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Should I start D'Andre Swift, Chuba Hubbard, J.K. Dobbins for Week 8? Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks and recommendations for the 2025 NFL season.
We’re now approaching the midpoint of the NFL season, and fantasy managers have a much clearer understanding of their rosters and player performances. Whether your team has started strong, hovered around average, or struggled to find consistency, there’s still hope that a late-season push can turn things around.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at three running backs, D'Andre Swift, Chuba Hubbard, and J.K. Dobbins, to determine whether they should be in your starting lineup for Week 8. Each began the year as their team’s lead back, but their trajectories have gone in very different directions as the season has unfolded.
So, should fantasy managers start Swift, Hubbard, and Dobbins in Week 8? Let’s dive in and find out.
Editor's Note: Stay on top of your draft prep with RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings, featuring expert analysis, ADPs, and draft insights for both PPR and non-PPR leagues.
Should I Start D'Andre Swift for Fantasy Football?
Chicago Bears running back Swift has been on fire since returning from the team’s bye in Week 5. Over the last two games, Swift has racked up 33 carries for 232 yards and a touchdown, while adding 81 receiving yards and another score through the air.
D'ANDRE SWIFT 55 YARD-TD!
CHIvsWAS on ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/r8sJNYKjQU— NFL (@NFL) October 14, 2025
While Swift has performed at an elite level over the past two weeks, rookie Kyle Monangai is keeping this backfield closer to a committee approach. Over the past two weeks, Swift has played 57% of the snaps, compared to Monangai’s 40%.
Even if touches remain split, both backs are set up well moving forward. The Bears face the NFL’s two worst run defenses over the next two weeks (Baltimore and Cincinnati).
The Ravens do get Roquan Smith back in Week 8, but even with him in the lineup earlier this year, running backs like David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and James Cook found success.
Entering this favorable stretch and with how well the Bears are producing on the ground, Swift projects as a high-end RB2 for Week 8 and beyond.
Should I Start Chuba Hubbard for Fantasy Football?
Carolina Panthers running back Hubbard has lost the firm grip he once had on the backfield in 2024. In his first game back from injury, Hubbard managed just 14 carries for 31 yards and added 24 yards on two receptions through the air.
The emergence of Rico Dowdle has drastically reduced Hubbard’s fantasy value. During Hubbard’s absence, Dowdle delivered back-to-back games with over 230 scrimmage yards, making it impossible for the Panthers to take him off the field in Week 7.
Rico Sharod Dowdle pic.twitter.com/pQFBQGf6iv
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 12, 2025
Last week, Hubbard narrowly outsnapped Dowdle (56% to 47%) and was very inefficient, averaging 2.2 yards per carry compared to Dowdle’s 4.6. Head coach Dave Canales has already indicated the team will ride the “hot hand” moving forward, meaning Hubbard will need to perform significantly better to reclaim a lead role.
The upcoming matchup is favorable, as the Bills have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season, including 238 scrimmage yards and a touchdown to Bijan Robinson in their last outing.
Still, given the committee trend and Dowdle’s strong play, Hubbard profiles as a risky FLEX option for Week 8 and a player whose rest-of-season outlook could hinge on this week’s performance.
Should I Start J.K. Dobbins for Fantasy Football?
Denver Broncos running back Dobbins has firmly established himself as the team’s RB1 through seven weeks. He’s totaled 523 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 105 carries, ranking as the RB17 in half-PPR formats.
Dobbins has been as efficient as ever, averaging over 5.0 yards per carry in 2025 and looking every bit like the dynamic runner he was in Baltimore. While head coach Sean Payton continues to employ a committee approach, Dobbins clearly leads the way, playing 53% of the snaps, compared to 30% for rookie R.J. Harvey.
J.K. Dobbins is the first 100-yard rusher for the @Broncos in the last 38 games
CINvsDEN on ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/ObRtdMIIf2— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2025
Many expected Harvey to gradually take over the backfield, but so far, he’s struggled, averaging just 4.2 yards per carry, and only 2.9 if you exclude a single 50-yard run in Week 1.
The Broncos get a great matchup in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Aside from shutting down Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Week 7, Dallas has been gashed by Dowdle, Breece Hall, and Josh Jacobs in recent weeks.
With a soft matchup ahead and clear lead-back usage, Dobbins is a must-start RB2 in all fantasy formats for Week 8.
Who Should I Start Tool
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 8 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like D'Andre Swift, Chuba Hubbard, and J.K. Dobbins. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 8. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 8 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - D'Andre Swift, Chuba Hubbard, and J.K. Dobbins. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 8.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool, but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed that our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 8 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 8 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 8 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 8 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for D'Andre Swift, Chuba Hubbard, and J.K. Dobbins compared to others:
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