Fantasy football: Start-em, sit-em players for Week 9

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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 08: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars reacts after rushing for a 2 yard touchdown in the second quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on October 8, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Start-em: Leonard Fournette (JAX) vs. Cincinnati

The year of the rookie running back in the NFL is actually a little scary. It isn’t supposed to be this easy to go from the NCAA to the NFL, but this draft class looks incredible through the first half. At or near the top of that class is Leonard Fournette.

Jacksonville has been waiting for someone to infuse life into its offense for years, and Fournette has done that this season. He has taken the ball out of quarterback Blake Bortles hands and carried this offense to respectability. Fournette has been the only major addition to this offense, and he has turned a bottom-tier team into a playoff contender.

Fournette has a touchdown in every game he has played this season and that makes fantasy football owners very happy. He is coming into this Week 9 game with two weeks of rest and will be ready to roll for another 100-plus yards and a touchdown against the Bengals.

The powerful way Fournette runs makes him nearly matchup proof for fantasy football. He doesn’t only have the speed to break a big play, but no defensive player wants to tackle him.

I can’t say I blame them.

As long as he stays healthy, you are looking the rushing yards leader at the end of the season. If you had the foresight to draft Fournette in your fantasy football drafts this year, then congratulations. He is an absolute monster and will continue to be into Week 9.

Other options: Todd Gurley (LAR) @ New York Giants and Chris Thompson (WAS) @ Seattle