Fantasy football projections, Week 9: Chiefs vs. Bills featuring Alex Smith, Jamaal Charles and Fred Jackson

The Week 9 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills will probably be won with the running game. We've got all the fantasy projections for you courtesy of numberFire.

Quarterback Alex Smith has cooled off a bit since starting the season looking like a top five fantasy quarterback. He did manage to have a solid game against the Cleveland Browns last week, throwing for 225 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He targeted all purpose player Dexter McCluster steadily. This week he should have more access to the usual suspects like Donnie Avery and Dwayne Bowe, facing a Bills pass defense that is inferior and much less intimidating than that of the Browns.

There is no need for fantasy owners to kid themselves though, because if the Chiefs are to prevail in Week 9, they will do it on the legs of running back Jamaal Charles. The former Pro Bowler rushed for 74 yards on 18 carries in the win over Cleveland with 23 touches. He has matched or exceeded that total in all but one game this season.

The Bills are a wounded group these days. Quarterback Thad Lewis (ribs) was banged up in the pocket against the New Orleans Saints last week. He got up looking on a tackle by David Hawthorne. Filling in for rookie E.J. Manuel (knee), Lewis appeared overmatched by Saints quarterback Drew Brees and was unable to keep up with one of the most prolific offenses in the game.

If the Bills are to hand the Chiefs their first loss of the season on Sunday, running back Fred Jackson will no doubt play a huge role in it. He had his sixth touchdown of the season against the Saints. C.J. Spiller (high ankle sprain) is expected to play against the Chiefs, his limitations will be to Jackson's benefit.