Fantasy Football Week 9 RB Rankings and Picks feat. Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones, and more
Finding two viable running backs every week can challenge even the most experienced fantasy football managers. Playing the right matchups is critical to maximizing your scoring in your fantasy leagues. Let's rank the running back landscape with weekly rankings and highlight the best matchups to help you make those tough lineup decisions for Week 9 action.
Fantasy Football RB Rankings: Week 9
Fantasy Football RB Picks: Best Matchups of the Week
1] Alvin Kamara vs Carolina Panthers
There's no better matchup for running backs than this Carolina defense. The Panthers have allowed the most rushing yards (1,237), most rushing touchdowns (14), and most goal-line rushing touchdowns (8) so far this season. Finally, the Saints will get quarterback Derek Carr back just in time for an enticing matchup, which should get Alvin Kamara some high-value touches this week.
Kamara is our overall RB2, as the Panthers have the third-best EPA for running backs at 40.03. The All-Pro running back is fourth in touches (156) and seventh in touches per game (19.5). The Saints will be thin at running back this week as second-year back Kendre Miller will miss this contest with a hamstring injury, and veteran Jamaal Williams is doubtful with a groin injury.
Kamara is dealing with his share of injuries, too, as he was held out of practices with fractured ribs and a broken hand (ouch). But the fantasy star will come in Sunday without an injury designation, so he'll be ready to rock this weekend against the best matchup in fantasy football. This matchup is too good to have Kamara on the sidelines.
2] Aaron Jones vs Indianapolis Colts
The revival of Aaron Jones has been fun to watch. He gets one of the week's best matchups with the poor Indianapolis run defense. The Colts have given up the second-most rushing yards this season (1,215), the second-most explosive runs of 10-plus yards (36), and the second-most touches to running backs this season (422).
Jones has averaged 18 touches a game and could've been more if it wasn't for missing an entire half in a London game earlier this season. Jones averages 104 scrimmage yards this season and faces a Colts team that has given up four rushing touchdowns in the previous four weeks.
This could be a mismatch in the pass-and-run game for Indianapolis that could lead to more high-value touches for Jones in the red zone. We're looking for a positive game script to lift Jones into contention for the overall RB1 spot in Week 9.
3] Tony Pollard vs New England Patriots
This is what we always wanted. Playing behind Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, fantasy managers often wondered if Tony Pollard was the best back in Big D. Pollard wasn't healthy enough to truly determine if he was capable of that lead role, but he has taken on that starting role in Tennessee and become one of the highest-usage backs in fantasy football.
Is Pollard forming into a true RB1? He took the reins last month for the Titans with backup Tyjae Spears dealing with a nagging hamstring issue. Spears has already missed significant time this month.
Meanwhile, Pollard is fifth in the league in running back snaps this season (69.4%) while receiving the eighth-most touches per game (19.3), good enough for RB22 at 17.9 fantasy points per game. But we think Pollard will be elevated into RB1 status against a poor New England rush defense.
With Spears already ruled out of this contest, Pollard will get the large share of the touches this week against a fantastic matchup. The Patriots have struggled to stop the run in its previous four games and have allowed the third-most rushing yards (668), the third-most rushing touchdowns (6), and the fourth-most explosive plays of 10-plus yards (18).
Pollard is listed as questionable as of Friday night, with a foot injury that could jeopardize his status for this weekend. So check to see if he is active for this contest, but if he can go, he has a decent chance to finish within the top running backs in Week 9. If he is out, avoid this backfield if you can afford it.