Week 8 RB Rankings PPR: Running Back Fantasy Stats & Projections

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Ezekiel Elliott and Mark Ingram are the bye week running backs this week. We also have some injury news to deal with, as David Johnson clearly was not healthy enough to play this past week, despite reports saying otherwise. Kerryon Johnson is going to be out, and Ty Johnson is a hot waiver wire option to pick up. If you are looking for some permanent adds for Week 8 and moving forward, check out the waiver wire breakdowns. These are the top ranked running backs, with season long stats, and their projections for Week 8.

Week 8 Running Back Rankings + Stats & Projections

Week 8 Studs

Dalvin Cook is in a prime spot to keep on rolling, he has 133 rushing attempts on the season, and 24 receptions. His eight touchdowns are also a high on the week. This is a perfect spot for him at home as heavy favorites against a bottom half rush defense. Saquon Barkley checks in at number two, and he had 21 touches in his return from the ankle injury. He wasn’t as effective, but Detroit is allowing a hefty amount of fantasy points to running backs this season (32.4). Todd Gurley, James Conner, and Leonard Fournette all get matchups against defenses allowing over 25 PPR points per game to opposing backs.

Ty Johnson will be a good fill in this week, and New York is allowing the 6th most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this week. It will also be interesting to see if the Chiefs running backs gain value with Mahomes out. Green Bay has been shredded on the ground, allowing 28.4 PPR points per game to opposing backs this season. The committee approach is still the big downside here.

Injury Notes

Alvin Kamara sat out against Chicago, citing ankle and knee injuries. I would expect him to sit out this week given they have a bye week after Arizona, and Kamara isn’t a necessity to beat Arizona. In Kamara’s absence, Latavius Murray saw a monster workload, rushing the ball 27 times for 119 yards and two scores. Murray also saw six targets in the passing game, and caught five of them for 31 yards. He draws a fantastic matchup against the Cardinals, and is a strong plug and play. On the flip side of this game, it is hard to trust Arizona moving forward. Even if Johnson is active, Edmunds is going to be a threat still. I don’t love the matchup for either, but in this offense they have a ton of upside. Kerryon Johnson is out this week and will be moving forward. Ty Johnson is going to see a heavier workload, with JD McKissic will get work in the passing game. Both Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson are dealing with injuries. Ultimately I do not want to deal with the situation regardless.

David Johnson and Alvin Kamara will both miss Week 8.

 Tough Matchups

It is easy to spot the tough matchup as far as top backs go. Nick Chubb is going to get the Patriots this week, who have allowed zero touchdowns to running backs so far, and just 12.9 PPR points per game. The theme with these names is that you hope the volume carries them and they can move the ball in comparison to some of the  lesser offenses they have faced. Chubb’s still a start in season long, but doesn’t have any appeal in DFS. Christian McCaffrey is another name, taking on the 49ers, who have allowed 13 PPR points per game to opposing running backs. McCaffrey has been held in check by Bucs defense in two games, which is a close defense to what the 49ers have been doing against running backs. Speaking of Tampa Bay, Derrick Henry faces them this week, and the Buccaneers rush defense is legit. They currently rank first against the run.

It is another tough week for Joe Mixon, who is already one of the bigger busts of the season. The Rams rank 5th against the run, and will be way ahead in this one where the Bengals will play catch up. New Orleans has had a strong defense against the run, and are allowing the fourth fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. With Johnson’s injury situation I am staying away, but we will need to monitor if Edmunds has another workload like last week. Denver, Washington, and Philadelphia’s backfields are all committees that are going to be in a tough spot against teams that don’t allow a ton of fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.