Ezekiel Elliott in week 7 showed why fantasy football owners will miss him for the majority of the remaining fantasy schedule. He showed his ability to run the football and catch the football out of the backfield. When Dallas is rolling, the running back position is necessary to own.
And at least for one more game, those fantasy owners who gambled on Elliott in fantasy drafts, will have him at their disposal, He’s a guaranteed start. For the remaining question marks, here’s the week 8 running backs start ’em, sit ’em guide in fantasy football.
Start
Joe Mixon vs. Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis is an equal opportunity provider of fantasy points. Indianapolis owns the second-worst pass defense. It also allows the fourth-most fantasy points against running backs this season.
That should help Mixon bounce back in week 8 after a disappointing week 7 against Pittsburgh. Before Cincinnati went on its bye week, Mixon was becoming the clear front-runner in the crowded Cincinnati backfield. Mixon tallied only seven carries in week 7, but he still led the Bengal backfield in touches.
The Bengals went away from the run in the second half. I don’t expect that to happen in this game. I’m expecting the Bengals to build an early lead, giving way to Mixon milking the clock. He should get the majority of carries, so he easily should be in the RB2 discussion.
LeGarrette Blount vs. San Francisco 49ers
I don’t love Blount as a fantasy option. He’s touchdown dependent and the Philadelphia backfield can sometimes lead to some bad results.
But this matchup is too nice to pass up. Blount is going to get some volume in week 8. The Eagles will probably jump ahead, limiting Wendell Smallwood’s carries, and giving Blount the majority of work. You can’t guarantee how many yards per carry he can get, but if you’re able to count on 20 carries, he’s worth the start.
The 49ers just finished allowing Elliott to garner almost 40 fantasy points. San Francisco allows the fourth-most yards per game on the ground in the NFL, so with the amount of volume I anticipate Blount will tally, he should put up solid fantasy production.
Matt Forte vs. Atlanta Falcons
If you’re looking for a Flex option or possible RB2 with all the byes on tap for week 8, Forte could be a decent flier.
Forte has been pretty good since returning from injury, going for 63 yards on the ground and 100 yards receiving in the last two games. There’s a major logjam in the Jets backfield, but Forte is going to be the main weapon out of the backfield in the passing game.
And he’ll add in some carries, too.
That makes him the best option out of that backfield in a game that should warrant some results. The Falcons have looked bad against the run in the last two weeks. Atlanta gives up the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs. Forte shouldn’t have a problem earning Flex/RB2 production in week 8.
Sit
Alex Collins vs. Miami Dolphins
Collins is emerging as Baltimore’s No. 1 rushing back, but that doesn’t mean much in that offense.
Collins once again had the most carries in week 7, but turned that into just 30 yards. He’s not involved in the passing game, which is a problem for an offense that can’t move the chains effectively. Most importantly, Collins isn’t turning those carries into touchdowns.
And that poses a major problem against a Miami defense that is thwarting running games on a consistent basis. Miami allows the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game, giving up just 3.6 yards per carry, also the fifth-lowest mark in the NFL.
The Ravens will have to pass to move the ball, limiting Collins’ ability to get much production.
Latavius Murray vs. Cleveland Browns
I know we’re all over Murray after his major week 7 performance. I never thought I would say this, but that was against Baltimore’s rushing defense. Cleveland’s rush defense is much better.
The Ravens are allowing 145 yards per game on the ground. The Browns, which have trailed consistently this season, are allowing only 83 yards per game. Even better, the Browns are giving up just 3 yards per carry, tied for the lowest number in the NFL.
If the Browns had a pulse on offense, they could win some games. Because this rush defense is actually pretty good. The Vikings will likely win, but even if they’re trying to milk the clock, Murray doesn’t offer much value. I’m not elevating his ranking based on one performance. Jerick McKinnon has been the better performer for weeks, so I anticipate that to be the case once again in week 8.
Frank Gore vs. Cincinnati Bengals
It’s starting to look more like the Colts will use Marlon Mack as the featured back. The Colts’ season is finished, so it doesn’t make sense to keep trotting out Gore, who is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry.
He hasn’t gone for more than 60 yards on the ground yet this season and he hasn’t scored a touchdown since week 3.
And he has a week 8 matchup against top-half rush defense in Cincinnati. Gore is a likely candidate to keep on the bench for the duration of the year.
