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2012 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Week 8

By: Athlon Sports | 10/25/12, 5:48 AM EDT

Each week during the NFL season, we will rank enough players at each position to appease everyone from those in 8-team leagues to 16-team leagues, those that can start two QBs, two TEs, three RBs and four WRs. We cut out the rest, because if you're looking at who the 50th-best running back or the 17th-best kicker is for that week, you need more help than any Web site can give you.

Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Houston are all on bye.

2012 NFL Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings — Running Backs

Rk Player Team OPPONENT Notes
1 LeSean McCoy PHI vs. ATL Falcons allowing 143.8 rushing yards per game.
2 Jamaal Charles KC vs. OAK Had just 40 yards rushing vs. Bucs in last game.
3 Matt Forte CHI vs. CAR Has 203 yards rushing in past two games combined.
4 Ryan Mathews SD at CLE Browns are 27th against run.
5 Adrian Peterson MIN vs. TB (Thurs.) Bucs have allowed only one 100-yard rusher so far.
6 Marshawn Lynch SEA at DET Ran for 103 on the road vs. 49ers last week.
7 Darren McFadden OAK at KC Has only one game with more than 70 yards rushing.
8 Chris Johnson TEN vs. IND After slow start, CJ averaging 112.8 ypg over last four.
9 Willis McGahee DEN vs. NO Saints allowing most fantasy points to RBs.
10 Frank Gore SF at ARI (Mon.) Ran roughshod (131 yds.) vs. Seahawks, ribs OK?
11 Alfred Morris WAS at PIT No. 2 rusher vs. No. 5 rush defense.
12 Reggie Bush MIA at NYJ Only had 61 yds. last game vs. Jets (injured knee).
13 Ahmad Bradshaw NYG at DAL Producing on Sundays, but foot remains an issue.
14 Doug Martin TB at MIN (Thurs.) Averaging 125+ total yards over last two games.
15 Michael Turner ATL at PHI Eagles have allowed only 2 rushing TDs.
16 Stevan Ridley NE vs. STL (London) Still lead back, but getting fewer carries.
17 Darren Sproles NO at DEN Still looking for first rushing TD of season.
18 Rashad Jennings JAC at GB His time to shine with MJD sidelined (sprained foot).
19 Steven Jackson STL vs. NE (London) Patriots are ninth against the run.
20 Trent Richardson CLE vs. SD Rib injury clearly worse than he let on, timeshare coming?
21 Shonn Greene NYJ vs. MIA Held to just 40 yards vs. Dolphins in Week 3.
22 Vick Ballard IND at TEN Titans are 28th against run.
23 Mikel Leshoure DET vs. SEA Last week Bears (No. 2 vs. run), this week 'Hawks (No. 7).
24 Felix Jones DAL vs. NYG Expected to start despite bruised knee.
25 Jonathan Dwyer PIT vs. WAS May keep starting job even after others are healthy.
26 Alex Green GB vs. JAC Packers just not running the ball a lot right now.
27 Jonathan Stewart CAR at CHI Reports are he could become Panthers' lead back.
28 LaRod Stephens-Howling ARI vs. SF (Mon.) Busted out (159 total yds.) last week, but 49ers on tap.
29 Pierre Thomas NO at DEN  
30 Montario Hardesty CLE vs. SD Keep eye on Richardson's status/rib injury.
31 Michael Bush CHI vs. CAR Not getting as many opportunities with Forte back.
32 Daryl Richardson STL vs. NE (London) Averaging nearly 10 carries per over last three games.
33 Rashard Mendenhall PIT vs. WAS Has chance (Achilles) to play this week.
34 Kendall Hunter SF at ARI (Mon.)  
35 Danny Woodhead NE vs. STL (London)  
36 Jacquizz Rodgers ATL at PHI Hasn't seen many opportunities last two games.
37 Phillip Tanner DAL vs. NYG Should get his carries even with Jones expected to start.
38 Andre Brown NYG at DAL Resumed backup role to Bradshaw in first game back.
39 Shane Vereen NE vs. STL (London) Got start last week vs. Jets, Patriots like to use all RBs.
40 DeAngelo Williams CAR at CHI Only eight carries in last two games combined.
41 Jamie Harper TEN vs. IND Been used in goal-line situations recently.
42 Mark Ingram NO at DEN  
43 William Powell ARI vs. SF (Mon.) LSH appears to have taken control of Cards' No. 1 job.
44 Joique Bell DET vs. SEA  
45 Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. NO  
46 Daniel Thomas MIA at NYJ  
47 LeGarrette Blount TB at MIN (Thurs.)  
48 Isaac Redman PIT vs. WAS Chance he (ankle) could play. Monitor status.

Rankings are based upon Athlon Sports' standard scoring system:

OFFENSIVE SCORING
All touchdowns are 6 points
1 point for 25 yards passing
1 point for 10 yards rushing/receiving
Receptions are .5 points
Interceptions/fumbles are minus-2 points

Additional Week 8 Positional Rankings

Quarterbacks
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Defense/Special Teams

Week 8 Waiver Wire

Week 8 Start or Sit

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