Week Nine Start or Sit: Knowshown Moreno vs. Jamaal Charles

Charles is the player du jour, with Larry Johnson likely punching his ticket out of town.

In this week’s running back rankings (click here to view), I had Charles slotted at 19, one spot ahead of Moreno.  The question is, your choices comes down to these two for Week Nine, is that really the right decision?

Charles takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars, ranked 25th in the league against the run allowing 128.3 yards per game. 

They haven’t given up many touchdowns, however, allowing just five rushing touchdowns.  That certainly is a "bend but don’t break" attitude.

A 2008 third-round pick, Charles has just 90 career carries, rushing for 473 yards (5.3 yards per carry).  He’s only once had double-digit carries in a game, getting 18 carries for 106 yards back in Week Nine of 2008 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

We haven’t taken into account his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, with 41 catches and averaging 17.8 yards per game. 

The passing game has led to his only touchdown of his career, though that easily could change this week.  The Jaguars are tied for the fourth most touchdowns allowed through the air with 13.

Even if you want to be conservative and assume he’s going to get 12-15 carries, you have to think that he’s going to be able to at least reach the 60-yard plateau. 

Throw in an additional 15 yards in the passing game and a touchdown against a porous defense and you have a game that quickly makes people forget about Johnson.

And remember, those projections are extremely conservative.  On the one year anniversary of his one exceptional professional outing, he should be in store for his second.

Moreno, meanwhile, takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the best team in the league against the run.  They are allowing just 76.6 yards per game and have seen running backs rush for just two touchdowns.  Only the Patriots have allowed fewer (one).

Moreno averages just 3.9 yards per carry and shares carries with Correll Buckhalter (about 2 to 1).  The matchup does not seem very favorable.

While he may get 12-15 carries as well, against the tough defense and with the presence of Buckhalter, he could just as easily rush for just 40-50 yards without finding the end zone.  How about him in the passing game?  He averages just over one catch a game.

To me, it’s an easy decision.  If you have the choice between Charles and Moreno (or a similar back), Charles should be in there every time. 

He has proven it in his one opportunity to really carry the load, and with this matchup, he definitely should be able to do it again.

What do you think?  Who would you rather have?  Why?

Need help in trying to decide who to start this week? Check out our weekly rankings by clicking here .

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football