No week in Fantasy NFL it can be considered the “most important”, but wins and losses are obviously more crucial the further we go. Teams with strong records want to maintain their playoff position, mediocre squads aspire to take the next step toward contender status, and struggling teams need to activate ways to win. Regardless of previous results, few teams can be successful without consistent production from their running backs. Our RB ranking will help you make the right decisions to start or sit them.
At this stage of the season, the two biggest obstacles to success are injuries and bye weeks. This week, we won’t see the Chiefs (Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon) or the Chargers (Austin Ekeler, Sony Michel). We also won’t be able to count on Jets rookie Breece Hall (knee) or Panthers rookie Chuba Hubbard (ankle). Hall led all rookies in rushing, passing yards scrimmage and yards after the catch when he fell last Sunday, and Hubbard had enjoyed a remarkable first start after Carolina traded Christian McCaffrey. If they’re out, it would open the door for D’Onta Foreman (@Falcons in Week 8) and Michael Carter (vs. Patriots) to operate as flex.
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Miles Sanders (against the Steelers) has averaged 4.6 yards per game and will see plenty of touches coming off a bye and facing a much inferior Pittsburgh team. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard (vs. Bears) run Dallas’ offense, which appears to be playing very safe now that Dak Prescott (thumb) is back. They should tear the Bears apart, though Elliott has a little knee issue that deserves to be watched.
We will miss Hall, but the rookies Dameon Pierce (Texans vs. Titans), Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks vs. Giants) and Brian Robinson Jr. (Commanders @ Colts) still give us a lot of power. Tyler Allgeier (vs. the Panthers) is another rookie who should produce this week in a slightly favorable matchup. Second-year backs Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots @ Jets) and Travis Etienne Jr. (Jaguars vs. Broncos) have been gobbling up yards on plays for weeks now. ‘mondre he’ll probably continue to co-exist with his running mate Damien Harris, but ETN has basically rendered his counterpart James Robinson useless. Stevenson, Harris and Etienne all have matchups with defensemen who are much better at stopping the pass than the run.
As for players with tough matchups, temper your expectations with Aaron Jones (@ Buffalo) in the standard leagues. The Bills have allowed 317 NFL rushing yards and allow only 13.2 NFL Fantasy points per game at the position in standard leagues. Jones’s pass-catching and playmaking skills can get you out of trouble, but don’t expect AJ Dillon to do it. Dillon has earned a one way ticket to your bench.
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Speaking of one-way tickets, let’s get on Gus’s bus! Gus Edwards (@Buccaneers) looked impressive in his first game since his torn ACL in September 2021. Don’t worry about Gus’s tenure in Tampa: The Bucs allowed Carolina’s less dynamic duo to combine for 218 scrimmage yards and a TD in Week 7. Jamaal Williams (vs. Dolphins) will be in a similar situation if he starts again in place of D’Andre Swift (shoulder). If Swift is active, consider both Lions RB2/flexes.
With loss comes rebirth. Consider Carter’s relevance (against the Patriots) reborn after Hall’s injury, as the second-year back showed moments of brilliance against the Broncos in Week 7. We’re also concerned about the expected return of Arizona’s James Conner (@Vikings), who will try to brush off the rust against an underrated front seven from Minnesota.
The panorama of the RB2 / flex looks cloudy. Najee Harris (@Eagles), David Montgomery (@Cowboys) and Darrell Henderson Jr. (vs. 49ers) all have low ceilings this week, but they should all have enough touches to deserve flex spots. Melvin Gordon (@Jaguars) is similar despite having a great matchup, but he comes with obvious concerns. We still think you should use him and Latavius Murray in 12-team leagues.
RB Ranking Week 8 for standard leagues | RB Ranking Week 8 for PPR leagues
RB Ranking Week 8 for standard leagues
Pos. Player
1 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Seahawks
2 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Texans
3 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Browns
4 Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Bengals
5 Dalvin Cook, Vikings vs. Cardinals
6 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Rams
7 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. ravens
8 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. raiders
9 Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Saints
10 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. commanders
11 Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Steelers
12 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Lions
13 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. giants
14 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. titans
15 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. bears
16 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Colts
17 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Jets
18 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. bears
19 D’Andre Swift, Lions vs. dolphins
20 Devin Singletary, Bills vs. packers
21 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Bills
22 Damien Harris, Patriots @ Jets
23 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Buccaneers
24 Michael Carter, Jets vs. patriots
25 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. broncos
26 James Conner, Cardinals @ Vikings
27 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. panthers
28 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Eagles
29 David Montgomery, Bears @ Cowboys
30 Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams vs. 49ers
31 Melvin Gordon III, Broncos @ Jaguars
32 D’Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Falcons
33 Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. dolphins
34 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Bengals
35 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Falcons
36 Caleb Huntley, Falcons vs. panthers
37 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Bills
38 Latavius Murray, Broncos @ Jaguars
39 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Colts
40 Dontrell Hilliard, Titans @ Texans
41 Kenyan Drake, Ravens @ Buccaneers
42 Nyheim Hines, Colts vs. commanders
43 Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers @ Rams
44 JD McKissic, Commanders @ Colts
45 Mike Boone, Broncos @ Jaguars
46 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. ravens
47 Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Cowboys
48 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Eagles
49 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals @ Vikings
50 Mark Ingram, Saints vs. raiders
51 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins @ Lions
52 James Robinson, Jaguars vs. broncos
53 Craig Reynolds, Lions vs. dolphins
54 Dee Jay Dallas, Seahawks vs. giants
55 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Steelers
56 James Cook, Bills vs. packers
57 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Cardinals
58 Samaje Perine, Bengals @ Browns
59 Rex Burkhead, Texans vs. titans
60 Matt Breida, Giants @ Seahawks
61 Justice Hill, Ravens @ Buccaneers
62 Zack Moss, Bills vs. packers
RB Ranking Week 8 for PPR leagues
Pos. Player
1 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Seahawks
2 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Texans
3 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Browns
4 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Rams
5 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. ravens
6 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. raiders
7 Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Bengals
8 Dalvin Cook, Vikings vs. Cardinals
9 Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Saints
10 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. commanders
11 Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Steelers
12 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Lions
13 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. giants
14 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. titans
15 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Jets
16 D’Andre Swift, Lions vs. dolphins
17 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Colts
18 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. bears
19 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Bills
20 Devin Singletary, Bills vs. packers
21 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. bears
22 Michael Carter, Jets vs. patriots
23 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. broncos
24 Damien Harris, Patriots @ Jets
25 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Buccaneers
26 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Eagles
27 James Conner, Cardinals @ Vikings
28 David Montgomery, Bears @ Cowboys
29 Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams vs. 49ers
30 Melvin Gordon III, Broncos @ Jaguars
31 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. panthers
32 D’Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Falcons
33 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Bengals
34 Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. dolphins
35 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Falcons
36 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Bills
37 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Colts
38 Dontrell Hilliard, Titans @ Texans
39 Nyheim Hines, Colts vs. commanders
40 Latavius Murray, Broncos @ Jaguars
41 J. D. McKissic, Commanders @ Colts
42 Caleb Huntley, Falcons vs. panthers
43 Mike Boone, Broncos @ Jaguars
44 Kenyan Drake, Ravens @ Buccaneers
45 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. ravens
46 Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers @ Rams
47 Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Cowboys
48 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Eagles
49 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins @ Lions
50 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals @ Vikings
51 Mark Ingram, Saints vs. raiders
52 James Robinson, Jaguars vs. broncos
53 Craig Reynolds, Lions vs. dolphins
54 Dee Jay Dallas, Seahawks vs. giants
55 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Steelers
56 James Cook, Bills vs. packers
57 Rex Burkhead, Texans vs. titans
58 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Cardinals
59 Samaje Perine, Bengals @ Browns
60 Matt Breida, Giants @ Seahawks
61 Justice Hill, Ravens @ Buccaneers
62 Zack Moss, Bills vs. packers
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Fantasy NFL RB Rankings Week 8: Who to Put and Who to Sit?