Below you will find our Week 9 running back rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).

Featured fantasy football writer Zach Wilkens also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 2, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 9.

You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.

Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs

Week 9 Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis

By Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades)

I mentioned it in my matchups column this week, but I really like Eddie Lacy. His results last week were not very impressive on the surface, but a 3.45 YPC and a score against the Broncos is respectable - really! The Broncos allow the fourth fewest rushing yards per game.

Carolina has a respected run defense, but they haven’t lived up to that rep lately. They have allowed at least 100 RB rush yards in three of their last four games, with three RB rush touchdowns during that span. I think Eddie Lacy reminds everyone why he was a top five pick in fantasy drafts this week. I have him in my top ten.

I’m higher on T.J. Yeldon than most this week. I have him at RB16. It will certainly be a tough matchup against a stout Jets run defense. My thinking is that Yeldon is enough of a workhorse to make him worthy of a start. He has averaged over 20 touches in his last 5 games.

In addition to that, after Toby Gerhart was stopped on four straight goal line carries vs Buffalo, Gus Bradley conceded that Yeldon should probably get the goal line looks. After seeing a similar workhorse back in Latavius Murray handle the Jets last week, I am comfortable thinking Yeldon will put up points with 20+ touches even if he isn’t too efficient.

On the other end of that game, I’m not so high on Chris Ivory. That said, I still have him ahead of Yeldon at RB13 - but that’s still seven spots below his consensus rank this week. The Jaguars have been Jekyll & Hyde as a run defense this season.

In five of their seven games, they have held running backs under 100 rushing yards with no rushing touchdowns. In their two other games, they have been obliterated by Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount. It will be interesting to see how Ivory fares, but I will err on the side of caution this week.

DeAngelo Williams gave us two big games to start the season. When Le’veon Bell went down last week, Williams immediately picked up where he left off and finished with over 100 yards from scrimmage. I’m definitely not calling it a fluke - Williams has been a great running back in the past, and even finished as the RB1 way back in 2008.

However I’m also not fully buying into the idea that he can keep up his fantastic pace as the lead back ROS. He faces the Raiders this week, and they haven’t allowed an RB rushing touchdown since Week 2. They also haven’t allowed a 100 yard rusher all season. I have DeAngelo as a middling RB2 this week.

If you are in desperation mode this week, I think new signee Pierre Thomas is worth a look on the 49ers. The 49ers top three RBs from two weeks ago - Carlos Hyde, Reggie Bush and rookie Mike Davis - are all out. Jarryd Hayne is not on the active roster. That leaves Thomas and slow plodder Kendall Gaskins as the top two guys.

Gaskins is pretty big, and has a good shot to get the goal line touches, but Thomas is the far more versatile of the two. He is a fantastic receiver and even just last year had a 4.9 YPC and 45 catches in just 11 games. He could immediately get step in and pick up five+ catches and maybe 10 carries. In PPR, if you need to take a shot in the dark, Pierre Thomas can be the long-shot answer.

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