No single week in fantasy football can be considered the "most important," but wins and losses obviously become more crucial the further we get. Teams with good records want to maintain their playoff positioning, mediocre squads aim to take the next step to contender status, and struggling squads must activate must-win modes. Regardless of past results, few teams can succeed without consistent production from their running backs. Our Week 8 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues will help you make the right start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
At this stage of the season, the two biggest obstacles to fantasy 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 could be without stud Jets rookie Breece Hall (knee) and the Panthers' Chuba Hubbard (ankle). Hall led all rookies in rushing, scrimmage yards, and yards after the catch when he went down 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 flexes. (Update: With James Robinson now in New York, both he and Carter should be considered low-end flexes this week.)
We won't waste your time highlighting the obvious studs and weekly must-start backs. Even the guys who just suffered poor Week 7 performances (cough, Leonard Fournette, cough) remain impossible to bench just based on usage. Lenny might have only touched the ball 10 times in Tampa Bay's loss to the Panthers, but he totaled 25-plus opportunities in each of the previous two weeks.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Usage means a lot in fantasy, and talented RBs with high levels of usage in elite offenses are must-starts. Miles Sanders (vs. Steelers) has averaged 4.6 yards per game and will see plenty of touches coming off a bye and going against a vastly inferior Pittsburgh team. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard (vs. Bears) carry the Dallas offense, which looks to be playing it very safe now that Dak Prescott (hand) has returned. They should gash da Bears, though Elliott has a bit of a knee issue that warrants watching. (Update: With Elliott out this week because of a knee injury, Pollard is an easy call as a top-10 RB.)
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
We'll miss Hall, but stud rookies Dameon Pierce (Texans vs. Titans), Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks vs. Giants), and Brian Robinson Jr. (Commanders @ Colts) still give us plenty of rookie star power. Tyler Allgeier (vs. 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 devouring chunk yardage on plays for weeks now. 'Mondre will likely continue to coexist with running mate Damien Harris, who should play more this week. Stevenson, Harris, and Etienne have matchups this week against defenses that are much better at stopping the pass than the run.
WEEK 8 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
As for the studs with tough matchups, temper your expectations with Aaron Jones (@ Buffalo) in standard leagues. The Bills have allowed an NFL-low 317 rushing yards to RBs while only allowing 13.2 fantasy points per game to the position in standard leagues. Jones' pass-catching and downfield playmaking abilities may bail you out, but don't expect any such bailout from teammate AJ Dillon. Dillon has earned himself a one-way ticket to your bench unless you're flooded with injuries and bye-week players.
WEEK 8 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Speaking of one-way tickets, let's hop on the Gus bus! Gus Edwards (@ Buccaneers) looked awesome in his first game since his ACL tear in September 2021. Don't worry about Gus truckin' through Tampa — the Bucs allowed Carolina's less-than-dynamic duo to combine for 218 scrimmage yards and a TD in Week 7. Jamaal Williams (vs. Dolphins) will be in a similar spot if he starts in place of D'Andre Swift (shoulder) again. If Swift is active, consider both Lions RB2/flex backs.
WEEK 8 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
With loss comes rebirth. Let's consider the fantasy relevance of Carter (vs. Patriots) revived in the wake of Hall's injury, as the second-year back displayed moments of brilliance against the Broncos in Week 7. The Patriots have a way of minimizing the ceilings of skill players, so buyer beware. We're also worried about the expected return of Arizona's James Conner (@ Vikings), who will try to kick the rust off on the road against an underrated Minnesota front seven.
The RB2/flex landscape looks murky. Najee Harris (@ Eagles), David Montgomery (@ Cowboys), and Darrell Henderson Jr. (vs. 49ers) have low ceilings this week, but they should all get enough touches to merit flex spots. Melvin Gordon (vs. Jaguars) is similar despite a great matchup, but he comes with obvious worries. We still think you should use him and Latavius Murray in 12-team leagues.
Continue to monitor the wire and buy up as much cheap, young value as you can whenever you have open spots. Your next scratch ticket could hit the jackpot after the next big injury.
Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 8 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues
Rank 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 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Bears
8 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. Ravens
9 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Raiders
10 Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Saints
11 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. Commanders
12 Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Steelers
13 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Lions
14 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Giants
15 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Titans
16 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals @ Vikings
17 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Colts
18 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Jets
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 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Broncos
25 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Panthers
26 D'Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Falcons
27 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Eagles
28 David Montgomery, Bears @ Cowboys
29 Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams vs. 49ers
30 Melvin Gordon III, Broncos vs. Jaguars
31 Michael Carter, Jets vs. Patriots
32 Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Dolphins
33 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Bengals
34 Caleb Huntley, Falcons vs. Panthers
35 James Robinson, Jets vs. Patriots
36 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Bills
37 Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Jaguars
38 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Colts
39 Dontrell Hilliard, Titans @ Texans
40 Kenyan Drake, Ravens @ Buccaneers
41 Nyheim Hines, Colts vs. Commanders
42 Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers @ Rams
43 J.D. McKissic, Commanders @ Colts
44 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Ravens
45 Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Cowboys
46 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Eagles
47 Mark Ingram, Saints vs. Raiders
48 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins @ Lions
49 DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks vs. Giants
50 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Steelers
51 James Cook, Bills vs. Packers
52 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Cardinals
53 Samaje Perine, Bengals @ Browns
54 Rex Burkhead, Texans vs. Titans
55 Matt Breida, Giants @ Seahawks
56 Justice Hill, Ravens @ Buccaneers
57 Zack Moss, Bills vs. Packers
Week 8 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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