When it comes to making start/sit decisions in fantasy football, the advice is simple: Play the matchups, and you’ll win more often than you lose. Now that we’re in the thick of the bye weeks, knowing the matchups to avoid and exploit becomes even more important. Bellow you’ll find the key matchup stats to know from each of the 12 remaining games for Week 9 of the 2017 NFL season.
New Orleans @ Buffalo
Stay the course with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara.
It’s a rare occurrence when a team has two RB1s, but that’s exactly what’s happening in New Orleans right now. Kamara had the bigger fantasy numbers last week, but Ingram is still the lead back. Regardless, both are top-10 plays even on the road this week. Buffalo is a mid-pack matchup, but they have allowed six rushing scores to running backs over their last six games.
Green Bay @ Chicago
Keep riding Jordan Howard.
With Mitchell Trubisky under center, the Bears have leaned heavily on Howard and so should fantasy owners. He’s averaging 23.5 carries per game over his last six and better yet, Howard draws a plus matchup against the Packers this week. Running backs have found the end zone against Green Bay in four of the last five games, and the Packers currently give up the sixth-most PPR points per game to the position.
Cleveland @ Detroit
Sit Ameer Abdullah.
Not only has his production been lackluster this season, but Abdullah also draws a surprisingly tough matchup this week. The Browns have been tough on opposing run games, with running backs averaging just 2.9 yards per carry. Abdullah should ride the pine in Week 10.
Cincinnati @ Tennessee
Mid-pack matchups all around.
There really isn’t a standout matchup in this contest, so you’re using everyone you normally would. That means Marcus Mariota is a borderline QB1 with Andy Dalton in the streamer conversation. Joe Mixon remains an RB2 despite the Bengals poor offensive line play. In the Titans backfield, DeMarco Murray is on track to play, but the full-blow committee with Derrick Henry makes Murray a back-end RB2, at best. It’s tough to trust Murray or Henry in season-long starting lineups right now.
Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis
Send Jacoby Brissett back to the bench.
Andrew Luck’s stand in had a nice run over the last two weeks, but this isn’t the week to rely on Brissett. Pittsburgh’s pass defense has been quite stingy with just six passing scores allowed on the season. The Steelers allow the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the position, and just one quarterback has topped 250 passing yards against the Steelers this season.
NY Jets @ Tampa Bay
Stream Ryan Fitzpatrick.
This is far from the safest play on the board this week, but Fitzpatrick is in play as a streamer against his former team. The Jets have been generous to opposing passers, allowing 2.1 scores through the air per game. Only the Giants have given up more passing touchdowns per game this season. Those in need at quarterback may want to dial up Fitzpatrick. Josh McCown is also a streamer option on the other side of this matchup. Tampa Bay gives up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Minnesota @ Washington
Fade the Redskins backfield.
Rob Kelley is coming off a two-touchdown performance and Chris Thompson has been an upside RB2 this season, but neither are particularly appealing in this matchup. Minnesota currently surrenders the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs with just 104.9 scrimmage yards per game allowed to the position.
LA Chargers @ Jacksonville
Avoid Philip Rivers at all costs.
A case could be made that Rivers is the worst quarterback play on this week’s slate. Regardless of that argument, the point is relatively simple. This is an absolutely terrible matchup for Rivers and the Chargers’ passing game. Jacksonville has allowed four passing scores this year. Four. They also yield just 179.9 passing yards per game, which is far and away the lowest number in the league right now.
Houston @ LA Rams
Jared Goff is a QB1 play.
Goff needed just 22 attempts to put up 300-plus yards and four scores last week. He’s in play again with a plus matchup on tap against a Texans defense that gives up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Houston has yielded 300-plus net passing yards to three of their last four opponents with 10 passing scores surrendered over that span.
Dallas @ Atlanta
Alfred Morris is the preferred Cowboys back … for now.
With Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension back on, Morris figures to be the lead back this week for the Cowboys. The being said, expect to also see Rod Smith and Darren McFadden on the field this week as well. So Morris will not simply take over Elliott’s workload, but should see in the range of 50-60 percent of the touches. That’s decent enough volume to be considered an RB2 play against a Falcons defense that gives up the seventh-most PPR points per game to running backs this season.
NY Giants @ San Francisco
Fire up Orleans Darkwa.
This isn’t the sexiest play of the week, but Darkwa is certainly in the RB2 conversation with an extremely favorable matchup on tap against the 49ers. San Francisco surrenders a league-high 182.6 scrimmage yards per game to running backs and currently allow the most PPR points per game to the position. Darkwa is the Giants’ clear lead back and is a solid season-long option with sneaky DFS appeal.
New England @ Denver
Fade the Patriots run game.
There are two reasons why it isn’t a good idea to rely on the Patriots running backs this week. For starters, there are currently four of them who dress, and all four are involved. With the touches spread out, it’s tough to hit value with any of the four. Beyond that, the Broncos have been very tough on opposing backs, with the fourth-fewest PPR points per game allowed to the position.
Miami @ Carolina
This isn’t the week to play Kenyan Drake or Damien Williams.
Both Dolphins backs look good last week, but it’s a good idea to fade the duo on Monday night. Carolina currently allows the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs with an average of just 91.8 scrimmage yards yielded per game to the position. Only the Eagles allow fewer yards per game to running backs.
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