Free tool · Oct 27 – Nov 2

Week 8 RB start or sit

Running back start/sit calls live and die on game script. A back on a team likely to lead gets the fourth-quarter carries; a back chasing points loses them, which is why the swing column moves more here than anywhere else.

Week 8 · Oct 27 – Nov 2

Start these RBs — week 8

Biggest positive matchup swing at running back this week.

#PlayerMatchupProjSwingWhy
1Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI@ WAS20+2.1@ WAS grades good matchup — worth about 2.1 points above a normal week.
2Chase BrownRB · CINvs TEN15.5+2.1vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 2.1 points above a normal week.
3Ashton JeantyRB · LV@ NYJ17.2+2@ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week.
4Tony PollardRB · TEN@ CIN10.6+0.8@ CIN grades smash spot — worth about 0.8 points above a normal week.
5Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL@ TB18.9+0.2@ TB grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
6Bucky IrvingRB · TBvs ATL14.4+0.2vs ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
7James CookRB · BUFvs BAL12.4+0.2vs BAL grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
8Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEAvs CHI11.1+0.2vs CHI grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
9Aaron JonesRB · MIN@ DET9.5+0.2@ DET grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
10Zach CharbonnetRB · SEAvs CHI7.7+0.1vs CHI grades neutral — worth about 0.1 points above a normal week.

Sit or downgrade — week 8 RBs

The schedule works against these names. Elite players still start; use this to settle close calls.

#PlayerMatchupProjSwingWhy
1De'Von AchaneRB · MIAvs NE14-2vs NE grades nightmare — about 2 points below a normal week.
2Jonathan TaylorRB · IND@ JAX12.9-1.6@ JAX grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
3Kyren WilliamsRB · LARvs LAC12.3-0.9vs LAC grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week.
4Isiah PachecoRB · KC@ DEN8.1-0.8@ DEN grades nightmare — about 0.8 points below a normal week.
5Jahmyr GibbsRB · DETvs MIN16.7-0.7vs MIN grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week.
6RJ HarveyRB · DENvs KC9.5-0.7vs KC grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week.
7Omarion HamptonRB · LAC@ LAR11.2-0.6@ LAR grades tough — about 0.6 points below a normal week.
8Brian Robinson Jr.RB · WASvs PHI6.6-0.6vs PHI grades nightmare — about 0.6 points below a normal week.
9David MontgomeryRB · DETvs MIN10.2-0.4vs MIN grades nightmare — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
10Jaylen WarrenRB · PITvs CLE8.3-0.4vs CLE grades neutral — about 0.4 points below a normal week.

Week 8 RB rankings

Every running back ranked by matchup-adjusted projection for this week.

#PlayerMatchupProjSwingWhy
1Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI@ WAS20+2.1@ WAS grades good matchup — worth about 2.1 points above a normal week.
2Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL@ TB18.9+0.2@ TB grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
3Ashton JeantyRB · LV@ NYJ17.2+2@ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week.
4Jahmyr GibbsRB · DETvs MIN16.7-0.7vs MIN grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week.
5Chase BrownRB · CINvs TEN15.5+2.1vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 2.1 points above a normal week.
6Bucky IrvingRB · TBvs ATL14.4+0.2vs ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
7De'Von AchaneRB · MIAvs NE14-2vs NE grades nightmare — about 2 points below a normal week.
8Jonathan TaylorRB · IND@ JAX12.9-1.6@ JAX grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
9Josh JacobsRB · GBvs CAR12.8-0.3vs CAR grades neutral — about 0.3 points below a normal week.
10Derrick HenryRB · BAL@ BUF12.6-0.2@ BUF grades tough — about 0.2 points below a normal week.
11James CookRB · BUFvs BAL12.4+0.2vs BAL grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
12Kyren WilliamsRB · LARvs LAC12.3-0.9vs LAC grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week.
13Omarion HamptonRB · LAC@ LAR11.2-0.6@ LAR grades tough — about 0.6 points below a normal week.
14Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEAvs CHI11.1+0.2vs CHI grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
15Tony PollardRB · TEN@ CIN10.6+0.8@ CIN grades smash spot — worth about 0.8 points above a normal week.
16David MontgomeryRB · DETvs MIN10.2-0.4vs MIN grades nightmare — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
17RJ HarveyRB · DENvs KC9.5-0.7vs KC grades nightmare — about 0.7 points below a normal week.
18Aaron JonesRB · MIN@ DET9.5+0.2@ DET grades neutral — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week.
19Jaylen WarrenRB · PITvs CLE8.3-0.4vs CLE grades neutral — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
20Isiah PachecoRB · KC@ DEN8.1-0.8@ DEN grades nightmare — about 0.8 points below a normal week.
21Zach CharbonnetRB · SEAvs CHI7.7+0.1vs CHI grades neutral — worth about 0.1 points above a normal week.
22Najee HarrisRB · LAC@ LAR7-0.4@ LAR grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week.
23Brian Robinson Jr.RB · WASvs PHI6.6-0.6vs PHI grades nightmare — about 0.6 points below a normal week.

On bye in week 8

NO · NYG · SF

Comparing two specific names? Run them through the start/sit optimizer or check injury impact before you lock the lineup.

Week 8 RB matchup heatmap

Green is a matchup that adds points to a normal week, red is one that takes them away. The number is the average swing in points for that team's RB starters.

Biggest RB upside

  1. CIN vs TENLead option: Chase Brown · 15.5 pts+2.1
  2. PHI @ WASLead option: Saquon Barkley · 20 pts+2.1
  3. LV @ NYJLead option: Ashton Jeanty · 17.2 pts+2
  4. TEN @ CINLead option: Tony Pollard · 10.6 pts+0.8
  5. ATL @ TBLead option: Bijan Robinson · 18.9 pts+0.2

Biggest RB downside

  1. MIA vs NELead option: De'Von Achane · 14 pts-2
  2. IND @ JAXLead option: Jonathan Taylor · 12.9 pts-1.6
  3. LAR vs LACLead option: Kyren Williams · 12.3 pts-0.9
  4. KC @ DENLead option: Isiah Pacheco · 8.1 pts-0.8
  5. DEN vs KCLead option: RJ Harvey · 9.5 pts-0.7

Built from the same matchup grades as the week 8 RB start/sit board, so a hot cell and a start call always agree.

Other positions, week 8

Week 8 QB →Week 8 WR →Week 8 TE →Week 8 FLEX →Injury impact