Week 9 in the fantasy football season has started as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football.
There are still a few guys whose playing statuses for this weekend are up in the air, so let’s take a look at Joe Mixon, Aaron Jones, and Dameon Pierce and if they should be in your lineup.
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Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals appear to be back to the team we thought they were, as they are currently 4-3 and have won three straight games after beating the San Francisco 49ers last weekend. The offense is starting to show the explosiveness that it had the previous two years.
The run game is also looking much better, as Mixon is coming off his best game of the season against the 49ers. He rushed the ball 16 times for 87 yards and one touchdown while also getting three catches for 23 yards.
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However, Mixon is dealing with a chest issue that currently has him questionable for the game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. While he is currently questionable on the injury report, his status does appear to be moving in the right direction, according to coach Zac Taylor.
On Friday, Taylor told Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer that Mixon should be able to go and that he is dealing with a lot of soreness. If things change and Mixon is unable to go, the current No. 2 running back on the depth chart is Trayveon Williams. Williams has only seven carries on the season for 26 yards, so the Bengals would be forced to throw the ball more.
Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
Jones has played the last two games after battling a hamstring issue. In the loss to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday, Jones carried the ball seven times for 29 yards. He was also involved in the passing game, catching four passes for 17 yards.
However, he avoided the injury report for the second consecutive week, and coach Matt LaFleur sounds a lot more optimistic about his health this week.
Last Friday, when talking about Jones, LaFleur said that Jones didn’t look anywhere near 100 percent. This Friday, though, it was a different tone. He told ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that Jones “Looked good, had a good week” and that he is ready to “cut him loose.” If Jones is on your team, that is definitely some encouraging news as the Packers host the Los Angeles Rams.
The Packers are in a make-or-break part of the season, and it appears that Jones is ready to go. Don’t be surprised if his touches nearly double in this game, and he has a chance to have a big week against a Rams defense that is currently ranked 20th against the run (115.1 yards).
Even if Jones is fully active, running back AJ Dillon will still get a few carries but is not the same player in the passong game that Jones is.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
While the two previous running backs mentioned appear good to go this weekend, things aren’t as good for fantasy managers with Pierce on their team.
Pierce is dealing with an ankle injury, and he will not be playing in the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pierce has been undergoing treatment throughout the week, and even though he’s not playing Sunday, the team doesn’t view it as a long-term injury. With Pierce out, the number one running back on the depth chart is now Devin Singletary.
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Pierce has gotten 109 carries this year, while Singletary has gotten 49. Neither of them has put up big numbers, as Singletary is averaging 3.7 yards per carry, and Pierce is averaging three.
The Texans, as a whole, have struggled rushing the ball, as they are 23rd in the league (91.9 yards). You may want to steer clear from the Texans’ rushing attack as a whole, as the Buccaneers are one of the worst pass defenses in the league, ranking 28th (256.0 yards). This could be a game that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud looks to throw the ball a lot.
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