Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings: RB

Austin Ekeler is hoping to finally get on the right track against the Bears, Bryce Hall is poised for a bullpen spot on the Giants, and Jonathan Taylor is poised for more action against the Saints.

Other positions: Quarterback | receiver | Tight End/Kickers/Defense

Week 8 of running back

Regular budget notes: Christian McCaffrey’s efficiency has diminished along with the rest of the 49ers’ offense over the past few weeks, but he still has four points in his past three contests. The load won’t be lightened with Brock Purdy (concussion) on the shelf. … Tied with CMC for the lead in touches in the NFL, Travis Etienne faces the Steelers’ surprisingly soft D for Week 8. Via ESPN’s Mike Clay: Austin Ekeler has scored six or fewer goals in eight straight contests, most recently clearing that mark last Week 14. This is not sustainable in an offense that is missing Mike Williams. The Bears are one of only five Ds to make at least 40 consecutive receptions. Hopefully the tide will start to turn this weekend. … Tony Pollard is second in the red zone even after the Cowboys’ bye in Week 7. At sixth in consecutive receptions with 25, Pollard remains the most obvious positive regression candidate in fantasy. … The Saints have made it sound like they don’t plan on limiting Jamaal Williams to just five touches again, but there’s basically no reason to expect Alvin Kamara to record fewer than 20 handles against the Colts’ generous fantasy defense.

Running right into Myles Garrett and company is a lot easier when Deshaun Watson is on the shelf, as will be the case in Week 8. PJ Walker and company can’t sustain drives, keeping the other offense on the field as long as they don’t turn the ball over a million times, Gardner Mincio-style. The Seahawks operate as a healthy home favorite against a QB-less Browns team. … It’s shaping up as a Breece Hall-type week for the Jets to leave. The Giants are one of only four defenses surrendering more than five yards per carry, while the Jets are three-point favorites for a neutral-site matchup with their cross-town rivals. There should be ample opportunities to play. … The same logic applies to Saquon Barkley, who is averaging 26 touches in two games since returning from an ankle injury. As long as the Jets don’t put Daniel Jones on the floor, Barkley will get chance after chance against a defense that’s more vulnerable on the ground than in the air. … Quietly ranks 12th in backcourt receptions, and Isiah Pacheco ranks ninth in red zone receptions (20). Favoring a touchdown route versus the Broncos profiles as a TD.

DeAndre Swift has scored just one goal over the past three weeks, but he’s made up for it with 17 assists. Washington is lenient in the face of everything. … Jahmyr Gibbs played 87 percent of the Lions’ Week 7 snaps with David Montgomery (ribs) on the shelf. There was no end for Craig Reynolds. Maybe the four quarters comeback game scenario had something to do with it, but Gibbs remains in the RB1 mix against a Raiders defense that distributes the fifth-most RB fantasy points even if we allow a few extra Reynolds touches in a home contest where the Lions have to play from the front. A healthy D-Mont returning will move Gibbs back into the RB18-22 range. … Raheem Mostert (ankle) was one of 1 million Dolphins who did not practice on Wednesday. If Mostert can leave, the ‘Fins will undoubtedly be more play-oriented if Tyreek Hill (hip) is on the shelf. Geoff Wilson and Salvon Amhead will form an unpredictable committee if Mostert sits. … Josh Jacobs has never averaged more than 3.6 yards per carry in any single game. putrid. Working in his favor in Week 8 is the return of Jimmy Garoppolo and his continued non-touchdown competition in the backfield. Lions are very tough. It’s not going to be an up week.

Finally, on 50 percent of the Colts’ snaps in Week 7, Jonathan Taylor easily outplayed Zach Moss despite them remaining at a standstill (18). With Moss now having heel and elbow issues, Taylor’s share of the pie will only grow against the Saints. … Derrick Henry had one of his best performances before the Titans’ Week 7 bye but now must endure Will Levis starting against a stout Falcons defense. It could be another week on the pain train. Working in Henry’s favor is Vegas’ continued doubts about the Falcons, who are modest 2.5-point road favorites. …Which brings us to Bijan Robinson. Coach Arthur Smith still hasn’t bothered to explain Week 7 in one touch. The league is conducting an investigation while Smith is present He assumes the papacy like the most lame politician in the world. Even Smith would certainly admit this must be a squeaky wheel on Sunday for the Falcons’ beleaguered No. 1 starter, but what exactly does that get us into against a Titans run D who remains one of the league’s most plucky teams? …This would normally be Jerome Ford territory, but he has a high ankle sprain that is “low”? whatever. With Deshaun Watson out, Kareem Hunt will eat up the action as a ‘1A’, with Pierre Strong projecting enough handles to merit desperate FLEX consideration.

D’Onta Foreman was one of the biggest storylines in Week 7. He follows up a three-touchdown extravaganza against a Chargers defense that’s been toughened up on the ground at the expense of obliterating him in the air. The real issue is the return of Roshon Johnson (concussion). There’s no doubt that Foreman will be the No. 1 guy on this committee that doesn’t include Khalil Herbert, but it’s possible he could eat up Tyson Bagent, derailing the Bears’ entire offensive operation. … Permanently injured Aaron Jones (hamstring) returns to DNPs. Another Jones absence would be enough to bump pitcher AJ Dillon into the low RB2 ranks. … Week 7 was Javonte Williams’ best game of the season. The problem is that so far he can only go up with Jahleel McLaughlin pulling the change-of-pace work and the Broncos’ backfield gets almost no runs in the red zone. … Miles Sanders (shoulder) has fully resumed training. Sanders was no longer of standalone importance, but his presence was enough to make Chuba Hubbard an uncertain flex. …I wouldn’t consider it a “closed case” in the Rams’ backfield, but you don’t need to read this column to know that Darrell Henderson will get the first shot to re-establish the hot hand against the Cowboys. … Things were bleak for Damion Pierce heading into the Texans’ bye. On Sunday he will settle the score on whether he has any RB2 juice left.