The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that running backs like Christian McCaffrey and Travis Etienne Jr. will be out this week. On top of that, injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 9 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Rankings
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Alvin Kamara | vs Chicago Bears | RB1 |
| Must Start | Saquon Barkley | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB2 |
| Starting RB1 | Austin Ekeler | vs New York Jets | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Carolina Panthers | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Josh Jacobs | vs New York Giants | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Breece Hall | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB6 |
| High-End RB2 | Derrick Henry* | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB7 |
| High-End RB2 | Kenneth Walker III | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Bijan Robinson | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB9 |
| Starting RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB10 |
| Starting RB2 | Raheem Mostert | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB11 |
| Starting RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs Buffalo Bills | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Tony Pollard | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Washington Commanders | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Rachaad White | vs Houston Texans | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Miami Dolphins | RB16 |
| Low RB2 | Darrell Henderson | vs Green Bay Packers | RB17 |
| Low RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Gus Edwards | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Zack Moss | vs Carolina Panthers | RB20 |
| Flex | James Cook | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB21 |
| Flex | Jerome Ford | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB22 |
| Flex | Jaylen Warren | vs Tennessee Titans | RB23 |
| Flex | Royce Freeman | vs Green Bay Packers | RB24 |
| Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB25 |
| Flex | Najee Harris | vs Tennessee Titans | RB26 |
| Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB27 |
| Flex | Alexander Mattison | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB28 |
| Deep League Flex | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs New England Patriots | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Emari Demercado | vs Cleveland Browns | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Chuba Hubbard | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Rochon Johnson | vs New Orleans Saints | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Tyjae Spears | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB34 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dameon Pierce | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB35 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Washington Commanders | RB36 |
| Leave on the Bench | Miles Sanders | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB37 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB38 |
| Leave on the Bench | Cam Akers | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Zach Charbonnet | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | D’Onta Foreman | vs New Orleans Saints | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Miami Dolphins | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Latavius Murray | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Antonio Gibson | vs New England Patriots | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jamaal Williams | vs Chicago Bears | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Darrynton Evans | vs New Orleans Saints | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rico Dowdle | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Pierre Strong Jr. | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Michael Carter | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Justice Hill | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs New York Jets | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dalvin Cook | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB54 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB5 Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry was limited in practice on Tuesday with an ankle injury. He is expected to play this week. If Henry misses Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers Tyjae Spears moves up to RB20 between Zack Moss and James Cooks.
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/fantasy-football/fantasy-football-week-9-running-back-rankings-3/2023/11/01/
