Fantasy Injury Update: Aaron Jones and Jerome Ford Impacting Week 9 Rankings

We are essentially at the midway point of the 2023 NFL season, which means we’re in the thick of bye weeks across the league affecting your fantasy football starting lineup. Unfortunately, injuries to Aaron Jones and Jerome Ford are also having an impact on the weekly fantasy rankings at the running back position.

Let’s take a closer look at the most recent updates and the potential fantasy impact in Week 9.

Latest Fantasy News and Injury Updates

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

The injury-plagued 2023 campaign for Jones continued to start the week of practice. According to a recent report from Rob Demovsky, Jones was practicing but in a red “no contact” jersey. The injury report listed him as a limited participant with a hamstring injury.

Jones continues to struggle to return to the player we saw back in the season opener, when he finished Week 1 as the RB1 overall with 127 total yards and two scores against the Chicago Bears.

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Jones has failed to see 10 carries in any single game, has missed three games, and has been on the wrong side of a timeshare when in the lineup, seeing fewer carries than AJ Dillon in two of the four games they have both been on the field this season.

Jones has been a reliable fantasy producer for the last four seasons and still flashed that same ability to start the year. However, his health and a struggling Green Bay Packers offense certainly have him as a big boom-or-bust option in your fantasy lineup for Week 9.

Fantasy managers should watch Jones’ practice participation as the week progresses. If he can’t go, expect an expanded role for Dillon against the Los Angeles Rams.

Editor’s note: Head coach Matt LaFleur says that he is ready to cut him (Jones) loose this week.

This analysis was last updated at 3:15pm EST on Friday, November 3.

Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

Despite the Cleveland Browns anticipating Ford to miss a couple of games last week with an ankle injury, he surprisingly suited up. He even saw 10 touches for 39 yards against the Seattle Seahawks.

According to a recent report from WTAP, Ford was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. It’s an encouraging sign that he’s on the practice field in any capacity to start the week. While fantasy managers will still need to monitor his participation in practice, this is a great sign for his Week 9 availability.

The negative side of this equation is the committee approach the Browns took against the Seahawks. Kareem Hunt led the team with 14 carries, while Pierre Strong Jr. saw 10 as well. In addition to the crowded backfield, Cleveland still has uncertainty under center with Deshaun Watson banged up.

If Ford is active, he’s in the low-end RB2 conversation against the Arizona Cardinals.

This analysis was last updated at 9 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2023.

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