Free tool · Nov 3 – Nov 9
Week 9 RB start or sit
Running back start/sit calls live and die on game script. A back on a team likely to lead gets the fourth-quarter carries; a back chasing points loses them, which is why the swing column moves more here than anywhere else.
Week 9 · Nov 3 – Nov 9
Start these RBs — week 9
Biggest positive matchup swing at running back this week.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL | vs CIN | 20.9 | +2.2 | vs CIN grades smash spot — worth about 2.2 points above a normal week. |
| 2 | Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI | vs NYG | 19.7 | +1.8 | vs NYG grades good matchup — worth about 1.8 points above a normal week. |
| 3 | Jonathan TaylorRB · IND | vs DAL | 16.3 | +1.8 | vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.8 points above a normal week. |
| 4 | Isiah PachecoRB · KC | vs NYJ | 10.4 | +1.5 | vs NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 1.5 points above a normal week. |
| 5 | Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET | @ MIA | 18.8 | +1.4 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 1.4 points above a normal week. |
| 6 | Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEA | vs ARI | 12.2 | +1.3 | vs ARI grades smash spot — worth about 1.3 points above a normal week. |
| 7 | Christian McCaffreyRB · SF | vs LV | 16.4 | +1.2 | vs LV grades good matchup — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week. |
| 8 | Kyren WilliamsRB · LAR | @ WAS | 14.2 | +1 | @ WAS grades good matchup — worth about 1 points above a normal week. |
| 9 | Zach CharbonnetRB · SEA | vs ARI | 8.5 | +0.9 | vs ARI grades smash spot — worth about 0.9 points above a normal week. |
| 10 | David MontgomeryRB · DET | @ MIA | 11.4 | +0.8 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.8 points above a normal week. |
Sit or downgrade — week 9 RBs
The schedule works against these names. Elite players still start; use this to settle close calls.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omarion HamptonRB · LAC | vs HOU | 10.4 | -1.4 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 1.4 points below a normal week. |
| 2 | Josh JacobsRB · GB | @ NE | 11.8 | -1.3 | @ NE grades nightmare — about 1.3 points below a normal week. |
| 3 | Cam SkatteboRB · NYG | @ PHI | 7.5 | -0.9 | @ PHI grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 4 | Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG | @ PHI | 7.1 | -0.9 | @ PHI grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 5 | Najee HarrisRB · LAC | vs HOU | 6.5 | -0.9 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 6 | James CookRB · BUF | @ MIN | 11.4 | -0.8 | @ MIN grades nightmare — about 0.8 points below a normal week. |
| 7 | Ashton JeantyRB · LV | @ SF | 14.5 | -0.7 | @ SF grades tough — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 8 | Derrick HenryRB · BAL | vs JAX | 12.1 | -0.7 | vs JAX grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 9 | Alvin KamaraRB · NO | vs CLE | 10.7 | -0.6 | vs CLE grades neutral — about 0.6 points below a normal week. |
| 10 | Aaron JonesRB · MIN | vs BUF | 8.9 | -0.4 | vs BUF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
Week 9 RB rankings
Every running back ranked by matchup-adjusted projection for this week.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL | vs CIN | 20.9 | +2.2 | vs CIN grades smash spot — worth about 2.2 points above a normal week. |
| 2 | Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI | vs NYG | 19.7 | +1.8 | vs NYG grades good matchup — worth about 1.8 points above a normal week. |
| 3 | Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET | @ MIA | 18.8 | +1.4 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 1.4 points above a normal week. |
| 4 | Christian McCaffreyRB · SF | vs LV | 16.4 | +1.2 | vs LV grades good matchup — worth about 1.2 points above a normal week. |
| 5 | Jonathan TaylorRB · IND | vs DAL | 16.3 | +1.8 | vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.8 points above a normal week. |
| 6 | De'Von AchaneRB · MIA | vs DET | 16.1 | +0.1 | vs DET grades neutral — worth about 0.1 points above a normal week. |
| 7 | Bucky IrvingRB · TB | @ CHI | 14.6 | +0.4 | @ CHI grades neutral — worth about 0.4 points above a normal week. |
| 8 | Ashton JeantyRB · LV | @ SF | 14.5 | -0.7 | @ SF grades tough — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 9 | Kyren WilliamsRB · LAR | @ WAS | 14.2 | +1 | @ WAS grades good matchup — worth about 1 points above a normal week. |
| 10 | Chase BrownRB · CIN | @ ATL | 14.1 | +0.7 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.7 points above a normal week. |
| 11 | Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEA | vs ARI | 12.2 | +1.3 | vs ARI grades smash spot — worth about 1.3 points above a normal week. |
| 12 | Derrick HenryRB · BAL | vs JAX | 12.1 | -0.7 | vs JAX grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week. |
| 13 | Josh JacobsRB · GB | @ NE | 11.8 | -1.3 | @ NE grades nightmare — about 1.3 points below a normal week. |
| 14 | James CookRB · BUF | @ MIN | 11.4 | -0.8 | @ MIN grades nightmare — about 0.8 points below a normal week. |
| 15 | David MontgomeryRB · DET | @ MIA | 11.4 | +0.8 | @ MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.8 points above a normal week. |
| 16 | Alvin KamaraRB · NO | vs CLE | 10.7 | -0.6 | vs CLE grades neutral — about 0.6 points below a normal week. |
| 17 | Omarion HamptonRB · LAC | vs HOU | 10.4 | -1.4 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 1.4 points below a normal week. |
| 18 | Isiah PachecoRB · KC | vs NYJ | 10.4 | +1.5 | vs NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 1.5 points above a normal week. |
| 19 | RJ HarveyRB · DEN | @ CAR | 10.2 | 0 | @ CAR grades neutral — worth about 0 points above a normal week. |
| 20 | Aaron JonesRB · MIN | vs BUF | 8.9 | -0.4 | vs BUF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 21 | Zach CharbonnetRB · SEA | vs ARI | 8.5 | +0.9 | vs ARI grades smash spot — worth about 0.9 points above a normal week. |
| 22 | Cam SkatteboRB · NYG | @ PHI | 7.5 | -0.9 | @ PHI grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 23 | Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG | @ PHI | 7.1 | -0.9 | @ PHI grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 24 | Brian Robinson Jr.RB · WAS | vs LAR | 6.8 | -0.4 | vs LAR grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 25 | Najee HarrisRB · LAC | vs HOU | 6.5 | -0.9 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
On bye in week 9
PIT · TEN
Comparing two specific names? Run them through the start/sit optimizer or check injury impact before you lock the lineup.
Week 9 RB matchup heatmap
Green is a matchup that adds points to a normal week, red is one that takes them away. The number is the average swing in points for that team's RB starters.
Biggest RB upside
- ATL vs CINLead option: Bijan Robinson · 20.9 pts+2.2
- IND vs DALLead option: Jonathan Taylor · 16.3 pts+1.8
- PHI vs NYGLead option: Saquon Barkley · 19.7 pts+1.8
- KC vs NYJLead option: Isiah Pacheco · 10.4 pts+1.5
- SF vs LVLead option: Christian McCaffrey · 16.4 pts+1.2
Biggest RB downside
- GB @ NELead option: Josh Jacobs · 11.8 pts-1.3
- LAC vs HOULead option: Omarion Hampton · 10.4 pts-1.1
- NYG @ PHILead option: Cam Skattebo · 7.5 pts-0.9
- BUF @ MINLead option: James Cook · 11.4 pts-0.8
- BAL vs JAXLead option: Derrick Henry · 12.1 pts-0.7
Built from the same matchup grades as the week 9 RB start/sit board, so a hot cell and a start call always agree.