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Fantasy Football: Week 8 Running Back Rankings

By Alex Butler
Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) reacts after the Pittsburgh Steelers interception in the first quarter at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on October 2, 2016. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
1 of 3 | Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) reacts after the Pittsburgh Steelers interception in the first quarter at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on October 2, 2016. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Todd Gurley and Le'Veon Bell are among running backs with bye weeks this weekend. With six teams on a bye, it could take some scrambling to fill in your running back slot. Still, there are plenty of options with great matchups.

Here are my top 30 running backs for the week. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

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TOP SHELF

Spencer Ware looks like the unquestioned starter for the Kansas City Chiefs. Ware has tallied at least 100 total yards in four of his six starts this season. He is a terrific play in Week 8 against an Indianapolis Colts defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs. The Colts have allowed 100 yards or a touchdown to running backs in every game this season.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Christine Michael is another RB1 option who was either undrafted or a late round pick in your fantasy football draft. The Seattle Seahawks running back faces a New Orleans Saints defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs. He is a top-6 play for me in Week 8. Jacquizz Rodgers is literally running away with the starting job for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Doug Martin shelved indefinitely. He should put up RB1 numbers again this week, facing an Oakland Raiders defense allowing the tenth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Rodgers has 62 touches in his last two games and I see that big workload continuing. He is a great play in any format.

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LONGSHOTS

Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard battles the Washington Redskins this week. He scored his first rushing touchdown of the season last week against the Cleveland Browns. Bernard has 15 rushing attempts in each of his last two games. With his workload and explosiveness, I like his chances to produce against a team allowing the second-most rushing touchdowns this season to running backs. Raiders running back Latavius Murray is returning to his 2015 form. Last week, he finally broke through with two scores and 59 rushing yards on 18 touches. He should provide high-end RB2 value again against the Buccaneers.

RANK NAME TEAM OPPONENT
1 Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia
2 David Johnson Arizona Cardinals at Carolina
3 Spencer Ware Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis
4 Matt Forte New York Jets at Cleveland
5 Christine Michael Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans
6 Jacquizz Rodgers Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland
7 LeGarrette Blount New England Patriots at Buffalo
8 DeMarco Murray Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville
9 Giovani Bernard Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington
10 Frank Gore Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City
11 Lamar Miller Houston Texans vs. Detroit
12 Devontae Booker Denver Broncos vs. San Diego
13 Mark Ingram New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle
14 Melvin Gordon San Diego Chargers at Denver
15 Devonta Freeman Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay
16 Latavius Murray Oakland Raiders at Tampa Bay
17 Jeremy Hill Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington
18 Jonathan Stewart Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona
19 Ryan Mathews Philadelphia Eagles  at Dallas
20 Isaiah Crowell Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets
21 James White  New England Patriots at Buffalo
22 Mike Gillislee Buffalo Bills vs. New England
23 Matt Asiata Minnesota Vikings at Chicago
24 Chris Thompson Washington Redskins at Cincinnati
25 Duke Johnson Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets
26 Chris Ivory Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee
27 Jerick McKinnon Minnesota Vikings at Chicago
28 Ty Montgomery Green Bay Packers at Atlanta
29 Jamaal Charles Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis
30 Ka'Deem Carey Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota
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