At the midpoint of the fantasy football regular season, the running back position is very banged up. Aaron Jones is dealing with a calf injury that has already cost him a game, Mark Ingram has an ankle injury that could knock him out this week, and Joe Mixon continues to deal with a troublesome foot injury that kept him out last week. With Week 8 approaching, fantasy football owners will need updates as to whether these guys are healthy ahead of key start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
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WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Is Aaron Jones playing Week 8?
UPDATE: Jones was a non-participant at Thursday's practice, per Tom Silverstein. Unless Jones can get on the field Friday, he will likely miss his second consecutive game.
Jones (calf) missed the Packers' Week 7 win over the Texans after picking up a late-week injury, and his status ahead of Sunday's game against the Vikings is murky. Jones missed practice on Wednesday, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky, and given how cautious the Packers have been bringing players back from injury this year, he will probably have to log a full practice to be considered anything other than a game-time decision.
If Jones sits out another week, Jamaal Williams would be in line for an increased workload for the Packers. He had 114 scrimmage yards and a TD against the Texans, so he would probably fit into the fringe-RB1 range against the Vikings. AJ Dillon would also see extra carries, but the second-round rookie wouldn't be anything more than a TD-dependent flex, at best.
WEEK 8 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Is Mark Ingram playing Week 8
UPDATE: Ingram was once again absent at Ravens practice on Thursday, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley. That seems to indicate that Ingram is in line to miss Week 8, but his status on Friday will tell fantasy owners if there's any chance of him suiting up.
Ingram (ankle) picked up an injury in the Ravens' win over the Eagles before their Week 7 bye. He was expected to be questionable, at best, in Week 8 and according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley, Ingram was not at practice for the Ravens on Wednesday. If he continues to sit out Thursday, that should be an indicator that he is unlikely to play or that he will be a game-time decision.
If Ingram can't play, Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins would likely split most of the work at the RB position in a tough matchup against the Steelers. Edwards is readily available in many leagues, so he can be added as a potential volume-based flex despite the tough matchup. Dobbins can also draw consideration for a flex spot, but it's worth wondering if Justice Hill could play and steal some receiving opportunities from him.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Is Joe Mixon playing Week 8?
UPDATE: Mixon missed Thursday's Bengals practice, per ESPN's Ben Baby. Friday will now be the all-important day for Mixon as he hopes to return to the field, but things don't look great at the moment.
Mixon (foot) missed the Bengals' loss to the Browns in Week 7, and coming into Week 8, he is considered to be "day-to-day". However, according to Jay Morrison of The Athletic, Mixon wasn't at Bengals practice on Wednesday, which will cast a shadow of doubt about his availability for Sunday's game against the Titans.
If Mixon is out, Giovani Bernard would once again be the lead back for the Bengals. Bernard totaled 96 yards and a TD against the Browns, with most of his damage coming through the air. Either way, he's in play as an RB2 if he's the lead back.
