Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: DeMarco Murray and Rookie RBs Who Will Pay Dividends

It's not often a rookie running back makes a big splash in fantasy football. Even if they are contributing, it is usually subtle. Well, Daniel Thomas has been running well for the Dolphins since the beginning of the season, and so has Mark Ingram.

Now, in Week 8, we are starting to see the guys we talked about leading up to the season start to contribute and become viable fantasy options. Here's three rookie running backs that are ready to shine this very week for your team.

DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

This is the obvious choice here, as DeMarco Murray just broke the Dallas Cowboys' single-game rushing record this past weekend against the Rams. Yes, over Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. 

I know most Felix Jones' owners are feeling abysmal right now, because if Murray can perform half as well this week, Jones may not get his job back when he returns from injury.

Murray has a similar skill set to Jones, but if last week was any indication, he may just have that "it" factor that Jones has been missing. As for this week, the Cowboys visit an Eagles team that have the No. 23-ranked rush defense, allowing 4.8 yards per carry. 

They have been victimized by backs on the ground and in the passing game, which lends a real opportunity for Murray to follow up on his explosion versus St. Louis.

Asking for another 25 carries is a lot—especially for the Cowboys, who hadn't had a 25-carry game for any running back since 2008—but Murray should get enough touches to break 100 yards and is starter quality in all leagues.

Delone Carter, Indianapolis Colts

There isn't much to cheer about in Indianapolis right now, but Delone Carter is fulfilling the purpose he was drafted for. Carter leads the Colts in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

He was intended to take over goal-line duties and eventually replace oft-injured Joseph Addai.  Well, Addai is banged up again and Donald Brown has never panned out. Last week, Carter had 89 yards on just 10 carries and has scored in two out of the Colts last three games.

Even more eye-opening was Carter leading the Colts in carries by a wide margin in their last competitive game against the Bengals two weeks ago which shows they trust him.

He gets the Titans this week, who have the No. 24 rush defense in the league. He will again get his chances and with the Titans lack of a pass rush, Curtis Painter may even move the ball enough to get him a goal-line shot or two.

Roy Helu, Washington Redskins

The Mike Shanahan running back experiment in 2011 has lost a contestant, as Tim Hightower is now done for the season with a knee injury. That, in turn, means it's down to oft-injured Ryan Torain and rookie Roy Helu, with fellow rookie Evan Royster far behind, but possibly back in the picture.

Last week, with Hightower going down and only seeing 31 snaps, it was Helu who came in and worked 33 snaps with Torain gathering only three. If it's any indication, it seems Shanahan may prefer Helu with his pass catching and protections skills over Torain.

Helu may be on more of a wait-and-see basis as opposed to the other two rookies above, but if he's available, scoop him up. It doesn't take a fantasy football expert to know how valuable a Mike Shanahan running back can be if he wins the majority of the load.