Bye Weeks: Houston, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New England, San Diego, Washington

With Giovani Bernard (hip) out, Jeremy Hill gets the Bengals backfield all to himself again this week.

Grab a Helmet

Jeremy Hill v. CLE (Thursday): You like strange statistical symmetries? Here’s one for you: The two professional football teams in Ohio have defended 232 (Cincinnati) and 234 (Cleveland) running plays through eight games. They’ve somehow managed to yield precisely the same number of yards (1,117). Weird. That ranks them 31st overall, by the way, and they kick off Week 10 against each other on Thursday night. So why recommend Hill and not one of the Browns’ backs? Easy. We know Hill’s starting (Gio Bernard’s out). We have no idea who’s going to start for Cleveland (or get the majority of touches). If you took a chance on the Bengals’ explosive rookie last Sunday, pat yourself on the back. Just don’t get too caught up congratulating yourself that you forget to put him right back in your starting lineup. He’s clearly good enough to hold the fort down until Bernard returns.

Andre Ellington v. STL: I probably talk about him too much, yeah, but how many sure thing running backs are ahead of him as we head down the homestretch? Heck, how many sure things running backs ARE there even? Ellington belongs in that select camp and he’s earned that distinction in a way I never imagined he could: by touching the rock more than almost everybody else. Bruce Arians told us he’d garner 25-30 looks per game back in the preseason and, lo and behold, he’s touched it almost exactly 25 per (rushes plus receptions) over the last five weeks. Only DeMarco Murray’s been more popular (and, to be fair, more productive). You’re already starting Ellington, no doubt, but don’t get cute with tougher matchups lurking ahead. He’s a volume guy this year who, if he stays healthy, should be able to weather any possible fantasy storms (e.g., Detroit, Seattle).

Ronnie Hillman @ OAK: When’s the last time a running back not named Darren Sproles was limited to fewer than 20 total rushing yards but still managed to post 18.3 fantasy points? Hillman’s strange Week 9 totals (10 carries for 16 yards, seven receptions for 47 yards, and two scores) were the byproduct of a game that got really out of hand really quickly, but the fact he was able to remain relevant despite the lopsided score should be highly encouraging to those owners concerned about his fantasy staying power. The Broncos will look to get back on track this Sunday against a hated (and horrible) archrival and there’s no reason to think Hillman won’t be able, by association, to get back to his 20-carry, 100-yard ways. We just talked about how few sure thing candidates there are at the position and I’m not so sure he isn’t one too.

Grab a Gatorade

Tre Mason @ ARZ, Bishop Sankey @ BAL, or Andre Williams @ SEA: Only time will tell, but at this early checkpoint, halfway through their rookie seasons, it’s safe to say the 2014 draft class of RBs isn’t exactly a bumper crop. In fact, there’s only one I’d feel confident starting regularly as we head toward the playoffs – the aforementioned Hill – and that’s only because the guy in front of him got hurt. Mason’s got serious potential but is stuck in a weird committee and faces stiff NFC West competition. Sankey, the first back taken in April, hasn’t yet touched the ball 20 times or carried it for more than 61 yards. Finally, Williams has a nose for the goal line but averages just three yards per touch and only catches passes when his hands get in the way. You must do better than these guys in the coming weeks.

Darren McFadden v. DEN: I recommended a spot start for the enigmatic McFadden a couple weeks back and that didn’t turn out too terribly (85 total yards on 16 touches against Cleveland). I also mentioned, as a caveat, that we wouldn’t be able to recommend him again anytime soon due to some nasty upcoming matchups. True to my word, here’s your official sit-down reminder for Oakland’s primary ball carrier in Week 10. He’s still getting an unusually steady amount of touches (15, 16, 18, 16, and 17 in his last five contests) and posting consistent, if modest, numbers (8.5 points/game), but he rarely scores touchdowns and now gets a Denver defense that, surprisingly, boasts one of the best run-stopping units in the league. The Broncos are giving up a league low 71.6 yards/game and just 3.3 per carry, so you just can’t roll the dice with Run DMC this Sunday.

Anthony Dixon v. KC: Doug Marrone, like a growing number of his NFL colleagues, loves keeping us guessing from week to week who will receive the lion’s share of Buffalo’s carries. That continual uncertainty only intensified when C.J. Spiller suffered a season-ending collarbone break and Fred Jackson injured his groin. The sturdy but unspectacular Dixon carried the load in Week 8, but that’s probably because the Bills were playing from way out in front all day long and needed a clock-muncher who wouldn’t turn it over. A blowout win seems less likely in Week 10, though, and that could mean more work for Buffalo’s ostensible fourth-stringer, Bryce Brown. Brown is both more versatile and more explosive than Dixon, qualities the Bills may need against a surging Kansas City team. I’ll be forced to start him in our FF Today staff league (wish me luck), but you should leave Dixon reserved.

Wide Receivers