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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.
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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