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Fantasy Football: RB Duds for Week 9

With six teams on a bye in week 9, you won't have the services of Adrian Peterson (Minnesota), Steven Jackson (St. Louis) and Thomas Jones (NY Jets) for your fantasy team this week.

Here are some players who are scheduled to play that I think will under-perform relative to their fantasy rankings for week 9:


Matt Forte, Bears (consensus rank 14): Last year, Forte was one of the biggest surprises in fantasy football. This year, he's one of the biggest disappointments. Through seven games, he has 408 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He's had two good games: 121 yards and a score vs Detroit and 90 yards and two scores vs Cleveland. But anyone can run on Cleveland and Detroit, who have given up the third most and sixth most fantasy points to running backs, respectively. In fact, Forte followed up his first good performance (vs Detroit) with a 23-yard game (15 carries) against a Falcons run defense that currently ranks 23rd in the NFL. This week, Forte faces the team that had led the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed heading into last week. Although the Cardinals allowed the Panthers to run the ball against them last week, they still rank eighth in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed (96.4 ypg). And if you're looking for Forte to compensate as a receiver, only the Buccaneers have allowed fewer receptions to RBs than the Cardinals have.

Joseph Addai, Colts (consensus rank 12): The positives for Addai? Two consecutive 20-carry games and he's scored five touchdowns in seven games. But Addai is averaging only 3.3 yards per carry on the season and he's never had more than 64 rushing yards in any game this season. Donald Brown, who was injured two weeks ago and didn't play last week, is questionable for Sunday's game and will be a game-time decision. If Brown returns, that will reduce several of Addai's carries. And in the past five weeks, the Texans have allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs in the NFL.

Brian Westbrook, Eagles (consensus rank 13): Westbrook has been one of the best and most dangerous running backs in the NFL for several years. After sitting last week due to a concussion, Westbrook will be back in the starting lineup against the Cowboys. But let's take a look at Westbrook's numbers pre-concussion. He's averaging only 39.4 rushing yards per game (lowest since his rookie season) and 26 receiving yards per game (lowest since his second season). Westbrook has never received more than 13 carries in one game this season and there is only one game in which he has more than 20 receiving yards. While Westbrook has the potential to make a big play at any time, he's no longer a sure thing (when healthy) in fantasy football.

Click here to view my RB Studs in week 9 for fantasy football.


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