Fantasy Football Rankings Week 9: Beanie Wells and Five Backs About to Blow Up

To start him or to sit him—that is the question.

If you have drafted well and worked the wire throughout the season, chances are you have flex position options. But who you choose to start in those spots is often the difference between a fantasy victory or defeat.

Here are five running backs at flex-value you should be starting this week.

Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals

Wells can be a scary proposition. On one hand, you have a back who has struggled with inconsistency and injuries throughout his career, and has recently noted that his knee injury will likely affect him for the rest of the year.

On the other hand, he faces a Rams defense that allows an average of 24.9 fantasy points to running backs each week.

Wells may not go for 138 yards and three touchdowns like he did in Week 4 against the Giants, but a minimum of 85 yards and a touchdown seems like a safe bet.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England Patriots

His inconsistency from week-to-week is maddening, but Green-Ellis still has the highest potential of any New England back. And the Giants give up an average of 20.9 fantasy points to running backs each week.

The combination of Pittsburgh's stout defense and an early deficit for the Patriots were the culprits for Green-Ellis' five-carry, nine-yard afternoon.

Expect a heavier workload for Green-Ellis this week, and a heavier point total for your team if you start him.

Shonn Greene, New York Jets

Oh Shonn Greene, when will you make your owners look good for taking a chance on you this year?

This week, that's when.

This week you will best your previous high of 15.2 fantasy points. This week, you will gash a Buffalo defense that is prone to being hammered in the running game, as they were when they sacrificed 33.3 fantasy points to the Giants running backs in Week 6, or 35.4 points to Oakland in Week 2.

You've been showing life recently, Shonn—now show us victory!

LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

To be fair, you should keep an eye on Blount—though expected to play against the Saints, he is coming off of an ankle injury.

But if he plays, look for big things. The Saints just got owned by Steven Jackson and the Rams running game, giving up 159 yards and two touchdowns. And without Blount in Week 6, the Bucs still rushed for 122 yards and Earnest Graham averaged 6.4 yards per run.

If he goes in this one as expected, start him with confidence.

DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

I have a hunch Felix Jones probably won't return to action this week.

If that's the case, expect the Cowboys and Murray to rebound against a Seahawks team this week they most certainly should beat. No, Murray won't run for 253 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks, sorry about that.

But 75 yards and a touchdown or two in a must-win game for the studly newcomer?

Mark it down, baby.