We are back for another running back start and sit article! Let’s recap Week 8 before diving into Week 9!
Start Javonte Williams vs. the Packers – The golden boy from last week, Javonte Williams finished as an RB1.
Start Isiah Pacheco vs. the Broncos – This one was a dud as the Patrick Mahomes flu game was less Michael Jordan and more Scottie Pippen migraine.
Start Dameon Pierce vs. the Panthers – Unfortunately, Dameon Pierce had his TD called back, which led this roll of the dice to be snake eyes.
Sit Brian Robinson vs. the Eagles – Brian Robinson finished outside the top 24 last week, but the good news is he got a stranglehold on the backfield again.
Sit Kareem Hunt vs. the Seahawks – Like all my sits each week, they typically find the end zone. That’s how Kareen Hunt finished as the RB16.
Sit Najee Harris vs. the Jaguars– Najee Harris rushed for 13 yards but had five catches. This led to him sneaking into the back of the top 24 in PPR only.
Score – 3 out of 6
As you know by now, in this analysis, we have reviewed the adjusted line yards of the offensive line and defensive line to identify the top matchups for Week 9. Below you will see the matchup rank for each player. The matchup rank represents the rank of the defense based on our adjusted line yards metric.
To see the full analysis and where each offense, defense, and matchup ranks as a whole, go check out our new adjusted line yards metric here on Razzball.com.
If you want to see the original data, you can find it on FTN!
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Top Running Back Starts
- Player: Zach Moss
- Opponent: Carolina Panthers
- Matchup Rank: 3rd
Zach Moss has fought tooth and nail to keep his claim as the RB1 in the Colts offense. We all know the time will come when Jonathan Taylor is the featured back again, but for now, Moss has done enough to see roughly 12-15 touches a game. This week he gets a Panthers defense that has allowed 26.6 points per game vs. RBs. This includes three weeks allowing two RBs to finish in the top 24.
- Player: Kareem Hunt
- Opponent: Arizona Cardinals
- Matchup Rank: 1st
Yes, Jerome Ford is operating as the lead back when healthy, but over the past three games, Kareem Hunt has seen every carry inside the five. What I’ve learned over the past few weeks is that when you’re trying to find deeper names to start, pick guys who score touchdowns. That is what Hunt does after finding the end zone in three straight games. Now he faces a Cardinals DST that gives out TDs to RBs like candy on Halloween. I know it’s November, but a Halloween reference is only a day late.
- Player: James Cook
- Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
- Matchup Rank: 9th
How annoying has it been to start James Cook the past month? It’s like going to that one house that gives out dental floss and toothbrushes on Halloween. We get it. You’re a contrarian. Now give me my Milky Way (comment below on your favorite candy). Cook continues to be effective with his touches averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but has only found the end zone once since Week 5. This week I expect this game to be a shootout between the Bengals and Bills, which should get Cook more involved in the passing game.
Top Running Back Sits
- Player: Rachaad White
- Opponent: Houston Texans
- Matchup Rank: 22nd
Let’s start with the fact that in PPR formats, it’s getting tougher to sit Rachaad White, as he caught 13 passes over the last two games. In that format, he’s probably a borderline RB2, as he will catch 4-6 passes. This is why he’s not full candy corn (which should be outlawed), but more like Hot Tamales (not for me, but I get why people like it). However, outside of that, there isn’t a lot of optimism vs. the Texans. Houston has allowed one TD to an RB since Week 4. This should make White a full fade in half PPR and standard leagues.
- Player: Tony Pollard
- Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
- Matchup Rank: 24th
Tony Pollard could be one of the biggest busts in fantasy football. Drafted as a borderline first-rounder, Pollard currently sits as the RB16 in PPR PPG. It’s like going to the house on the block that has the big candy bars, but by the time you get there, they only have the mini ones left. I mean, like yeah, it’s still a Snickers bar, but we are allowed to be slightly disappointed, right? Pollard is still a locked-in RB2 for most teams but isn’t an auto-start. In three career games vs. the Eagles, he has been under 10 PPR points in two of them.
Honorable mention Sit: Emari Demercado vs. the Browns
If you have lineup questions or want more information on starts and sits, don’t forget to join us LIVE every Sunday for our Sunday Live Start and Sit Show on the Razzball Fantasy YouTube Channel!
For more from Bobby and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @bobbylamarco.
Sources: Razzball.com, PFF.com, FantasyPros, FFToday, Pro Football Reference and Football Outsiders
