The 2021-22 NFL season is just past its halfway point. Bye weeks have been taking place the past few weeks. This means that running backs like David Montgomery and Joe Mixon will be out this week. On top of that injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. It is 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 reserve/COVID-19 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 isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 category.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is 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 causes 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.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB1 |
| Must Start | Najee Harris | vs Detriot Lions | RB2 |
| Must Start | Dalvin Cook | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB3 |
| Must Start | Jonathan Taylor | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Austin Ekeler | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Ezekiel Eliott* | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Aaron Jones | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB7 |
| Starting RB1 | Alvin Kamara* | vs Tennessee Titans | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Cordarrelle Patterson | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | Darrell Henderson | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | James Robinson* | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | James Conner | vs Carolina Panthers | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Leonard Fournette | vs Washington Football Team | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | D’Ernest Johnson | vs New England Patriots | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Elijah Mitchell | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB17 |
| Starting RB2 | Chris Carson | vs Green Bay Packers | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Damien Harris* | vs Cleveland Browns | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Zack Moss* | vs New York Jets | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Melvin Gordon | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB21 |
| Low RB2 | Myles Gaskin | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB22 |
| Flex | Clyde Edwards-Helaire* | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB23 |
| Flex | Kenyan Drake | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB24 |
| Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB25 |
| Flex | J.D. McKissic | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB26 |
| Flex | Devonta Freeman | vs Miami Dolphins | RB27 |
| Flex | Michael Carter | vs Buffalo Bills | RB28 |
| Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Devin Singletary | vs New York Jets | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Darrel Williams | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Antonio Gibson | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Jordan Howard | vs Denver Broncos | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Jeremy McNichols | vs New Orleans Saints | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Devonta Freeman | vs Miami Dolphins | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | Rhamondre Stevenson* | vs Cleveland Browns | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Nyheim Hines | Jacksonville Jaguars | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | Ty Johnson | vs Buffalo Bills | RB38 |
| Deep League Flex | Mike Davis | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Mark Ingram | vs Tennessee Titans | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Le’Veon Bell | vs Miami Dolphins | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Sony Michel | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Brandon Bolden | vs Cleveland Browns | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Boston Scott | vs Denver Broncos | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jamaal Williams* | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Eno Benjamin | vs Carolina Panthers | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | JaMychal Hasty | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tony Pollard | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | D’Onta Foreman | vs New Orleans Saints | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Denver Broncos | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Salvon Ahmed | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Giovanni Bernard | vs Washington Football Team | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Alex Collins | vs Green Bay Packers | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Carlos Hyde | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jalen Richard | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Derrick Gore | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB60 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ronald Jones | vs Washington Football Team | RB61 |
| Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB62 |
| Leave on the Bench | J.J. Taylor | vs Cleveland Browns | RB63 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaret Patterson | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB64 |
| Leave on the Bench | Derrick Gore | vs Green Bay Packers | RB65 |
| Leave on the Bench | J.J. Taylor | vs Carolina Panthers | RB66 |
| Leave on the Bench | Patrick Richard | vs Miami Dolphins | RB67 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rashaad Penny | vs Green Bay Packers | RB68 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB6 Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. It is unclear whether the injury will hold Elliott out of this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. If Elliot is out this week Tony Pollard moves all the way up to RB10 between Cordarelle Patterson and D’Andre Swift.
RB8 Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara was held out of practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. They also worked out three veteran running backs and added Josh Adams to their practice squad earlier this week. If Kamara is out against Tennesse this week Mark Ingram moves up to RB29 between A.J. Dillon and Devin Singletary.
RB12 James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
James Robinson suffered a bruised heal against the Seattle Seahawks that held him out of last week’s game against the Buffalo Bills. He is expected to return this week against the Indianapolis Colts. However, if Robinson is unable to play then Carlos Hyde would move up to RB31 between Darrel Williams and Antonio Gibson.
New England Patriots Running Backs: RB19 Damien Harris & RB36 Rhamondre Stevenson
Both of New England’s top running backs Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson are in concussion protocol. Harris and Stevenson did miss practice Wednesday. Both running backs status’ is uncertain for this weekend against the Cleveland Browns. If both running backs are out Brandon Bolden moves up to RB25 between Javonte Williams and J.D. McKissic. Also, J.J. Taylor would move up to RB38 between Ty Johnson Mike Davis.
If Harris is healthy and Stevenson is out this weekend then Harris will stay RB19. Then Brandon Bolden Bolden moves up to RB37 between Nyheim Hines and Ty Johnson. J.J. Taylor would then move up to RB53 between Jeff Wilson Jr. and Giovanni Bernard.
If Harris is out and Stevenson is healthy then Stevenson would move up to RB21 between Melvin Gordon and Myles Gaskin. Then Brandon Bolden would move up to RB37 between Nyheim Hines and Ty Johnson. J.J. Taylor would then move up to RB50 between D’Onta Foreman and Kenneth Gainwell.
RB20 Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills running back Zack Moss is currently dealing with a concussion. His status for this weekend against the New York Jets is uncertain. If Moss is inactive then Devin Singletary would move up to RB21 between Melvin Gordon and Myles Gaskin.
RB23 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was activated off of IR this week. However, if he doesn’t suit up against the Las Vegas Raiders then Darrel Williams will jump up to RB21 between Zack Moss and Melvin Gordon. Derrick Gore would move up to RB49 between Tony Pollard and D’Onta Foreman.
RB45 Jamaal Williams, Detriot Lions
Before the Lions’ bye last week Jamaal Williams was inactive with a thigh injury. If Williams is inactive D’Andre Swift confirms his status at RB10 and Jermar Jefferson would take on Williams’ role but wouldn’t likely have fantasy value.
