Week 9 was the week of the running back you’ve likely lost patience with. Plenty of guys did work on people’s benches. There is probably more signal than noise in a lot of those backfields so prepare to enjoy the vicious cycle of start/sit decisions for them all over again. With week 10 being another mega-bye week you might not have any choice.

Kenyan Drake , RB ARI - The Cardinals had little choice but to lean on their newly acquired back. He did not disappoint with a 15-110-1/4-52 explosion. That’s a way better day than anything David Johnson has given us so far. So what gives? The rushing lanes were there last week for whatever reason. Drake has always been a back that can rip off chunk gains if he can get to the second level with a head of steam. Unfortunately, the Cardinals head to Tampa Bay this week to face the leagues best run defense and those lanes might close.

Ronald Jones , RB TB - The RoJo drumbeat has been steadily growing all season. When the team can avoid a negative game script Jones is their guy. He’s a better runner than Peyton Barber by far. Jones also added a couple catches last week which is a nice stat padder. It would be nice to see that all continue with the Cardinals coming to town in week 10. There’s value here if they win that match up.

David Montgomery , RB CHI - “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” Monty has posted his first back to back usable games of the season. That was surprising against a stout Eagles front. The Bears offense is in a nosedive and the run game is likely to be the only thing to save it. Matt Nagy is realizing that along with the rest of us, however slowly. They host Detroit this week and will want to keep a revitalized Matthew Stafford on the sideline as much as possible. It’s never a sure thing but Montgomery should continue at about a 70% snap rate.

Devin Singletary , RB BUF - Singletary should get some kind of award if he can unseat Frank Gore from a starting role. Call it the Sarah Conner award for taking out a terminator. This marks back to back weeks that Singletary has out-snapped Gore by a significant margin. The team needed playmakers in their loss to Philly but they were coasting ahead of a hapless Washington team last week. There are plus matchups ahead for the young back.

Damien Williams , RB KC - Williams basically doubled his season rushing total in a single 91-yard TD run Sunday. That’s not great for where his season has been but could be a sign of things to come. LeSean McCoy on played 6 snaps in the game to Williams’ 43. KC knows they need plays with Pat Mahomes out and McCoy isn’t going to make them. Flawed as Williams may be, he has some jets (not Tyreek Hill jets, but still). If Williams can establish a hold on the job by the time Mahomes returns out of their week 12 bye he may be a fantasy playoff decider again.

Jaylen Samuels , RB PIT - With James Conner and Benny Snell sidelined Samuels was the only real option for Pittsburgh. They sprinkled in 12 Trey Edmunds carries on 17 snaps in a close game but Edmunds is not a big threat. Samuels’ ability to catch the ball is probably his best weapon. That makes him an excellent complement to either of the returning bruisers as the team looks to keep them fresher.

J.D. McKissic , RB DET - As a big spender on Ty Johnson it pains me to admit McKissic may be the better back. He’s looked faster and more elusive. It’s possible the Lions noticed this, too, upping his snap percentage. It’s also possible they were using the more dynamic back in a shootout with Oakland. If Matthew Stafford can go back to his gunslinging ways why can’t McKissic be a vintage Theo Riddick ?

Jamaal Williams , RB GB - Is it possible Williams is a better all-around back than Aaron Jones ? I’m not as quick to rule it out these days. Two coaching staffs have viewed him as worthy of touches that could go to Aaron Jones . I’ve personally lambasted both for that decision but it’s not as clear cut as it used to be. Credit to Williams for coming off of a slug-like 2018 and having some juice in 2019. He will certainly be involved going forward.

Jordan Howard , RB PHI - Another week, another reminder that the Eagles rotate three backs. Sure, Howard and Miles Sanders are eating the Lions share. The team still gives ten or so snaps to Darren Sproles or Boston Scott each game. It doesn’t sound like much but hurts the other guys floor in a three-way rotation.

Dion Lewis , RB TEN - I did not expect a random Dion Lewis first half. Maybe that was part of the Titans game plan or maybe Derrick Henry had something tighten up on him in warmups. Either way it’s something that bears monitoring. When Henry yielded too many snaps to Lewis last season it drained his fantasy value until the late-season eruption. Henry is already living on the edge with weak efficiency perfumed by TDs. Lewis continues trending as a PPR bye week lifeline.