Fantasy Football Rankings: Hayden Winks’ RB Blueprint for Week 9

The Blueprint is my weekly column and basically everything that I use to build out the most accurate rankings I can. There will be this RB column, a WR column and a combination column on the onesie positions. You will find film notes and endless charts. Maybe enough charts to stress test the Yahoo website. I kid.

It’s impossible to get every ranking thoroughly early in the week, so be sure to keep checking in on these columns through Sunday morning. As always, my full rankings at every position are available.

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1. Jahmyr Gibbs (at MIA) – 133.5 proj. total yards

Gibbs survived the Vikings matchup with a top-5 finish in Week 8. Things will get easier from there. A lot easier. Across the season, Gibbs is averaging 25.5 half PPR points (RB1) on 23.7 expected points (RB1). He’s leading in carries per game and second in receptions per game. What a season.

Miami ranks ninth-worst in half PPR points allowed to opposing backfields (22.5 per game) and sits second in receiving points allowed to RBs. Detroit carries an implied team total of 28.75 points (third) as 7-point road favorites. This is obviously a smash spot, duh.

2. Kenneth Walker III (vs. NYJ) – 113.5 proj. total yards

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Walker has had slower games against the Seahawks and healthy Broncos defenses, both clearly top-5 units to me right now. It hasn’t helped that LT Josh Simmons (back/other) and LG Kingsley Suamataia (benched) haven’t been active, forcing the Chiefs to dial up a ton of their runs to the right side only. Still, Walker is the RB6 on RB3 usage this month and RB2 in both metrics across the entire season. The offense at least getting Rashee Rice back in the mix will help them move the ball more often.

The Jets placed star DT T’Vondre Sweat on IR and first-round rookie DE David Bailey has missed time recently, too. They bottled up Mike Washington Jr. and the Raiders’ disaster-class OL last week, but they’re a unit to attack right now. Kansas City carries an implied total of 28 points (fourth) as 9.5-point home favorites.

3. Christian McCaffrey (vs. LV) – 96.5 proj. total yards

McCaffrey is the RB6 in half PPR points per game on RB6 usage across his last four games. They needed more receiving work from CMC during this stretch with Deebo Samuel Sr. and Mike Evans missing time, and we’ll see if they return off the bye. He’s better without them but has been a mid-range RB1 with the WRs healthy.

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The Raiders rank fifth in half PPR points allowed to opposing backfields (23.4 per game) and sit third in rushing points allowed to RBs, recently surrendering an RB6 finish to Braelon Allen. San Francisco enters with a slate-high 30.5-point implied team total (first) as 9.5-point home favorites. It’s a great spot.

4. Bijan Robinson (vs. CIN) – 122.5 proj. total yards

Robinson is the RB30 on RB23 usage this month. I can promise that’ll be the worst stretch of his season.

The primary driver of the falloff is the on/off splits with Michael Penix Jr. as a receiver. His targets with Penix this year are 3.2 per game. His career average for context is 5.1. Part of this is Penix’s inability to move, which is required to buy time in the screen game or to work to the checkdown. The ball is flying out of his hand early in the snap, and those are less likely to go to RBs. Hopefully they carve out more looks moving forward. It’d be enough of a difference to view him in the mid-range RB1 tier, instead of the elite RB1 tier.

The Bengals are much improved against the run with superstar DT Dexter Lawrence shutting down everything up the middle, but the rest of the defense is looking suspect, especially if CB1 DJ Turner (ankle) can’t go. The LB and S groups are missing huge tackles weekly, and Robinson is a great candidate to rip wide zone explosives away from Lawrence in the A gap. This is what Tony Pollard did last week when he was the RB3 overall. The Falcons carry a 24.25-point implied team total (12th) as 3-point home underdogs.

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5. Javonte Williams (at IND) – 83.5 proj. total yards

Williams’ lack of explosives is starting to cause the Cowboys’ games, like last week in the second half when they leaned on the run game and it went nowhere. For fantasy purposes, it largely hasn’t mattered because of his red-zone role in this top-10 offense. He’s the RB12 on RB4 usage this season, despite being the RB11 in carries and RB23 in receptions.

His fantasy RB1 value is completely tied to scoring touchdowns. Since joining the Cowboys, he’s averaged 16.5 points when they’ve scored 30+ points versus 15.1 in the 20s and 9.4 in the teens.

The good news is the Cowboys project for 28.75 points (second) against a Colts defense that looks lifeless without DT DeForest Buckner. Bhayshul Tuten just finished as the RB2 without playing the fourth quarter, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. was trucking defenders himself. Indianapolis has allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game this season, and that will probably only get worse.

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6. James Cook III (at MIN) – 97.5 proj. total yards

Truly nothing has changed. Cook is the RB4 on RB9 usage this season, averaging 101 rushing YPG (third) on RB41 receptions per game. The Bills offense looked particularly great last week with DJ Moore stretching the field and Dalton Kincaid ripping explosives in multiple TE sets.

The challenge here is the Vikings defense. They just held the Lions to 19 points on the road and are clearly one of the only truly elite defenses. Detroit leaned on the ground game a bit more than usual against them, a trend that’s appeared throughout the season against Minnesota. It’s allowed the No. 16 rushing YPG versus the No. 31 passing YPG. Opposing offenses have a 45% neutral pass rate against them (second lowest). That said, Jahmyr Gibbs (RB5) and Jonathan Taylor (RB8) both held the line, while mediocre schemes/players have completely busted. Buffalo heads to Minnesota as 3.5-point road favorites with a 25-point implied team total (11th).

7. Bucky Irving (at CHI) – 83.5 proj. total yards

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The Bucs are coming off the craziest two-game run script I can remember. Irving has been the RB4 and RB11, respectively in expected half PPR points in them, while Kenny Gainwell has popped off alongside him. Tampa Bay is content running the ball behind its fantastic OL, and while it won’t be anywhere near this extreme, I don’t see that game plan changing after Baker Mayfield struggled in a pass-first offense early on. Irving’s vision and contact balance are a great fit to consistently hit these 20-yard runs. This month, Irving is the RB2 on RB3 usage. He handled the goal-line carry last week, while Sean Tucker looked on from the sideline.

The Bears defense has been stingy against opposing backfields, ranking 29th in half PPR points allowed to running backs at 16.7 per game. Then they added the best DT in Jeffery Simmons. This will be a tough test for an on-fire Bucs run game. The Bears held Bijan Robinson to an RB31 finish in Week 6 and bottled up both Seahawks RBs last week. Tampa Bay heads on the road as 5.5-point road underdogs with an implied team total of 21 points (22nd).

8. Chuba Hubbard (vs. DEN) – 90.5 proj. total yards

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Hubbard has been a high-volume anchor, sitting as the RB9 in per-game half PPR points on RB6 usage across his last four contests despite some difficult matchups. He’s handled 19.3 carries per game (RB7) over that window, crossing the 20-carry threshold in three of those four outings. In Week 8 against Green Bay, Hubbard set season highs with eight targets and seven receptions, turning that receiving work into 21.4 half PPR points on 24.1 expected points. Jonathon Brooks is starting to practice, but they’ll ramp him up slowly and he’s unlikely to factor in too much when he is cleared.

The Broncos defense ranks 11th in half PPR points allowed to RBs at 21.9 per game on the season, but their starting lineup is finally back to normal. Opponents have had success through the air against Denver, where the defense allows 8.5 half PPR points per game to receiving RBs (fourth-most in the NFL), highlighted by Emmett Johnson’s RB5 finish in Week 8. Carolina’s offense also brings distinctive passing tendencies, holding a 62% neutral pass rate that ranks third-highest in the league. The Panthers enter the matchup as 3-point home underdogs with an implied team total of 20.25 points (25th).

9. Josh Jacobs (at NE) – 69.5 proj. total yards

Jacobs was the RB1 overall in usage last week after being the RB5 in expected half PPR points in his debut. He’s averaging 18.9 half PPR points on 23.4 expected, essentially trading a couple of runs for a couple of targets in this more pass-heavy Packers offense. That’s a great trade-off in fantasy. For context, the Packers had a 46% neutral pass rate in 2024-25 versus a 56% rate this year.

On tape, Jacobs is not in his prime, nor is the Packers offensive line, so he’ll definitely be an inefficient player. Green Bay can’t trust MarShawn Lloyd in protection or to hit the right hole, so they’ll live with whatever Jacobs can produce.

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The Patriots rank 26th in half PPR points allowed to opposing running backs, giving up just 17.0 points per game to the position. This was true the year prior, so it’s a matchup worth knocking expectations. Recent bell cows D’Andre Swift (RB13) and Braelon Allen (RB19) were just fine. Green Bay heads on the road as 3-point road underdogs with an implied team total of 22.25 points (17th).

10. D’Andre Swift (vs. TB)

The splits with Kyle Monangai are staggering. We’ll see if he can get cleared this week. If not, Swift has enjoyed a month-long stretch of being the RB3 on RB2 usage overall.

Tampa Bay has once again been stout against backfields this season, ranking 31st in half PPR points allowed to RBs (14.5 per game). The Buccaneers have been especially tough on the ground, sitting 31st in rushing points allowed per game to the position. Just ask Bijan Robinson (RB28), Jaylen Warren (RB23) and Javonte Williams (RB19) this month. Chicago enters as 5.5-point home favorites with an implied team total of 26.5 points (seventh).

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11. Jonathan Taylor (vs. DAL)

Taylor had his worst game since Week 8 of 2024. That did come against the best fantasy RB defense (Jaguars), but it did also come without LG Quenton Nelson during the middle of Taylor’s own trade talks. The Colts been mixing in Seth McGowen earlier in games more than they did before, and their defense is getting blown out, which means Taylor can get scripted out of games. It’s nowhere near the same situation as before, dropping him to boom-bust RB2 levels. I anticipate him being far more matchup-elastic given his poor surroundings.

Luckily, the Cowboys are a great spot. They’ve allowed the third-most fantasy points to RBs on the most rushing yards per game (152.8). It was Tyler Allgeier’s turn last week (RB1 overall), but Saquon Barkley looked good on his limited touches the week prior and Bucky Irving dropped 175 yards in Week 5, too. It’s bad versus bad on this side of the ball. The Colts have a 22.75-point team total here. It’s a much better spot than last week, pending reports that Taylor’s role could be changed the week before the trade deadline.

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12. Kyren Williams (at WAS) – 84.5 proj. total yards

Williams’ role is nearly the same, but the Rams offense hasn’t been quite as explosive recently, so his output has slightly turned down. This month, he’s the RB17 on RB16 usage, averaging 14.5 carries and 3.0 receptions. He was catching more passes early on, and it’s possible the increased usage of 13-personnel is working against his passing role. Blake Corum continues to play every other drive; Corum is an NFL starter on tape to me.

Washington sits 27th in half PPR points allowed to opposing backfields at 17.0 per game on the season, but DT Daron Payne just went to IR. The top-end RBs have played well, including Christian McCaffrey (RB2) and Jonathan Taylor (RB9). Even Saquon Barkley (RB21 in a part-time role) looked good last week. The Rams travel as 5.5-point road favorites, carrying an implied team total of 26.5 points (eighth).

13. Bhayshul Tuten (at BAL)

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Tuten is a game-time decision with an ankle/foot injury. He hasn’t practiced yet but his last play in Week 8 was a touchdown that didn’t look painful. This is a good reminder that Chris Rodriguez Jr. is one of the top insurance options in fantasy.

Tuten sits as the RB10 in per-game half PPR scoring on RB18 usage over his last four contests. He has generated efficient production on the ground and through the air, averaging 72 rushing yards (RB13) and 36.3 receiving yards per game (RB7) across that window. Coming off a bye in Week 8, Tuten set season highs with 28.9 half PPR points (RB2) and 104 rushing yards against Indianapolis. The potential for a low-end RB1 finish following that Week 7 bye is pretty clear.

The Ravens present a difficult matchup, ranking 23rd in half PPR points allowed to running backs at 17.3 per game. Baltimore is particularly stout against pass-catching backs, ranking 29th by allowing just 3.7 half PPR receiving points per game. That matches its recent stretch, having limited Chase Brown (RB36) and Bijan Robinson (RB18) to modest days in Weeks 7 and 5, respectively. The Jaguars enter Thursday night as 8.5-point road favorites with an implied total of 25.5 points (ninth).

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14. Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. GB) – 86.5 proj. total yards

TreVeyon Henderson (illness) was ruled out early last week and missed Wednesday’s practice once again. There are notable splits for Stevenson whether he plays or not. In seven games dating back to last year where Hendo missed or had fewer than five carries, Stevenson is the RB13 on RB16 usage. He drops to RB25 on RB39 usage in the other 19 games. This year, Stevenson is the RB20 on RB28 usage while he’s been in and out of the mix. It helps if A.J. Brown and Hunter Henry join Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins on the sideline, too.

Green Bay represents a favorable rushing matchup, ranking seventh in half PPR points allowed to RBs at 23.1 per game. The Packers sit sixth in points allowed to RB rushing at 16.6 per game, having yielded top-24 fantasy finishes to Chuba Hubbard (RB7), Jahmyr Gibbs (RB18), Javonte Williams (RB17) and D’Andre Swift (RB12) in four consecutive weeks. New England hosts the Packers as 3-point home favorites with an implied team total of 25.25 points (10th).

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15. Jonah Coleman (at CAR) – 86.5 proj. total yards

With RJ Harvey (knee) on IR, the backfield was down to two. JK Dobbins started, but just like last week, it was Coleman who ended it. Dobbins was held to just one (one) snap in the second half of Week 8, while Coleman was left wide open for a 51-yard reception and ultimately cut back on a separate carry for a score. He finished as the RB11 on RB6 usage, tallying 11 carries and four receptions. He handled goal-line carries on separate drives, too.

Coleman has a little windup step when buying time as a runner, and he can find some cutback lanes that others won’t see. He is a low-built power runner who will try to lower his shoulder for an extra yard. At the same time, he’s probably the slowest fantasy starter and did bounce some runs to play into his weakness. He looks like a Day 3 talent who is climbing the depth chart by having fresh legs with some established trust. It’s unlikely that Dobbins ever threatens on passing downs, so Coleman is at least the passing-down back with an emerging rushing role. We’ll see if the Broncos actually trade for Jonathan Taylor later on. For now, Coleman is an RB2/3.

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The upcoming matchup brings a Carolina defense allowing 26.1 half PPR points per game to running backs (second most). The Panthers have been particularly vulnerable on the ground, ranking second in rushing fantasy points allowed to opposing backfields. Recent opposing rushers have capitalized, including Bucky Irving (RB2) and Josh Jacobs (RB10). Denver heads in as 3-point road favorites with an implied team total of 23.25 points (13th).

16. Chase Brown (at ATL) – 73.5 proj. total yards

Brown was the RB20 on RB14 usage last week despite finishing with eight receptions. The good news is Brown still has 8-catch grabs in his pocket and those eventually will lead to more explosives and touchdowns. The problem was he played 2 of 8 snaps inside the 10-yard line, including 1 of 4 inside the 5-yard line. That’s where Samaje Perine is mixing in more than normal. Across the month, Brown is the dang RB39 on RB11 usage. He’ll settle in as a fantasy RB2 with upside, but the pass game is too good and Brown is too mid to believe in a full top-10 RB1 rebound here.

The matchup with the Falcons is a solid one. They’ve allowed the sixth-most points to fantasy RBs and were just embarrassed by Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell last week. Atlanta has allowed a top-10 fantasy RB in 4 straight outings, and EDGE Samson Ebukam just went to IR. They’ve missed a LB, too. The Bengals project for 27.75 points (fifth).

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17. Ollie Gordon II (vs. DET) – 84.5 proj. total yards

Gordon has taken on significant rushing volume, ranking as the RB16 in half PPR points per game on RB12 usage across his last four outings. Over that stretch, he is averaging 17.8 carries (10th) and 90 rushing yards (eighth), while logging nine carries inside the 5-yard line. His passing-game involvement remains minimal, however, so the risk of being scripted out of the game plan is concerning against great opponents.

The matchup is tough against a Lions defense allowing just 16.2 half PPR points per game to RBs (30th most). Detroit ranks 25th in rushing points allowed and 24th in receiving points allowed to opposing backfields. Miami operates with a run-heavy approach, ranking 30th in neutral pass rate at 44%, while Detroit opponents pass at an extreme 59% clip (third highest). The Dolphins enter as 7-point home underdogs with an implied total of 21.75 points (18th).

Lions LB Jack Campbell will not be out there. It was relieving to hear that he has movement in his lower extremities.

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18. Woody Marks (at LAC) – 78.5 proj. total yards

It sounds like David Montgomery is going to miss another one. In three games without him, Marks is the RB29 on RB17 usage, 16.3 carries and 2.7 targets per game. Marks is a replacement-level back who can play in all phases, but expecting efficient outings behind this OL is asking too much. He’s finished below his expected half PPR point totals in 5 of 7 games.

The good news is the Chargers’ run defense isn’t one to fear. They rank 10th in half PPR points allowed to opposing backfields at 22.2 per game. Los Angeles has been particularly vulnerable against ground games, ranking fourth in rushing points allowed per game to running backs (17.3) while ranking 27th against RB receiving. It’s allowed a top-16 finish in 4 straight games, including Blake Corum (RB15), Kenneth Walker (RB1), J.K. Dobbins (RB16), and Emanuel Wilson (RB6). Houston enters the contest as 4.5-point road favorites with a 22.5-point implied team total (16th).

19. Saquon Barkley (vs. NYG) – 77.5 proj. total yards

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Barkley scored in the red zone on a Wildcat run, showcasing enough speed to get to the pylon. He generally looked just fine on tape, but the Eagles had to bring down his workload again. He’s been the RB32 and RB22 in usage over the past two games, and in Week 8, he played just one snap on late downs and 44% of snaps on early downs. It’ll be hard to reach top-15 status until he’s unbothered by his back and hamstring.

A date with the Giants is neutral, revenge game aside. They’re mediocre against the run in general, but both teams can play a run-heavy, slow-paced style that limits fantasy points in general. The Eagles only have an 18.0-point team total; we’ll see if anything changes with QB Joe Milton starting over Tanner McKee.

20. Cam Skattebo (at PHI) – 74.5 proj. total yards

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Skattebo (hamstring) was working on the side on Wednesday. Make sure Devin Singletary is rostered in your leagues.

The easiest way to parse through Skattebo’s rocky 2026 season is to throw out his benching game and include the rest. He’s averaged 11.2 half PPR points on 11.4 expected points in the six non-benching games. In Week 7 without Najee Harris, Skattebo was the RB7 (18.6) on RB30 usage (9.1 expected) while easily leading the backfield with 18 touches. Tyrone Tracy Jr. (hamstring) also left that game, potentially leaving Skattebo with Devin Singletary for the short term. He’s by far their most powerful rusher, while Tracy and Singletary are change-of-pace players. This is a downhill team that will want to hide J.J. McCarthy as much as possible, so Skattebo is a candidate for 15-25 touches until proven otherwise.

21. Derrick Henry (vs. JAX) – 80.5 proj. total yards

Henry has played seven games without Lamar Jackson over the last three years, and he’s averaging 16.8 half PPR points on 17.5 expected points and 22 carries per game. That’s the absolute upside case, but the reality is his new baseline is far lower with Tyler Huntley also out and with OC Declan Doyle finding more ways to move the ball than running behind an aging Henry. The last month of the year are a great example of that, when he’s been the RB28 on RB17 usage and 17.3 carries per game. That’s a better baseline with “Joe Fagnano” under center on Thursday Night Football.

Jacksonville has been the most difficult fantasy RB matchup this year, allowing just 14.2 half PPR points per game to the position on the fewest rushing YPG (77.4). Opposing offenses have the lowest neutral run rate against them, too. It’ll be a little easier without DT DaVon Hamilton, but this remains a matchup to avoid. The Ravens only have a 14.75-point team total as 10-point dogs. Henry can get game-scripted out of outings, just as Jonathan Taylor (RB37 on RB20) usage was last week.

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22. Blake Corum (at WAS) – 59.5 proj. total yards

23. Quinshon Judkins (at NO)

Judkins’ role is changing for the worse with Dylan Sampson back in the mix. His expected half PPR points have dropped from 13.8 to 11.4 since his return and all of that has come from the receiving game, where his targets’ split is 4.0 to 1.5. If the Browns start trailing, Judkins is now at risk of a total dud. He’s been the RB22 and RB26 in usage over the last two outings and has been fairly inefficient throughout the year, making him a FLEX rather than a fantasy RB2.

The Saints represent a prime rushing matchup, ranking first in half PPR points allowed to running backs at 27.9 per game. New Orleans has been especially vulnerable on the ground, allowing a league-high 21.2 points per game to RB rushing (first of 32). Over their last four games, the Saints have yielded spike performances to Bijan Robinson (RB5), Brian Robinson (RB8), Aaron Jones (RB7) and Tyrone Tracy (RB8). Cleveland travels as 2.5-point road underdogs with an implied total of 20.5 points (24th).

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24. Breece Hall (at KC)

We’ll learn more later this week, but Hall is unlikely to return to his RB12, RB13 and RB33 finishes to start the year with Braelon Allen playing so well in his absence. That’s particularly true with the Chiefs on deck. They’ve allowed the 25th-most rushing yards per game (96.3).

25. Rachaad White (vs. LAR) – 62.5 proj. total yards

Jeremy McNichols (foot) is going to miss months, leaving White and Austin Ekeler at the top of the pecking order with Devin Neal and Craig Reynolds available from the practice squad. White and Ekeler are battling it out in all phases, with White starting last week and finishing off the win with an explosive and goal-line TD late in the fourth quarter. White was the RB17 on RB17 usage last week and was the RB11 on RB22 usage before that. His fantasy low-end RB2 case is pretty straightforward.

The Rams rank 27th in half PPR points allowed per game to opposing backfields (17.0). Their DL is strong enough to overcome a scheme that is daring teams to run. Offenses facing Los Angeles have posted a 47% neutral pass rate, which is the third-lowest rate in the league. Because the Rams are light in the box and teams are often trailing, they have allowed the seventh-most receiving points to RBs, which plays into White’s game. Ashton Jeanty was a PPR scam in Week 7 (RB10), and Bam Knight (RB20) and James Cook III (RB4) got home in the weeks before that. Washington is listed as a 5.5-point home underdog with an implied team total of 21.0 points (23rd).

26. Ashton Jeanty (at SF) – 64.5 proj. total yards

Jeanty is the first player to have the same or fewer carries in 8 straight games to open a season, per Doug Clawson on X. I don’t think this was pre-game comments or ankle-related either. Coach Klint Kubiak has been scaling down his carries for a long time and communicated to Jeanty before this game of the role change.

Week 8 easily could be a one-game experiment to fix a completely broken run game, but it’d be a surprise if Jeanty went back to his early-season workhorse role. It’s clear Kubiak, who pounded the table for Mike Washington Jr. and wasn’t around for the Jeanty top-10 selection, views this duo as closer to even than Twitter does. Some of that is scheme-related, as Washington is a better athlete for the wide zone, while Jeanty’s power-based skill set is struggling to find cutback lanes and hit the hole in time.

Jeanty’s pass-game role is very safe, and I’m currently projecting a more even split on early-down runs, just how it has been from Week 3 on when he’s been the RB18 on RB15 usage. The error bars here are obviously extremely wide, but if there’s a game script that leans Jeanty, it’s clearly while trailing. The Raiders are 10-point dogs to the 49ers.

27. Tyler Allgeier (at SEA) – 66.5 proj. total yards

With Jeremiyah Love (ankle) picking up his third separate high ankle sprain of the season, Allgeier has a chance to consolidate most of the Cardinals’ touches. We’ll see if Bam Knight (concussion) can get cleared in time. Without him, Allgeier is looking like one of the biggest workhorses of the week. The Cardinals’ RB room collectively has averaged 21.5 expected half PPR points per game this year, and if he inherits 80% of that, then he’s a top-24 option.

That will be stress-tested against the Seahawks, however. Gardner Minshew will make his first start against a top-2 defense. They’ve only allowed 94.0 YPG on the ground this year, and they recently kept Kenneth Walker III to 57 and Christian McCaffrey to 83 total yards. D’Andre Swift’s 3-score outing on Monday Night Football is absolutely the exception, and the Cardinals unit is nowhere near the Bears’. Arizona has a highly concerning 14.5-point team total.

What can go wrong?

28. Jadarian Price (vs. ARI) – 55.5 proj. total yards

The backfield is set. Emanuel Wilson was active but didn’t play and is on track to be a healthy scratch moving forward, leaving Zach Charbonnet, Jadarian Price and George Holani as the active players. Charbonnet started and played 37% of snaps, leading to 11.6 expected half PPR points (RB22 usage). Price played 48% of snaps, leading to 9.9 expected half PPR points (RB30). Holani played 17%. The trio played on both early and late downs, pass-protected, ran routes and carried the ball.

It’s officially a “let-the-best-man-win” committee, for an organization that held back Kenneth Walker III for years. So who looked the best? Take a look at this:

Athletically, it’s no contest. Price is so much faster in a straight line and laterally agile. The speed difference is evident on the outside runs, while the lateral ability is easier to see on the cutback runs. That’s not the end-all, be all, but it absolutely does matter and it’s unlikely to change with Charbonnet coming off a February ACL surgery. Price was the one to receive the pitch on a sweep, so the coaching staff obviously agrees.

That said, Price did have two reps where he probably could’ve done a lot more with the look. One of them featured him not giving his center the time to climb to the next level. He instead jammed into a crowded lane, where a more patient and crafty runner would’ve cut back for a nice gain. The other rep was attempting to bounce it outside of nickel CB Kyler Gordon, when he could’ve hit his inside shoulder hard for a potential nice gain. Neither was egregious, but the top-end veterans treat them differently.

Charbonnet’s runs were more textbook, but there was space to carve out real explosives if he was simply faster. Both of the runs in the video above showcase that glaring flaw. I’d understand they always value Charbonnet’s size and quality decision-making in short yardage, but the Seahawks would do well if they continued giving Price a lot of the early-down and between-the-20s runs to increase their odds of an explosive and to give Price more time on task to develop.

Arizona ranks 18th in half PPR points allowed to opposing running backs, yielding 19.3 fantasy points per game to the position. The Cardinals sit 19th against RB rushing and 18th against RB receiving, having recently surrendered big finishes like Jahmyr Gibbs (RB1) in Week 5. Seattle enters as 11.5-point home favorites with a 28-point team total (fifth). They didn’t have DT Walter Nolen last week and EDGE Josh Sweat is on the trade block.

29. Zach Charbonnet (vs. ARI) – 56.5 proj. total yards

See Jadarian Price.

30. Kendre Miller (vs. CLE)

Assuming Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) is out again, Miller has been the 1A in the Saints committee. He was the RB9 and QB27 in usage heading into last week’s bye, clearing ahead of Alvin Kamara in the high-value touches. Of course, Kamara has actually gotten lucky with the actual production. Miller is the bigger rusher and the favorite for the goal-line plunge.

31. Mike Washington Jr. (at SF) – 40.5 proj. total yards

32. Braelon Allen (at KC)

33. Kyle Monangai (vs. TB)

34. Chris Rodriguez (at BAL)

35. Devin Singletary (at PHI)

36. Alvin Kamara (vs. CLE)

37. Aaron Jones Sr. (vs. BUF) – 44.5 proj. total yards

38. Jordan Mason (vs. BUF) – 52.5 proj. total yards

39. Austin Ekeler (vs. LAR)

40. J.K. Dobbins (at CAR) – 38.5 proj. total yards

41. Omarion Hampton (vs. HOU) – 28.5 proj. total yards

42. Kaelon Black (vs. LV)

43. Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. CIN)

44. Samaje Perine (at ATL) – 26.5 proj. total yards

45. Emmett Johnson (vs. NYJ) – 26.5 proj. total yards

Johnson is so much more valuable than the TE2, WR5 and QB2 currently on your bench.

46. Dylan Sampson (at NO)

47. Kenneth Gainwell (at CHI) – 34.5 proj. total yards

48. Justice Hill (vs. JAX) – 31.5 proj. total yards

49. Seth McGowan (vs. DAL)

50. MarShawn Lloyd (at NE)

51. Elijah Mitchell (vs. GB)

52. Keaton Mitchell (vs. HOU)

53. TreVeyon Henderson (vs. GB)

54. Corey Kiner (vs. GB)

55. Kimani Vidal (vs. HOU) – 25.5 proj. total yards

56. Sione Vaki (at MIA) – 21.5 proj. total yards