Fantasy Football Week 8 Rankings: Running Backs

We are about half-way through the season as we approach week 8 and as always, there is plenty to talk about in regards to the running back position. First of all, emphasizing the fact that position battles wage on throughout the whole year, Cincinnati Bengals RB Chris Perry has been benched for perennial disappointment, Cedric Benson. Then, there are the injuries piling up, with Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush and Willie Parker among the many missing some or all of their Week 7 games. Others might as well have missed their week 7 match-ups, turning in major disappointments (i.e Frank Gore and LaDanian Tomlinson). But, with the disapointments also came some great stories such as Steven Jackson's 3 TD performance, the Tennessee Titans RB's combining for over 300 yards and 4 TD's, and Adrian Peterson gaining 121 yards and 2 TD's. 

Many questions have surfaced, few have been answered, and many will continue to arise come Week 8, but that is why you are reading this, isn't it? There is no way someone can predict everything correctly, but with the Bruno Boy's weekly rankings you can definitely minimize the room for error. This should be a rough week for many RB's as the matchups are clearly in the defenses favor, so it should be interesting.

With that being said let’s hope for a remarkable Week 8 for yourself, as well as the rest of Bruno Boys Nation. To make that happen, read through the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 8 Running Back Rankings.

Key Abbreviations: YPC (Yards Per Carry), YPG (Yards Per Game)

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1. Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins) @ Detroit

Clinton Portis is the only RB in the league that is rushing for over 100 yards a game. To go along with that, he has punched in 7 TD's as well. He faces a very weak Detroit Lions rush defense, which is giving up 167.5 rushing yards per game, so the sky is the limit. 130 Yards and 2 TD's are well within reach.
Point Projection: 25 points
 
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2. Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Seattle

Last week was the very first week that Frank Gore hadn't gone for double digit fantasy points this season. He should right that ship this week as he faces one of the weaker rush defenses in the game, the 21st ranked Seahawks. 100 combined yards and a pair of TD's is definitely obtainable.
Point Projection: 22 points

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3. Brian Westbrook (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Atlanta **QUESTIONABLE** 

Brian Westbrook thinks that he will play this week. But, then again, he thought that in Week 6 too. He is one of the top RB's in the game when he does play though, and playing against Atlanta and their 20th ranked rush defense boosts that even more. If he is in the lineup, look for an outstanding game, somewhere in the realm of 120 total yards and a TD.
Point Projection: 18 points

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4.  Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) @ New England

Steven Jackson has almost 500 yards and 4 TD's. And, with his 160 yard, 3 TD effort against the Cowboys, he showed what made him a #1 overall pick in a lot of drafts a couple years back. He faces a fairly weak rush defense in New England, which is giving up more than 115 rush yards per game, so another dominant week is probable. He should continue to roll with 120 total yards and another TD.
Point Projection: 18 points

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5.  Steve Slaton (Houston Texans) vs. Cincinnati

There is nothing particular special about Steve Slaton, but he is a kid that is good in all aspects of the game and one that is getting it done on a weekly basis. Other than two ordinary games, he has reached at least mid-to-high teens for fantasy points each week the Texans have played. Facing the weak Cincinnati Bengals rush defense helps as he should be able to add to his 5 TD's this season. 110 total yards and a TD is likely.
Point Projection: 17 points

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6. Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins) vs. Buffalo

Ronnie Brown had a flop of a week in Week 7, racking up only 3 fantasy points. But that was against the Baltimore Ravens folks. Look for him to get back on track against the Buffalo Bills who have given up 7 rushing TD's this season. We project Brown to have 100 rushing yards and a TD.
Point Projection: 16 points

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7. Thomas Jones (New York Jets) vs. Kansas City **SLEEPER**

After struggling for most of the year, Thomas Jones has put up 42 total fantasy points the past two weeks against weaker defenses. Luckily for him he plays the Kansas City Chiefs this week, who have given up insane games to many RB's this year. In fact, the Chiefs are allowing over 200 rushing yards per contest. Continue to ride Jones' hot hand.
Point Projection: 16 points

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8.  LaDanian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers) @ New Orleans

In Weeks 3 and 4 Tomlinson scored over 20 fantasy points per game. In his other five games he has a total of 40 fantasy pointscombined, for an average of 8 per week. I hate to use this word, but he is playing himself into being a bust this year. He does face a New Orleans rush defense that has given up 4.3 YPC and 4 TD's this season, so there is hope, but it looks like he is no longer a for sure thing. 100 rushing yards and a TD should be attainable.
Point Projection: 16 points

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9. Willis McGahee (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Oakland

It is starting to look like Willis McGahee is becoming the RB of choice out there in Baltimore having been heavily involved in their running game the past two weeks in which they were not being blown out. Heading against the Oakland Raiders should offer up another chance for McGahee to put up solid numbers as teh Raiders rank 24th against the run and have given up 9 rushing TDs on the season.
Point Projection: 16 points

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10. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Cleveland

A lot of people are writing off Maurice Jones-Drew, but he does have 485 total combined yards and 5 TD's this year. Considering that his offensive line has been in shambles and that he is part of a RBBC, we feel he is actually having a pretty solid season. With the health continuing to get better for his OL, his season should continue at least on this pace. 90 total yards and another TD should be expected against the Browns and their 26th ranked rush defense.
Point Projection: 15 points

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TO FIND OUT WHERE THE REST OF THE RUNNING BACKS RANK IN WEEK 8, CLICK THE LINK BELOW...

Week 8 Running Back Rankings