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Running Back Rankings for Week 8 Fantasy Football

Aaron Jones is primed for a smash week with all the missing receivers for Aaron Rodgers. Full running back rankings for Week 8 fantasy football.

Welcome to the fantasy football Week 8 running back rankings hub!

Injuries and COVID-19 cases suffered by teammates elevate Cleveland’s Nick Chubb and Green Bay’s Aaron Jones to the No. 2 and 3 RB spot this week. Week 7 answered the questions surrounding the 49ers’ backfield: Elijah Mitchell is the clear-cut lead back and JaMycal Hasty has the passing catch back job completely sewn up. NYJ’s Michael Carter has already had his breakout game, he’s the full-on bellcow for Gotham’s oft-forgotten team.

Below you will find my top-60 running backs for Week 8. These rankings are geared toward .5PPR scoring formats for Week 6 of the 2021 NFL season but should aid those who play in both non-PPR and full-point PPR formats. I’ve also included my top RB streaming option this week and DFS play of the week (cost via FanDuel).

Check back throughout the week to see how expectations have changed as news continues to roll in, enhancing our prognostication abilities. Feel free to hit me up on twitter @Ginger__Nic for any fantasy related advice.

Stream of the Week: Kenneth Gainwell at Detroit Lions

It’s chalky but simple, Gainwell handled lead back, dual threat duties after Miles Sanders’ exit in Week 7 (ankle) and is expected to play that role again in Week 8. There’s some talk of Jordan Howard being active and Boston Scott will surely factor in, but Gainwell should get first crack at a Junior Varsity-esque Lions’ front-seven. Detroit’s NEFF run defense rating of 44.7% ranks 21 in the NFL and their 26.9 .5PPR RB PPG allowed is the 4th highest average of 2021. Gainwell should have a floor of 12 touches but realistically could see 18 or more, with nearly half coming via the passing game. Ranked at his floor, he’s a mid-to-low RB2.

DFS Play of the Week: Aaron Jones ($8,000) at Arizona Cardinals

Misfortune arrived in a hurry this week when All Pro WR Davante Adams landed on the COVID-19/Reserve List on Monday and No. 2 WR Allen Lazard followed suit on Tuesday. It’s not a coincidence that Jones’ three eight-target outings—his career-high single game sum—all occurred with Adams inactive. Sans both Adams and Lazard, Jones may enter the 9-10 target territory tomorrow night. Enhancing Jones’ potential outcome, Arizona is also likely to be missing key components of their defensive front. DL J.J. Watt suffered a shoulder injury last week and has failed to practice on both Monday and Tuesday while rotational hogmollies Rashard Lawrence (calf, DNP/DNP) and Corey Peters (COVID-19/Reserve List) are equally in jeopardy of missing the bout.

Week 8 Running Back Rankings
RankNameTeamOpp
1Derrick HenryTENat IND
2Nick ChubbCLEvs. PIT
3Aaron JonesGBat ARI
4Jonathan TaylorINDvs. TEN
5Dalvin CookMINvs. DAL
6D'Andre SwiftDETvs. PHI
7Ezekiel ElliottDALat MIN
8Austin EkelerLACvs. NE
9Alvin KamaraNOvs. TB
10Darrell Henderson Jr.LARat HOU
11James RobinsonJACat SEA
12
Cordarrelle Patterson
ATLvs. CAR
13Najee HarrisPITat CLE
14Elijah MitchellSFat CHI
15Joe MixonCINat NYJ
16Damien HarrisNEat LAC
17Chuba HubbardCARat ATL
18Leonard FournetteTBat NO
19Khalil HerbertCHIvs. SF
20Chase EdmondsARIvs. GB
21Darrel WilliamsKCvs. NYG
22Kenneth GainwellPHIat DET
23Devontae BookerNYGat KC
24Michael CarterNYJvs. CIN
25Antonio GibsonWASat DEN
26Javonte WilliamsDENvs. WAS
27James ConnerARIvs. GB
28Melvin Gordon IIIDENvs. WAS
29Myles GaskinMIAat BUF
30J.D. McKissicWASat DEN
31Tony PollardDALat MIN
32Samaje PerineCINat NYJ
33Zack MossBUFvs. MIA
34Alex CollinsSEAvs. JAC
35AJ DillonGBat ARI
36JaMycal HastySFat CHI
37Ty JohnsonNYJvs. CIN
38Brandon BoldenNEat LAC
39Devin SingletaryBUFvs. MIA
40Nyheim HinesINDvs. TEN
41Mike DavisATLvs. CAR
42Demetric FeltonCLEvs. PIT
43Rashaad PennySEAvs. JAC
44Boston ScottPHIat DET
45Jordan HowardPHIat DET
46Jermar JeffersonDETvs. PHI
47Damien WilliamsCHIvs. SF
48Sony MichelLARat HOU
49Alexander MattisonMINvs. DAL
50Salvon AhmedMIAat BUF
51Jerick McKinnonKCvs. NYG
52Ronald Jones IITBat NO
53Mark Ingram IINOvs. TB
54Giovani BernardTBat NO
55D'Ernest JohnsonCLEvs. PIT
56Royce FreemanCARat ATL
57Jeremy McNicholsTENat IND
58Chris EvansCINat NYJ
59Darrynton EvansTENat IND
60Joshua KelleyLACvs. NE

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