Fantasy Football Start or Sit Week 9: RB Bilal Powell

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Nov 2, 2017

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 29: Running back Bilal Powell #29 of the New York Jets runs the ball against strong safety Keanu Neal #22 of the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of the game at MetLife Stadium on October 29, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Heading into Week 9 fantasy football, running back Bilal Powell of the New York Jets is worth starting as a FLEX option this week against the Buffalo Bills.

What exactly is going on with the steep fantasy football decline of running back Bilal Powell of the New York Jets? Well, after his huge Week 4 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Powell is the victim of some pretty bad playcalling over the past few weeks thanks to offensive coordinator John Morton.

You see, Morton, for whatever reason, continues to make poor decisions when it comes to game planning and his overall play calling on offense. He believes that the Jets can win football games by airing it out and needless to say, it hasn’t worked out at all.

The Jets have lost three straight games and have a Week 9 matchup on Thursday Night Football against the red-hot Buffalo Bills. The Bills are making their case to give a serious run towards winning the AFC East this season and unless Morton gets his act together and does a better job in putting players like Powell in a position to succeed, the Jets will be on the outside looking in.

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Of course, this is the perfect game to bounce back and go back to what works on offense. There is hope that Morton sees the greater picture and realizes that veteran quarterback Josh McCown isn’t going to win the Jets many football games but rather, a commitment to the run and especially feeding the rock to Powell might be what helps the Jets end their three-game losing streak.

Fantasy football owners that have Powell would be wise to start him as a FLEX option since he should be able to be a difference maker in this matchup. Powell can do it all as either a rusher or a receiving target out of the backfield.

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He’s only worth starting as a FLEX option since it’s hard to trust him to be an RB2 and the production just isn’t there for him to be an RB1. FLEX is perfect for him since Powell should hopefully see the end zone this week. It’s been three long weeks since he last scored a touchdown but tonight, on primetime football, should hopefully put on a clinic against the Bills.