Five Lists of Fright, more like it! Happy Halloween to you good people, all your sweet teeth. Here in Fantasyland, Week 9 creeps in like bogeyman fog over a graveyard of byes—Browns, Jets, Eagles, and Buccaneers vanish into the crypt, thinning star power and forcing managers to conjure leverage from the bench. The non-contact-injury reaper just scythed Travis Hunter’s knees, tightening Jacksonville’s target tree and galvanizing Brian Thomas Jr.’s boo(!)m odds against Las Vegas. In New England, a cauldron bubbles: Rhamondre Stevenson’s been ruled out for Sunday’s game, so TreVeyon Henderson’s likely workload rises from the tomb—all fangs, no mummy wrap—against Atlanta. This week’s marquee, though, is a daunting horror-flick sequel—Chiefs at Bills—where the late-window witching hour should detonate into demonic possession(s) and some playoff seeding toil & trouble. Elsewhere, Washington’s long and fearful early-season darkness sees the lightswitch flipped back with Jayden Daniels’ return, which adds some downfield teeth to their bloodthirsty offense. They’ll need it against this shadowy Seahawks villain, who might just become the full Bathsheba by week’s end. And so the playoff hunt rolls its bones across the map: usage condenses, red-zone hierarchies shift, and ascending DSTs lurk in the longest reaches. Let’s get right to my Five Lists of Five: Week 9 edition, here, and truly summon ourselves some stashes, dart throws, breakouts, and, probably most importantly, as always, running back sleepers for fantasy football Week 9.
The refrain remains the same—All I want is for you to be better than your friends. You’re going to be surrounded by them on Sunday, probably. How sweet would it be if you could be sure you’ve checked every box possible that might guarantee you a resounding victory this week? Some kick-your-feet-up insights? I’ve got some. And I know my audience. The smoke-break audience. The quick-scan-of-the-phone-on-the-way-to-the-fridge audience. The I-ain’t-reading-all-that-but-good-luck folk. I’m a man of the people.
And so: the Five Lists of Five series. Think of these as byte-sized, two-minutes-to-yourself lists to scan during your weekend as you foam at the mouth for any competitive fantasy edge. As much relevant analysis as I can fit into, like, ~250 words per player.
Below: Top five breakout running backs for Week 9. These are guys that FantasyPros ECR has ranked in the mid-to-late RB2-or-worse range whose matchups I think warrant fringe RB1 consideration. Sometimes they’ll indeed be running backs who aren’t just breaking out of the prison of their rankings, but are indeed breaking onto the scene. But not always. There are only so many names that have scaleable and sustainable relevance in fantasy football!
Here are the other offerings from my 2025 Fantasy Football Five Lists of Five: Week 9 edition:
- Top five must-start players for Week 9 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five breakout wide receivers for 2025 fantasy football Week 9
- Top five WR/CB matchups to target for Week 9 fantasy football
- Top five fantasy football streamers for NFL Week 9
Follow my handle @dansby_edits for all of my fantasy football content—as well as plenty of NFL and College Football betting goodies—all season long.
Top five breakout RBs to target for Week 9 of 2025 fantasy football
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears
Monangai projects for a full workload with D’Andre Swift ruled out by a groin injury. Chicago enters as a 2.5-point favorite in a 51-point total, a script that supports sustained rushing volume. To reacquaint you with the hype—remember the pedigree: Monangai led the Big Ten in rushing in 2023 (1,262 yards, seven 100-yard games) and left Rutgers with a program-record 707 touches without a fumble.
Over the past two weeks, Monangai logged roughly a 45% snap share, with 29 snaps to Swift’s 31 in Week 8. He handled 13 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown in Week 7, then seven carries for 24 yards plus a 25-yard catch in Week 8. The rookie also edged Swift in Week 8 routes by one, signaling trust in passing downs if the game tilts negative. With Roschon Johnson sidelined, Chicago’s touch tree condenses further around Monangai’s early-down and red-zone role.
Cincinnati’s defense bleeds ground efficiency. The Bengals have allowed 1,215 rushing yards on 243 attempts, a 5.0 yards-per-carry figure with 10 rushing touchdowns. They’ve given up eight runs of 20-plus and 68 rushing first downs, with opponents moving the chains on 28% of carries. Last week brought a nadir: 254 rushing yards allowed to the Jets’ backfield. On the macro level, Cincinnati ranks dead last in defensive EPA per play at +0.17 and sits bottom-tier in EPA per rush at +0.07. Their pass rush hasn’t bailed them out, posting a 3.70% sack rate and a bottom-four pressure profile, while red-zone cracks show in a 74% touchdown rate allowed. Monangai’s one-cut acceleration punishes Cincinnati’s soft second level and poor run-stop “finish,” turning five-yard creases into chunk gains.
Environment stacks the edge. Chicago’s implied lead plus Cincinnati’s run defense invites 18-22 carries, with 2-3 targets if the Bengals shade coverage. The Bears’ offensive structure has leaned run when protecting leads, and this matchup rewards leaning again. Expect 80-100 scrimmage yards and multiple red-zone looks if Chicago sustains drives.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
Henderson just flashed real juice: 75 rushing yards on 10 carries last week, a season-high that showcased his one-cut burst and second-level acceleration. Expect that to scale. With Stevenson inactive, Henderson graduates from change-of-pace into drive starter and closer, a role that typically yields 18–22 touches for New England backs when favored by more than a field goal. Remember—in the interest, once more, of reacquainting you with the hype—he carried five-star hype for a reason: as an Ohio State freshman he set a program record with 19 touchdowns, ripped 1,248 rushing yards at 6.8 per carry with 27 catches for 312 and four more scores, then stamped it with a 4.43 forty at the 2025 combine.
Atlanta’s defensive profile invites aggression on the ground. The Falcons have allowed 885 rushing yards on 194 attempts—4.6 yards per carry—with four runs of 20-plus and four rushing touchdowns, a leakage pattern Henderson can puncture. Their run-stop win rate sits at 31% (11th), while pass-rush win rate is 42% (8th); the tilt toward pressure and a heavy-pressure identity (reports pegged their blitz rate around 47%) can thin run fits on early downs. New England’s preferred script under Drake Maye has been measured and physical, and a positive game state against an Atlanta offense still searching for red-zone answers keeps the carry count healthy.
The Falcons have excelled against the pass in stretches, but their defensive EPA split shows a relative soft spot versus the run (+0.03 EPA/rush allowed) even while the overall unit grades as solid. That dovetails with Henderson’s explosive profile and New England’s 25.5 team total. Henderson’s zone burst acceleration through backside lanes punishes a Falcons front allowing 4.6 per carry and conceding chunk gains when second-level fits hesitate. The workload signal is unmistakable, the matchup is pliable, and the environment stacks short fields and red-zone tries. Pencil in RB2 volume with RB1 upside if New England controls tempo early.
Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants
The snap signal already flashed after Skattebo’s devastating injury: 33 offensive snaps for Tracy in Week 8, a 63.5% share that led the backfield. His season baseline is workable and expandable—45 carries for 159 yards and a score at 3.5 per rush, plus 10 receptions for 68—now poised to scale into 15–20 touches. Recent form shows the juice: nine carries for 46 and a 31-yard long at Denver, then 12 total opportunities against Philadelphia as the role consolidated. Market context is live for volume and red-zone cracks: 49ers −2.5 with a 48.5 total in MetLife’s fast track.
The opponent profile isn’t soft, but it’s navigable with volume. San Francisco has allowed 863 rushing yards on 214 attempts—4.0 yards per carry—and four rushing touchdowns, a sturdy but not suffocating run front. Their trench metrics paint a nuanced picture: 32% run-stop win rate (7th) and 34% pass-rush win rate (25th), which encourages stick-to-script rushing when the scoreboard stays within one score. Inside the 20, the 49ers have permitted touchdowns on 54.2% of opponent red-zone trips, a gettable conversion rate for a back who catches checkdowns and handles short-yardage. Tracy’s receiver background and one-cut acceleration exploit light boxes and mid-pack red-zone resistance, turning modest creases into convertible chances.
Usage is the thesis. With Skattebo out, Tracy projects early-down control, two-minute involvement, and first crack at green-zone carries, with Devin Singletary rotating as relief. Expect New York to lean split-flow zone and gap tags to stress linebackers, then fold Tracy into screens when the 49ers widen for pressure. Pencil in 16–20 touches, 80–100 scrimmage yards, and multiple red-zone looks if the Giants keep the script neutral into the fourth.
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
The usage history without Pacheco is clear: an 84% carry share, 59% snap rate, and 41% route rate in prior sit games. This season, Hunt has turned 70 touches into five touchdowns across eight games, buoyed by short-yardage trust and two-minute involvement. Efficiency holds serviceable: 2.16 yards after contact per attempt and a 10% missed-tackle rate—volume and scoring position do the rest. The environment screams points and red-zone cycles: Chiefs −1.5 with a 52.5 total, a setting that routinely pushes Kansas City backs into 16–20 touches when they control script.
Buffalo’s front has bled ground efficiency. The Bills have allowed 1,052 rushing yards on 191 attempts—5.5 yards per carry—with 10 rushing touchdowns surrendered. Their run-stop win rate sits at 29% (23rd), a soft underbelly for gap runs and downhill ISO. Explosive leakage compounds it, as chunk gains stretch drive equity and multiply red-zone snaps. That dovetails with Kansas City’s spread/RPO menu, which manufactures light boxes and keeps the line on the front foot.
Hunt’s decisive footwork and short-area power convert Buffalo’s 5.5 yards-per-carry hole into drive-finishing equity at the goal line. Expect Andy Reid to lean into duo and counter on early downs, then flex Hunt into screen tags when linebackers trigger downhill. The usage math is sturdy, the scoring environment is elevated, and the opponent metrics are forgiving where it matters most. Pencil in 16–20 touches with multiple green-zone looks; the touchdown path is as clean as any breakout back in Week 9.
Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals
Over the last two games before Arizona’s bye, Knight stacked 29 touches for 118 scrimmage yards while out-pacing the room in opportunities. Since Benson’s injury, he’s handled a 64% rush share, a 12% target share, and a 30% route share, with 12.9 expected half-PPR points per game baked into that usage. Michael Carter returned to third-down duty, but Knight logged the money touches, including two rushing touchdowns across the three games Benson missed and full participation heading into Week 9.
The environment screams volume and efficiency. This matchup carries the slate’s highest total at 54.0, with Dallas favored by 2.5 and Arizona’s team total projected around 26.0 points—clean touchdown equity for the backfield. Dallas’ defense sits dead last in EPA per play and allows the fifth-most EPA per run play at 0.012, a structural run-fit leak. On the ground, the Cowboys have yielded 1,168 rushing yards on 239 attempts (4.9 yards per carry), 10 rushing touchdowns, and nine runs of 20-plus yards. They’ve also bled receiving production to backs, coughing up 391 receiving yards—the second-most in the league. Knight’s 30% route share meets a Dallas defense allowing 391 receiving yards to RBs, a soft underbelly for easy PPR wins.
Arizona’s offensive line isn’t perfect, yet Paris Johnson Jr.’s top-six pass-blocking grade and a middling pressure profile help keep the script intact. With the Cardinals third in RB usage this month and the matchup’s pace and scoring profile tilted toward sustained red-zone trips, Knight’s blend of early-down volume and check-down access projects as bankable. Expect 16-20 touches, goal-line chances attached to a 26-point team total, and outsized receiving leverage against Dallas’ leaky flats.
