The four teams on Week 9 bye deprive fantasy football managers of some top running backs.
However, throwing darts in your flex spot remains possible due to several favorable matchups for tandem or depth running backs who could carry one-week fantasy value.
Keep scrolling for our top running backs to start in fantasy Week 9.
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Fantasy Week 9 RB Rankings: Start, sit lineup tips for running backs this week
Week 9 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Half-PPR Cheat Sheet
Please note these ranks reflect point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
| Rk | Tr | Name | TM | OPP | Week 9 Value |
| 1 | 1 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | @PIT | Elite RB1 |
| 2 | 2 | Derrick Henry | BAL | @MIA | Elite RB1 |
| 3 | 2 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | @NYG | Elite RB1 |
| 4 | 2 | Josh Jacobs | GB | CAR | Elite RB1 |
| 5 | 3 | De'Von Achane | MIA | BAL | RB1 |
| 6 | 3 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | MIN | RB1 |
| 7 | 3 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | @NE | RB1 |
| 8 | 3 | James Cook | BUF | KC | RB1 |
| 9 | 4 | Tyrone Tracy | NYG | SF | RB1/RB2 |
| 10 | 4 | Kimani Vidal | LAC | @TEN | RB1/RB2 |
| 11 | 4 | Javonte Williams | DAL | ARI | RB1/RB2 |
| 12 | 4 | Kyren Williams | LAR | NO | RB1/RB2 |
| 13 | 4 | Ashton Jeanty | LV | JAX | RB1/RB2 |
| 14 | 5 | Kyle Monangai | CHI | @CIN | Strong RB2 |
| 15 | 5 | Travis Etienne | JAX | @LV | Strong RB2 |
| 16 | 5 | Rico Dowdle | CAR | @GB | Strong RB2 |
| 17 | 5 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | ATL | Strong RB2 |
| 18 | 5 | Alvin Kamara | NO | @LAR | Strong RB2 |
| 19 | 6 | Brashard Smith | KC | @BUF | RB2 |
| 20 | 6 | Tyjae Spears | TEN | LAC | RB2 |
| 21 | 6 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | IND | RB2 |
| 22 | 6 | J.K. Dobbins | DEN | @HOU | RB2 |
| 23 | 6 | Chase Brown | CIN | CHI | RB2 |
| 24 | 7 | Bam Knight | ARI | @DAL | RB2/Flex |
| 25 | 7 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS | SEA | RB2/Flex |
| 26 | 7 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | @WAS | RB2/Flex |
| 27 | 7 | Woody Marks | HOU | DEN | RB2/Flex |
| 28 | 7 | David Montgomery | DET | MIN | RB2/Flex |
| 29 | 8 | Aaron Jones | MIN | @DET | RB2/Flex |
| 30 | 8 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | @GB | RB2/Flex |
| 31 | 9 | Emari Demercado | ARI | @DAL | Flex |
| 32 | 9 | Tony Pollard | TEN | LAC | Flex |
| 33 | 9 | Devin Singletary | NYG | SF | Flex |
| 34 | 9 | Kenneth Walker | SEA | @WAS | Flex |
| 35 | 10 | Nick Chubb | HOU | DEN | Flex |
| 36 | 10 | Ollie Gordon | MIA | BAL | Flex |
| 37 | 10 | RJ Harvey | DEN | @HOU | Flex |
| 38 | 10 | Jordan Mason | MIN | @DET | Flex |
| 39 | 11 | Kareem Hunt | KC | @BUF | Flex/Bench |
| 40 | 11 | Keaton Mitchell | BAL | @MIA | Flex/Bench |
| 41 | 11 | Bhayshul Tuten | JAX | @LV | Flex/Bench |
| 42 | 11 | Brian Robinson | SF | @NYG | Flex/Bench |
| 43 | 11 | Devin Neal | NO | @LAR | Flex/Bench |
| 44 | 13 | Terrell Jennings | NE | ATL | Flex/Bench |
| 45 | 11 | Emanuel Wilson | GB | CAR | Flex/Bench |
| 46 | 12 | Jaret Patterson | LAC | @TEN | Flex/Bench |
| 47 | 12 | Jeremy McNichols | WAS | SEA | Flex/Bench |
| 48 | 12 | Chris Rodriguez | WAS | SEA | Flex/Bench |
| 49 | 12 | Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | IND | Flex/Bench |
| 50 | 12 | Samaje Perine | CIN | CHI | Flex/Bench |
| 51 | 12 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | @NE | Flex/Bench |
| 52 | 13 | Justice Hill | BAL | @MIA | Bench |
| 53 | 13 | Kyle Juszczyk | SF | @NYG | Bench |
| 54 | 13 | Jaydon Blue | DAL | ARI | Bench |
| 55 | 13 | Blake Corum | LAR | NO | Bench |
| 56 | 13 | Raheem Mostert | LV | JAX | Bench |
| 57 | 13 | Jaylen Wright | MIA | BAL | Bench |
| 58 | 13 | Zavier Scott | MIN | @DET | Bench |
| 59 | 15 | D'Ernest Johnson | NE | ATL | Bench |
| 60 | 14 | DJ Giddens | IND | @PIT | Bench |
| 61 | 14 | Dare Ogunbowale | HOU | DEN | Bench |
| 62 | 14 | Alec Ingold | MIA | BAL | Bench |
| 63 | 14 | Trevor Etienne | CAR | @GB | Bench |
| 64 | 14 | LeQuint Allen | JAX | @LV | Bench |
| 65 | 14 | George Holani | SEA | @WAS | Bench |
| 66 | 14 | Dameon Pierce | HOU | DEN | Bench |
| 67 | 14 | Ty Johnson | BUF | KC | Bench |
| 68 | 15 | Julius Chestnut | TEN | LAC | Bench |
| 69 | 15 | Nyheim Hines | LAC | @TEN | Bench |
| 70 | 15 | Malik Davis | DAL | ARI | Bench |
| 71 | 15 | Hunter Luepke | DAL | ARI | Bench |
| 72 | 15 | Chris Brooks | GB | CAR | Bench |
| 73 | 15 | Nathan Carter | ATL | @NE | Bench |
| 74 | 15 | Ray Davis | BUF | KC | Bench |
| 75 | 16 | British Brooks | HOU | DEN | Bench |
| 76 | 16 | Dylan Laube | LV | JAX | Bench |
| 77 | 16 | Tyler Goodson | IND | @PIT | Bench |
| 78 | 16 | Kaleb Johnson | PIT | IND | Bench |
| 79 | 16 | Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN | @HOU | Bench |
| 80 | 16 | Tyler Badie | DEN | @HOU | Bench |
| 81 | 16 | Adam Prentice | DEN | @HOU | Bench |
| 82 | 16 | DeeJay Dallas | CAR | @GB | Bench |
| IR-R | -- | Hassan Haskins | LAC | @TEN | |
| INJ | -- | Roschon Johnson | CHI | @CIN | |
| INJ | -- | Sione Vaki | DET | MIN | |
| OUT | -- | D'Andre Swift | CHI | @CIN | |
| OUT | -- | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | ATL | |
| OUT | -- | Isiah Pacheco | KC | @BUF | |
| IR-R | -- | Trey Benson | ARI | @DAL | |
| IR-R | -- | Omarion Hampton | LAC | @TEN | |
| IR | -- | Cam Skattebo | NYG | SF | |
| IR | -- | Kendre Miller | NO | @LAR | |
| IR | -- | Antonio Gibson | NE | ATL | |
| BYE | -- | Bucky Irving | TB | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Breece Hall | NYJ | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Saquon Barkley | PHI | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Rachaad White | TB | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Isaiah Davis | NYJ | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Tank Bigsby | PHI | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Sean Tucker | TB | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Jerome Ford | CLE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Braelon Allen | NYJ | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Dylan Sampson | CLE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | AJ Dillon | PHI | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Josh Williams | TB | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Will Shipley | PHI | BYE |
Best fantasy RB pickups this week: Week 9 waiver wire
Which fantasy running backs have a Week 9 bye?
Replace these RBs before your matchup:
- Saquon Barkley, Eagles
- Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, Buccaneers (Irving already out due to injury)
- Breece Hall, Jets
- Quinshon Judkins, Browns
Who are the top running backs for fantasy Week 9?
The volume hogs continue residing near the top, with Jonathan Taylor (in the midst of an historic season), Christian McCaffrey (despite his Week 8 dud) and Josh Jacobs near the apex.
Derrick Henry joins them with his juicy matchup versus the Miami Dolphins, and if Lamar Jackson (hamstring) returns, the King will rule with an even more iron fist.
D'Andre Swift and Kimani Vidal are elbowing their way into must-start territory (for Vidal, at least until Omarion Hampton returns from injured reserve) and should approach 20 touches once again.
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Which RB sleepers should I start in Week 9?
With Cam Skattebo (leg) unfortunately out for the rest of the season, Tyrone Tracy looks primed to step into the lead role in the New York Giants backfield. While Devin Singletary will step in on passing downs/situations, Tracy should help immediately versus the San Francisco 49ers.
Upgrade Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson (finally!) Against the Atlanta Falcons, whose defense looked mortal and at times inept without Divine Deablo last week.
Expect the Chiefs to rely more heavily on newly embraced toy Brashard Smith against the Bills in what should be a track meet.
Kyle Monangai should re-enter the chat for the Bears to complement Swift (at the expense of lower pass catchers) against the Cincinnati Bengals' defense, especially if Trey Hendrickson (hip) will miss the game.
Who are the biggest fantasy bust candidates among Week 9 running backs?
James Cook's long touchdown runs from Week 8 won't be as abundant against the potent Kansas City Chiefs rushing defense. He's still a must-start given how they could get him into space, but expectations should dip.
The Dallas Cowboys' Javonte Williams relied on a pair of touchdowns to buoy his Week 8 value and could find less room to run against the Arizona Cardinals, one of the more quietly strong defenses against the run. Dallas' offensive line won't do enough to create long scampers, either.
On a smaller note, start the weekly downgrades for the Titans' Tony Pollard as Tyjae Spears makes a push for majority back.