Aaron Jones or Kareem Hunt Week 9 Start 'em, Sit 'em fantasy projections and picks
Week 9 of NFL action will bring a different set of problems for opposing defenses with several teams choosing to make some moves ahead of the trade deadline. The Chiefs grabbed most of the headlines after swinging a move for DeAndre Hopkins, but the former Titans wide receiver's arrival is also expected to work wonders for Kareem Hunt, another late addition to the Chiefs offense.
As the Chiefs prep for their primetime Monday Night Football matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, here's all you need to know about what to expect from Hunt in Week 9 of fantasy football.
Kareem Hunt fantasy projection for Week 9
Hunt hasn't been the most efficient running back this year, but at the end of the day, you're going by production when making these decisions. And Hunt's production has cleared the sneaky-good bar over the past few weeks.
In Week 8 against the Raiders, Hunt led the Chiefs rushing offense, tallying 21 carries for 59 yards and a score. Yes, he averaged just 2.8 yards a carry, but given he has had to adapt to the Chiefs offense without the luxury of having participated in training camp, this is all a bonus.
But here's where it gets tricky. Hunt is currently the top dog when the Chiefs need to run the ball, but Isiah Pacheco's looming return complicates matters. Even if Kansas City decides to ease Pacheco into the scheme of things, Hunt's numbers will likely dwindle to low-end handcuff numbers.
The Chiefs' upcoming schedule is easy but gets a little sticky from Weeks 14 to 17. This might be a good time to explore selling high on Hunt.
Aaron Jones fantasy projection for Week 9
Thursday night wasn't a good look for most of the players in the Vikings offense, Jones included. The Minnesota running back tallied 19 carries for 58 yards and caught two passes for 37 yards in the 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Vikings chose to shore up their RB depth by trading for Cam Akers. They also have Ty Chandler if Jones goes down with another injury. But Jones has been pretty durable so far and is clearly their lead running back.
Volume is always key in fantasy football, and despite Jones having some up-and-down weeks, he remains a must-start in this Vikings offense.
Aaron Jones or Kareem Hunt: Final verdict
Sportskeeda's Start/Sit Optimizer predicts a neck-and-neck battle between Hunt and Jones this week.
Hunt will go up against a Bucs defense that is bottom-10 against the run whereas the Colts clearly have had difficulties stopping running backs. Hunt will likely rack up some points on Monday Night Football, but if you're cruising your way to the playoffs, it might be time to sell high on Hunt after this week.