Week 9 Fantasy Football Start Em Sit Em: Michael Bush and Great Sleeper RBs

As the weeks become increasingly vital and fantasy owners become more and more desperate, usually unassuming players can be cast in important roles. Because of byes, injuries or perhaps ineffectiveness from regular starters (I'm looking at you Chris Johnson), many owners are looking for a quick fix.

While a replacement may not be readily available on the waiver wire, you just might have a gem stashed away somewhere deep on your bench. With that said, here are three sleeper running backs who should far outperform expectations in Week 9.

James Starks - Green Bay Packers

Seeing as the Green Bay Packers are a pass-first, pass-second and run-third type of offense, production can be quite spotty from the team's running backs. Every successful team has to get the ground game going eventually, though, so I expect James Starks to have a larger role than usual this week.

The Packers will be facing a San Diego Chargers team that is one of the best in the league against the pass. While quarterback Aaron Rodgers can probably throw on anyone at this point, things may not come so easily on Sunday. The Chargers were exposed a bit by the Kansas City Chiefs' running game last week, though, so Starks should be a factor.

Starks has to contend with Ryan Grant for carries and hasn't gotten more than 13 totes in a game this season, but he makes the most of it when he does touch the ball. He is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and has multiple catches in every game since Week 1. Conventional wisdom says that Starks will excel with an increased workload and I believe he will receive just that on Sunday.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis - New England Patriots

While New England Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis may be a regular starter out of necessity in deeper leagues, he is more of a quality backup in most other formats because of his inconsistent utilization in New England's pass-happy offense.

Last week was a bad one for "Law Firm" as he gained just nine yards on five carries against the vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, but there figures to be more running room against the New York Giants in Week 9. While New York has excelled against the pass thanks to its monstrous pass rush, teams have been able to run the ball against them because of their aggressive nature.

When given 15 or more carries this season, BJGE has shown the ability to rack up some yardage, including a 27-carry, 136-yard performance against the New York Jets a couple weeks ago. Green-Ellis' greatest asset, however, is his nose for the end zone. He has scored five times this season and hit pay dirt 13 times last year, so if the Pats get near the goal line, he will be a top option.

Michael Bush - Oakland Raiders

Playing second fiddle to Darren McFadden in Oakland doesn't allow for much glory, but somehow Raiders backup running back Michael Bush has managed to remain relevant. Even with McFadden ahead of him on the depth chart, Bush has managed 237 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the season, which is better than some starters.

When given extended playing time, Bush has traditionally come up big, just as he did last week against the Kansas City Chiefs with 99 yards and a 5.8 yards-per-carry average as McFadden had to leave the game due to injury. While nothing is official, McFadden seems unlikely to play on Sunday as he was still in crutches and a walking boot to support his injured foot this week.

Because of that, Bush will get the start in all likelihood. Not only that, but Bush will get to operate against the lackluster Denver Broncos' defense. With Carson Palmer still settling in at quarterback, Oakland should be even more committed to the run than usual, and that should spell monster numbers for Bush.