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Matt's running back (RB) fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 8 of 2025. His RB lineups advice for Week 8 fantasy football start/sit decisions.
Outside a few surprise performances courtesy of Kyle Monangai, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Brashard Smith, the leaderboard for Week 7 wasn't all that surprising. When we look at the overall fantasy production this season at the running back position, we are seeing consistency within the top-20 backs on a points per game basis.
As we continue to forge forward, you already know that you are starting Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, and Christian McCaffrey. We want to focus on players who are a little more debatable here.
Here are the RotoBaller must-start and sit options for Week 8 at the running back position.
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Week 8 - Fantasy Football Booms
De'Von Achane - RB, Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons
I know statistically speaking, the Falcons have been one of the best defenses when it comes to defending the run and limiting running backs in the passing game. Before Christian McCaffrey’s 24 carry, 129 rushing yard performance in which he also contributed 72 receiving yards on seven receptions, the Falcons had been holding opposing backs somewhat in check.
Achane gets loose for 46 yards!
MIAvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/tJBSajwc4x
— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025
While Achane may not reach the 39.1 fantasy points that McCaffrey hit against this Falcons defense, he does present a similar challenge to Atlanta that McCaffrey had. Against the Cleveland defense last week, which has allowed a league low in total yards per game (256.1) and the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game (82.4), Achane was the lone offensive weapon, finishing with three receptions for 16 yards and 82 yards on the ground, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
Achane accounted for 96 yards of total offense, while the rest of the Dolphins managed a disappointing 79 total yards. If you can average over six yards per touch against the Browns, is it that far-fetched that Achane could average eight or more yards per carry against a defense McCaffrey shredded for 10.3 yards per attempt a week ago?
Breece Hall - RB, New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals
Like Achane, Breece Hall had little help on offense last week. The Jets managed only six points against the Carolina Panthers. The offense was so putrid that Tyrod Taylor had to step in for Justin Fields to attempt to make the box score a little easier to look at.
In that trainwreck of an offensive performance, Hall led the backfield with 14 opportunities while Isaiah Davis and Fields had four each, and Taylor added three more rushing attempts. While the offense may continue to sputter without Garrett Wilson (knee), Hall is still a volume play with a very potent matchup lined up for Week 8.
Last week, Jaylen Warren gouged the Bengals defense for 127 yards on 16 attempts (7.9 yards per carry) while adding to his productive outing with an additional 31 receiving yards on four receptions, finishing with 19.8 fantasy points. On the season, Cincinnati is allowing more than 30 fantasy points per game to opposing backs, as the 137.5 rushing yards it is allowing per game are the sixth most.
The NFL trade deadline is two weeks away, and this is a perfect opportunity for the Jets to showcase the back's talents in an attempt to get the best return on their investment and for Hall to have a fresh start with a competent offense that can utilize him the way fantasy managers can only dream of.
D'Andre Swift - RB, Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens
Don't look now, but D'Andre Swift is currently the RB11 in fantasy after posting back-to-back 20-point fantasy performances. If you are a regular to this column, you know we are all just a bunch of “Swifties” over here.
Over the previous two weeks, Swift has been “Enchanted,” sitting behind only Rico Dowdle in rushing yards with 232 and only behind Achane in yards per carry, averaging 7.03. Let’s give the guys up front some love, as Swift has averaged 5.03 yards before contact per attempt.
Swift’s production is even more impressive when considering the passing game hasn’t contributed all that much, having caught just three passes the last two weeks after catching three or more in each of the previous four contests. But he has made the most of his opportunities with 81 receiving yards on those three receptions.
Gettin' Swifty with it 💨
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/yuwlOjPuxw
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 19, 2025
This season, Baltimore is allowing the seventh-most yards rushing per game (134.3), and the 32.2 points per game it has allowed is the most in the NFL. When you look at those numbers, it's easy to see why the Ravens are allowing 29.10 fantasy points per game to the running back position, allowing 896 total yards and nine touchdowns to the position in just six contests.
Week 8 Sits - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
Quinshon Judkins - RB, Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots
Quinshon Judkins is quickly becoming one of the best running backs in the NFL. Not only does he currently lead all rookie running backs in rushing yards, but the 467 yards the rookie has churned out on the ground are the 10th most in the NFL this season. Judkins currently resides as the RB14, averaging 15.3 fantasy points per game, thanks to last week’s three-touchdown, 84-yard performance against the lowly Dolphins.
Since taking over the backfield, Judkins has accounted for 50% of the team's touchdowns and, despite facing a stacked box rate of 52%, managed 94 yards after contact; again, he only had 84 rushing yards. I don't even pretend to know how math works anymore.
Nearly 89% of Judkins' production this season has come via the run game, which could be a problem this week when facing the New England Patriots. Their 77.1 rushing yards per game allowed is the second fewest in the entire league, and the 19 points per game they are allowing happen to be the fifth fewest.
From a fantasy perspective, that has translated to 15.68 fantasy points per game against, the second-lowest when facing opposing backs this season.
Tony Pollard - RB, Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
Another defensive unit that has surpassed expectations has been the Indianapolis Colts, who are allowing 90.6 rushing yards per game this season, the sixth fewest. Like New England, that stingy run defense has limited fantasy production for opposing backs. This season, Indianapolis is allowing 17.36 fantasy points per game, the third fewest for the position.
A week after Kimani Vidal erupted for 124 yards on 18 carries against the Dolphins, Vidal and Hassan Haskins were limited to 23 rushing yards on 10 attempts against the Colts front. Los Angeles had to abandon the run game in an effort to keep up on the scoreboard, something the Titans cannot do.
If the Colts get out early, Pollard could be a non-factor in the run game and limit any fantasy ceiling he may have. This season, Pollard has four games with 10 or more fantasy points and three games in which he has come short of that mark. Pollard’s usage is also trending in the wrong direction, going from 85% to just 57% of the snaps last week.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt - RB, Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs
While Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the lead back in Washington, commanding 52% of the snaps (60% of said snaps inside the five) and 57% of the rushing attempts over the last three weeks, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols aren’t going anywhere, which is maddening for fantasy managers.
It’s positive to see Croskey-Merritt average 10.1 fantasy points per contest, but what’s not great to see is that over the last two weeks, he has produced games of 5.8 and 4.2 fantasy points after exploding for 27 fantasy points in Week 5. What’s also not great is that Washington could be without Jayden Daniels (hamstring) this week, and both Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) could return, adding competition for the already limited opportunities.
This week's opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, ranks in the middle of the pack when it comes to rushing yards allowed per game (105.7). However, on the season, they are allowing 18.60 fantasy points per game, the seventh fewest. They are coming off a contest in which they embarrassed the Las Vegas Raiders and contained Ashton Jeanty to 34 total yards on seven touches.
It will be very challenging for a running back to produce when an offense only runs 30 total plays.
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