As I sat down to look at the waiver wire for this week’s FOXSports.com video segments, I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to find value at the running back position. Seemingly any player of worth had already been claimed, leading me down the road to spot plays and injury replacements that made me uneasy.
In Week 9, you’re mining for touches. In addition to the Bye week holes and obvious plays on the “Exclusion” list, you’re missing Ahmad Bradshaw and Darren McFadden. The 2010 version of Peyton Hillis is not walking through the door.
So, let’s find value and extol the virtues of the “ground and pound” philosophy.
Just run.
Exclude: Arian Foster, LeSean McCoy, Matt Forte, Michael Turner, Fred Jackson, Ray Rice, Frank Gore
Bye Weeks: Jacksonville, Detroit, Carolina, Minnesota
Click here for Harmon’s Week 9 QBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 9 WRs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 9 TEs
Week 9 RB Heroes
Steven Jackson, STL at ARI: Who doesn’t love to watch SJ39 rumble down the field? Jackson posted his best game of the year in the Week 8 upset over New Orleans, piling up 191 total yards with two rushing touchdowns. He’d averaged just 68.5 total yards per game entering that Week 8 contest with two touchdowns, but it’s hard to ignore this opportunity against Arizona.
The Cardinals have surrendered 113.1 rushing yards and 1.6 rushing touchdowns per game. I elevate Jackson to the top line here with expectations of another big day from the St. Louis front against John Skelton. St. Louis should control field position, and that portends to a huge day of Jackson initiating contact and punishing would-be tacklers.
Beanie Wells, ARI vs. STL: Wells has been impressive in an otherwise forgettable train-wreck of a season for the Cardinals. He’s averaged 4.5 yards per carry, and his total of seven rushing touchdowns ties him for third in the NFL. Take the workload and opportunities against the 29th-ranked St. Louis run defense (165.6 yards per game).
LeGarrette Blount, TB at NO: Blount returns to the Tampa Bay lineup without anybody to steal touches from him. The Buccaneers will be able to rely on the power running game to back off Gregg Williams’ blitz packages and, in theory, give Josh Freeman time to work downfield. Remember, Earnest Graham amassed 131 total yards (109 rushing) on 19 touches in the first meeting with New Orleans.
DeMarco Murray, DAL vs. SEA: I’ll go out on a limb that the Cowboys won’t get boat-raced by the Seahawks as they did in Week 9. As a result, Murray will see the ball more than eight times (he still logged 74 rushing yards).
The Seattle run defense is no joke, having ceded just 3.2 yards per carry to lead the NFL. Still, I expect Tony Romo and the passing game to perform more consistently and for Rob Ryan to shake off last week’s debacle. The Cowboys will get back to business defensively, and that should afford the offense short fields and the opportunity to run downhill to close things out.
Jackie Battle, KC vs. MIA: Pile on the big workload. In three games as the starter in Kansas City, Battle has averaged 18 carries and 88.3 rushing yards. The Miami run defense rates well statistically, but that number is skewed by just how awful the pass defense has been to date. Run Battle with authority.
Shonn Greene, NYJ at BUF: It took four weeks, but the Jets finally turned the ball back over to Greene in Week 5. In the Jets’ past three games, Greene carried the ball at least 20 times and averaged 89.7 yards per contest. The offensive line also showed signs of getting back to basics by springing Greene for 20 and 24-yard runs in the past two weeks.
The Bills have allowed 4.9 yards per carry through seven games. Ride on Greene’s back for a big effort in Week 9.
Cedric Benson, CIN at TEN: Benson returns from his one-game suspension for a strong road date with the Titans (129.3 rushing yards allowed per game). He’s hardly overwhelming, but owners will take the high touch count and opportunities presented by the evolving passing game and impressive defense. Benson registered two 100-yard games in his first six starts while averaging 19.5 carries.
Willis McGahee, DEN at OAK: McGahee practiced for the second straight day, so it sounds like he’ll be available for Sunday against the Raiders. Of course, there is some risk associated with McGahee just two weeks following surgery. However, the Oakland defense allows 4.6 yards per carry and 117 rushing yards per contest. If cleared, McGahee is most definitely RB2-worthy.
Mike Tolbert, SD vs. GB: Tolbert returns to the lineup and will take on the workhorse role. Ryan Mathews and Curtis Brinkley are expected to miss this week’s tilt against the Packers. Tolbert will see a heavy workload early as both a runner and receiver as the Chargers try to buy Philip Rivers time in the pocket.
Week 9 RB Ninja Alerts
Michael Bush, OAK vs. DEN: Darren McFadden missed the Raiders’ mid-week practice and is unlikely to appear in Week 9 against the Broncos. As a result, owners who had been lying in the weeds have their chance to use the battering ram Bush this week. Bush carried the ball 20 or more times in four games last season. He amassed 95 or more rushing yards in three of them.
Bush will undoubtedly pile up touches against the Broncos to increase Carson Palmer’s comfort level in his first start.
Brandon Jacobs, NYG at NE: Jacobs steps into the spotlight role following the announcement that Ahmad Bradshaw would be sidelined indefinitely because of a cracked bone in his foot. To say that Jacobs has been disappointing in limited action this season would be understatement (3.0 yards per carry). Still, in a sea of backups, committees and Bye weeks, he rates a play as a RB2. Jacobs will have a chance to vulture any scraps left by the passing attack.
Javon Ringer, TEN vs. CIN: Ringer posted a fantastic effort in Week 8 as the second option to Chris Johnson. He nabbed 19 touches in tandem with Johnson for 102 total yards. Johnson remains the starter, but I suspect that we’ll see another double-digit touch performance here against the Bengals. Cincinnati ranks second against the run (85.4 with six touchdowns in seven games), but I’m looking for decent numbers as a rusher and receiver out of the backfield.
Chris Ogbannaya, CLE at HOU: Ogbannaya rushed for 37 yards on 11 carries as the last man standing in Cleveland last week. Peyton Hillis is still sidelined because of a hamstring injury and Montario Hardesty sustained a torn calf muscle in Week 8. In Week 9, we’re looking for guaranteed touches and doing some wishing and hoping. Houston allows 4.3 yards per carry and 97.4 yards per game.
Pierre Thomas, NO vs. TB: The Saints were terrible in Week 8 against the Rams, but Thomas still managed to walk in for a touchdown to save an otherwise forgettable day. I’m looking for a bounce-back effort from Brees and his offense at home. Tampa Bay has been positively terrible against opposing rushers (123.4 yards and one touchdown allowed per game). Thomas retains the top slot with Mark Ingram sidelined (he did not practice on Wednesday).
Week 9 RB Flop Alerts
Rashard Mendenhall, PIT vs. BAL: Haloti Ngata and the Baltimore front have defended Mendenhall well during his career. He’s averaged 64.8 total yards in six career starts (21 carries and 55 rushing yards per game) with three touchdowns and two fumbles. Based on the workload, Mendenhall rates as a RB2 play this year, but temper your expectations.
Anything in WAS vs. SF: I don’t care if Mike Shanahan pulls back a sheet and tells us that he’d brought the 1983 John Riggins (he scored 24 touchdowns that year) through a wormhole to start in Week 9. I can’t trust this backfield.
The Bills hardly blew out the Redskins last week, yet Ryan Torain touched the ball eight times. Roy Helu appeared in the box score as a receiver. The team signed Dallas castoff Tashard Choice. No thanks.
James Starks, GB at SD: Why am I afraid of Ryan Grant working into a split in this game? Starks has been used as the hammer for clock-running purposes late in games, so I remain somewhat skittish about a huge finish. However, he’s rushed for 63 yard or fewer in five of the Packers’ first seven games and hasn’t scored since Week 1.
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