At this point in the season, it is becoming clear who is a viable every week starter in the running back ranks. There are a few flash in the pan types and some boom or bust wild cards, but those are players who cannot always be trusted. This week is not a terrible one for bye weeks, but a few key players are out as always. Let's get into it and see which players merit a start and which are better avoided.
Key Players On A Bye: LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams BUF, T.J. Yeldon JAC, DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles PHI, Matt Jones, Chris Thompson and Alfred Morris WAS
Week 8 Waiver Wire: Quarterback and Tight End / Running Back / Wide Receiver / IDP
Injury Concerns:
Joseph Randle DAL Questionable, Dion Lewis NE Questionable, Chris Ivory NYJ Questionable, Carlos Hyde SF Probable, Thomas Rawls SEA Questionable
Elite Tier - Must Starts
1. Todd Gurley STL vs. SF
2. LeVeon Bell PIT vs. CIN
3. Adrian Peterson MIN @CHI
4. Devonta Freeman ATL vs. TB
5. Justin Forsett BAL vs. SD
Gurley is the Rams only elite offensive threat and he will get the ball a ton versus a bad Niners team. Bell should have his quarterback in the lineup which means no more stacked boxes. Peterson has been more hit or miss than I would expect but he should handle the Bears. Freeman is rock solid every week. Forsett is really coming on lately, although it is probably too late to save the Ravens season.
Strong Plays - Reliable, But A Notch Below
6. Matt Forte CHI vs. MIN
7. Lamar Miller MIA @NE
8. Marshawn Lynch SEA @DAL
9. Doug Martin TB @ATL
10. Mark Ingram NO vs. NYG
11. Chris Johnson ARI @CLE
12. Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. IND
Forte is still nearly elite, but I don't love the matchup. Miller exploded last week but don't expect a repeat versus New England. Lynch is looking healthy and takes on a weak Dallas squad. Martin has been very good lately and should continue in Atlanta. Ingram gets a nice matchup versus a Giants defense that has been gashed by the run lately. Chris Johnson is looking like CJ2K in Arizona, take the points while they last. Stewart goes up against a Colts team that is in disarray.
Risk/Reward - Potentially Shaky
13. Chris Ivory NYJ @OAK Questionable
14. Charcandrick West KC vs. DET
15. Danny Woodhead SD @BAL
16. Giovani Bernard CIN @PIT
17. Dion Lewis NE vs. MIA Questionable
18. Jeremy Hill CIN @PIT
19. Darren McFadden DAL vs. SEA
20. LeGarrette Blount NE vs. MIA
21. Eddie Lacy GB @DEN
22. Alfred Blue HOU vs. TEN
Ivory would be rated higher if he was healthy, but he is not. West showed some nice moves in week 7 and faces a vulnerable Detroit team. Woodhead is the running back to own in San Diego. Bernard and Hill both go up against a Pittsburgh defense that has struggled lately. I like Dion Lewis over Blount by a little bit if he suits up. McFadden has a bad matchup but his pass catching ability makes him usable. Lacy heads to Denver and will look to prove that he should still be in fantasy lineups. Blue is out to prove himself as well, but in an easier matchup.
Question Marks - RB2 Upside
23. Latavius Murray OAK vs. NYJ
24. Frank Gore IND @CAR
25. Duke Johnson Jr. CLE vs. ARI
26. Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. GB
27. Carlos Hyde SF @STL
28. James Starks GB @DEN
Murray is in for a rough day versus the Jets run defense. Gore should have a similarly bad experience facing Carolina's defenders. Duke Johnson could catch enough passes to have a decent day, but that is tough to rely on. Hillman looked good his last time out, but who knows how the carries will be split? As always with Hyde - love the talent, hate the team. Starks could carve out more carries for himself if Lacy struggles again, but it may be best to wait and see for another week.
Flex Appeal - Usable In A Pinch
29. Charles Sims TB @ATL
30. Antonio Andrews TEN @HOU
31. Dexter McCluster TEN @HOU
32. Ameer Abdullah DET @KC
33. Shane Vereen NYG @NO
34. Melvin Gordon SD @BAL
35. C.J. Anderson DEN vs. GB
36. Theo Riddick DET @KC
37. Chris Polk HOU vs. TEN
38. Rashad Jennings NYG @NO
Several backs here rely on pass-catching: Sims, McCluster, Vereen, Riddick. I like Andrews just a bit more than McCluster because he will get the goal line carries. Abdullah has shown nothing for weeks, but Detroit still gives him the ball. Gordon and Anderson have disappointed for the most part and that should continue. Polk and Jennings are both low tier flex plays.
Tough Sledding - Let Them Be Someone Else's Problem
39. Christine Michael DAL vs. SEA
40. Andre Ellington ARI @CLE
41. Isiah Crowell CLE vs. ARI
42. C.J. Spiller NO vs. NYG
43. Orleans Darkwa NYG @NO
44. Tevin Coleman ATL vs. TB
45. Joseph Randle DAL vs. SEA Questionable
46. Knile Davis KC vs. DET
47. Branden Oliver SD @BAL
48. Khiry Robinson NO vs. NYG
49. David Johnson ARI @CLE
50. Joique Bell DET @KC
