Fantasy Football Week 8 Running Back Preview: Rankings adjustments, waiver adds, stashes, and more
Everything you need to know about the running back position for Fantasy Football in Week 8
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3 min read
If you have already looked at your Fantasy team this week, I probably don't have to tell you the story of Week 8. It's the bye week. At the running back position, we are without Jahmyr Gibbs, Kyren Williams, Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker, Ashton Jeanty, David Montgomery, and Zach Charbonnet. As you might imagine, most teams are going to have to start someone at the position they haven't started all year.
Unfortunately, there is also not a lot of help available on the waiver wire. No one in my top 24 at the position is available in even a third of CBS leagues. Even Kenneth Gainwell is still rostered in. That means most people are going to have to look to their bench for a starter. Guys like Isiah Pacheco, who was started in only 37% of leagues last week, may see their start percentage double. In the case of Pacheco, that may even be warranted.
Pacheco had a season-high 15 rush attempts last week against the Raiders and turned that into a season-high 11 PPR Fantasy points. One reason is because Geno Smith and the Raiders were not competitive, and the Chiefs quickly built an insurmountable lead. Well, they were 10-5-point favorites for that game early last week. As of Tuesday afternoon, they are 10.5-point favorites over the Commanders, who we expect to start Marcus Mariota on Monday night. The Commanders have also given up at least 126 yards on the ground to running backs in three of their last four games. This looks like the perfect spot to move Pacheco into your starting lineup, and it couldn't have come at a better time for Fantasy managers.
Some other running backs who were on the bench last week but could be good starts this week are Woody Marks, RJ Harvey, Kenneth Gainwell, and Tyler Allgeier.
Now let's get to the rest of the Week 7 RB Preview:
Week 7 RB Preview
RB Preview
Numbers to know
- 5.19 -- The Dolphins are allowing 5.19 yards per carry to running backs. Bijan Robinson is obviously a top running back, but Allgeier could benefit, too.
- 7 -- The Packers have seen seven running back targets per game, second only to Seattle. Expect Jaylen Warren and Gainwell to be involved in the passing game as Aaron Rodgers looks to avoid that pass rush.
- 5.84 -- Rico Dowdle is averaging 5.84 yards per opportunity this year. Chuba Hubbard is at 4.21. The Panthers are probably going to give more work to Dowdle this week.
- 2.15 -- D'Andre Swift is averaging 2.15 yards before contact per attempt. That ranks second behind Jahmyr Gibbs at running back.
- 44.9% -- Kyle Monangai played 44.9% of the snaps in Week 7, a season-high. The Bears are running so well you may be able to start both of their backs against the Ravens this week.
- 14 -- Brashard Smith has 14 catches in his last four games. Last week was the first week they gave him noticeable work in the running game, and it didn't go well. But if he carves out eight to 10 rushes per game in the second half, he could become the Chiefs best back.
- 7.5 -- Chase Brown has averaged 7.5 yards per carry over the past two weeks after averaging 2.5 the first five. With all the teams on a bye, you are probably starting Brown this week.
- 79 -- The Bengals have missed a league-high 79 tackles. It should be a nice bounce-back week for Breece Hall.
RB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
Week 8 Adds (RB Preview)
There is unfortunately not a great running back add this week to make up for our bye week blues. But Monangai is coming off a 15-touch game in which he scored 16.4 PPR Fantasy points. He is also facing a Ravens defense that has given up the third-most Fantasy points to opposing running backs, though I do expect a different Ravens team coming off the bye with Lamar Jackson likely back.
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Speaking of the Ravens, scored 9.4 or more points in two of his last three games and has at least three catches in four of his past five games. This looks more like a Derrick Henry game, or maybe a Lamar Jackson game, but Hill could see eight to 10 touches in a game that has an over/under of 50.5.
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Smith played a season-high 34.6% of the offensive snaps in a Week 7 blowout, and the Chiefs are once again double-digit point favorites. He has been legitimately good as a receiver, averaging 8.7 yards per reception, and could have some long-term upside if he gets more comfortable running between the tackles.
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Stashes (RB Preview)
Benson is eligible to return in Week 10, and I expect him to be the unquestioned lead back in this offense once he is 100%. Bam Knight is also a stash candidate if you have a running back on bye in Week 9. Knight had 17 touches in Week 7 and is the team's goal-line back. But Benson is a much better player and could be a league winner in the second half.
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RB Preview
DFS Plays
Top DFS Play
Projections powered by
Sportsline
This needs no explanation. One of the best running backs in the NFL is facing the worst run defense in the NFL. Robinson will be chalky, but do you want to play against 50% of the field that has him?
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Contrarian DFS Play
Projections powered by
Sportsline
We expect Lamar Jackson back in Week 8. So does Vegas, which is why the Ravens are 6.5-point favorites. Henry, with Jackson, in wins, is still an elite Fantasy running back. But I expect his points per game and 2025 struggles may have caused some people to forget that. I don't believe the Bears suddenly have a good defense because they shut down the Saints.
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RB Preview
Heath's Projections
My full set of Week 8 Fantasy football projections for every position are now available on SportsLine. You'll find them here. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don't live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 8. Projected stats for all starting running backs are available, so be sure to check out the full set of projections at SportsLine.
