RB Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 9 (2024)

Last Sunday, before any games were played, I stubbed my toe. It was one of those Fix Auto-type moments in which I had to control my pain to not wake my wife. This is also how I felt promoting Javonte Williams. The only difference is that I'll forget that I stubbed my toe in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I'll never forget putting my trust in the Broncos running back.

Regarding injuries and byes, there is not too much going into Week 9 that will leave fantasy managers with that stubbed-toe feeling. This week, Najee Harris, Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo, and Jaylen Warren will be next to Williams on your bench.

So, who else should be featured in those fantasy lineups, and which backs should we avoid in Week 9? Well, it's time again for the RotoBaller Week 9 starts and sits at the running back position.

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Week 9 Starts - Fantasy Football Booms

Joe Mixon - RB, Houston Texans at New York Jets

Joe Mixon is that guy if you want a volume play this week. No Nico Collins or Stefon Diggs means Mixon could flirt with 40 touches in this one. Last week, Mixon carried the ball 25 times for 102 yards and added 32 more yards, catching four of the six targets that went in his direction.

Mixon is averaging 22 fantasy points per game in five games this season and has hit the over on 21 fantasy points in four of those five contests. Not even Derrick Henry is averaging more fantasy production on a per-game basis than Mixon.

JOE MIXON ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! 😱 pic.twitter.com/yADZmBCSaw

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 27, 2024

Let's dig deeper. In the four games he has played in full, the Texans back has produced 742 yards, with no less than 125 in any of those games, while averaging 26.25 touches per game and finishing as a top 5 fantasy back in each contest.

De'Von Achane - RB, Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

With Tua Tagovailoa's return came the return of both De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. We knew Miami would want to protect Tagovailoa in his return to action last week, as they did with short passes. He also protected himself with a feet-first slide that the Dolphins faithful certainly appreciated.

Achane should be considered a top 5 fantasy back as long as Tagovailoa remains healthy. In the games that Tagovailoa has played, Achane averages 26.4 fantasy points per game, making him the RB1 within that sample. With 97 yards on just 10 attempts, six receptions for 50 yards, and a touchdown, Achane surpassed 23 fantasy points for the third time this season. 

Fun fact: if you remove Achane's fantasy production as a runner, his 65.4 fantasy points are still more than Jaylen Waddle's 57.4 this season. Why's that? In the three games with Tagovailoa, Achane has seen target shares of 19%, 18%, and 21%. That has worked out to 20 receptions for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Miami target shares in games Tua Tagovailoa has started:

Tyreek Hill - 22.8%
De'Von Achane - 18.4%
Jaylen Waddle - 13.2%

Achane scored from the slot yesterday. Forget Miami's WR3 - he's the WR2. https://t.co/s3dleVbQPm

— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) October 28, 2024

No team in the NFL is allowing more receptions (51) or receiving yards (434) than this week's opponent, the Buffalo Bills.

Tony Pollard - RB, Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots

Speaking of great matchups for running backs, Tony Pollard welcomes the New England Patriots to Tennessee this week. New England allows 26.89 fantasy points per game during the season, the fifth-highest. However, over the last four weeks, only the Carolina Panthers have allowed more than the 32.5 fantasy points per contest the Patriots have conceded. 

New England has allowed a league-high 651 rushing yards and six rushing scores in that four-week sample. To his credit, Pollard has produced more than 14 fantasy points in all but two games this season, including 14.7 in a difficult matchup against the Lions last week.

Look no further if you are looking for a workhorse back that nobody is talking about. Pollard is in the top 15 in rushing yards, carries, and weighted opportunities. He has also seen the seventh most targets among the running back position and averages 19.3 touches per game (ninth-most), which, considering game scripts, has been impressive.

Tony Pollard hasn't seen a single-digit percentage target share in a single game this year.

— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) October 28, 2024

In a week in which the game script projects to be positive, Pollard and that volume should have him in contention for a top-12 fantasy week at the position.

Week 9 Sits - Fantasy Football Busts

J.K. Dobbins - RB, Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns

While J.K. Dobbins has been a solid addition to fantasy lineups, as his 535 rushing yards suggest, those rushing yards will be hard to come by this week. Over the last three weeks, Cleveland has allowed the ninth fewest rushing yards per game and has surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the position, allowing just 17.5 over the last four weeks.

Even the king, Derrick Henry, only tallied 73 rushing yards last week against the Browns. With Jameis Winston under center, Cleveland's offense looks completely different. If the Chargers are going to compete this week, they will need to throw the ball, which will affect Dobbins' bottom line when it comes to fantasy.

One weird thing about this Chargers offense. We knew they would want to run the ball. We didn't expect that Dobbins would not be involved in goal-to-go situations on the one-yard line or the fact that the Chargers would have the highest goal-to-go passing percentage in the league.

Rhamondre Stevenson - RB, New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

I was wrong to sit Rhomandre Stevenson last week. Or was I? Sure, the fantasy numbers say one thing, and really, that's all that matters. Stevenson finished Week 8 with 22 fantasy points. But so that I feel better about myself, the Patriots back averaged just 2.4 yards per carry on 20 attempts.

Now that I've said that, sit Stevenson again this week. Expect similar production, minus the touchdowns. Tennessee is allowing the most rushing touchdowns to backs this season, so it is possible I eat my words once again, but lightning never strikes twice in the same spot, does it?

For my own peace of mind, I don't see that happening. Tennessee has allowed opposing backs just 16.93 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks. I'm not sold that Stevenson is back, especially if Drake Maye remains in the NFL's concussion protocol. This Patriots offense struggled under Jacoby Brissett.

Rachaad White - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs

Finally, we come to Rachaad White. I refuse to start a back when they face the Kansas City Chiefs. Over the last four weeks, the Chiefs have allowed just 12.2 fantasy points against RBs, the lowest total over that time by a full three points. On the season, the 13.61 they are allowing is 3.76 fewer than the next closest team.

While I would assume the likely negative game script could favor White, looking back at the Buccaneers' backfield and their opportunities last week gives me hesitation. In that Week 8 contest, Bucky Irving bested White 16-12 in opportunities (carries plus targets), while Sean Tucker received three such opportunities.

Tampa's backfield has been anything but predictable, and for that reason, I am out for Week 9.

I for one am not starting Rachaad White in Week 9:
Derrick Henry- 3.5 ypc
Zack Moss- 2.8 ypc
Bijan Robinson- 1.9 ypc
J.K. Dobbins- 2.3 ypc
Kamara- 2.4 ypc
Jordan Mason- 4.1 ypc
Alexander Mattison- 1.1 ypc pic.twitter.com/deTEFx6vrv

— Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnellyFF) October 28, 2024

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