Week 8 Fantasy Football Projections: Frank Gore and More RBs Ready to Explode

After quarterbacks, running backs touch the ball more than any player in the National Football League. These three running backs are set to help your fantasy team out in a big way. All three can not only run the ball with a high success rate but are also viable options in the pass game.

Fred Jackson

Fred Jackson is one of the more underrated running backs in the NFL. He is a great dual-threat out of the backfield. He has 601 yards and six touchdowns on the ground to go along with 23 receptions in 2011.

Jackson has been the main reason why the Bills have the fourth-best rush attack in the NFL.

Washington has an average pass defense but a below-average rush defense, allowing 118 yards per game. Carolina rushed for 175 yards; Philadelphia rushed for 192 yards, and Dallas rushed for 125 yards against Washington this season.

They can be had on defense. Jackson will have a great opportunity to continue his success.

Ray Rice

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice only attempted eight carries in their 12-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football.

That won’t happen again.

Rice will touch the ball more than 25 times against the Arizona Cardinals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. When Rice runs the ball less than 15 times in a game, Baltimore is 1-2 on the season.

Rice, like the Ravens, plays much better at home than on the road. Both of Rice’s two running touchdowns have been at home this season. Nine of his career 14 rushing touchdowns have come at home.

Frank Gore

As the San Francisco 49ers continue to impress on the West Coast, running back Frank Gore continues to be the work-horse for the offense. Gore has collected 541 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.

Alex Smith is 31^st in the league in passing, but he has done a great job of handing the ball off to Gore and not turning the ball over. He has 1,090 yards passing, eight touchdowns and two interceptions on the season.

Cleveland comes to San Francisco looking to pull off the upset. The Browns are first against the pass but 20^th against the rush.

The 49ers will use that information, compiled with their sixth-best rushing attack, to focus on hammering the ball down the Browns’ throats.

Running the ball, not turning it over and their solid defense have been the reasons why the 49ers sit at 5-1. They continue their recipe for success on Sunday.