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Fantasy Football Rankings: Running backs for Week 9

Ranking the best running backs by matchup and opportunity for Week 9 of the 2018 NFL Season. 

By NHB
NFL: Washington Redskins at New York Giants Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Similar to this week’s quarterback rankings, there are a ton of solid-to-great options until we find ourselves at a suddenly steep cliff. There’s little-to-no separation beyond the tail end of the RB3s.

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Rank Running Back Team Opponent High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s
Rank Running Back Team Opponent High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s
1 Todd Gurley II LAR at NO Gurley's got a good shot to outscore his quarterback against the Saints.
2 Alvin Kamara NO LAR The Rams run-D is chartitable.
3 Kareem Hunt KC at CLE Gregg Williams taking over as CLE's HC should result in more stupid defensive schemes that can't stop the run.
4 Melvin Gordon III LAC at SEA Gordon's workload and usage in the Chargers offense keeps him as a weekly candidate to be the RB1.
5 James Conner PIT at BAL Conner's been playing at an All-Pro level. Keeping him this low almost feels insulting.
6 Christian McCaffrey CAR TB A golden matchup for CMC.
7 Sony Michel NE GB If Michel's back this week, he'll be needed to keep Aaron Rodgers off the field.
8 Ezekiel Elliot DAL TEN Let's hope Dallas' replacement of their O-line coach helps. This is a volume-based workload.
9 Adrian Peterson WAS ATL WAS will look to feed AD early and often against the Emergency Roomed Falcons defense.
10 Tarik Cohen CHI at BUF Cohen is now a featured part of the explosive Chicago offense. BUF can't stop running backs.
11 Phillip Lindsay DEN HOU Lindsay's a matchup-proof RB at this point.
12 Latavius Murray MIN DET If Murray gets the start, he'll smash the Lions Snacks-improved run D.
High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB2s
13 Nick Chubb CLE KC KC's biggest vulnerability is their run defense and Chubb should get plenty of opportunities.
14 James White NE GB Shootout.
15 Kerryon Johnson DET at MIN The Vikings defense is banged up and Kerryon's balling.
16 Lamar Miller HOU at DEN Houston has leaned on Miller as of late and the Broncos run D has been charitable to opposing RBs.
17 Aaron Jones GB at NE Now's the time for Jones to show his reported-but-seldom-seen receiving prowess. TyMont's exit clear the way for Jones to takeover the Packers' backfield.
18 Matt Breida SF OAK His shaky health is all that keeps him from being an RB1 in a stellar matchup.
High-Floor/Capped-Ceiling RB2s
19 Chris Carson SEA LAC Carson's been playing well and the Chargers have been vulnerable on the ground.
20 Isaiah Crowell CLE at MIA This is a great matchup for Crowell. Let's hope he's back to full health and that the Jets ease Elijah McGuire back into the rotation.
21 Mark Ingram NO LAR Ingram will likely see 10+ touches in a good matchup.
22 Kenyan Drake MIA NYJ Drake has produced as of late.
23 Tevin Coleman ATL at WAS Washington has been very good against opposing RBs this year.
24 Jordan Howard CHI at BUF A great matchup for Howard to find the endzone in.
Solid-Floor/Low-Ceiling RB3s
25 Austin Ekeler LAC at SEA The guy just gets it done.
26 Alex Collins Bal PIT It's a tough matchup but Collins has been able to find the endzone 3 times in the last 3 weeks.
27 Peyton Barber TB at CAR The workload is there for him to potentially work his way into the RB2 range as the week progresses.
28 Devontae Booker DEN HOU Assuming Freeman misses more time, Booker should continue turning his limited touches into solid flex production.
29 Doug Martin OAK at SF The workload should be there for Martin to be flex-worthy.
30 Ito Smith ATL at WAS It could easily be Tevin in this slot if Ito continues to play as well as he has of late.
31 LeSean McCoy BUF CHI Workload keeps him relevant.
Low-Floor/Low-Ceiling RB3s
32 Jalen Richard OAK at SF If Oakland falls behind it'll be Richard in the backfield.
33 Dion Lewis TEN at DAL Lewis likely retains the starting role in the Titans backfield.
34 Ty Montgomery GB PIT He's an upgrade over Buck Allen in the passing game.
35 Frank Gore MIA NYJ Gore has been outplayed by Kenyan Drake but the coaches still love him.
36 Elijah McGuire NYJ at MIA McGuire should see a few touches this week to knock off the rust. It's possible he makes a splash play given his explosive playing style.

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