in three straight games and five of seven overall. That includes last week, when he scored just 4.6 points despite a plus matchup vs. the Panthers. Pierce should be benched against the Buccaneers, who have allowed the second-fewest points per game to backs since Week 5.

D’Onta Foreman at Saints (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Foreman took a huge step back last week, scoring just 4.6 points after a 33-point explosion in his previous game. He also saw his snaps and touches decline, which wasn’t a surprise with the return of Roschon Johnson. Now mired in a committee in one of the league’s worst offenses, Foreman is a fantasy fade with a tough matchup against the Saints next.

More Sits

Miles Sanders vs. Colts (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)
Emari Demercado at Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Tyler Allgeier vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Tony Pollard at Eagles ($6,800)
Aaron Jones vs. Rams ($6,200)
D’Onta Foreman at Saints ($5,700)