Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings: Projecting the Riskiest RB Plays

Peyton Hillis, Browns

Hillis has been a regular in this spot, mostly because of a hamstring injury that has thrown his status up in the air over the past couple of weeks. With Montario Hardesty out with a calf injury, the Browns need Hillis to be back.

Even if he is—it's looking more and more like he will start Sunday—Hillis is a risky play. In the four games he was healthy in, Hillis only put together one relevant fantasy day. Until he proves that he's 100 percent healthy, Hillis should stay on the bench.

DeMarco Murray, Cowboys

The Eagles jumped out to a huge lead Sunday night, which essentially eliminated Murray from the game plan for the rest of the contest. He played well in limited touches, carrying the ball eight times for 74 yards.

The fact of the matter remains that Murray posted two above-average games against two of the worst run defenses in football in the Rams and Eagles. Against the Seahawks, who have given up the fourth least amount of points to opposing running backs, Murray should find much tougher sledding.

Ryan Torain, Redskins

As if the Redskins didn't already have a crowded backfield, the team went out and picked up recently waived Tashard Choice just to make sure. Who knows how many touches Choice will take away from Torain, but it's safe to assume that the Redskins didn't claim him just to sit him.

And really, who knows when Mike Shanahan will spin the running back wheel? For all we know, Choice could be lead guy by the second half. In a matchup against the 49ers, who currently rank as the No. 1 rushing defense, it's best to stay far away from Torain.

Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks

Lynch has been a rollercoaster ride in 2011. We've seen him be bad (six carries, 11 yards in Week 2), good (98 yards, one TD in Week 5) and absent (injury scratch pregame in Week 7). The only thing we can really expect from Lynch is the unexpected.

So what does Week 9 bring? The Dallas Cowboys, who are fresh off giving up over 170 yards and a couple of scores to LeSean McCoy. We're not banking on Lynch to duplicate those numbers.