Fantasy Football: Week 9 running back rankings

Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Todd Gurley, Kareem Hunt, Melvin Gordon, Christian McCaffrey and James Conner top my Week 9 fantasy football running back rankings.

Alvin Kamara, Ezekiel Elliott, Adrian Peterson, Latavius Murray and James White round out the top 10 of my weekly rankings.

Make sure that David Johnson, Joe Mixon, Saquon Barkley, and running backs from the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles are out of your lineup as those teams have Week 9 byes.

If you are needy at the position, check out my waiver wire add/drops for Week 9.

Here are my Top 30 options at the position this week.

FULL TOP 30 WEEK 9 RANKINGS BELOW

TOP SHELF

Hunt is my No. 2 running back for Week 9. The Kansas City Chiefs star is on an absolute tear right now, scoring in seven consecutive games. Hunt also has at least 86 yards from scrimmage in each of his last five starts. I'm expecting a huge day in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns, a unit tied with the Arizona Cardinals for giving up a league-high 10 rushing scores to opposing running backs.

McCaffrey is my No. 4 option this week at running back, landing in RB1 territory. The Carolina Panthers weapon is up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a unit that has allowed the third-most rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs. McCaffrey scored twice in Week 8 and already has 44 catches on the season. I expect him to be his dual-threat self against this beatable defense.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Peterson continues to turn back the clock for the Washington Redskins. The veteran running back comes in as my No. 8 option at the position this week with a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, a unit allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position. Peterson went off in Week 8 against the New York Giants, rushing for a season-high 149 yards and score twice. He has at least 24 carries in back-to-back games. That workload should be similar against the Falcons as the Redskins attempt to control the time of possession.

Murray is my No. 9 running back in Week 9 and can be used as an RB1 against the Detroit Lions, a unit allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Murray has scored in three consecutive games and has shown the ability to be a steady RB1 if he is given an adequate workload. I fully expect him to be up around 20 carries in this matchup against the Lions.

LONGSHOTS

Nick Chubb lands just outside of my top 10 options for Week 9, coming in at No. 11. The Browns rookie picked up 80 yards and scored in his first career start. He went for just 65 yards and was kept out of the end zone in Week 8. I expect good production against the Chiefs as the Browns will try to keep Patrick Mahomes & Co. off of the field. The Chiefs are also allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Chubb is an RB1 this week in deeper leagues.

Chicago Bears threat Tarik Cohen is a fringe RB1 for me this week against the Buffalo Bills, a unit allowing the tenth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Cohen is one of the most explosive players in the game and has scored in four consecutive games. He scored a 70-yard receiving touchdown in Week 8 and is proving to be essential to the Bears' game plan. Look at this as a high-upside play and wait for the fireworks. Cohen is a great bye-week fill-in.