NFL Three Stars For Week 9: Running Back

The running back position is one of the deepest in the entire NFL, with new players stepping up each and every week to help their team to victory, and this week was no different, even though we've got some very familiar names here too. From incredible Touchdown totals to do-it-all backs out of the backfield, the NFL is littered with talented running backs, but in Week 9, it was the following three players that managed to stand out above the rest.

3. Derrick Henry

Stat line: 17 carries, 115 yards, 2 Touchdowns.

The Tennessee Titans may have gone down to the Kansas City Chiefs in primetime, but Derrick Henry once again proved that he's arguably the best running back in the league, as the team had just 80 passing yards, but battled all the way down to the wire against one of the best teams in the AFC. He's been a man on a mission as of late, and that didn't change in Week 9, and even with just 17 carries, he once again topped the 100-yard mark and added two scores. 

2. Travis Etienne

Stat line: 28 carries, 109 yards, 2 Touchdowns, 2 catches, 17 yards.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded James Robinson, they made a clear statement that Travis Etienne is RB1 of the future for this franchise, and in two games as the clear starter, he's proven that was a very wise choice by the Jags. He once again went for over 120 All-Purpose yards and added multiple scores, and even though Jacksonville are clearly struggling once again, they seem to be building a solid young core for the future. 

1. Joe Mixon

Stat line: 22 carries, 153 yards, 4 Touchdowns, 4 catches, 58 yards, 1 Touchdown. 

Joe Mixon was a man on a mission in Week 9 as the Bengals raced out to a quick 35-0 lead over the Carolina Panthers, and he finished the performance off with a staggering 5 Touchdowns, and if he can keep this up, the Bengals are a genuine Super Bowl threat once again in the AFC. Mixon hasn't been able to perform consistently this year, but at his best, he is one of the best backs in the entire league, and that was on full display in Week 9. 

Photo Credit: Sam Greene / USA TODAY NETWORK