NFL Fantasy 2025 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Running backs for Week 8

On the season, Chicago has the eighth-highest run percentage in the league at 41 percent. That figure jumps to 50 percent since the Bears' Week 5 bye, the third-highest rate in that span. They have also used outside-zone runs at the third-highest rate, which is a great match for Swift. He is third in the NFL in yards on outside-zone runs, averaging nearly 6 yards per carry on them. Only Jonathan Taylor has more explosive runs (10-plus yards) than Swift, regardless of run scheme. Ben Johnson is bringing out the best in Swift, who gets a good matchup this week against Baltimore, a team that has allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to RBs. Swift is quickly becoming a must-start option in this system. Chicago rookie Kyle Monangai is a sleeper RB this week.

Things are trending down in a big way for this up-and-down back. While he is more floor than ever and the ceiling is lowered, Hall has the opportunity to not only get right but go off this week. The Bengals have allowed the second-most rush yards, fourth-most receiving yards and the most fantasy PPG to RBs. Hall is averaging 18 opportunities (carries + targets) per game this season. Plus, Cincy has given up the third-most explosive runs, while Hall is tied for the third-most himself. Given the volume and the matchup, you have to start him this week.

After looking like a rock-solid option for the first five weeks, Dobbins has been held in check fantasy-wise over the last two weeks. The 26-year-old had a good real-life game this past Sunday against the Giants, turning 14 carries into 81 yards, but he finished with just nine fantasy points. While he was not very involved in the passing game, he did lead the backfield in routes. That kind of usage could lead to more production this week, as the Cowboys have allowed the most receiving yards to RBs. They have also allowed the fifth-most rushing yards, fourth-most fantasy PPG and fourth-highest rate of explosive runs. Dobbins is tied with D'Andre Swift for second-most explosive runs in the NFL.

Mason has shown to have a safe floor, posting double-digit fantasy points in four straight, but we have really only seen one big game. He has a chance to make it two this week. The Chargers have allowed explosive runs at the third-highest rate in the NFL. They have given up the second-most rushing TDs, and weirdly, none have come from the goal line. Mason has big-play ability and he is handling the goal-line work for the Vikings. The Chargers have yielded 27-plus fantasy points to an RB in three straight games. Play Mason this week.

The Panthers are using a two-RB approach. Last week, Hubbard had the edge in snaps over Dowdle (54-46 percent). He also ran more routes (17-9) and had one more target (3-2). Dowdle had more carries (17-14). Dowdle turned his 19 opportunities into 96 yards, while Hubbard turned his 17 into 55. Between last game and what we have seen this season, it is easy to declare Dowdle the more explosive option. That comes into effect this week, as the Bills have allowed explosive runs to RBs at the highest rate in 2025. They also give up the most yards after contact per carry. If the Panthers are trailing, that could mean some more targets for Hubbard. I prefer Dowdle of the two, but both are in play, given the favorable matchup.

The running back simply known as "Bill" is in play this week. Croskey-Merritt has handled 77 percent of the RB carries for the Commanders over the last three weeks. He also led the backfield in routes run this past Sunday after tying for the lead in Weeks 5 and 6. The Chiefs look like a tough matchup on paper, but they rank below league average in terms of yards per carry, yards before and after contact per carry and explosive run rate allowed to RBs this season. Plus, with Marcus Mariota in line to start over an injured Jayden Daniels, I expect a heavy reliance on establishing the run.

Marks sure looked like the lead back on Monday night, playing 61 percent of the snaps while receiving 10 of the 15 RB carries. He also led the backfield with 20 routes and five targets, while being heavily used in the red zone. The 49ers have allowed 4.6 yards per carry since the Nick Bosa injury, including 1.5 yards before contact per carry (sixth-highest in the NFL during that span). Marks can be utilized as a receiver if the Texans are trailing. He is in play with six teams on bye.

Granted, the usage came in a blowout of the Raiders, but Smith played 36 percent of the snaps, logging 14 carries and five targets. He turned that into 81 yards and 13.1 fantasy points. The Chiefs tend to give their rookies more work as the season goes on. Smith might be becoming Kansas City's new Jerick McKinnon. Plus, the Commanders have allowed the sixth-most receiving yards to backs. They also have yielded explosive runs at an above-average rate in the last month. The floor is low, but there is upside here this week.

According to Pro Football Reference, Kamara is averaging career-low figures in yards per touch (3.9), yards per carry (3.6), yards per reception (4.9), receiving yards per game (17.6) and success rate as a receiver (34.5 percent). He also has his second-lowest marks in rushing success rate (43.6 percent) and rushing yards per game (48.9). Plus, he has the lowest average speed of his career, per Next Gen Stats. With the veteran back at 30 years old, it is fair to wonder if this is the start of a decline. Kamara has finished as a top-25 fantasy RB once in the last five weeks. Plus, the Bucs have held him under 85 scrimmage yards in eight straight games, limiting him to fewer than seven fantasy points in three of their past five meetings.

Warren is capable of taking advantage of fantastic matchups, as we saw last week against the Bengals. He also has struggled against tough run defenses, as we saw two weeks ago vs. the Browns. The Packers are certainly a tough matchup, having given up the fifth-fewest fantasy PPG to RBs. They have allowed explosive runs at the fourth-lowest rate and yield yards before and after contact at below league-average rates. Green Bay makes contact behind the line of scrimmage and stuffs backs at above-average rates. Lastly, the Pack have allowed the sixth-fewest receiving yards and no receiving TDs to backs. Warren is not a must-sit, given all the byes, but if you can get away I would.

Last week was Brown's best game of the season, as he ran for 108 yards and generally looked more like the potent back we saw in 2024. Despite that, he scored just 12 fantasy points. That seems to be his ceiling without Joe Burrow. Brown has yet to score a touchdown in 2025 without his QB1 in the lineup. Bengals backs are averaging 0.3 yards before contact, while the Jets have allowed just 0.8 per carry before contact. With Brown's floor and ceiling so close together -- and neither being all that high -- it is fine to keep getting away if you can.

I'm waving the white flag. It just is not happening for Henderson. Last week was a fantastic matchup against the Titans, and the rookie played three snaps in the first half. Then, when things got out of hand, New England used Terrell Jennings, whom Mike Vrabel lauded in the postgame: "We found our five-minute back!" The Pats are 24th in outside-zone run rate (20 percent), which is what Henderson does best. They are not using the second-round pick much, and when they do, I hate the way he is being used. It is all bad now. There is no way you can start him, especially in this matchup. Rhamondre Stevenson managers might need to stick with the team's RB1 because of bye-week issues, but I would also try to get away from him in this game against Cleveland's ferocious defense.

We saw Pollard take back the heavier side of the platoon split from Tyjae Spears last week, but the fact that it can swing game-to-game is concerning. Also, the catches are nice, but Pollard is still struggling to turn opportunity into big yardage. He has yet to reach 15 fantasy points in a game this season and has been held to single digits three times. So, the floor is low and the ceiling is not much higher. The Colts have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy PPG to RBs, and it is extremely likely the Titans will be playing from behind in this one. Relying on catch-up targets is a tough way to live.