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Should I start Kimani Vidal, Tyjae Spears, Travis Etienne Jr. for Week 9? Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks and recommendations for the 2025 NFL season.
As we hit the halfway point of the 2025 NFL season, several backup running backs have emerged, some stepping in due to injury and others simply proving to be the more dynamic option.
In this article, we'll look at three running backs in different situations. Los Angeles Chargers RB Kimani Vidal has filled in admirably for injured rookie Omarion Hampton, Tennessee Titans RB Tyjae Spears looks poised to make an impact over the second half, and Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. has held firm on the starting job through eight weeks.
So, should fantasy managers start Vidal, Spears, and Etienne in Week 9? Let's dive in.
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Should I Start Kimani Vidal for Fantasy Football?
Vidal has asserted himself as a weekly starter in Hampton's absence. In the past three weeks, Vidal has played at least 64% of the snaps in all three, scoring 22.8 PPR points in Week 6, 7.5 in Week 7, then 19.7 in Week 8. The 24-year-old provided one dud, but ranks as RB8 in total points among running backs during that span.
His production is supported by true RB1 usage for fantasy. His 52.3 expected fantasy points rank only behind Christian McCaffrey since taking over as lead back, per PFF. The second-year running back has another prime matchup on deck in Week 9 against the lowly Tennessee Titans, who have run second-most plays in the league when trailing this season.
Another big gain by Vidal!
MINvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LgO0G2r9mJ— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2025
The Titans have allowed the second-most PPR points to opposing running backs this season, only behind the porous Bengals defense. Vidal should have a favorable game script and plenty of rushing lanes against a Tennessee defense that is also missing their best defensive lineman and player in Jeffery Simmons (hamstring). Vidal is ranked as RotoBaller's RB11 for Week 9.
Should I Start Tyjae Spears for Fantasy Football?
Spears has outsnapped Tony Pollard in two out of four games since returning from injured reserve and is coming off his best performance of the season in Week 8 against the Colts. The 24-year-old scored his first touchdown of the season and handled a season-high 12 touches.
With plenty of rumors about a possible Pollard trade, Spears' fantasy value is trending up. The third-year back out of Tulane has the pass-down role secured for a team that has trailed almost the entire season and has caught at least three balls in each game except his first game returning.
Tyjae Spears all the way down to the ONE
TENvsIND on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/fqZybP7adS
— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2025
Pollard won't just go away in Week 9, so it will likely be a near 50/50 split for Sunday's matchup against the Chargers. If the Titans get down early like they have in every game, Spears could see the slight edge in snaps and touches. In PPR leagues, Spears has low-end RB2/flex value with big play upside due to his explosiveness as a runner.
Should I Start Travis Etienne Jr. for Fantasy Football?
Etienne has been the Jags' lead back for the majority of the season and has performed well, ranking as RB20 in PPR points per game. It's possible that we see more of the rookie running backs after the team's Week 8 bye, with fourth-rounder Bhayshul Tuten being a popular breakout pick in the preseason in addition to seventh-rounder LeQuint Allen Jr.
In their Week 7 blowout loss to the Rams in London, Etienne had his lowest snap share of the season at 54.1% and Tuten had his highest at 28.4%. Tuten remains an intriguing player who was handpicked by the new regime, so it's definitely possible he sees more snaps in the first week out of the bye. But Etienne should maintain the upper hand in touches in Week 9 against a Raiders defense that is also fresh off a bye.
Travis Etienne making moves through the whole defense. @FedEx
JAXvsSF on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/8VkYwLjsiF
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025
The Raiders rank middle of the pack in PPR points per game allowed to opposing running backs, but have also given up nine rushing touchdowns in seven games. Etienne was averaging over 100 total yards per game with three touchdowns over the first four games, but has dipped over the past three with Jacksonville facing tougher defenses, averaging just 56 total yards with no touchdowns. The 26-year-old should bounce back against the Raiders. Etienne ranks as RotoBaller's RB15 for Week 9.
Who Should I Start Tool
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 9 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Kimani Vidal, Tyjae Spears, Travis Etienne Jr. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 9. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 9 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Kimani Vidal, Tyjae Spears, Travis Etienne Jr. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 9.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool, but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed that our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 9 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 9 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 9 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 9 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Kimani Vidal, Tyjae Spears, Travis Etienne Jr. compared to others:
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