Welcome to Week 9 running back start em sit em! The season continues to move forward at a blistering clip, and we continue to know less and less.
Bye weeks are friendly to most teams this week, with only Pittsburgh and Tennessee being off.
It’s almost time to get aggressive and make that push to secure a coveted bye in the playoffs, or maybe even just push your way into the playoffs.
“Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.” — Epictetus
Nailing those start/sit questions is essential, especially for running backs!
Week 6 features a slew of RB starts that might require a little extra fortitude to submit. It’s paramount to appropriately gauge floors, upside, and exploitable matchups.
As always, remember this is just a game. There’s no need to target NFL players on social media for lackluster fantasy performances (ok, maybe sometimes).
Fire up The Wolf’s Week 9 Rankings and LET’S GO!
WEEK 9 RUNNING BACK START ‘EM
START OF THE WEEK – JONAH COLEMAN VS. CAROLINA PANTHERS
This is Coleman’s backfield. Through his three games, he’s averaged 13 opportunities for around 77 yards and 14.7 fantasy points.
He’s found the end zone twice since returning from injury and has one of the best matchups this week.
The Carolina Panthers have put up detour signs through their defensive line this season.
Running backs have had no problem carving them up like a hot knife through cold butter.
Carolina has yielded the second-most fantasy points (28.3) points per game to the position and, after a little data-digging, it was found that lead running backs have averaged around 20 points per game since Week 4.
Top five on the week is well within his range of outcomes this week.
ASHTON JEANTY VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Yes, this feels incredibly awkward to write.
Most with Jeanty feel as if they don’t have the luxury of benching him, given the incredible disappointment that’s clung to him like a shadow.
However, questions continue to arise for Jeanty as the lead back this season.
Reports of a “soft benching” have come to light, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.
“Jeanty hasn’t played well while (Mike) Washington has, and the Raiders hope it serves as a wake-up call. If it doesn’t, they’re content to distribute the carries in Washington’s favor moving forward, as he offers a more explosive element in the run game right now,” Graziano reported.
How much of this is to blame on the perception he’s playing through injury? And how much is the awful run-blocking scheme he and Washington have suffered through?
After the Raiders’ win over the Jets on Sunday, it came to light that Jeanty’s severely diminished workload was planned before the game.
Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed it was unrelated to Jeanty’s public comments.
“That’s my call,” Kubiak said. “Ashton is still going to be a big part of our team. He had a huge catch and he’s still going to be a part of our run game going forward. We just wanted to give Mike more opportunities today. I think both of these guys are going to be a big part of our rushing and passing success moving forward.”
As for the matchup against the 49ers, it’s a tailor-made matchup and game script for Jeanty this week.
The 49ers have allowed the most receptions to opposing running backs this season, while Rachaad White and RJ Harvey have scored more than 12 through the air alone.
The Raiders will likely be trailing early and often, forcing Jeanty to continue to do most of his damage through the air.
There’s no excuse, aside from injury, for Jeanty to flounder this week.
QUINSHON JUDKINS VS. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Judkins hurt me last week. He hurt me bad. I had him pegged as the start of the week at the position.
Quinshon, I now speak directly to you before returning to my devoted readers.
The New Orleans Saints have allowed 30, yes, 30 fantasy points per game to running backs this season.
They have allowed 11 rushing touchdowns and more than 120 rushing yards per game… on the ground!
In two of his last four weeks, Judkins has eclipsed 20 fantasy points and is still getting fed, even if Dylan Sampson is eating into his receiving work.
The volume is there, the matchup is there. Will the real Judkins please stand up?
He should be considered a locked-and-loaded RB2 this week at worst. The only thing holding him back is his putrid offensive line.
Other RB starts: Dylan Sampson vs. NO, Rachaad White vs. LAR, Zach Charbonnet vs. ARI
WEEK 9 RUNNING BACK SIT ‘EM
SIT OF THE WEEK – MIKE WASHINGTON JR. VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
You know the case for Jeanty as a start? Flip it for Washington.
Washington clearly has a better handle on the running game than Jeanty has thus far.
A big thing he has going in his favor is his decisive, linear running style.
Jeanty has too much Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Walker running style in his game to be consistent behind a struggling offensive line.
Washington is more decisive and more prone to taking what is given to him than Jeanty, who inherited the aforementioned star running backs’ propensity to dance in the backfield and try to hit a home run every play.
The 49ers have only allowed a pair of rushing touchdowns this season and, without more of a defined receiving role, Washington is more of a touchdown-dependent play.
He’s likely to be game-scripted out early, limiting the likelihood that he plows into the end zone.
BREECE HALL VS. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
This backfield is in a precarious situation. I have, admittedly, been a huge Hall stan since he came into the league.
The curse of the New York Jets continues to douse how brightly Hall was about to shine before injuries and organizational ineptitude derailed his career.
Last week, I contended that maybe Braelon Allen was just the better running back at this point in their careers and should be featured more.
Allen has scored at least 12 fantasy points in each of his past four games, and he’s gone over the century mark on the ground in three.
Hall will likely still be the starter, but the matchup is not optimal.
The Chiefs have allowed the 12th-fewest points to the position and, with a projected split likely, it’s hard to see a path for Hall to safely return value this week.
TYLER ALLEGEIER VS. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Last week, Allgeier took advantage of the Dallas Cowboys bump, going for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Here’s the thing… that was the Cowboys last week, and this is the Seahawks.
Let’s not pretend the Seahawks are some defensive stalwart. They have yielded seven rushing scores and two through the air to running backs over eight weeks.
However, Seattle allows -0.10 EPA per rush and just 94 rushing yards per game on the ground.
Should Bam Knight sit again this week, Allgeier could jump his way into an upper-level flex play.
Without Jeremiyah Love on the field, though, Knight has averaged more than 10 PPR points per game while Allgeier was dancing around 7 ppg.
If you don’t have to play Allgeier this week, I recommend not.
Other RB sits: Omarion Hampton vs. HOU, Alvin Kamara vs. CLE, Jordan Mason vs. BUF
