Which running backs have the most favorable fantasy matchups? Which backs should you consider sitting?
Here’s a breakdown of five notable running backs featured in Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon and Matthew Freedman’s Week 9 fantasy football rankings.
The No. 1 RB
Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
Todd Gurley is averaging an outstanding 25.0 touches per game this season, and he’s been absurdly consistent in this high-powered offense, averaging 31.64 fantasy points per game (per the FantasyLabs Trends tool).
His red-zone usage is hard for running backs to top since his 47 attempts from inside the 20 lead the position by 19 attempts. Overall, Gurley’s median projection in the FantasyLabs Player Models leads all other running backs by nearly six points.
The Most Favorable Matchups
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt is set up well against the Browns on Sunday as the Chiefs are eight-point favorites against a run defense that’s been gashed on the ground, allowing 4.6 yards per attempt and 138.9 rushing yards per attempt.
The Browns presently check in as PFF’s No. 30 unit in run defense, while Hunt ranks inside the top four in all formats for Week 9.
Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins
Peterson’s 19.4 touches per game ranks ninth among running backs this year and if the Redskins can control this game, he could be in store for a big game against PFF’s No. 27 unit in run defense.
He’s a top-10 running back in half-point PPR and standard fantasy league among our rankers.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
The Chiefs have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns this season, along with 5.4 yards per attempt this season. Additionally, they rank dead-last in PFF’s run defense grades.
The primary thing working against Chubb is the Browns are eight-point underdogs. That said, Chubb still saw 20 touches in a blowout loss to the Steelers last week, and he’s averaging 19.0 touches per game since the Carlos Hyde trade.
Chubb ranks as a top-20 running back in all formats.
Matchup Downgrade
LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills
The Bills have an abysmal 14-point implied team total as they are nine-point underdogs against PFF’s No. 1 unit in rush defense.
He’s largely been ineffective this year, averaging just 60.57 total yards per game this year, and he has yet to score a touchdown, which isn’t surprising since the Bills have the second-lowest scoring rate among offenses this year.
McCoy is ranked outside the top 20 in all formats for Week 9.
Want another edge? Be sure to keep up with the week’s news on FantasyLabs.
