Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: RB

Am I scared about the prospects of Steve Slaton losing carries to Ryan Moats (and even Chris Brown)? Absolutely. I'm more concerned about the overreactions from across the fantasy football world. Sure, I took it on the chin with Slaton in one league, but last week was hardly indicative of what will transpire from here on out.

Consider the following:
- If Gary Kubiak was going to send a message to his second-year running back with problems holding onto the football, what better opponent than the league's worst run defense?

- Slaton shredded the Colts in Indy last year, and that was without Matt Schaub at the helm to take pressure off him.

- Frank Gore got loose for a 64-yard touchdown against the Colts and added 43 receiving yards. Slaton is faster, more elusive and a better pass-catcher than Gore.

So, yeah, of course last week made me worried about Slaton. But I live by the "no guts, no glory" credo. You'll find Slaton in my top 15. You can have Ryan Moats.

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1. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX vs. KC
2. Chris Johnson, TEN at SF
3. Ryan Grant, GB at TB
4. DeAngelo Williams, CAR at NO
5. Michael Turner, ATL vs. WAS
6. Brandon Jacobs, NYG vs. SD
7. Frank Gore, SF vs. TEN
8. Ray Rice, BAL at CIN
9. Cedric Benson, CIN vs. BAL
10. Clinton Portis, WAS at ATL
11. Ronnie Brown, MIA at NE
12. Brian Westbrook, PHI vs. DAL
13. Marion Barber, DAL at PHI
14. Joseph Addai, IND vs. HOU
15. Steve Slaton, HOU at IND
16. Matt Forte, CHI vs. ARI
17. Pierre Thomas, NO vs. CAR
18. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD at NYG
19. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT at DEN
20. Jamaal Charles, KC at JAX
21. Julius Jones, SEA vs. DET
22. Kevin Smith, DET at SEA
23. Laurence Maroney, NE vs. MIA
24. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG vs. SD
25. Mike Bell, NO vs. CAR
26. Ricky Williams, MIA at NE
27. Jonathan Stewart, CAR at NO
28. Darren Sproles, SD at NYG
29. Knowshon Moreno, DEN vs. PIT
30. Beanie Wells, ARI at CHI
31. LeSean McCoy, PHI vs. DAL
32. Tim Hightower, ARI at CHI
33. Reggie Bush, NO vs. CAR
34. Felix Jones, DAL at PHI
35. Cadillac Williams, TB vs. GB
36. Correll Buckhalter, DEN vs. PIT
37. Ryan Moats, HOU at IND
38. Willie Parker, PIT at DEN
39. Derrick Ward, TB vs. GB
40. Justin Forsett, SEA vs. DET
41. Maurice Morris, DET at SEA
42. Kevin Faulk, NE vs. MIA
43. Chris Brown, HOU at IND
44. Willis McGahee, BAL at CIN
45. Ladell Betts, WAS at ATL

- The 49ers presently have the second best run defense in the NFL, statistically, but do you ever want to sit Chris Johnson after the two explosions we've seen this season?

- Aaron Rodgers is banged up and the Packers won't have to work too hard through the air to win their game over the Bucs. Translation: hello, Mr. Grant.

- The Giants have had serious problems stopping the pass, and they won't get a break against Philip Rivers and the Chargers. The best way to combat that? Ride Jacobs into the ground, which keeps the clock and chains moving.

- Rice and Benson are on the opposite ends of the field Sunday, each facing a respective stout run defense. The thing is, both have proven they can gain yards and get into the end zone against pretty much any type of a defense. Don't risk sitting either based upon a matchup anymore.

- You already knew I didn't trust Forte or Tomlinson as more than RB2 quality and I'm throwing Pierre Thomas into that bunch as well. It seems like every time we start to gain faith in him, either Mike Bell takes a chunk of the points or the Saints just throw all game. So let's just remain cautiously optimistic with Pierre the rest of the way.

- Yes, I still like Beanie over Hightower. It's because yards are more reliable than counting on a touchdown to bail out a lackluster overall performance. Plus, the Bears are much more susceptible to shifty backs than up-the-middle power ones.

Any other questions as to my rationale, drop a comment and we can discuss.