Week 9 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Running Backs: Zack Moss, Tony Pollard, Gus Edwards and More

Week 9 is here and it's time to make the tough decisions. These are the running backs you must start and the ones you have to sit this week. 

Start

Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts

Moss has been one of the most frustrating fantasy players to own in recent memory. He's been excellent week in and week out but is so tough to start since Jonathan Taylor has returned. Nonetheless, it's time to commit to him in good matchups and this week he has a great one against the Carolina Panthers. Moss and Taylor are splitting touches almost exactly in half each week now and Moss was once again the more valuable fantasy back last week. It's hard to keep leaving him out of your lineup, especially this week. Since the Broncos gave up a million fantasy and actual points to the Dolphins in Week 3, the Panthers have been by far the worst team in the league against running backs. There is no better matchup to target and Moss is the 1b in this backfield no matter how hard that is to fathom just a year removed from JT being the consensus first-overall pick.  

 

Royce Freeman, Los Angeles Rams

Darrell Henderson is also an acceptable option here, but we wanted to focus on Freeman because he's been the better back over the past two weeks since these two took over lead-back duties. Henderson has seen more volume but Freeman has been more efficient and we believe that will lead to Freeman seeing the majority of the work starting this week. However, in a matchup like this, both guys are solid options. The Rams take on the Green Packers this week, who have been sinking fast. They are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs and seem to be getting progressively worse as a whole as we get deeper into the season. After being sellers at the trade deadline we don't expect them to improve anytime soon.  

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

We are going to start White this week against the Houston Texans, who aren't quite as terrible as they've been in years past but are still a plus matchup. White isn't a sexy play, nevertheless, he continues to dominate touches in the Bucs' backfield and sees a ton of work in the passing attack. Last week, White saw triple the carries of any other running back and Tampa while catching all seven of his targets. There is too much volume there to bench him against a team like the Texans. His ceiling may be capped, nonetheless, he also has a surprisingly high floor. 

Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens

It looks like we can finally trust a Ravens' running back to see the most volume in this backfield. Famous last words, we know. However, The Bus is coming off a monster game when he torched the Arizona Cardinals for 80 yards and three TDs on 19 carries. He also added two receptions for 14 yards. The key facts here are that he saw 19 carries to Justice Hill's four and is now getting all the red zone work. This week he takes on a slightly below-average Seattle Seahawks' defense when it comes to slowing down fantasy running backs.  

Sit

Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys

We understand that many owners won't be able to outright bench Pollard, but at the very least you need to temper expectations and don't be afraid to pivot if you have another option. The Cowboys take on the Philadelphia Eagles this week in what's been a brutal fantasy matchup for running backs. No team has allowed fewer fantasy points to the position. They've allowed the fewest rushing yards and just two total TDs to running backs all season. If you can avoid starting Pollard in this spot you should seriously consider it. 

Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

Mattison was already just a guy, to begin with, but he was worthwhile because he saw a ton of volume in a good offense. Now, Cam Akers is cutting into his workload and the Vikings have lost Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. Last week, Mattison saw 16 carries and averaged just 1.9 yards per carry against an awful Packers' rush defense while Akers handled nine carries. To make matters worse, Akers also saw the same amount of targets as Mattison for the second week in a row. Akers also saw more carries than Mattison two weeks ago. This week the Vikings take on the Falcons who are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs and have matched the Eagles allowing only two TDs to the position all season. This is an easy decision to bench Mattison this week, even in deeper leagues.   

D'Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears

Roschon Johnson returned from injury last week and this backfield immediately became a mess despite Foreman coming off an outstanding game the week prior. Foreman saw nine carries for 34 yards, Johnson six for 21, and Darrynton Evans carried the ball four times for 18 yards and a TD. Evans and Johnson both saw four targets while Foreman was targeted twice. We have no idea how touches will be distributed this week and that's not good for fantasy. That's especially true when the Bears already have a terrible matchup against the New Orleans Saints, who are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. You need to avoid this entire backfield until we get some clarity and a decent matchup.