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2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs for Week 8

Houston should be favorable for Darrell Henderson.

Detroit Lions v Los Angeles Rams Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

In the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Bob Hayes set a world record for the 100-meter dash and then turned around and won the 4x100 meter relay. Oh, did I mention Bob Hayes was a football player? Specifically, a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. The week after Derrick Henry clocked the fastest ball carry of 2021—21.8 MPH per Next Gen Stats—he had a respectable 86 yards rushing versus the Kansas City Chiefs. This was just the second game this year that Henry did NOT register 100 yards rushing. The only reason he’s not No. 1 in the rankings this week is the favorable matchup that Dalvin Cook has.

A few notes for Week 8

  • Minnesota vs. Dallas looks like it could showcase a lot of running.
  • Keep an eye on injuries to Nick Chubb, Miles Sanders, and Saquon Barkley.
  • My gut feeling tells me, Detroit, Cleveland, and Jacksonville go run-heavy this week.
  • We should see some tandem work with Mike Davis/Cordarrelle Patterson, Chase Edmonds/James Conner, Zach Moss/Devin Singletary, and Javonte Williams/Melvin Gordon III

Fantasy Football RB Rankings Week 8

Rank Player Team Opponent Notes
Rank Player Team Opponent Notes
1 Dalvin Cook Min Min vs Dal Had his bye week and is rested up
2 Derrick Henry Ten Ten @ Ind Averaging 28 carries per game the last four games
3 Darrell Henderson Jr. LAR LAR @ Hou Rush TDs in 2 of his last 3 games
4 D'Andre Swift Det Det vs Phi Easier matchup
5 Jonathan Taylor Ind Ind vs Ten Taylor has 5 rush TDs in the last 4 games
6 Alvin Kamara NO NO vs TB Put on a show on MNF last week
7 Joe Mixon Cin Cin @ NYJ Easier matchup
8 Aaron Jones GB GB @ Ari Tough matchup
9 Austin Ekeler LAC LAC vs NE His last outing was 7 carries for 7 yards against Balt; had a bye week to stew
10 Ezekiel Elliott Dal Dal @ Min Zeke has 5 rush TDs in the last 5 games
11 James Robinson Jax Jax @ Sea Robinson has 5 rush TDs in the last 4 games
12 Najee Harris Pit Pit @ Cle Last two outings he rushed for 80+ yards
13 Leonard Fournette TB TB @ NO 4 rush TDs in last 3 games
14 Cordarrelle Patterson Atl Atl vs Car Tough matchup
15 Nick Chubb Cle Cle vs Pit Questionable
16 Saquon Barkley NYG NYG @ KC Questionable
17 Damien Harris NE NE @ LAC Easier matchup
18 Chuba Hubbard Car Car @ Atl Three straight weeks number of carries going down
19 Chase Edmonds Ari Ari vs GB Does not have a rush TD yet this year (cough cough Connor vulture)
20 Darrel Williams KC KC vs NYG Depends on if KC uses him or not
21 James Conner Ari Ari vs GB TD Vulture
22 Khalil Herbert Chi Chi vs SF Rushed for 100 yards last game
23 Eli Mitchell SF SF @ Chi Decent outing vs. a tough Indianapolis team last outing
24 Devin Singletary Buf Buf vs Mia Platoon continues
25 Antonio Gibson Was Was @ Den Under 60 yards rushing the last two weeks
26 Melvin Gordon III Den Den vs Was Platoon continues
27 Javonte Williams Den Den vs Was Platoon continues
28 Zack Moss Buf Buf vs Mia Platoon continues
29 Mike Davis Atl Atl vs Car Tough matchup
30 Myles Gaskin Mia Mia @ Buf Tough matchup
31 Kenneth Gainwell Phi Phi @ Det Easier matchup (BUY now)
32 Nyheim Hines Ind Ind vs Ten Given up on him rushing, only count on receptions
33 Michael Carter NYJ NYJ vs Cin Showing small signs of life
34 Rashaad Penny Sea Sea vs Jax Rough first game back
35 D'Ernest Johnson Cle Cle vs Pit Chubb dependent
36 Alex Collins Sea Sea vs Jax RB has been hit hard with injuries in Seattle
37 Tony Pollard Dal Dal @ Min He's getting a decent number of carries behind a solid o-line
38 Jamaal Williams Det Det vs Phi Easier matchup
39 AJ Dillon GB GB @ Ari Tough matchup
40 Mark Ingram II Hou Hou vs LAR 6 carries for 9 yards last matchup
41 J.D. McKissic Was Was @ Den Handcuff
42 Damien Williams Chi Chi vs SF Handcuff
43 Salvon Ahmed Mia Mia @ Buf Tough matchup - could see added carries (1% owned)
44 Boston Scott Phi Phi @ Det Easier matchup
45 Sony Michel LAR LAR @ Hou Handcuff
46 Giovani Bernard TB TB @ NO Handcuff
47 Miles Sanders Phi Phi @ Det Questionable
48 Alexander Mattison Min Min vs Dal Handcuff
49 Carlos Hyde Jax Jax @ Sea Easier matchup