NFL Week 9 Running Back Report: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Injuries and the Best RB Props

NFL player props | NFL Parlay Builder | AI Parlay Generator | NFL Teaser Generator | NFL DFS value board | NFL injury report | NFL depth charts

Week 9 is here, and if there's one position that can make or break your fantasy lineup, DFS roster or Sunday parlay, it's running back.

This week we're looking beyond rushing yards. We're looking at workload, receiving opportunities, red-zone touches, defensive matchups and which backs have multiple ways to put points on the board. Every number below comes from our own box scores through Week 8, and every line is from our board.

The goal is simple: find backs who can produce even when the game doesn't go according to plan. Let's get into it.

The Running Backs We Want in Our Lineups

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

START: The top RB play on the board

Game: Detroit -7 at Miami (1-6), total 50.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Gibbs is averaging 110.4 rushing yards and 151.1 scrimmage yards a game, with 10 total touchdowns in seven games. He scored in six of them. Last week he ran for 153 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against Minnesota (box score).

• Rushing yards: 60+ has hit in 5 of 7 games. 50+ has hit in 6 of 7.
• Receiving yards: 20+ has hit in 6 of 7.
• Receptions: 3+ in 6 of 7, and 2+ in all seven.
• Anytime touchdown: six of seven games. The strongest candidate on the board.

My take: Gibbs is particularly attractive in PPR formats. Don't judge him only on rushing attempts. His receiving work gives him another path to a big afternoon. See the whole backfield on the Lions depth chart.

2. Bijan Robinson, Falcons

START: The safest rushing floor in the league

Game: Atlanta +3 vs. Cincinnati at Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, total 52.5, Sunday 9:30 AM ET. simulator | our pick

Bijan has cleared 60 rushing yards in all eight games this season. He's averaging 97.5 rushing yards on 150 carries for the year, and he ran for 194 yards at Green Bay.

• Rushing yards: 60+ in 8 of 8.
• Receiving yards: 20+ in only 3 of 8.
• Receptions: 3+ in 4 of 8, 2+ in 6 of 8.
• Anytime touchdown: only three of eight games, and none in his last four.

My take: Bijan is the back I want in cash-game DFS lineups and season-long leagues because his rushing floor is the most reliable on the board. Just don't oversell the receiving work: he had no catches on one target in the 16-0 loss at Tampa Bay last week (box score). The Madrid kickoff is early, so set your lineup Saturday night. Falcons depth chart.

3. James Cook III, Bills

START: Volume plus touchdowns

Game: Buffalo -3 at Minnesota, total 44.5, Monday Night Football 8:15 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Cook has 12 or more carries in all seven games, 60+ rushing yards in six of them, and seven rushing touchdowns. He scored in six of seven. Last week he went for 80 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in the 36-10 win over Baltimore (box score).

• Rushing yards: 60+ in 6 of 7.
• Carries: 12+ in 7 of 7.
• Receiving yards: secondary market. He has 12 catches all season.
• Anytime touchdown: six of seven games.

My take: Cook is especially appealing when Buffalo builds an early lead, because his carries climb when the Bills control the game. He plays Monday night, so DFS players should check which slate they're building. Bills depth chart.

4. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (only if active)

START: Elite, but conditional

Game: San Francisco -10 vs. Las Vegas, total 51.5, Sunday 4:05 PM ET. simulator | our pick

McCaffrey has a left hamstring strain. Kyle Shanahan called it mild. He missed Wednesday's practice and was back in uniform for the open portion of Thursday's. Our NFL injury report lists him questionable.

The matchup is great: Las Vegas allows 146.4 rushing yards a game, 31st in the league in our data. But the numbers say his value is in the passing game and the end zone, not big rushing totals.

• Rushing yards: 70+ has hit only once in seven games. He averages 55.6.
• Receiving yards: 25+ in 4 of 7.
• Receptions: 3+ in all seven games.
• Anytime touchdown: six of seven games, with eight rushing scores.

My take: McCaffrey is a three-dimensional weapon who can run, catch and finish drives. If he's cleared, target catches and touchdowns rather than a big rushing number. He last played Oct. 25, a 29-20 loss at Atlanta (box score), before the bye. 49ers depth chart.

5. Jonathan Taylor, Colts

START: The best matchup on the board

Game: Indianapolis +5.5 vs. Dallas, total 51.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Dallas allows 152.8 rushing yards a game, last in the league in our data. Taylor has 15 or more carries in seven of eight games, eight rushing touchdowns, and 60+ rushing yards in six of eight.

• Rushing yards: 60+ in 6 of 8, 40+ in 7 of 8.
• Carries: 15+ in 7 of 8.
• Anytime touchdown: five of eight games.

My take: Forget last week. Taylor got just eight carries for 23 yards because Indianapolis trailed Jacksonville all day in a 42-7 loss (box score). Against this run defense, he's back to a volume play. Colts depth chart.

6. Kyren Williams, Rams

START: Volume-based fantasy option

Game: Los Angeles -4.5 at Washington, total 48.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Williams has scored in six of eight games and has 12 or more carries in six of eight. He's also more involved as a receiver than people think: 33 catches, including a 10-catch game at Philadelphia.

• Rushing yards: 50+ in 6 of 8.
• Carries: 12+ in 6 of 8.
• Receiving yards: secondary market.
• Anytime touchdown: six of eight games.

My take: Volume is king in fantasy football. Washington is a tougher spot (99.1 rushing yards allowed a game, 12th), but Williams's workload keeps him useful even without explosive runs. He ran 16 times for 56 yards and a score against the Chargers last week (box score). Rams depth chart.

7. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

START: Potential DFS value

Game: Carolina +2.5 vs. Denver, total 44.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

Hubbard had 22 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown, plus seven catches, in last Thursday's loss at Green Bay (box score). He has 40+ rushing yards and 10+ carries in six of seven games, and Denver allows 127.9 rushing yards a game (25th).

• Rushing yards: 40+ in 6 of 7.
• Carries: 10+ in 6 of 7.
• Receiving yards: secondary market.
• Anytime touchdown: five of seven games, at a longer price.

My take: He's more interesting as a salary-saving DFS play than as an automatic parlay leg. Compare his price to his touches on the NFL DFS value board. Panthers depth chart.

Injury Watch: These Backfields Could Change Everything

Here's where every back stands, from our NFL injury report and the team practice reports as of Thursday. These aren't final game designations. Check again Friday.

• Christian McCaffrey (49ers): Questionable, left hamstring. Missed Wednesday, back in uniform for the open portion of Thursday's practice. Don't lock him into lineups until he's cleared.
• Alvin Kamara (Saints): Questionable, back. Missed Wednesday, limited Thursday. New Orleans hosts Cleveland (simulator | our pick).
• Saquon Barkley (Eagles): Questionable, hamstring and back. Missed Wednesday's practice. Philadelphia hosts the Giants (simulator | our pick).
• Breece Hall (Jets): Questionable, quad. He hasn't played since Week 3 at Detroit, but he was a full participant Thursday for the first time since the injury and says he's ready for Sunday. Expect a committee with Braelon Allen, who has carried the load since Week 4.
• David Montgomery (Texans): Out Sunday at the Chargers with a groin injury, his third straight missed game. Woody Marks stays the lead back (simulator | our pick).
• Bam Knight (Cardinals): Questionable, concussion. Didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday. He's a small part of this backfield anyway (28 carries all season). Rookie Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier lead Arizona's backs (simulator | our pick).
• Bhayshul Tuten (Jaguars): Questionable for tonight's game at Baltimore, 8:15 PM ET (simulator | our pick). He's coming off 159 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns against Indianapolis.

Track every change on our NFL player news and the depth charts for the 49ers, Saints, Eagles, Jets, Texans, Cardinals and Jaguars.

Running Backs I'd Sit for Now

These are conditional sits, not automatic benchings.

Breece Hall, Jets

Game: Kansas City -10 vs. the Jets (2-6), total 47.5, Sunday 1:00 PM ET. simulator | our pick

The Kansas City matchup makes me cautious. The Chiefs allow 96.3 rushing yards a game (8th), Hall is coming off five missed games, and the Jets are double-digit underdogs, so Allen will take some of the work. Hall's receiving ability keeps him relevant in PPR, but I wouldn't force him into DFS builds. His last game was Sept. 27 at Detroit (box score).

Alvin Kamara, Saints

The missed practice is one concern. The workload is the bigger one. Kamara is averaging 6.8 carries and 20.8 rushing yards a game this season, and only 43 scrimmage yards a game. He's a PPR flex at best until his role grows. He caught seven passes for 57 yards in his last game, against Pittsburgh (box score).

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

A player with Barkley's name is hard to bench, but the numbers this season aren't there: 45.7 rushing yards a game and only seven catches in six games for a 2-6 team. Add a missed practice, and he's a risky early-week investment. If he's cleared and back to a normal workload, he moves into flex territory. Last week: 13 carries, 30 yards and a touchdown at Washington (box score).

Bam Knight, Cardinals

With the concussion and a small role, there are better places to spend DFS money. If you want Arizona exposure against a Seattle defense that allows just 91.9 rushing yards a game (6th), look at Love or Allgeier on the Cardinals depth chart.

DFS: Running Backs to Build Around

DFS strategy: Don't pay for a name. Pay for touches.

A $5,000 running back getting 18 opportunities can be worth more than an $8,000 back getting 12. Salary, projected ownership, receiving work and game script all matter. Find the underpriced workloads on the NFL DFS value board, check them against the NFL volume board and NFL start/sit board, and stack the right teammates with the DFS correlation calculator. Build lineups with our NFL DFS lineup tools.

The Best Running Back Parlay Targets

These are alternate-line targets with how often each one has hit this season in our box scores. Check the actual numbers on our NFL player props page and the AI NFL projections before you play anything.

My Favorite Anytime Touchdown Candidates

Ranked by how often they've found the end zone. See who gets the ball near the goal line on our goal-line leaders and red-zone leaders.

• 1. Jahmyr Gibbs: scored in 6 of 7 games, 10 total touchdowns.
• 2. James Cook III: scored in 6 of 7, seven rushing touchdowns.
• 3. Kyren Williams: scored in 6 of 8.
• 4. Jonathan Taylor: scored in 5 of 8, eight rushing touchdowns, and the softest run defense on the slate.
• 5. Bijan Robinson: scored in only 3 of 8 and none in his last four, but the volume says it's coming.

McCaffrey would be near the top of this list (6 of 7 games) if he's cleared to play.

Three Parlay Builds

Parlay 1: The safer approach

• Bijan Robinson 40+ rushing yards (8 of 8)
• Jahmyr Gibbs 2+ receptions (7 of 7)
• Jonathan Taylor 40+ rushing yards (7 of 8)

Parlay 2: Receiving back specials

• Jahmyr Gibbs 3+ receptions (6 of 7)
• Bijan Robinson 2+ receptions (6 of 8)
• Christian McCaffrey 2+ receptions, only if active (7 of 7)

Parlay 3: Touchdown hunters

• Jahmyr Gibbs anytime touchdown
• James Cook III anytime touchdown
• Jonathan Taylor anytime touchdown

These are suggested combinations, not guaranteed value. Compare the actual prices before you place them. Build them in the NFL Parlay Builder or the NFL slip builder, let the AI Parlay Generator do the work, and check the payout on the parlay calculator. Want a game side on the ticket? Take it from every NFL pick so every leg agrees with our call, or move the number with the NFL Teaser Generator.

My Final FantasyDailies RB Rankings

The FantasyDailies Verdict

If I'm building a Sunday DFS lineup, I'm starting with Gibbs and Bijan as my building blocks, with Taylor as the matchup play.

If I'm playing traditional fantasy, I'm prioritizing workload and receptions over chasing last week's touchdown totals.

If I'm building parlays, I want running backs who can cash multiple ways. A back who catches four passes and rushes for 65 yards gives us several ways to win, even without a touchdown.

Don't chase touchdown odds just because a player is a household name. Carries, targets, red-zone opportunities and health are what matter. Check the leaderboards on our 2026 rushing leaders, see how every defense handles backs on defense vs. running backs, and get the whole slate on the Week 9 hub and Week 9 matchups. Game-day conditions are on NFL weather.

Follow every game live in the NFL Game Zone and on FantasyDailies TV on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Talk it over in the forum.

FantasyDailies.com: Your Edge Every Day.

Everything here is preliminary. Check final injury designations, matchups, DFS salaries and actual lines before kickoff.