
The 2025-26 NFL season is underway which means we are in the thick of fantasy football season! The fantasy landscape has already changed since the preseason due to breakout players and major injuries across the league. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that running backs like Jahmyr Gibbs and Karen Williams will be out this week. It would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one that is ranked or projected to perform similarly. Here are fantasy football Week 8 running back rankings.
[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]
[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor.
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must Start | Bijan Robinson | vs Miami Dolphins | RB1 |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Houston Texans | RB2 |
| Starting RB1 | Saquon Barkley | vs New York Giants | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Tennessee Titans | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | De’Von Achane | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Josh Jacobs | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Breece Hall | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB7 |
| High-End RB2 | James Cook | vs Carolina Panthers | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Rachaad White | vs New Orleans Saints | RB10 |
| Starting RB2 | Derrick Henry | vs Chicago Bears | RB11 |
| Starting RB2 | Javonte Williams | vs Denver Broncos | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Cam Skattebo | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Jaylen Warren | vs Green Bay Packers | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Jordan Mason | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | J.K. Dobbins | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Quinshon Judkins | vs New England Patriots | RB17 |
| Low RB2 | Chase Brown | vs New York Jets | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Rico Dowdle | vs Buffalo Bills | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Alvin Kamara | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Kimani Vidal | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB21 |
| Flex | Chuba Hubbard | vs Buffalo Bills | RB22 |
| Flex | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB23 |
| Flex | Tony Pollard | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB24 |
| Flex | Isiah Pacheco | vs Washington Commanders | RB25 |
| Flex | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Cleveland Browns | RB26 |
| Flex | Tyjae Spears | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB27 |
| Flex | Woody Marks | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB28 |
| Flex | R.J. Harvey | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Nick Chubb | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Tyler Allgeier | vs Miami Dolphins | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs Washington Commanders | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Treveyon Henderson | vs Cleveland Browns | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Kyle Monangai | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | Brashard Smith | vs Washington Commanders | RB36 |
| Leave on the Bench | Justice Hill | vs Chicago Bears | RB37 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerome Ford | vs New England Patriots | RB38 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs New York Jets | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeremy McNichols | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyrone Tracy | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Isaiah Davis | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Sean Tucker | vs New Orleans Saints | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devin Neal | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Emanuel Wilson | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Houston Texans | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ollie Gordon II | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaydon Blue | vs Denver Broncos | RB48 |
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Last week against the Chicago Bears Kendre Miller tore his ACL ending his 2025-26 season. Miller finally carved out the role as the change of pace back in this offense this season. Now 2025 sixth-round pick Devin Neal will step us as the backup running back to Alvin Kamara. Neal is an interesting bench stash because he was a rock-solid running back during his time at Kansas and could carve out a role in this offense.
Hassan Haskins, Los Angeles Chargers
Hassan Haskins missed practice on Monday with a hamstring injury. This injury will cause Haskins to miss next week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Nyheim Hines will backup Kimani Vidal who should take a majority of snaps in the Chargers backfield.
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