Week 8 Fantasy Football Defensive Matchup Exploitation: RB

With six teams on a bye week and running backs like Doug Martin and everyone on the Giants going down, you’ll likely have to work on that lineup if you want to get through Week 8. There’s no better way to do that than by exploiting favorable matchups.

This week’s must-starts are Marshawn Lynch, Eddie Lacy, Frank Gore, Knowshon Moreno, Reggie Bush, LeSean McCoy, and Jamaal Charles. All have favorable matchups and should put up strong days.

Stevan Ridley should also be started against a Dolphins D that has given up 14.5 fantasy points to Fred Jackson, 20.2 to Ray Rice, 24.2 to Darren Sproles, and 17.1 to Jason Snelling over their last four games.

Darren McFadden has a “favorable” matchup on paper but, after ceding big games to Gio Bernard, Matt Forte, and Adrian Peterson, the Steelers have been rather stingy against opposing running backs and McFadden is as unreliable as any back.

If healthy, DeMarco Murray is very startable against a Lions defense that has consistently given up double-digit fantasy point days to running backs.

On the other hand, I’d avoid Alfred Morris with Washington liable to be down early against a Broncos D that hasn’t given up more than 73 rushing yards to any opposing running back (although plenty of touchdowns). I’d also avoid Maurice Jones-Drew, but you should already be doing that. It’s not likely the Jags will be running against a 49ers team that can very well take a big early lead.

After facing the Jets and Ravens in back-to-back games, Le’Veon Bell might have some breathing room against a Raiders defense that has allowed double-digit points to Jamaal Charles, Danny Woodhead, Roy Helu Jr., and Ronnie Hillman over their last four games.

The Jets have been very stingy against running backs and Gio Bernard will likely be touchdown dependent if you’re looking to get a strong game out of him. The Jets haven’t allowed more than 72 yards to any opposing running back this year. The Seahawks have been running back kryptonite as well and Zac Stacy should definitely be avoided.

Outside of a two touchdown day through the air for Jacquizz Rodgers and a big game by LeSean McCoy, the Bucs have kept opposing running backs to minimal production so DeAngelo Williams should be avoided, as should either running back on the Browns against a very tough Chiefs D.

I also wouldn’t trust Chris Ivory, Mike James, or anyone on the Giants or Cardinals this week but, in a big bye week, you may have to start them.

Let’s take a look at all of the Week 8 fantasy football defensive matchups for running backs.

Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE

Highly Unfavorable, Unfavorable, Neutral, Slightly Favorable, Favorable

*Values based on Yahoo standard scoring.

Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE

Igor Derysh

Igor Derysh is Editor-at-Large at XN Sports and has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, Baltimore Sun, Orlando Sun-Sentinel, and FantasyPros. He has previously covered sports for COED Magazine, Fantasy Alarm, and Manwall.com. Follow @IgorDerysh !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

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