Week 8 Fantasy Football Defensive Matchup Exploitation: RB

Eddie Lacy
Eddie Lacy
Oct 13 2013 Baltimore MD USA Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy 27 runs with the ball during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at MT Bank Stadium Evan Habeeb USA TODAY Sports

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: QBRBWRTE

Highly Unfavorable, Unfavorable, Neutral, Slightly Favorable, Favorable

Rank
vs
RB

AVG
RB
FPS
Allowed

Defense

Week 8 Opponents

1

12 Ravens BYE

2

12.33 Jets Gio Bernard, BenJarvus Green-Ellis

3

12.47 Chargers BYE

4

13.32 Seahawks Zac Stacy, Daryl Richardson, Isaiah Pead

5

13.48 Buccaneers DeAngelo Williams, Mike Tolbert, Jonathan Stewart (Q)

6

13.60 Chiefs Chris Ogbonnaya, Willis McGahee

7

13.88 Cardinals Steven Jackson (Q), Jacquizz Rodgers, Jason Snelling

8

14.3 Colts BYE

9

14.37 Bengals Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell

10

14.46 Packers Adrian Peterson

11

15.50 Bills Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas

12

15.64 Panthers Mike James, Brian Leonard

13

15.7 Falcons Rashard Mendenhall, Andre Ellington

14

15.9 Eagles Brandon Jacobs, Peyton Hillis, Michael Cox

15

16.38 Raiders Le’Veon Bell

16

17.4 Texans BYE

17

17.83 Saints Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller

18

17.93 Patriots Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas

19

18.22 Bears BYE

20

18.27 Browns Jamaal Charles

21

18.4 Giants LeSean McCoy

22

18.92 Cowboys Reggie Bush, Joique Bell

23

19.38 Titans BYE

24

19.38 49ers Maurice Jones-Drew

25

19.42 Broncos Alfred Morris, Roy Helu Jr.

26

20.17 Lions DeMarco Murray (Q), Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar (Q)

27

20.92 Steelers Darren McFadden, Marcel Reece, Rashad Jennings

28

21.15 Jaguars Frank Gore

29

21.54 Redskins Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Hillman

30

22.16 Dolphins Stevan Ridley, Brandon Bolden, LeGarrette Blount

31

23.82 Rams Marshawn Lynch

32

23.88 Vikings Eddie Lacy

*Values based on Yahoo standard scoring.

Browse Matchups by Position: QBRBWRTE

author avatar
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.