Fantasy Football 2018: 10 RB sleepers to target for Week 9

21st October 2018, Wembley Stadium, London, England; NFL in London, game two, Tennessee Titans versus Los Angeles Chargers; Quarterback Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans hands off the ball to running back Dion Lewis (photo by Shaun Brooks/Action Plus via Getty Images) /

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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson Jr. (29) tries to break away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) during the first half of an NFL game between the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Bucs on October 21, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Nobody stands to benefit more from the firings of head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley than Duke Johnson, whose laughable under-usage became one of the talking points of the Cleveland Browns 2018 season. Johnson is one of the most talented pass-catching backs in the NFL, yet he’s been seldomly-targeted in the Browns anemic offense.

That should all change in Week 9, if Gregg Williams and the “new” coaching staff understands what’s in their best interests. The Kansas City Chiefs explosive offense will cause the Browns to play from behind, so while the Browns will be matched up against a soft run defense, Johnson could benefit more from facing the Chiefs defense than star running back Nick Chubb.

According to Football Outsiders, the Chiefs allow an astounding 70 receiving yards per game to opposing running backs, so Johnson could easily carve up Kansas City’s weak group of linebackers en route to a breakout performance this season. The Chiefs defense is essentially tied with Atlanta’s as the worst in the NFL at defending running backs in the passing game.

This is a weakness the Browns must target with Johnson, who is as versatile as he is explosive. More touches must come for the talented Miami product, and hopefully the Browns coaching staff is able to undo the mistakes Haley and Jackson made for weeks.

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