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This week in 1934, the Japan Tour premiered. It was a 12-city tour of American League teams vs. the Japanese Big-Six University League. Baseball greats like Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Fox, Connie Mack, Babe Ruth, and Moe Berg participated in this event. During this event, while staying at the Imperial Hotel, Babe Ruth had fans show up to his door and ask him to sign merchandise and baseballs, as he was already a legend to watch.
I highlight this as Austin Ekeler, in the ultimate homage to fantasy fans, showed himself starting in his own fantasy league last week to prove he would be playing and thus, avoiding misery from thousands of fans who were questioning whether or not he should be inserted into their lineups. He would reward said fans with 64 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD and 6 receptions for 60 receiving yards.
Notes for Week 9
- Miami vs. Houston looks like it could showcase a lot of running. Both have been bottom 10 in rush attempts the last three games, but they faced some tough competition too.
- Keep an eye on injuries to Saquon Barkley, Eli Mitchell, James Robinson, Josh Jacobs, and Latavius Murray.
- Gut feeling tells me, Cleveland, LAC, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia go run-heavy this week.
- We should see some tandem work with Mike Davis/Cordarrelle Patterson, Jonathan Taylor/Nyheim Hines, Chase Edmonds/James Conner, Zach Moss/Devin Singletary, Ezekiel Elliott/Tony Pollard and Javonte Williams/Melvin Gordon III
Week 8 Running Back Rankings
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent | Notes |
| 1 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | @ Phi | Easy Matchup |
| 2 | Alvin Kamara | NO | vs Atl | Jameis out means heavy usage of Alvin |
| 3 | Aaron Jones | GB | @ KC | He's becoming more reception relient lately |
| 4 | Jonathan Taylor | Ind | vs NYJ | Six Rush TDs in last five games; Easy Matchup |
| 5 | Dalvin Cook | Min | @ Bal | 70+ rush yards in three of last four games he played in |
| 6 | Najee Harris | Pit | vs Chi | 80+ Rush Yds in last three games, TDs in three of last four |
| 7 | Darrell Henderson Jr. | LAR | vs Ten | TD's in three of his last four games |
| 8 | Joe Mixon | Cin | vs Cle | Rush TDs in four of his last five games |
| 9 | Nick Chubb | Cle | @ Cin | Steelers shut him down |
| 10 | Ezekiel Elliott | Dal | vs Den | 50+ rush yards in last six games but no TD in last 2 games |
| 11 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | vs LV | Questionable - Ankle |
| 12 | Cordarrelle Patterson | Atl | @ NO | Tough Matchup |
| 13 | Chase Edmonds | Ari | @ SF | Finally got a TD |
| 14 | James Conner | Ari | @ SF | Yet again he scores |
| 15 | James Robinson | Jax | vs Buf | Questionable - Tough Matchup |
| 16 | Josh Jacobs | LV | @ NYG | Questionable - Chest |
| 17 | Myles Gaskin | Mia | vs Hou | He's getting the carries, he needs to deliver vs. Houston |
| 18 | Jeremy McNichols | Ten | @ LAR | Can Jeremy fill the lofty shoes?? |
| 19 | Nyheim Hines | Ind | vs NYJ | Easy Matchup |
| 20 | Melvin Gordon III | Den | @ Dal | Double digit carries in two of his last three games |
| 21 | Khalil Herbert | Chi | @ Pit | 70+ rush yards in last four games |
| 22 | Damien Harris | NE | @ Car | Tough Matchup |
| 23 | Eli Mitchell | SF | vs Ari | Questionable - Ribs; Tough Matchup |
| 24 | Javonte Williams | Den | @ Dal | Slightly behind Melvin in carries |
| 25 | Michael Carter | NYJ | @ Ind | Volatile up and down weeks |
| 26 | Zack Moss | Buf | @ Jax | Volatile up and down weeks |
| 27 | Tony Pollard | Dal | vs Den | Handcuff |
| 28 | Darrel Williams | KC | vs GB | Getting a healthy amount of receptions |
| 29 | Devin Singletary | Buf | @ Jax | Slightly behind Zach in usage |
| 30 | Carlos Hyde | Jax | vs Buf | Tough matchup |
| 31 | Boston Scott | Phi | vs LAC | Easy Matchup - Philadelphia rushing game is frustrating though |
| 32 | Kenneth Gainwell | Phi | vs LAC | Easy Matchup - Philadelphia rushing game is frustrating though |
| 33 | Mike Davis | Atl | @ NO | Tough Matchup |
| 34 | AJ Dillon | GB | @ KC | Solid numbers last week vs. Arizona |
| 35 | Salvon Ahmed | Mia | vs Hou | Myles is getting a 60/40 share here |
| 36 | Brandon Bolden | NE | @ Car | Tough Matchup |
| 37 | Latavius Murray | Bal | vs Min | Questionable |
| 38 | Sony Michel | LAR | vs Ten | Handcuff |
| 39 | Kenyan Drake | LV | @ NYG | Handcuff |
| 40 | Mark Ingram II | NO | vs Atl | Seeing very limited red zone carries with New Orleans |
| 41 | D'Ernest Johnson | Cle | @ Cin | Handcuff |
| 42 | David Johnson | Hou | @ Mia | 2 carries 4 yards last week |
| 43 | Kyle Juszczyk | SF | vs. Ari | Tough Matchup |
| 44 | Alexander Mattison | Min | @ Bal | Handcuff |
| 45 | Ty Johnson | NYJ | @ Ind | Handcuff |
| 46 | Le'Veon Bell | Bal | vs Min | 5 carries, 5 yards last week |
| 47 | Phillip Lindsay | Hou | @ Mia | Handcuff |