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With Week 8 of the fantasy football season approaching, managers face critical lineup decisions. This weekly start/sit column examines the best and worst running back matchups based on a full-point PPR scoring system. Elite options like Josh Allen, Bijan Robinson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Trey McBride are excluded from this analysis, which instead focuses on players who could exceed or fall short of statistical expectations. For final lineup decisions, refer to the weekly player rankings, updated daily. Streamers are defined as players started in fewer than 50% of Sleeper fantasy leagues. The 49ers, Giants, Saints, and Texans are on bye.
Top 10 Running Back Rankings for Week 8
- Jahmyr Gibbs vs. Vikings
- Bijan Robinson at Buccaneers
- Kenneth Walker III at Broncos
- James Cook vs. Ravens
- Jonathan Taylor at Jaguars
- Derrick Henry at Bills
- Kyren Williams vs. Chargers
- Chuba Hubbard at Packers (Thursday)
- Javonte Williams vs. Cardinals
- Ashton Jeanty at Jets
Start 'Em Running Backs
Start of the Week: Bucky Irving vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox) – Irving, listed as a start last week, exploded for 106 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 24 fantasy points in the Buccaneers' win over the Panthers. He remains a strong play this week against a Falcons defense that has allowed 14-plus fantasy points to six running backs, including four who scored at least 21 points. Atlanta has also surrendered the third-highest EPA to opposing backs this season.
Chuba Hubbard at Packers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) – Hubbard posted a season-low 10 fantasy points in Week 7 against the Buccaneers but still averages 18 points per game. A matchup against the Packers is favorable, as five backs have scored at least 13 points against them, with three exceeding 17 points. Green Bay has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to runners.
Ollie Gordon II vs. Patriots (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) – Gordon has been quietly consistent, scoring a touchdown and 14-plus points in four straight games. He has averaged an impressive 6.7 yards per rush in his last three games and saw a 47% touch share in Week 7 for the Dolphins. Despite a tough Patriots defense that ranks middle-of-the-pack in points allowed to backs, Gordon's volume and nose for the end zone make him a viable No. 2 fantasy back.
Bhayshul Tuten vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS) – Tuten is coming off the best fantasy game of his career, scoring 24.7 points before the Jaguars' bye. His touch share is around 37% for the season, and a matchup against the Colts makes him a nice option. Indianapolis has allowed three backs to score more than 23 fantasy points, including Jaylen Warren, who went off for over 36 points. Tuten should be in the mix as a No. 2 fantasy runner in most leagues.
Rhamondre Stevenson at Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) – Stevenson has put up strong totals over the last four weeks, scoring 17-plus fantasy points three times. He has also taken over the Patriots' backfield, seeing 57 touches while TreVeyon Henderson has had just 32. Stevenson has a great matchup against a Dolphins defense that has allowed six running backs to score 15-plus fantasy points, including three with more than 21 points.
More Starts: Josh Jacobs vs. Panthers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video); Chase Brown vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS); Jordan Mason vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox).
Running Back Streamers
Blake Corum vs. Chargers (38% rostered) – Corum remains behind Kyren Williams in the Rams' offense but is seeing enough touches to be a solid flex play against the Chargers.
Jonah Coleman vs. Chiefs (9% rostered) – Coleman, not J.K. Dobbins or RJ Harvey, led all Broncos running backs in snaps last week. He is a deep-league option for fantasy managers in need.
Rachaad White vs. Eagles (8% rostered) – White will be the top back in Washington against the Eagles, who just allowed 155 rushing yards and 21.5 points to Javonte Williams.
Sit 'Em Running Backs
Sit of the Week: Omarion Hampton at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox) – Hampton has been one of the biggest busts in fantasy this season, making him tough to start even as a flex. He is averaging fewer than 10 points per game, and his yards-per-carry average in his last two games is around 2.4. He has also lost work to Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell in the Chargers' backfield. The Rams are middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to running backs, but Hampton is nearly impossible to start anyway.
Quinshon Judkins at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS) – Judkins is coming off a big game against the Titans, so he'll be tough to sit in most leagues—especially given that he already beat his next opponent, the Steelers, for 21.6 points in Week 4. Still, temper expectations. Pittsburgh has allowed the third-lowest rushing success rate and held Jonathan Taylor, Chase Brown, and Bucky Irving to fewer than 12 fantasy points. Start Judkins with caution this weekend.
Tony Pollard at Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS) – Pollard went off for three touchdowns and more than 36 fantasy points in the Titans' loss to the Browns last week. As a result, it'll be tough to sit him. Keep in mind, though, that Tyjae Spears was out in Week 7, and Pollard had been held to single digits in four of his previous six games. The Bengals have also allowed the third-fewest fantasy points and the third-lowest EPA per game to backs, so the matchup isn't favorable.
Emanuel Wilson vs. Bears (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN) – The call to sit Wilson last week was dead wrong, as he rolled for 100 yards and 18.5 fantasy points against the Chiefs. Still, be wary of starting him this week, as the Seahawks could get Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price back from injury. If even one returns, Wilson's touch share is destined to decline. If both are back, Wilson could fall to third in the pecking order. The Bears can be tough on backs, too.
J.K. Dobbins vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) – Dobbins found the end zone last week but still scored just 8.3 fantasy points. More disturbing is that he played only 14 snaps, third behind Jonah Coleman (30) and RJ Harvey (16). That level of volume is scary, and the Chiefs have allowed the eighth-fewest points per game to opposing running backs. This all makes Dobbins a tough sell this week.
More Sits: TreVeyon Henderson at Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS); Aaron Jones Sr. vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox); RJ Harvey vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS).
Michael Fabiano is a fantasy football analyst for Sports Illustrated. His weekly rankings and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em articles are must-reads for fantasy players. Before joining SI in August 2020, he worked for CBS Sports, NFL Network, and SiriusXM. He also contributes to Westwood One Radio and the Locked on Dynasty Podcast. Fabiano was the first fantasy analyst to appear on one of the four major TV networks and is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame. Follow him on X @Michael_Fabiano.