The NFL trade deadline has always been the worst of the major sports, but it's getting better. We've seen more Fantasy-relevant players moved in the week leading up to the deadline than I can remember, and it has given us a pair of unlikely running back starters for Week 9.
Kenyan Drake was dealt to the Cardinals and may be their workhorse Thursday night against the 49ers due to injuries to David Johnson and Chase Edmonds. While his matchup is absolutely atrocious, volume alone should make him a Fantasy starter in Week 9. That's partially because we're without Johnson, Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman and Joe Mixon. It's also because volume is king, even against the 49ers.
Nick Chubb, Christian McCaffrey and Adrian Peterson are the only running backs with 14 rush attempts against the 49ers. They all ran for at least 80 yards. I project Drake for 16 touches against the 49ers if Edmonds and Johnson are both out. That should be enough this week.
Mark Walton was the big winner in the Drake deal. And despite a fumble, I was encouraged by what I saw Monday night. He received 11 carries to just three for Kalen Ballage and also saw six targets in the passing game. I expect at least that much work in a Week 9 game against the Jets that looks winnable. I prefer Walton to Drake and a host of other running backs this week, and he's the clear top waiver wire add. But he's not the only back I'm targeting.
Week 9 RB Preview
The following players are not being projected to play Week 9 at this time. Here's what it means:
- 37.9% - Broken Tackle rate for Darrell Henderson, tops among players with at least 25 attempts. I'm trying to hold him as a stash.
- 146 - Air yards for Miles Sanders, the most among running backs.
- 13.9% - Target share for Austin Ekeler since Melvin Gordon and Hunter Henry came back. That's not enough when you're only getting 3-5 carries per game.
- 1 - Touchdown for Leonard Fournette despite the fact he's on pace for more than 2,000 total yards.
- 5 - Catches in three games for Le'Veon Bell since Sam Darnold returned. He had more than that in two of three games without Darnold.
- 21 - Touches for James White in three full games with Rex Burkhead this year.
RB Preview
Matchups that matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
RB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
RB Preview
Heath's Projections
Non-PPR Rank | PPR Rank | RB | FPTs | PPR FPTs |
1 | 1 | Christian McCaffrey | 24.07 | 29.89 |
2 | 2 | Dalvin Cook | 21.07 | 24.78 |
3 | 3 | Ezekiel Elliott | 20.75 | 24.00 |
5 | 4 | Leonard Fournette | 18.05 | 23.24 |
7 | 5 | Saquon Barkley | 17.70 | 22.55 |
8 | 6 | Aaron Jones | 17.42 | 22.22 |
6 | 7 | Nick Chubb | 17.87 | 20.35 |
4 | 8 | Tevin Coleman | 18.20 | 20.15 |
9 | 9 | Josh Jacobs | 17.04 | 18.96 |
10 | 10 | Chris Carson | 14.99 | 17.80 |
11 | 11 | James Conner | 13.57 | 16.41 |
13 | 12 | Phillip Lindsay | 12.94 | 16.32 |
14 | 13 | Le'Veon Bell | 12.90 | 16.00 |
22 | 14 | Mark Walton | 10.51 | 14.72 |
15 | 15 | Marlon Mack | 12.26 | 14.40 |
24 | 16 | Austin Ekeler | 9.96 | 14.37 |
12 | 17 | Derrick Henry | 13.34 | 14.18 |
25 | 18 | Jamaal Williams | 9.89 | 13.74 |
18 | 19 | Melvin Gordon | 11.32 | 13.69 |
20 | 20 | Kenyan Drake | 10.94 | 13.50 |
16 | 21 | Mark Ingram | 11.46 | 13.42 |
23 | 22 | Royce Freeman | 10 | 13.17 |
21 | 23 | David Montgomery | 10.90 | 13.06 |
37 | 24 | James White | 7.06 | 12.49 |
19 | 25 | Jordan Howard | 11.03 | 11.96 |
17 | 26 | Sony Michel | 11.35 | 11.87 |
26 | 27 | Lesean McCoy | 9.40 | 11.84 |
32 | 28 | Devin Singletary | 8.10 | 10.33 |
33 | 29 | Duke Johnson | 7.74 | 10.30 |
34 | 30 | Miles Sanders | 7.60 | 10.27 |
30 | 31 | Adrian Peterson | 8.83 | 10.22 |
27 | 32 | Carlos Hyde | 9.40 | 10.00 |
31 | 33 | Ronald Jones | 8.45 | 9.92 |
28 | 34 | Frank Gore | 9 | 9.89 |
41 | 35 | Tarik Cohen | 5.29 | 9.82 |
29 | 36 | Raheem Mostert | 8.87 | 9.78 |
