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Week 8 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Below you will find our Week 8 running back rankings, to help determine your WR starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).

Featured fantasy football writer Zach Wilkens also highlights some WR rankings and matchups analysis for Week 8, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 8.

You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.

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Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs

RotoBaller Staff Rankings Player Name (Team - Position) Zach Wilkens Rankings Edward Gorelik Rankings
1 Le'Veon Bell PIT vs. CIN 1 3
2 Todd Gurley STL vs. SF 2 2
3 Matt Forte CHI vs. MIN 5 1
4 Marshawn Lynch SEA at DAL 6 5
5 Devonta Freeman ATL vs. TB 3 10
6 Doug Martin TB at ATL 9 4
7 Adrian Peterson MIN at CHI 7 6
8 Mark Ingram NO vs. NYG 4 11
9 Danny Woodhead SD at BAL 8 9
10 Lamar Miller MIA at NE 11 7
11 Christopher Ivory NYJ at OAK 12 8
12 Dion Lewis NE vs. MIA 13 12
13 Justin Forsett BAL vs. SD 10 16
14 Chris Johnson ARI at CLE 17 14
15 Giovani Bernard CIN at PIT 16 15
16 Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. IND 21 13
17 Duke Johnson CLE vs. ARI 14 22
18 Frank Gore IND at CAR 20 17
19 Charcandrick West KC vs. DET 19 18
20 Latavius Murray OAK vs. NYJ 15 24
21 Theo Riddick DET at KC 18 23
22 Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. GB 25 21
23 Darren McFadden DAL vs. SEA 28 19
24 Eddie Lacy GB at DEN 22 27
25 Jeremy Hill CIN at PIT 23 26
26 Shane Vereen NYG at NO 24 32
27 Charles Sims TB at ATL 26 30
28 Ameer Abdullah DET at KC 29 28
29 LeGarrette Blount NE vs. MIA 34 29
30 James Starks GB at DEN 46 20
31 C.J. Spiller NO vs. NYG 27 39
32 Chris Polk HOU vs. TEN 38 31
33 Andre Ellington ARI at CLE 30 40
34 Orleans Darkwa NYG at NO 33 37
35 Antonio Andrews TEN at HOU 36 34
36 Dexter McCluster TEN at HOU 37 35
37 Khiry Robinson NO vs. NYG 32 43
38 Branden Oliver SD at BAL 39 36
39 Alfred Blue HOU vs. TEN 43 33
40 Melvin Gordon SD at BAL 31 46
41 C.J. Anderson DEN vs. GB 41 38
42 Rashad Jennings NYG at NO 40 42
43 Reggie Bush SF at STL 35 50
44 Robert Turbin CLE vs. ARI 42 44
45 Ahmad Bradshaw IND at CAR 44 45
46 David Johnson ARI at CLE 51 41
47 Fred Jackson SEA at DAL 45 67
48 Christine Michael DAL vs. SEA 49 48
49 Benny Cunningham STL vs. SF 47 70
50 Isaiah Crowell CLE vs. ARI 54 47
51 Jonathan Grimes HOU vs. TEN 48 63
52 Tevin Coleman ATL vs. TB 49
53 Mike Davis SF at STL 50 71
54 Roy Helu OAK vs. NYJ 51
55 Jerick McKinnon MIN at CHI 52 74
56 Knile Davis KC vs. DET 57 52
57 Javorius Allen BAL vs. SD 53 59
58 Joique Bell DET at KC 53
59 Bilal Powell NYJ at OAK 54
60 Zac Stacy NYJ at OAK 55 58
61 Bishop Sankey TEN at HOU 55
62 Thomas Rawls SEA at DAL 56 64
63 Mike Tolbert CAR vs. IND 56
64 Josh Robinson IND at CAR 57
65 Marcel Reece OAK vs. NYJ 61
66 Tre Mason STL vs. SF 62
67 James White NE vs. MIA 65
68 Andre Williams NYG at NO 66
69 Kyle Juszczyk BAL vs. SD 68
70 Jeremy Langford CHI vs. MIN 69
71 Jonas Gray MIA at NE 72
72 Taiwan Jones OAK vs. NYJ 73
73 DeAngelo Williams PIT vs. CIN 75

 

Week 8 Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis

By Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades)

Most of my top ten at RB this week won’t surprise anyone. The one player I am a little bit lower on is Matt Forte. I really like the Vikings defense and they are now far removed from getting destroyed by Carlos Hyde. In addition, they are one of just a few teams that haven’t allowed an RB rec touchdown. The Vikings held Forte to just 74 total yards and no score in their last meeting in the final week of the 2014 season.

I have something to admit: I was totally wrong on Charcandrick West. I didn’t think he stood a chance to do anything against the Steelers defense (no RB touchdowns allowed heading into last week). He played really well and as a result I have him at RB17 this week. Perhaps most importantly, he was in on 87% snaps. Knile Davis? He saw just 3 snaps and it’s clear that he is not going to be a threat anytime soon. If you grabbed West, congrats.

Another RB that really impressed me last week? Darren McFadden. That doesn’t make me want like him this week against the Seahawks though. The Seahawks have not allowed a 100 yard rusher and the only RB touchdowns both came at the hands of Jonathan Stewart. I actually like McFadden quite a bit going forward but I have no reason to think he can do much this week.

When Orleans Darkwa scored last week it left many saying ‘Who?’. This week his consensus rank is RB41 so it’s clear many aren’t really buying into his value just yet. At the very least I think he needs to be stashed. I do have him at RB31 this week so I think he could be flexed if you are suffering from some bye week blues. Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams have both looked very underwhelming. The Giants should definitely continue to give Darkwa some opportunities to run away with the job this week.

The Texans situation is pretty ugly but I think if anyone ends up with the lead role it will be Chris Polk. I mostly think it’s going to be a committee situation that doesn’t do much good for fantasy. As a result none of the RBs are in my top 30 this week. Alfred Blue has had a couple big games in his career but for the most part he has looked really bad. Very few backs have gotten off to a 3.3 YPC over their first two seasons (Blue’s current career YPC) and gone on to make a solid career out of it. Let’s play wait and see here but both backs should be owned just in case.

 

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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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