DFS: Week 9 Running Back Value Rankings
Here are theScore's running back value rankings for Week 9 (Thursday night game excluded):
Value Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE
Top 5
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devonta Freeman (ATL) | at SF | Low |
| 2 | Todd Gurley (STL) | at MIN | Low |
| 3 | Adrian Peterson (MIN) | vs. STL | Low |
| 4 | DeMarco Murray (PHI) | at DAL | Low |
| 5 | Doug Martin (TB) | vs. NYG | Low |
With Le'Veon Bell out for the season and Matt Forte likely to miss several weeks, Freeman faces little resistance as the top value back of the week. Gurley is right behind him, but takes a bit of a hit against a Vikings defense that has allowed just four rushing scores. Murray should thrive in his return to Dallas, while Martin sees enough volume to be a strong cash-game play.
Next 5
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Jeremy Langford (CHI) | at SD | Low |
| 7 | Chris Ivory (NYJ) | vs. JAC | Low |
| 8 | LeGarrette Blount (NE) | vs. WAS | Low |
| 9 | Ronnie Hillman (DET) | at IND | Low |
| 10 | DeAngelo Williams (PIT) | vs. OAK | Low |
Behold your sleeper of the week; with Forte out, Langford should see all the work he can handle against a Chargers team allowing a league-high five yards per carry, Hillman is a solid value play against a weak Colts run defense, while Williams regains the No. 1 rushing spot in Pittsburgh following Bell's injury; he had success in the role early in the season.
Best of the Rest
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Dion Lewis (NE) | vs. WAS | Medium |
| 12 | Latavius Murray (OAK) | at PIT | Medium |
| 13 | Mark Ingram (NO) | vs. TEN | Medium |
| 14 | LeSean McCoy (BUF) | vs. MIA | Medium |
| 15 | Darren McFadden (DAL) | vs. PHI | Medium |
| 16 | C.J. Anderson (DEN) | at IND | Medium |
| 17 | Lamar Miller (MIA) | at BUF | Medium |
| 18 | Shane Vereen (NYG) | at TB | Medium |
| 19 | Melvin Gordon (SD) | vs. CHI | Medium |
| 20 | C.J. Spiller (NO) | vs. TEN | Medium |
Lewis is a high-floor play in all DFS formats, and should see plenty of work this week. Ingram had a quiet 119 total yards in the Saints' stunning win over the Giants, and has been one of the more consistent backs in the league. Miller should get back to the larger workload he enjoyed in Weeks 6 and 7, when he victimized opponents for 288 rushing yards and three total TDs.
Nothing to See Here
| # | NAME | OPPONENT | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Eddie Lacy (GB) | at CAR | High |
| 22 | Danny Woodhead (SD) | vs. CHI | High |
| 23 | Frank Gore (IND) | vs. DEN | High |
| 24 | Jonathan Stewart (CAR) | vs. GB | High |
| 25 | James Starks (GB) | at CAR | High |
| 26 | Rashad Jennings (NYG) | at TB | High |
| 27 | T.J. Yeldon (JAC) | at NYJ | High |
| 28 | Antonio Andrews (TEN) | at NO | High |
| 29 | Charles Sims (TB) | vs. NYG | High |
| 30 | Alfred Morris (WAS) | at NE | High |
Lacy showed signs of life with a rushing score against Denver, but he should be a non-factor this week in Carolina. Yeldon will face the toughest test of his young career against an imposing Jets run defense; fade him this Sunday. Andrews would be a sneaky value play against the Saints if he were assured the 19 touches he saw in Week 8 against Houston.