tyjae-spears-tennessee-titans-usatsi.jpg
USATSI

This is my ninth season writing for CBS Fantasy. I've been in the industry for around 15 years, playing Fantasy Football for more than 20. In those 20 years, there have not been a lot of running back waiver wires worse than the one we have in Week 9. 

There is not one running back in my top 36 at the position this week that is rostered in less than 65% of leagues. The lone hope is Tyjae Spears, and as of Tuesday morning, we aren't expecting him to play. If you are desperate for a starting running back in Week 9 your only option is to make a trade. Here are three backs I would target at different price points:

Tony Pollard has scored at least 14 PPR Fantasy points in three of his last four games and five of seven games this season. But he's on a terrible offense, Spears could be coming back soon, and Pollard didn't cost a lot on Draft Day. I'm hoping those three factors mean you could acquire Pollard for a mi-RB2 cost because I think he's closer to a top-12 running back the rest of the season.

Alexander Mattison should be cheaper than Pollard, but his volume has been very similar lately. Mattison has at least 17 touches in four straight games. He's coming off a terrible performance against Kansas City, but they are one of the most difficult matchups for running backs. You should be able to get him for a bench piece or a very small upgrade somewhere else.

Devin Singletary is the bargain rental. Tyrone Tracy is in the concussion protocol, and the Giants are on a short week, so we expect Singletary to handle the majority of the work in Week 9. The Giants face the Commanders, who have given up 5.35 yards per carry to running backs this year, second only to the Giants. He should be even cheaper than Mattison because he's hopefully just a one-week rental.

Now, let's get to the rest of the Week 9 RB Preview:

Week 9 RB Preview
RB Preview
Who's Out

The following players are not being projected to play in Week 9 at this time. Here's what it means:

NYG N.Y. Giants • #29
Age: 25 • Experience: Rookie
Singletary is a low-end RB2 if Tracy misses Week 9.
RB Preview
Numbers to know
  • 7 -- James Cook has seven rushing touchdowns this season. He had four in his career entering 2024.
  • 34.1% -- Tank Bigsbyr's 34.1% avoid rate is second only to Kenneth Walker.
  • 15.2% -- Jonathan Taylor's 15.2% explosive rush rate leads all running backs.
  • 20 -- De'Von Achane has seen 20 targets in the three games he's played with Tua Tagovailoa.
  • 2.01 -- Aaron Jones is the only running back with more than 100 routes this year and a YPRR over two.
  • 203 -- Breece Hall has run 203 routes this year, 28 more than any other running back.
  • 26 -- Najee Harris has 26 red zone rush attempts but only one rush TD. Every other back with at least 20 red zone rush attempts has at least three rush TDs.
RB Preview
Matchups that matter
Matchups that Matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
DEN Denver • #33
Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ BAL BAL -9.5 O/U 44.5
OPP VS RB
7th
PROJ PTS
11.7
RB RNK
27th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
345
REC
27
REYDS
174
TD
2
FPTS/G
10.9
CAR Carolina • #30
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs NO NO -7 O/U 43.5
OPP VS RB
24th
PROJ PTS
14
RB RNK
19th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
593
REC
24
REYDS
108
TD
4
FPTS/G
14.5
LV Las Vegas • #22
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ CIN CIN -7.5 O/U 46.5
OPP VS RB
12th
PROJ PTS
13.4
RB RNK
24th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
265
REC
22
REYDS
195
TD
4
FPTS/G
11.8
NYG N.Y. Giants • #26
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs WAS WAS -3.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS RB
17th
PROJ PTS
8.3
RB RNK
31st
YTD Stats
RUYDS
250
REC
13
REYDS
87
TD
2
FPTS/G
9.1
WAS Washington • #8
Age: 25 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ NYG WAS -3.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS RB
18th
PROJ PTS
11.6
RB RNK
23rd
YTD Stats
RUYDS
461
REC
9
REYDS
79
TD
6
FPTS/G
14.1
KC Kansas City • #29
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs TB KC -8.5 O/U 44.5
OPP VS RB
25th
PROJ PTS
14.3
RB RNK
22nd
YTD Stats
RUYDS
308
REC
6
REYDS
40
TD
4
FPTS/G
16.2
RB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
Week 9 Adds (RB Preview)
TEN Tennessee • #2
Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs NE TEN -3.5 O/U 38
OPP VS RB
29th
RB RNK
NR
ROSTERED
48%
YTD Stats
RUYDS
114
REC
12
REYDS
76
TD
1
FPTS/G
7.4
How bad is the running back waiver wire this week? The top guy is currently not being projected to play this week. But if Spears is able to get healthy, he'll face a Patriots defense that has given up the second-most Fantasy points to opposing running backs. He had 17 touches in his last full game, and the Titans are favorites, so this could be a game they lean on both running backs.
BAL Baltimore • #43
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs DEN BAL -9.5 O/U 44.5
OPP VS RB
14th
RB RNK
36th
ROSTERED
50%
YTD Stats
RUYDS
104
REC
22
REYDS
229
TD
2
FPTS/G
8.4
The Broncos have been very good against running backs on the ground, but they're allowing 5.5 receptions per game to the position. If Baltimore struggles to run, this could turn into a Justice Hill game. He's a fine flex.
Stashes (RB Preview)
SF San Francisco • #49
Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ TB SF -7 O/U 47
OPP VS RB
25th
RB RNK
NR
ROSTERED
25%
YTD Stats
RUYDS
227
REC
4
REYDS
22
TD
1
FPTS/G
4.1
Guerendo is on bye this week, and Christian McCaffrey could be back next week, so don't spend much. But Guerendo just turned 17 touches into 19.2 PPR Fantasy points and is averaging more than six yards per carry. He needs to be rostered.
RB Preview
DFS Plays
Top DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
SEA Seattle • #9
Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs LAR LAR -1.5 O/U 48.5
OPP VS RB
20th
PROJ PTS
15.7
RB RNK
3rd
YTD Stats
RUYDS
315
REC
27
REYDS
193
TD
7
FPTS/G
20
Walker is at home against a bad Rams defense in a game with one of the highest over/unders on the slate at 48.5. He's averaging more than five targets per game this season, and despite last week's poor showing, he's still one of the best big-play backs in the league.
Contrarian DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
IND Indianapolis • #28
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ MIN MIN -6 O/U 45.5
OPP VS RB
8th
PROJ PTS
13
RB RNK
11th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
454
REC
7
REYDS
89
TD
5
FPTS/G
18.3
Taylor will be low-rostered because his team is an underdog, and the Vikings have been very good against running backs this season. I am just not sure those things matter for Taylor. He's averaging 108 yards per game, and he still hasn't had what I would call a true plus matchup. Taylor is more desirable in leagues that score half a point per reception, at least as long as Anthony Richardson is starting.
RB Preview
Heath's Projections

My full set of Week 9 Fantasy football projections for every position are now available on SportsLine. You'll find them here. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don't live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 9. Projected stats for all starting running backs are available, so be sure to check out the full set of projections at SportsLine.