Week 8 brings the biggest week for NFL byes: Six teams will be on vacation, removing many top running backs from the fantasy football player pool.
As a predictable result, the starter-worthy groups of backs look much slimmer than most weeks.
However, throwing darts in your flex spot remains possible due to several favorable matchups for tandem or depth running backs who could carry one-week fantasy value.
Keep scrolling for our top running backs to start in fantasy Week 8.
➕ UPGRADE YOUR TOOLS: Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Plus
Fantasy Week 8 RB Rankings: Start, sit lineup tips for running backs this week
Week 8 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Half-PPR Cheat Sheet
Please note these ranks reflect point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
| Rk | Tr | Name | Team | OPP | Week 8 Value | Chg↕️ |
| 1 | 1 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | TEN | Elite RB1 | |
| 2 | 1 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | MIA | Elite RB1 | |
| 3 | 2 | Josh Jacobs | GB | @PIT | Elite RB1 | |
| 4 | 2 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | @HOU | Elite RB1 | |
| 5 | 3 | D'Andre Swift | CHI | @BAL | RB1 | |
| 6 | 3 | Cam Skattebo | NYG | @PHI | RB1 | |
| 7 | 3 | De'Von Achane | MIA | @ATL | RB1 | |
| 8 | 3 | Javonte Williams | DAL | @DEN | RB1 | |
| 9 | 4 | James Cook | BUF | @CAR | RB1/RB2 | ⬆️ 9 |
| 10 | 4 | Breece Hall | NYJ | @CIN | RB1/RB2 | |
| 11 | 4 | Derrick Henry | BAL | CHI | RB1/RB2 | |
| 12 | 4 | Rachaad White | TB | @NO | RB1/RB2 | |
| 13 | 4 | Saquon Barkley | PHI | NYG | RB1/RB2 | |
| 14 | 4 | Chase Brown | CIN | NYJ | RB1/RB2 | |
| 15 | 5 | J.K. Dobbins | DEN | DAL | Strong RB2 | |
| 16 | 5 | Alvin Kamara | NO | TB | Strong RB2 | |
| 17 | 6 | Kimani Vidal | LAC | MIN | RB2 | Done-TNF |
| 18 | 6 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | GB | RB2 | ⬆️ 5 |
| 19 | 6 | Jordan Mason | MIN | @LAC | RB2 | Done-TNF |
| 20 | 6 | Aaron Jones | MIN | @LAC | RB2 | Done-TNF |
| 21 | 7 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS | @KC | RB2 | |
| 22 | 7 | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | @NE | RB2 | |
| 23 | 7 | Tony Pollard | TEN | @IND | RB2 | |
| 24 | 7 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | CLE | RB2 | |
| 25 | 7 | Rico Dowdle | CAR | BUF | RB2 | |
| 26 | 8 | Kyle Monangai | CHI | @BAL | RB2/Flex | |
| 27 | 8 | Justice Hill | BAL | CHI | RB2/Flex | |
| 28 | 8 | Woody Marks | HOU | SF | RB2/Flex | |
| 29 | 8 | Brashard Smith | KC | WAS | RB2/Flex | |
| 30 | 9 | RJ Harvey | DEN | DAL | Flex | |
| 31 | 9 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | BUF | Flex | |
| 32 | 9 | Nick Chubb | HOU | SF | Flex | |
| 33 | 9 | Isiah Pacheco | KC | WAS | Flex | |
| 34 | 10 | Isaiah Davis | NYJ | @CIN | Flex/Bench | |
| 35 | 10 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | MIA | Flex/Bench | |
| 36 | 10 | Tyrone Tracy | NYG | @PHI | Flex/Bench | |
| 37 | 10 | Sean Tucker | TB | @NO | Flex/Bench | |
| 38 | 10 | Kareem Hunt | KC | WAS | Flex/Bench | |
| 39 | 11 | Emanuel Wilson | GB | @PIT | Flex/Bench | |
| 40 | 11 | Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | GB | Flex/Bench | |
| 41 | 12 | Jeremy McNichols | WAS | @KC | Flex/Bench | |
| 42 | 12 | Jerome Ford | CLE | @NE | Flex/Bench | |
| 43 | 12 | Tyjae Spears | TEN | @IND | Flex/Bench | |
| 45 | 12 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | CLE | Flex/Bench | |
| 46 | 12 | Terrell Jennings | NE | CLE | Flex/Bench | |
| 47 | 13 | Brian Robinson | SF | @HOU | Bench | |
| 48 | 13 | Jaydon Blue | DAL | @DEN | Bench | |
| 49 | 13 | Will Shipley | PHI | NYG | Bench | |
| 50 | 13 | Trevor Etienne | CAR | BUF | Bench | |
| 51 | 13 | Jaylen Wright | MIA | @ATL | Bench | |
| 52 | 13 | Ollie Gordon | MIA | @ATL | Bench | |
| 53 | 13 | Chris Rodriguez | WAS | @KC | Bench | |
| 54 | 13 | Zavier Scott | MIN | @LAC | INJ-QUE | Done-TNF |
| 55 | 13 | Samaje Perine | CIN | NYJ | Bench | |
| INJ | 14 | Tyler Goodson | IND | TEN | Bench | |
| 57 | 14 | Scott Matlock | LAC | MIN | Bench | Done-TNF |
| 58 | 14 | Dylan Sampson | CLE | @NE | Bench | |
| 59 | 14 | Keaton Mitchell | BAL | CHI | Bench | |
| 60 | 14 | Nathan Carter | ATL | MIA | Bench | |
| 61 | 14 | Alec Ingold | MIA | @ATL | Bench | |
| 62 | 14 | Kyle Juszczyk | SF | @HOU | Bench | |
| 63 | 14 | Devin Singletary | NYG | @PHI | Bench | |
| 64 | 15 | Dameon Pierce | HOU | SF | Bench | |
| 65 | 15 | AJ Dillon | PHI | NYG | Bench | |
| 66 | 15 | Cam Akers | MIN | @LAC | Bench | Done-TNF |
| 67 | 15 | Kaleb Johnson | PIT | GB | Bench | |
| 68 | 15 | Tahj Brooks | CIN | NYJ | Bench | |
| 69 | 15 | Ty Johnson | BUF | @CAR | Bench | |
| 70 | 16 | British Brooks | HOU | SF | Bench | |
| 71 | 16 | DJ Giddens | IND | TEN | Bench | |
| 72 | 16 | Julius Chestnut | TEN | @IND | Bench | |
| 74 | 16 | Hunter Luepke | DAL | @DEN | Bench | |
| 75 | 16 | Adam Prentice | DEN | DAL | Bench | |
| 76 | 16 | Ray Davis | BUF | @CAR | Bench | |
| 77 | 16 | Chris Brooks | GB | @PIT | Bench | |
| 78 | 16 | Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN | DAL | Bench | |
| 79 | 16 | DeeJay Dallas | CAR | BUF | Bench | |
| OUT | -- | Bucky Irving | TB | @NO | ||
| OUT | -- | Hassan Haskins | LAC | MIN | Done-TNF | |
| OUT | -- | Roschon Johnson | CHI | @BAL | ||
| IR-R | -- | Omarion Hampton | LAC | MIN | Done-TNF | |
| IR-R | -- | Braelon Allen | NYJ | @CIN | ||
| IR | -- | Kendre Miller | NO | TB | ||
| IR | -- | Miles Sanders | DAL | @DEN | ||
| IR | -- | Antonio Gibson | NE | CLE | ||
| IR | -- | Najee Harris | LAC | MIN | Done-TNF | |
| BYE | -- | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Kyren Williams | LAR | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Ashton Jeanty | LV | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | David Montgomery | DET | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Travis Etienne | JAX | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Kenneth Walker | SEA | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Bam Knight | ARI | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Trey Benson | ARI | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Michael Carter | ARI | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | James Conner | ARI | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | George Holani | SEA | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Bhayshul Tuten | JAX | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Emari Demercado | ARI | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Raheem Mostert | LV | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Zamir White | LV | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Blake Corum | LAR | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | LeQuint Allen | JAX | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Jacardia Wright | SEA | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Jacob Saylors | DET | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Dylan Laube | LV | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Jarquez Hunter | LAR | BYE | ||
| BYE | -- | Sione Vaki | DET | BYE |
FANTASY LINEUP TIPS: Week 8 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em | Week 8 Sleepers | Week 8 Busts | Week 8 Waiver Wire
Which fantasy running backs have a Week 8 bye?
Replace these RBs before your matchup:
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
- Kyren Williams, Rams
- Ashton Jeanty, Raiders
- Travis Etienne, Jaguars
- Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
- Michael Carter and Bam Knight, Cardinals
Who are the top running backs for fantasy Week 8?
The top tier(s) of Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, and Jahmyr Gibbs loses the final member to a bye week.
In turn, Josh Jacobs again joins them after a two-touchdown Week 7 in which he was questionable due to a calf injury and an illness. The Steelers allowed early fantasy bust Chase Brown back into fantasy relevance, which positions Jacobs for a big day once again.
With this many running backs missing, D'Andre Swift will ride momentum from his big Week 7 against an injury-riddled and fantasy-friendly Baltimore Ravens defense. Chicago's improved offensive scheme, run by Swift compatriot head coach Ben Johnson, has tapped into the running back's best utility of plays in space.
NEW - FANTASY TOOLS: NFL Player Stats | NFL Transactions | NFL Depth Charts | Fantasy Injury Reports
Which RB sleepers should I start in Week 8?
Breece Hall gets a boost from this same matchup, but the New York Jets' Isaiah Davis -- a key player to stash in case Hall is traded -- gets a chance to spin a fantasy-relevant week against the Cincinnati Bengals, one of the biggest pushovers against running backs the past four weeks.
The Baltimore Ravens' Justice Hill could rattle off several receptions as a continued tandem back to Derrick Henry, who's fallen flat with many injuries -- though Lamar Jackson's likely return from a hamstring injury could allow Baltimore to challenge downfield more often.
Still, Hill could stumble into 10 PPR points just from his role on passing downs.
Given his recent utility as a backup to Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier could do damage on even 5-10 touches against the woeful Miami Dolphins defense that wilts against this position. Allgeier is one of fantasy's best handcuffs and a handy plug-in body for this Byepocalypse.
📋 More Week 8 fantasy tips:
- Bye-maggedon: Week 8 waiver wire replacements for top fantasy players
- Fantasy players to stash before NFL trade deadline
- NFL Week 8 Survivor pool best picks
- Top NFL DFS Week 8 Value Picks: DraftKings, FanDuel GPPs
- RB Handcuff Rankings & Depth Charts: Week 8 fantasy running back news