Chase Brown has been the best running back for the Bengals this season, and he's headed for a big game in Week 9 against the Raiders. Brown is my Start of the Week, and he's worth trusting as a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
Brown has scored at least 11.4 PPR points in four of his past five games, and he's done well in some tough matchups against the Ravens in Week 5 and the Eagles in Week 8 because of touchdowns. But the matchup with Las Vegas is one of the easier opponents he'll face all season.
The Raiders are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and a running back has scored at least 13.3 PPR points against Las Vegas in every game this season. The Raiders have also allowed four rushing touchdowns to running backs in the past three games.
After this game, Brown will face Baltimore in Week 10 and the Chargers in Week 11, which are tough matchups. But in Week 9, Brown should have the chance for a dominant performance, and I'm expecting him to deliver a standout stat line.
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RBs to Start
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Swift has scored at least 18.9 PPR points in four games in a row, and I'm shocked he's not started in 100 percent of leagues on CBS Sports. What more does he need to prove? He has a rushing touchdown in four games in a row, and he has 13 receptions on 13 targets over that span. The Cardinals are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and seven running backs have scored at least 15.2 PPR points against Arizona this season, including De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert in Week 8.
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We'll see if Jonathon Brooks (knee) will make his NFL debut in Week 8 against the Saints, but even if he's active, I would still use Hubbard as a No. 2 running back in all leagues. The matchup is too good to ignore since the Saints are No. 9 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Five running backs have scored at least 16.8 PPR points against New Orleans in the past four games, with seven total touchdowns over that span, and this could be Hubbard's last chance at a quality performance if Brooks is able to play soon.
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I started last week with Pollard as a bust alert in this column, but I removed him prior to Sunday, which proved to be the right call. He had a quality stat line against Detroit with 20 carries for 94 yards and three catches for 23 yards on four targets for 14.7 PPR points. He's reached that total in five of seven games this season, and he should have the chance for another quality outing in Week 9 against the Patriots. New England is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and seven running backs have scored at least 14.1 PPR points against the Patriots this season. In the past three weeks, New England has allowed six total touchdowns to running backs, and Pollard could be a top-10 running back in all leagues, given the matchup.
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Robinson faced the Giants in Week 2 and had 17 carries for a career-high 133 yards and one catch for 3 yards on three targets. He loves facing the Giants and has either 100 total yards or a touchdown in five career meetings with New York, and I like him as a No. 2 running back in all leagues in Week 9. A running back has scored at least 13.1 PPR points in all but one game against the Giants this season, including five in a row. Robinson should continue that streak in the rematch in Week 9.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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I'm hopeful Mattison keeps the lead role for the Raiders, but coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday that he wants to get Zamir White more involved heading into Week 9 at Cincinnati. That's disappointing for Mattison, who has scored at least 15.3 PPR points in two of his past three games, and he has 13 catches on 13 targets over that span. I'm still willing to use Mattison as a low-end starter or flex in all leagues, and the Bengals have allowed a running back to score a touchdown or gain at least 100 total yards in every game this season.
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Dowdle missed Week 8 at San Francisco with an illness, but he's expected to return in Week 9 at Atlanta. I like him as a flex in all leagues against the Falcons, and hopefully, he continues his role as the lead running back for the Cowboys. Prior to Dallas' bye in Week 7, Dowdle scored at least 13.1 PPR points in two of his previous three games, and Atlanta has allowed four running backs in the past three games to score at least 15.3 PPR points. The Falcons are No. 4 in most receptions allowed to running backs, and I hope Dowdle is a factor in the passing game in Week 9.
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De'Von Achane is headed for a big game against the Bills, who are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs and No. 1 in most receptions allowed to the position. But Mostert should be considered at least a flex in all leagues. With Tua Tagovailoa back from his four-game absence with a concussion in Week 8 against Arizona, Mostert scored two rushing touchdowns with nine carries for 19 yards and one catch for 11 yards on two targets. The Bills have allowed seven total touchdowns to running backs, and Mostert should be considered a threat to score any time Tagovailoa is on the field.
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This could be an interesting game for Hill since the Broncos are No. 5 in most receptions allowed to running backs. In the past two games against New Orleans and Carolina, Denver has allowed eight receptions to the Saints backfield and nine receptions to the Panthers backfield. Hill has three games this season with at least 11.5 PPR points, and in each of those outings, he has caught at least three passes. Hill is worth using as a flex in PPR.
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RBs to Sit
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Irving has scored at least 15.4 PPR points in three games in a row heading into Week 9 at the Chiefs, and he's doing a solid job despite sharing touches with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. I love that Irving had seven catches for 40 yards on seven targets in Week 8 against Atlanta in the first game without Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring). But Kansas City will make things tough on all the Tampa Bay running backs since the Chiefs allow the fewest Fantasy points to the position, and Irving and White should be considered flex options at best. I give a slight nod to White over Irving because I trust White more in the passing game, but I don't expect either to do well in this matchup on the road.
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In two games back from last year's knee injury, Chubb has 27 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 10 yards on five targets. He'll continue to improve as he gets more reps, but he has a tough matchup in Week 9 against the Chargers, who are No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. The Chargers have allowed two total touchdowns to running backs all season and none since Week 4, which includes matchups with Javonte Williams, James Conner, and Alvin Kamara over that span. At best, Chubb is worth using as a flex option in non-PPR leagues.
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Williams blew his chance for a big game in Week 8 against Carolina when he had 17 carries for 44 yards and four catches for 8 yards on five targets. That was one of the best matchups he'll have all season, and he scored just 9.2 PPR points. Williams has only scored a touchdown in one game this season, and I wonder if Sean Payton will start giving more work to Jaleel McLaughlin or even Audric Estime soon. For Week 9, Williams is just a flex option at best at Baltimore. The Ravens are No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to running backs, and it's hard to trust Williams in a tough matchup when he flopped in an easy one.
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Travis Etienne (hamstring) could return in Week 9 after sitting out the past two games, and he should take work away from Bigsby in some capacity. He has at least 20 total touches in both games without Etienne, and Bigsby is averaging 17.2 PPR points over that span. This week, I would avoid Bigsby and Etienne against the Eagles, who are No. 6 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. No running back has gained more than 49 yards on the ground in the past four games against Philadelphia, and the Eagles have allowed just two running backs to score over that span. Bigsby and Etienne are flex options at best in all leagues in Week 9.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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I'm still starting Dobbins as a low-end No. 2 running back in most leagues, but this is a tough matchup against the Browns, who are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Dobbins is probably going to need a touchdown to help his Fantasy production, and he's been held to 9.6 PPR points or less in three of his past five games when he hasn't found the end zone. I love that he has seven receptions in his past two games against the Cardinals and Saints on 10 targets, but he's managed only 37 receiving yards with those catches. Hopefully, Dobbins will score against the Browns, who have allowed seven rushing touchdowns to running backs this year. But if Dobbins doesn't score, then he could be a bust in Week 9.
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