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Jeremy Hill Belongs In Your FanDuel Lineup For Week 9

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By @bradberreman24

Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals, Fantasy Football Week 9

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard has been increasingly banged up in recent weeks, with rib, shoulder and hip issues limiting his effectiveness, so it’s not surprise he has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville Jaguars. Jeremy Hill will step into the starting role in Bernard’s place, with Cedric Peerman in line to serve as his primary backup.

The Jaguars have allowed just two total touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) to running backs over their last six games, and they have allowed only 3.4 yards per carry to the position over their last five games. So on the surface Hill does not look like a great fantasy option for Week 9, but I think he has tremendous upside, especially in weekly leagues.

Hill has a $5,200 salary in FanDuel this week, so he already looked like a tremendous value even if Bernard wound up active with a workload split likely to have come. But Hill’s climb to the starting role increases his appeal even more, especially when considering the group of running backs that are more expensive than he is. Here’s a sampling:

Ryan Mathews: $6,400
Knile Davis: $6,400
Doug Martin: $6,300
Zac Stacy: $6,300
Stepfan Taylor: $6,000
Silas Redd: $5,400
Storm Johnson: $5,300

So in the group I’ve listed we have two running backs who are out this week (Mathews and Taylor), another who is listed as doubtful (Martin), someone who has lost his starting job (Stacy), two backups to clear workhorses (Redd and Davis) and finally someone who was a healthy scratch in Week 8 (Johnson). Hill has a clear path to double-digit touches this week, and likely far more with Bernard out for what could be a decisive victory for the Bengals, which is something that can’t be said about any of the seven guys I mentioned.

I expect Hill to be a in a lot of winning FanDuel lineups this week, and for those in regular 12 and 14-team fantasy leagues he is a viable RB2 or flex.

Brad Berreman is a Columnist at Rant Sports.com. Connect with him on Twitter.

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