The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks have started to take place. However there are none this week. So Fantasy Managers will have full utilization of their roster and plenty of options to choose from when selecting who to start the week. On top of that, Injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season as well. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 8 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Rankings
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB1 |
| Must Start | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB2 |
| Starting RB1 | Austin Ekeler | vs Chicago Bears | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Alvin Kamara | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Saquon Barkley* | vs New York Jets | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Breece Hall | vs New York Giants | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Tony Pollard | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB7 |
| Starting RB1 | Jahmyr Gibbs | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB8 |
| Starting RB1 | Kenneth Walker III | vs Cleveland Browns | RB9 |
| Starting RB1 | Bijan Robinson* | vs Tennessee Titans | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Denver Broncos | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Washington Commanders | RB12 |
| High-End RB2 | Raheem Mostert | vs New England Patriots | RB13 |
| High-End RB2 | Jonathan Taylor | vs New Orleans Saints | RB14 |
| High-End RB2 | Derrick Henry | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Kareem Hunt | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Miami Dolphins | RB17 |
| Starting RB2 | Miles Sanders* | vs Houston Texans | RB18 |
| Starting RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Dameon Pierce | vs Carolina Panthers | RB21 |
| Flex | Rochon Johnson* | Los Angeles Chargers | RB22 |
| Flex | Rachaad White | vs Buffalo Bills | RB23 |
| Flex | Jaylen Warren | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB24 |
| Flex | Alexander Mattison | vs Green Bay Packers | RB25 |
| Flex | James Cook | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB26 |
| Flex | Najee Harris | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB27 |
| Flex | Gus Edwards | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB28 |
| Flex | Zack Moss | vs New Orleans Saints | RB29 |
| Flex | Emari Demercado | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB30 |
| Flex | Darrell Henderson | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | D’Onta Foreman | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Cam Akers | vs Green Bay Packers | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | Royce Freeman | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Craig Reynolds | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Carolina Panthers | RB38 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaleel McLaughlin | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Pierre Strong Jr. | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs Houston Texans | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Latavius Murray | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs Tennessee Titans | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Justice Hill | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs New England Patriots | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Miami Dolphins | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | A.J. Dillon | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Washington Commanders | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyjae Spears | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jamaal Williams | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Denver Broncos | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Michael Carter | vs New York Giants | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Antonio Gibson | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Chicago Bears | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dalvin Cook | vs New York Giants | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Zach Charbonnet* | vs Cleveland Browns | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Salvon Ahmed | vs New England Patriots | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rico Dowdle | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Elijah Mitchell | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB60 |
| Leave on the Bench | Keaton Mitchell* | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB61 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jordan Mason | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB62 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB63 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tank Bigsby | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB64 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB5 Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley hyperextended his elbow in last week’s game against the Washington Commanders. He was able to finish the game despite suffering the injury. New York could limit Barkley in practice to get him healthier this weekend. If Barkley misses Week 8 against the New York Jets Matt Breida becomes the RB24 between Jaylen Warren and Alexander Mattison.
RB10 Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson was extremely limited during last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to an illness. There is some uncertainty whether this could hold Robinson out of this week’s game. If Robinson misses Week 8 against the Tennessee Titans Tyler Allgeier moves up to RB20 between Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce. Cordarrelle Patterson becomes the RB41 between Chuba Hubbard and Latavius Murray.
RB18 Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Miles Sanders suffered a shoulder injury prior to Carolina’s bye last week. Sanders has been dealing with injuries all season long. If Sanders misses Week 8 against the Houston Texans Chuba Hubbard moves up to RB22 between Rochon Johnson and Rachaad White.
RB22 Rochon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Rochon Johnson suffered a concussion three weeks ago against the Washington Commanders. He sat out the past two games. It is unclear if he will be ready to go this week after shockingly misses last week’s game. If Johnson misses Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers D’Onta Foreman becomes the RB16 between Derrick Henry and Kareem Hunt.
RB56 Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Zach Charbonnet missed last week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with a hamstring injury. If Charbonnet misses Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns DeeJay Dallas becomes the RB59 between Rico Dowdle and Elijah Mitchell.
RB61 Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens
Keaton Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury last week against the Detroit Lions. If he misses Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals Melvin Gordon could be activated off the team’s practice squad to be their third running back.
Players that are currently not expected to play
David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
David Montgomery suffered a rib injury in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is expected to miss “some time” due to the injury. In Montgomery’s absence Jahmyr Gibbs and Craig Reynolds will split the backfield.
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
Jerome Ford suffered a high ankle sprain last week against the Indianapolis Colts. He is expected to miss one to two weeks with the injury. While Ford is out Kareem Hunt is expected to lead the backfield while splitting some time with Pierre Strong Jr.
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/fantasy-football/fantasy-football-week-8-running-back-rankings-3/2023/10/26/
