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Week 8 Running Back Preview: Bijan Looks To Ground The Dolphins

Top Fantasy RBs for Week 8

Here are the top Week 8 running backs, with usage and matchup details that drive their positioning in the Week 8 RB rankings. 

1. Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Robinson enters with a stunning 152.3 total yards per game. He draws a Miami defense that’s given up lines of 23-206-1 (Rico Dowdle), 18-124 (Kimani Vidal), and 25-84-3 (Quinshon Judkins) over the past three weeks.

2. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

McCaffrey’s receiving production through just seven games this year would have ranked sixth among RBs in targets, sixth in receptions, and fourth in receiving yards … for the season … in 2024.

3. Jonathan Taylor, Colts

This looks like a major mismatch. Fantasy's No. 2 RB gets a Titans squad sitting 24th in our Run Defense Power Rankings and 28th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. To make matters worse for Tennessee -- and better for Taylor -- Pro Bowl DT Jeffery Simmons will likely miss this game.

4. De’Von Achane, Dolphins

The Falcons have allowed the third-fewest catches to RBs in 2025. But Achane sees so much schemed-up work that it’s tough to downgrade him, even against a unit that’s outplayed expectations. On the year, Achane ranks second among RBs in catches (32). 

5. Josh Jacobs, Packers

Jacobs ended up playing last week after being questionable with a calf injury, and ran 13-55-2. It was his lowest carry total of the year and he still is on the injury report. The Steelers gave up chunk runs to struggling RB Chase Brown last week and have been carved up by Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker this season. Jacobs has RB1 overall potential and should be started on every team.

6. James Cook, Bills

Cook started the season with four straight RB1 weeks, but he hasn’t hit 100 yards or a TD over the last two games. With the Bills' offense struggling, Cook hasn’t had the scoring opportunities that prop up his fantasy performances. The Panthers are one of the best run defenses in the league, but Cook could still have a good fantasy day with a goal-line TD or two. Start him, but know you might get another floor game.

7. Derrick Henry, Ravens

The hope is that a well-timed week off helps get the 1-5 Ravens back on track. The return of QB Lamar Jackson is key, but Derrick Henry also needs to come out of the gate blazing. Fortunately, he gets a great matchup in Week 8, facing a Chicago defense that has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. The Ravens are projected to score 28 points and are 6.5-point favorites at home. That sounds like the kind of game script that should lead to a healthy fantasy performance from Henry.

8. Rachaad White, Buccaneers

With Bucky Irving out again, White remains a strong play. He has 144 rushing yards over the last three weeks in tough matchups. Last week, White hit a season high 90% snap rate. Now, he draws a Saints defense allowing 4.3 yards per carry, 19th in the league. White is a must start this week while Irving continues staying sidelined.

9. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Honestly … we might still have this guy overrated. Barkley hasn’t finished higher than 11th among RBs in PPR scoring since Week 1. But his 4.8 yards per rush in the first meeting with the Giants offers some hope. And Barkley has logged 18+ carries in five of his seven games. And this week’s market projections for Barkley’s rushing actually sit higher than ours. It’s OK to lean away from Barkley if you have someone we project closely behind him. But there will also be some risk in going against one of the league’s biggest talents at the position in a positive matchup (even with all the struggles).

10. Javonte Williams, Cowboys

Williams has been among the biggest surprises in fantasy. Fueled by a 70% carry share, the Cowboy ranks sixth in PPR scoring. Next up is a Denver defense that’s allowed the fewest runs of 10+ yards this season (eight). They also sit fourth-best in EPA allowed per rush. The matchup adds some extra risk to Williams as he faces his former team.

11. Breece Hall, Jets

We'll see if the Jets can actually play some competent offense under likely starter Tyrod Taylor. If they can, Hall is in a nice spot against the Bengals. Cincinnati sits 29th in our Run Defense Power Rankings and 30th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. The Bengals have allowed an RB to score 16.7+ PPR points in all seven games.

12. D’Andre Swift, Bears

Swift has rattled off back-to-back games with 100-plus rushing yards. He's now inside RB1 range for the season, averaging 16.4 PPR points per game. Swift is playing a big part in Chicago's offense, commanding 58% of their carries and posting a 12% target share. This week, that volume keeps him in RB2 range against a Baltimore defense that allows the seventh-fewest fantasy points to RBs. 

13. Jaylen Warren, Steelers

Warren went 16-127-0 along with 4 catches for 31 yards, his best game of the season. He handled 80% of backfield touches and is the clear lead back for the Steelers going forward. He has the third-highest target share among RBs at 27.5%. The Packers have been stout against the run, giving up 3.6 yards per carry, fourth in the NFL. But, RBs have scored through receiving. In PPR leagues, Warren should be starting.

14. J.K. Dobbins, Broncos

Dobbins maintains a firm grasp on Denver’s lead-back role, one that’s supplied 14+ carries in all but one game. He draws a Cowboys defense that sits 27th in run defense DVOA. They’ve also allowed a 100-yard rusher in two of the past three matchups. In the highest over/under of the week, Dobbins should be treated as an upside RB2.

15. Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

Skattebo’s probably more volatile than his fantasy totals make him look. All three of his rushing TDs in the four games since Jaxson Dart took over came in one game. And Skattebo has reached 4.0 yards per carry in just one of those contests. Of course, both of those things happened in the first meeting with these Eagles. And the rookie has garnered at least 22 opportunities (carries plus targets) in four straight games. He should be tough to sit.

16. Quinshon Judkins, Browns

In Cleveland's last 5 games, Judkins has rushed 99 times for 406 yards and 5 TDs. He's the overall RB11 during the stretch and accounted for a massive 81% of the Browns' rushing attempts. Another heavy workload is in store for Cleveland this week as they travel to New England. The Patriots allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points to RBs, but Judkins' volume and TD upside keep him in mid-range RB2 territory. 

17. Kimani Vidal, Chargers

After a big Week 6 vs. the Dolphins, Vidal mustered just 35 total yards in the Week 7 loss to the Colts. Game script worked against him in that one, but Vidal continued to control backfield work. Now RB Hassan Haskins is out for Thursday night's game vs. the Vikings, which should mean an even bigger share of the backfield heading Vidal's way. Minnesota ranks 12th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs but just 21st in our Run Defense Power Rankings. It's a doable matchup, making Vidal a viable RB2 play in fantasy lineups.

18. Chase Brown, Bengals

Brown is coming off his best game of the season: 11 carries for 108 yards in the upset win over the Steelers. He's now averaged 4.7 and 9.8 yards per carry in his last two games, after mustering just 2.5 over his first five. He continues to cede some work to RB Samaje Perine, but Brown's fantasy outlook is on the up-and-up with QB Joe Flacco breathing life back into this Bengals offense. Next up is a Jets defense that has played the run tough this year. But with Cincinnati 6.5-point home favorites with a 25.5-point implied total, Brown is back on the RB2 radar.

19. Alvin Kamara, Saints

Kamara continues spiraling this season, with only 29 yards on 14 touches last week. His 84% snap rate was the second highest of the season, fueled by Kendre Miller’s season-ending injury. He could increase his snaps, but that doesn’t mean production. The Buccaneers' run defense has been surprisingly strong, but they are giving up 12.3 receiving fantasy points per game through the air to RBs. Kamara is an RB2 bet and likely start this week with bye weeks hitting. 

20. Jordan Mason, Vikings

RB Aaron Jones' expected return on Thursday night puts a significant dent in Mason's volume projection. But he remains a good bet to lead the backfield in touches. And he gets a plus matchup against a reeling Chargers run defense. Los Angeles has coughed up these rushing lines over the last three weeks: 

• 14-111-2 to Jacory Croskey-Merritt 
• 16-128-2 to De'Von Achane 
• 16-94-3 to Jonathan Taylor

21. Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

Pacheco is slowly starting to assert himself as Kansas City's main RB. He has 29 touches in the Chiefs' last two games and punched in his first rushing TD of the season last week. Pacheco is up to a 44% rush share while Kareem Hunt is moving in the wrong direction. In a game where Kansas City is a big favorite at home, Pacheco profiles as a solid RB2. 

22. Rico Dowdle, Panthers

Dowdle and Hubbard split snaps and touches nearly down the middle. Dowdle played 54.3% of snaps and 16 touches for 55 yards vs. Hubbard’s 45.7% of snaps and 18 touches for 96 yards. Dowdle was outsnapped by Hubbard in the first quarter, but had more touches over the rest of the game. The split makes them tough to trust, but the Bills are allowing the highest yards per carry in the league at 5.4. With the byes this week, you can plug both Panthers’ RBs in as RB2s.

23. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

The Patriots return home after a 3-0 stretch on the road. During the streak, Stevenson only grew his control of the Patriots' backfield. His 18 carries and 88 rushing yards in Week 7 were season-high totals. Stevenson has now played 66% of New England's snaps and accounted for 54% of their backfield carries, and he's the only back with a carry inside the opponent's 5-yard line all season. That kind of usage keeps him in weekly RB2/3 range, but this week's matchup isn't one to go out of your way to target. The Browns are stout against the run. Cleveland allows the fewest fantasy points to RBs. Volume keeps Stevenson in play as a low-end RB2, but his ceiling is lower in Week 8. 

24. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Hubbard and Dowdle split snaps and touches nearly down the middle. Dowdle played 54.3% of snaps and 16 touches for 55 yards vs. Hubbard’s 45.7% of snaps and 18 touches for 96 yards. Hubbard outsnapped Dowdle in the first quarter, but Dowdle had more touches over the rest of the game. The split makes them tough to trust, but the Bills are allowing the highest yards per carry in the league at 5.4. With the byes this week, you can plug both Panthers’ RBs in as RB2s.

25. Woody Marks, Houston Texans

Marks’ work has continued to fluctuate since a seeming breakthrough against the Titans back in Week 4. That meant just seven carries and one target in a lopsided win over a dramatically reduced version of the Ravens, then 13 total touches in last week’s loss to Seattle (coming out of the bye). The trailing game script for most of that contest helped Marks more than triple Nick Chubb’s playing time. That kind of split’s not likely to happen again, with Houston the slight home favorite this week. But Marks looks like the better fit for backfield work against the 49ers. They play the run tougher than the pass in general, and missing lead LB Fred Warner specifically softens the short-range coverage.

26. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders

Week 8 is a tough matchup for Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Chiefs allow the seventh-fewest PPR points per game to RBs, and Washington is an 11.5-point underdog. Croskey-Merritt, who has only caught 7 balls all season, could see his playing time reduced if the Commanders are in 'catch-up' mode as projected. View JCM as a TD-dependent RB3/flex option in Week 8. 

27. Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard has 16 carries and eight targets to Tyjae Spears' 10 carries and eight targets over the last two weeks. Spears is playing more in obvious passing situations, too, which will likely be plentiful this week with the Titans 14.5-point underdogs to the Colts. Pollard is a viable RB3 or Flex play only because there are six teams on bye this week.

28. Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears has tallied 10 carries and eight targets to Tony Pollard's 16 carries and eight targets over the last two weeks. Spears is also playing more on obvious passing downs. So, with the Titans huge 14.5-point underdogs to the Colts this week, there's a chance Spears out-touches Pollard. Still, we're talking about a committee back on a bad offense. Spears is a weak RB3 or Flex play.

29. RJ Harvey, Broncos

Harvey’s delivered 3+ catches in four of his past five outings while holding a minimal role on the ground. He’s topped six carries only once (in a Week 4 blowout). Sunday’s matchup looks strong for scoring upside and efficiency, as Dallas allows nearly 10.0 yards per catch to RBs, while only two teams allow more points per game. View the rookie as a PPR flex.

30. Kyle Monangai, Bears

In the Bears' last two games, Monangai has played 39% of the Bears' snaps and touched the ball 22 times. Last week, he rushed 13 times for 81 yards and a score. This week's matchup against the Chiefs isn't ideal, but Monangai's increasing usage makes him an intriguing flex option in a week where six teams are on a bye. 

31. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers

Gainwell played only 39% of snaps last week and only had five touches, and isn’t getting the usage to be started, even amongst the bye weeks this week.  The Packers have been stout against the run, giving up 3.6 yards per carry, fourth in the NFL.  

32. Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allgeier brings an elevated upside this week against Miami’s putrid run defense. But a lack of a receiving role still makes him TD-reliant, as the fourth-year back owns only three catches on the season. Allgeier settles in as an RB3/flex.

33. Nick Chubb, Houston Texans

Chubb saw a season-low 25% snap share in last week’s loss to Seattle, a predictably tough rushing matchup heading in and a game that found the Texans trailing the whole way. We’re a little skeptical of them entering Sunday’s clash with the Niners as a favorite, but that should mean improved conditions for Chubb. Still, he has fallen short of 4.0 yards per carry in half of his games and has yet to exceed 13 carries in a contest. There’s limited upside to go with plenty of risk, especially if 2-4 Houston does fall behind (again).

34. Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones will play for the first time since Week 3 and got in just two limited practices this week. He’d be a very shaky fantasy start, even in a matchup against a struggling Chargers run defense.

35. Justice Hill, Ravens

Although he is behind Derrick Henry on the depth chart, Justice Hill has played plenty for a Ravens team that has dropped five of six to open the season. Hill has been in on 40% of Baltimore's snaps and ranks third on the team with a 16% target share. Baltimore is projected to score the third-most points in Week 8, so Hill offers decent PPR value as an RB3/flex option this week. 

36. Brashard Smith, Chiefs

Smith commanded a career-high 14 carries last week, but most of that came in the fourth quarter of KC's blowout win. However, Smith has become the Chiefs' main pass-catching back. He has topped 3-plus receptions in 4 consecutive games. His 12% target share from Weeks 4-7 ranks fifth on the team, and he caught a season-high 5 balls last week with Rashee Rice back in the fold. View Smith as a decent flex play in PPR formats. 

37. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots

In New England's last three games, Henderson has only played 30% of snaps, drawn a 7% target share, and averaged 3.3 PPR points per game. It's not happening for the rookie, and he's unlikely to get on track in Week 8 against a Browns' defense that cedes the fewest fantasy points to RBs. Henderson's role in the passing game is also shrinking, which makes him a risky flex play even in a week with six teams unavailable due to their bye week. 

38. Samaje Perine, Bengals

Perine has averaged 5.7 carries and 1.7 targets over the last three games. Perhaps he gets a bit more rushing volume in Week 8 if the Bengals are playing with a comfortable lead over the Jets. But you're pretty much hoping he falls into the end zone if you're using him in fantasy. Perine has at least played 50% of Cincinnati's snaps inside the five-yard line over the last three weeks.

39. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants

The positive from Tracy’s Week 7: He saw a slight boost in playing time and logged his second-most carries of the season -- most since the opener. Downside: He didn’t run a single pass route. The rushing TD was cool, but Tracy will struggle to present predictable upside with no receiving role.

40. Isaiah Davis, Jets

Davis has continued to play a change-of-pace, pass-catching role behind Breece Hall, averaging 1.7 carries and 3.0 targets over the last three games without Braelon Allen. He’d be a desperation Week 8 fantasy start (although he is worth stashing in case of a Hall trade).

41. Jeremy McNichols, Commanders

As Washington's main pass-catching back, this week's game script favors McNichols, but he has received more than 2 carries since Week 2 and has yet to top 3 receptions or 30 receiving yards in any game. McNichols is merely a middling bye-week flex option who can get you 4-6 PPR points, but has a limited ceiling. 

42. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

Hunt has scored fewer than 6 PPR points in three of his last four games. He hasn't topped 7 carries since Week 5 and is also dealing with a left ankle injury. Hunt has only played 26% of the snaps in Kansas City's last three contests, so it's getting harder to view him as anything more than a TD-dependent RB3/4. 

43. Sean Tucker, Buccaneers

Tucker hasn’t gotten much work, even with Bucky Irving sidelined with injury. Tucker played only 10% of snaps last week, the least since the Irving injury. He only had 2 touches for 6 yards. Ultimately, Tucker should be left on the bench this week.

44. Jerome Ford, Browns

Ford is only averaging 10 rushing yards per game, but he has caught 20 balls and dominates playing time in passing situations. The Browns are 7-point underdogs in New England, so Ford should run plenty of routes. He's a good bet for 5-8 touches and can be considered a modest bye-week flex play in PPR formats. 

45. Emanuel Wilson, Packers

Wilson was slated to get the start if Jacobs missed last week, but he did not. He had seven touches for 15 yards, so there isn’t much upside unless Jacobs misses time. Keep Wilson on the bench.

46. Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins

HC Mike McDaniel talked this week about taking some of the load off De’Von Achane. In theory, that’s good news for Gordon. Still, he doesn’t contribute in the passing game, and Miami’s offense has struggled for most of 2025. Gordon remains best off as a bench stash.

47. Brian Robinson Jr., San Francisco 49ers

Robinson’s nine carries in last week’s win over the Falcons matched his season high from Week 1. But he’s working behind a guy on a historic receiving pace among RBs and leading the league in carries. Even a six-team bye doesn’t make Robinson actually playable.

48. Tyler Badie, Broncos

Badie matched RJ Harvey in snap share in Week 7. He didn't see any carries, though, while he tallied just a 23% route rate. He remains a low-floor option in deep PPR leagues.

49. Jaydon Blue, Cowboys

Blue has tallied 4, 3, and 8 touches since Miles Sanders went down with an ankle injury. The rookie remains more of a bench stash than a startable fantasy option.

50. Ty Johnson, Bills

Johnson has a catch in only two of his five games this season. He also hasn’t topped 3 carries in any game yet this year. The only potential positive was Johnson’s 42% snap rate in the Bills’ last game, his highest of the season. But it still didn’t translate into fantasy points. Bench him.

Next Up

Week 8 Wide Receiver Preview: Zay Flowers Gets Back to WR1 Output

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Jody Smith, Analyst

Jody Smith has been playing fantasy football for over 30 years, the last 15 as an analyst, writer, and editor. Jody's rankings have been among the most consistent, placing him inside the top-10 in multi-year accuracy.