There is nothing scarier than benching a glorified stud fantasy football RB due to a bad matchup, but nothing gives you a greater sense of satisfaction when you realize you made the correct decision. What matchups should you be looking to target this week for RBs?
Fantasy Matchups Week 9: Target These RBs
Joe Mixon, CIN (vs. BUF)
Fantasy managers never would have thought to target RBs against the Buffalo Bills, but lately, the Bills are the sixth-easiest matchup for RBs. When Joe Burrow hands the ball off, there is an 80% chance that it is going into the hands of Joe Mixon. No Mixon manager is benching him, but it is good to know he should be a great start in this exciting matchup.
Saquon Barkley, NYG (@LV)
The Giants get QB Daniel Jones back this week, which is good news for the offense. TE Darren Waller has just gone on IR, so Barkley could be in line for an even bigger game this week against the Raiders.
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Las Vegas gives up the third-most fantasy points to RBs, and we all remember seeing Jahmyr Gibbs carve them up last week. Barkley could quickly put the team on his back this week in Vegas.
Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss, IND (@CAR)
The Carolina defense has given up 11 TDs to opposing RBs, so with the Indianapolis duo of Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss coming into town, the Colts RBs could eat. The timeshare has moved from 50/50 to more of Taylor, as was expected, but against a subpar rush defense, both are startable.
Jerome Ford, CLE (vs. AZ)
Remember Gus Edwards and his three TDs last week? Jerome Ford certainly does. The Browns take on the Cardinals this week, and Ford should feast against an Arizona team that has given up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs so far this year.
Kareem Hunt could also be a start in this matchup, especially considering that QB Deshaun Watson is still not at full strength. Ford is RB22 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings.
Darrell Henderson, LAR (@GB)
Brett Rypien might be under center for the Rams on Sunday, increasing the potential usage of the RBs. Henderson has been RB15 and RB22 in his two games for Los Angeles, and even though he is sharing snaps with Royce Freeman, I think he is the RB to own.
Green Bay has given up the seventh-most rushing yards to opposing RBs, so the matchup, plus the potential backup QB and playing in the cold, equals an excellent matchup for Henderson.
Chuba Hubbard, CAR (vs. IND)
Remember when Miles Sanders was the RB to have in Carolina? The combo of him fighting injury and not delivering has led to the emergence of Chuba Hubbard. The Colts defense has given up the 10th-most rushing yards to opposing RBs this year, so even Sanders could be a start in this matchup.
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