Corey Kiner will be the Patriots’ No. 2 running back again on Sunday. TreVeyon Henderson has been ruled out with an illness, and Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to lead the backfield against Green Bay. Kiner handled seven carries behind Stevenson in last week’s win over Miami, and now he draws a Packers defense that has given up a lot of touchdowns to running backs. Find out whether you should start or sit Corey Kiner in Week 9.
Corey Kiner Start or Sit Advice for Week 9
The matchup is inviting on paper. Green Bay allows 25.7 PPR points per game to running backs against a league average of 22.5, and it has surrendered 10 rushing touchdowns to the position, compared with a league mark of 5.6. Opposing backfields have also logged 44 red zone carries against the Packers, well above the league average of 29.2. Green Bay has faced the Jets, Atlanta, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit and Carolina, a group running right around league average against them, so those numbers are an honest read.
The Packers’ front has also been gutted. Defensive tackles Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Ford and Warren Brinson are all on injured reserve, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is out for the season and linebacker Zaire Franklin has not practiced this week with a shin injury. Micah Parsons is not expected to make his debut until later in November.
Kiner has been efficient with his chances. He is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, ahead of Stevenson’s 3.8, and he turned 11 carries into 57 yards against the Jets in Week 6. He also drew five red zone carries in that game.
New England’s offense can support more than one back. The Patriots score 23.0 points per game and average 30.0 rushing attempts per game, above the league average of 26.9.
The Biggest Fantasy Risk for Corey Kiner in Week 9
Stevenson dominates this backfield when Henderson is out. He handled 19 carries and three catches against the Dolphins, while Kiner got seven carries and no targets. Stevenson also took both of New England’s running back red zone carries in that game, and Kiner has not had a red zone carry since Week 6.
That leaves Kiner without a clear path to points. He has not scored, has drawn just two targets all season and has averaged 5.5 touches per game. His high is 6.9 PPR points, and he has finished below 4.0 points in five of his seven appearances.
Green Bay’s run defense is also less generous between the 20s than the scoring numbers suggest. The Packers allow 3.96 yards per carry to backs, below the league average of 4.16, and 93.5 rushing yards per game, right at the league mark. Much of the damage against them has come near the goal line, and that is exactly where Stevenson has the edge.
The Patriots’ offensive line is also banged up. Guard Mike Onwenu is out for the season, Alijah Vera-Tucker is on injured reserve, and tackle Morgan Moses has been limited with a foot injury.
Fantasy Outlook for Corey Kiner in Week 9
Sit Kiner in Week 9. The matchup is favorable for New England’s backfield, but Stevenson is the back positioned to take advantage of it, and Kiner’s role offers little volume, no receiving work and only an occasional red zone look.
He is worth a roster spot only in deeper leagues as a handcuff while Henderson is sidelined. If Stevenson were to miss time, Kiner would become an intriguing FLEX option in this matchup. Until then, fantasy managers covering Steelers and Titans players on bye should look elsewhere.