Week 8 Fantasy RB PPR Rankings
The Raiders and Ravens are on bye this week, but it’s likely fantasy football owners won’t miss their running backs too much. That’s especially true in point-per-reception leagues, where you couldn’t really count on any of their key RBs to catch passes in a given week. Nonetheless, our Week 8 fantasy RB PPR rankings are still without some notable backs because of injuries.
Unfortunately, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee), Chris Carson (neck), Christian McCaffrey (hamstring), and Kareem Hunt (calf) are all still on IR and can’t return this week, but we could be getting Saquon Barkley (ankle), Nick Chubb (calf), and David Montgomery (knee) back. Montgomery figures to remain out, but Barkley (@ Chiefs) and Chubb (vs. Steelers) both have shots to return.
They will be must-starts if they do come back, though Chubb would return to a less than ideal matchup. If he’s out, Week 7 hero D’Ernest Johnson will get another chance to lead Cleveland’s backfield, but he’s merely an RB2/flex against a solid Pittsburgh run defense. If Chubb is back, Johnson isn’t worth using outside of very deep leagues.
A couple backs who are usually much more valuable in PPR leagues — Chase Edmonds (vs. Packers) and Myles Gaskin (@ Bills) — both have tough matchups this week. Because of the PPR aspect, they still have some value, but they’re riskier than usual. Edmonds can hang his hat on the fact the Packers entered Week 7 allowing 5.5 catches per game to RBs (11th most), but total yards and certainly a touchdown could be tough to come by. PPR maestros Austin Ekeler (vs. Patriots), Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. Panthers), and Mike Davis (vs. Panthers) — all in the top 12 in RB receptions entering Week 7 — have tough matchups, too, but Davis is the only guy you can consider benching in either half-point or full-point PPR leagues.
There could be a lot of RB receptions in the Jets and Bengals game, as both teams ranked in the top three in RB receptions/game allowed entering Week 7. That gives a slight boost in value to Samaje Perine (@ Jets) and Michael Carter (vs. Bengals), but both are merely flex plays (at best). The Bucs, Cowboys, Eagles, Seahawks, Chiefs, and Dolphins all were giving up at least six receptions/game heading into Week 7, so give slight PPR boosts to borderline guys Jamaal Williams (vs. Eagles), Devontae Booker if Barkley is out (@ Chiefs), and Zack Moss/Devin Singletary (vs. Dolphins).
The Bills duo is one of several that’s tough to pin down. However, since both backs have some reception upside, they’re worthwhile RB2s given the highly favorable matchup. The same can’t necessarily be said for the Bears duo of Damien Williams and Khalil Herbert (vs. 49ers) or the Broncos duo of Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon (vs. Washington), who face a WFT defense that’s been relatively good at limiting receptions to RBs (4.0 per game). The Broncos are even stingier themselves (2.7), which is bad news for J.D. McKissic. The 49ers give up a fair amount of RB receptions, so Herbert, who caught all five of his targets last week, can have his usual value.
Several borderline backs are in good spots based simply on the run defenses they’re facing. Damien Harris (@ Chargers), Darrel Williams (vs. Giants), and Kenneth Gainwell (@ Lions) should do well on the ground even if they don’t have a ton of catches. Tony Pollard (@ Vikings) is in a similar situation as a secondary back, with Brandon Bolden (@ Chargers) and Rashaad Penny/Alex Collins (vs. Jaguars) also poised to have at least flex value.
Note: We’ll be updating these RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 8: Who to start at running back
Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring
Titans @ Colts
Jaguars @ Seahawks
Vikings @ Cowboys
Cowboys @ Vikings
Saints vs. Buccaneers
Giants @ Chiefs
Chargers vs. Patriots
Lions vs. Eagles
Colts vs. Titans
Bengals @ Jets
Steelers @ Browns
Patriots @ Chargers
Packers @ Cardinals
Eagles @ Lions
Rams @ Texans
Chiefs vs. Giants
Falcons vs. Panthers
Buccaneers @ Saints
Browns vs. Steelers
Panthers @ Falcons
49ers @ Bears
Washington @ Broncos
Bills vs. Dolphins
Bills vs. Dolphins
Cowboys @ Vikings
26 Alex Collins, SEA vs. JAX
27 Khalil Herbert, CHI vs. SF
28 Myles Gaskin, MIA @ BUF
29 Chase Edmonds, ARI vs. GB
30 Mike Davis, ATL vs. CAR
31 Javonte Williams, DEN vs. WAS
32 Brandon Bolden, NE @ LAC
33 JD McKissic, WAS @ DEN
34 Melvin Gordon, DEN vs. WAS
35 Michael Carter, NYJ vs. CIN
36 James Conner, ARI vs. GB
37 Rashaad Penny, SEA vs. JAX
38 Jamaal Williams, DET vs. PHI
39 Mark Ingram, HOU vs. LAR
40 Samaje Perine, CIN @ NYJ
41 Damien Williams, CHI vs. SF
42 D’Ernest Johnson, CLE vs. PIT
43 Boston Scott, PHI @ DET
44 Ty Johnson, NYJ vs. CIN
45 David Johnson, HOU vs. LAR
46 Nyheim Hines, IND vs. TEN
47 Salvon Ahmed, MIA @ BUF
48 AJ Dillon, GB @ ARI
49 Malcolm Brown, MIA @ BUF
50 Alexander Mattison, MIN vs. DAL
51 JaMycal Hasty, SF @ CHI
52 Ronald Jones II, TB @ NO
53 Giovani Bernard, TB @ NO
54 Devontae Booker, NYG @ KC
55 Darrynton Evans, TEN @ IND
56 Demetric Felton, CLE vs. PIT
57 Sony Michel, LAR @ HOU
58 Jerick McKinnon, KC vs. NYG
59 Joshua Kelley, LAC vs. NE
60 J.J. Taylor, NE @ LAC
61 Carlos Hyde, JAX @ SEA
62 Phillip Lindsay, HOU vs. LAR
63 Larry Rountree III, LAC vs. NE
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