Fantasy Football Rankings: Hayden Winks' RB Blueprint For Week 8

The Blueprint is my weekly column and basically everything that I use to build out the most accurate rankings I can. There will be this RB column, a WR column and a combination column on the onesie positions. You will find film notes and endless charts. Maybe enough charts to stress test the Yahoo website. I kid.

It’s impossible to get every ranking thoroughly early in the week, so be sure to keep checking in on these columns through Sunday morning. As always, my full rankings at every position are available.

1. Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. MIN) – 119.5 proj. total yards

Assuming he didn’t sprain his ankle running out the clock last week, nothing has changed. Gibbs is inside the top 10 all time in RB fantasy points through six games.

(Photo by Hayden Winks/Yahoo Sports)

A matchup with the Vikings will put that standing to the test. They’ve allowed the fewest fantasy points to RBs this season at just 14.5 half PPR points per game to entire backfields. Jonathan Taylor was able to spring lose for 110 total yards but that’s been the exception with DC Brian Flores setting records with blitzes and crowding the line of scrimmage pre-snap. Gibbs was held to 5.4 and 4.3 half PPR points against them last year, respectively, while splitting time with David Montgomery. The Lions are projected for 24.75 points (ninth), far lower than usual.

2. Kenneth Walker III (at DEN) – 99.5 proj. total yards

Nobody runs on the Seahawks, even former Seahawk Super Bowl MVPs.

The Chiefs need to have at least one of their OTs and one of their top-two WRs to be threatening. Despite the flop, Walker is the RB2 on RB2 usage this season. Last week was the first time all year that he wasn’t top-10 in both fantasy points and expected points.

The Broncos rank 11th in half PPR points allowed to RBs, giving up 14.5 rushing fantasy points per game (ninth). Walker lit them up for 191 total yards and two touchdowns in the season opener, forcing a truly ridiculous amount of missed tackles. Kansas City heads to Denver as 1.5-point road favorites with an implied total of 21.5 points (20th). He’ll try to repeat that RB2 overall finish.

3. Bijan Robinson (at TB) – 104.5 proj. total yards

Robinson has been a bit quieter recently with Michael Penix Jr. taking over at QB.

His receiving role has taken a big hit, while his rushing efficiency has scaled up. It’s been about a wash on the averages, but the changes are worth tracking. He’s the RB12 on RB16 usage this month. Brian Robinson missed last week, allowing Bijan to see 20 carries and five receptions.

Tampa Bay ranks 30th in half PPR points allowed per game to RBs (15.2), including 31st against RB rushing. Bijan has overcome the difficulties of the matchup before, finishing as the RB4, RB2 and RB7 in his last contests against them, respectively, with 106 total yards and a score in all. Atlanta is projected for 21.5 points (19th) as 2.5-point road underdogs.

4. James Cook III (vs. BAL) – 99.5 proj. total yards

Nothing has really changed with Cook. He’s the RB2 in rush YPG (104.5), while being the RB40 in receptions per game (1.7). In this elite offense, it’s sustainable and comes with countless TDs. We can keep rinse-repeating this RB6 on RB11 pace for as long as the OL and Josh Allen are healthy.

The Ravens defense has allowed the fifth-fewest half PPR points to opposing RBs at 16.4 per game. They’ve allowed the fewest points in the air to RBs, while being 18th on the ground, where Cook does his damage. Bijan Robinson had 118 scoreless yards against them back in Week 5, while lesser talents were kept out of the top-24 overall this month. Buffalo enters as 3.5-point home favorites with a 28.5-point implied team total (second), and that’s the real stat we should care about. The Bills dictate terms — opposing defenses are just holding on for dear life. It’ll be great if Lamar Jackson is out there, too.

5. Javonte Williams (vs. ARI) – 94.5 proj. total yards

Williams comes off a career day on the ground, rushing 25 times for 155 yards and one score in Week 7. Over his last four contests, he sits as half PPR’s RB5 on RB6 usage, producing six rushing scores in that span. He has handled nine carries inside the 5-yard line across these four weeks, turning five of them into short scores. That’s the benefit of a healthy Cowboys OL.

Arizona has allowed the 10th-most half PPR points to opposing backfields (20.5 per game). The Cardinals gave up an RB1 finish to Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 5, an RB14 showing to Blake Corum in Week 6 and allowed all Broncos RBs to put up fantasy points. Dallas enters as 6.5-point home favorites with a week-high 30.5-point implied team total (first). That’s simply too big to fail.

6. Derrick Henry (at BUF) – 89.5 proj. total yards

The splits with and without Lamar Jackson speak for themselves. The only other thing to take into account is the loss of first-round G/C Vega Ioane, who was a star early in the year.

Buffalo ranks third in half PPR points allowed to opposing RBs (24.5), having surrendered big recent days to Kyren Williams (RB8) and Ashton Jeanty (RB10). Baltimore heads in as 3.5-point road underdogs with an implied total of 25.0 points (eighth). The markets seem to think Lamar is going to play, as he returned to practice this week.

7. Bucky Irving (vs. ATL) – 84 proj. total yards

Wow. The Bucs ran all over a sorry Panthers defense. Their OL was dominant, and Irving made the most of it. He handled a season-high 24 carries for 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading to an RB2 finish on RB4 usage. Because everything worked, Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker got home in Baker Mayfield’s return. This offense should be balanced while Mayfield’s thumb heals, and Irving is in line for upside RB2 value. He’s the RB14 on RB13 usage this season despite a month of problems at QB.

The Falcons have allowed the eighth-most half PPR points per game to RBs this year, particularly struggling in the receiving game (fourth most). Christian McCaffrey was the latest example of that, but D’Andre Swift (RB5), Derrick Henry (RB5) and Alvin Kamara (RB10) have made it a 4-game streak of allowing a top-10 fantasy finish. Tampa Bay enters as 2.5-point home favorites with an implied team total of 24.5 points (11th). This is a massive game for them.

8. Kyren Williams (vs. LAC) – 89.5 proj. total yards

Williams sits as the RB6 in half PPR points per game (18.4) on RB2 usage (18.7 expected half PPR) over his last four contests. He leads all running backs with 7.3 targets per game over that window while playing in an offense that ranks third in neutral pass rate (63%). The career-best receiving usage has been more than enough to offset Blake Corum emerging. Corum had his season-best usage last week without Davante Adams, and Williams still finished as the RB12 on RB25 usage. It’s simply a drive-by-drive rotation with Williams starting each half. His drives need to be the long ones to reach a ceiling.

The Chargers rank ninth in half PPR points allowed to RBs (21.6), surrendering recent top finishes to Kenneth Walker (RB1), J.K. Dobbins (RB16), Emanuel Wilson (RB6) and James Cook (RB6). The Landlord Rams enter as 6.5-point “home” favorites over their tenants, with a 25.5-point implied total (seventh).

9. Bhayshul Tuten (vs. IND) – 89.5 proj. total yards

Tuten is a post-bye riser after passing the pre-bye test on the ground. The Jaguars OL is worrisome, and Tuten is squeezed in some of the high-value touch areas; Chris Rodriguez Jr. will vulture TDs on occasion and LeQuint Allen plays obvious passing downs. But Tuten can still eat into those areas, because he’s earned it. Over the past four games, Tuten is the RB17 on RB17 usage and 16.5 carries per game. That’s probably closer to his floor than ceiling while he’s fully healthy. Get ready for more spike weeks in the near term.

This is a great spot for Tuten, too. The Jaguars project for 28.0 points (fourth) against the Colts, who traded their best linemen on both sides of the ball. This defense is straight up a joke. They were blown off the ball on Jordan Mason carries last week, and Tuten can take them the distance like Jaylen Warren did in Week 5, when he was the RB2 overall.

10. Ashton Jeanty (at NYJ) – 74.5 proj. total yards

Jeanty’s rushing volume has contracted lately, averaging 10.8 carries (RB36) and 30.5 rushing yards (RB47) over his last four games, but his passing-game involvement keeps him afloat. Over that 4-game stretch, he is the RB21 on RB13 usage, powered by 7.0 targets (RB2) and 5.3 receptions per game (RB3). In Week 7, he set season highs with eight receptions and 28 air yards, pulling in a 15-yard touchdown reception. The receiving role is clearly by design, while Klint Kubiak seems to be okay riding the hot hand on the ground.

Most of Jeanty’s failures on the ground are because the C Tyler Linderbaum signing has Baum-ed, but he’s still a bit slow to react and burst upfield, too. In the open field, his ankle seems fine, but Jeanty just never gets there. I don’t think he’s a great wide zone fit, and it was embarrassing that the Raiders couldn’t run the ball when the Rams showed up with six+ DBs for a record amount of snaps last week. They basically started a S at off-ball LB, and the Raiders came up empty. SHEESH.

The Jets rank 15th in half PPR points allowed to running backs at 19.7 per game. New York surrendered an RB4 finish to Kyle Monangai in Week 4 and an RB14 outing to Ollie Gordon in Week 7. Neither are receiving-based backs, for what it’s worth, but there’s no way to call this anything other than a promising matchup. Las Vegas has an implied team total of 22.0 points (17th) as slight road dogs. The bigger issue is the Jets can play a slow-paced, run-first style on offense and the Raiders’ own defense isn’t getting off the field.

11. Chuba Hubbard (at GB) – 89.5 proj. total yards

Hubbard had season lows in half PPR points (8.0) and expected points (9.0) with the Bucs destroying each side of the ball in the trenches. They have inexperienced first-rounder Monroe Freeling to step in for RT Taylor Moton (IR), but the entire unit needs to play better. The good news is they had for most of the season, allowing Hubbard to start out as the RB10 on RB15 usage. I haven’t seen a single Jonathon Brooks report in a month, so Hubbard’s upside RB2 value looks pretty baked in. We’re just hoping Bryce Young doesn’t turn back into a pumpkin this Halloween season.

The Packers rank sixth in half PPR points allowed to RBs at 23.3 per game, including 16.9 rushing points allowed per game (fourth). That has included a couple of outings against Jahmyr Gibbs, to be fair, but Javonte Williams (RB17) and D’Andre Swift (RB12) were both rock-solid this month against them. Green Bay is also down a pair of LBs if Zaire Franklin misses another game, and Micah Parsons isn’t expected to play yet either. The Panthers travel on a short week as 3.5-point road underdogs with a 22-point implied team total (15th).

12. Jonathan Taylor (at JAX) – 84.5 proj. total yards

Taylor’s 11.8 expected half PPR points last week (RB24) were his fewest since Week 9 of last year, if we remove his partial Week 18 game. The culprits were more Seth McGowen than normal, a bad offense and a bad matchup. Taylor is so good that he still finished with 18.0 half PPR points on 18 carries, but the margins are getting thinner within the confines of these spreadsheets. He’s the RB9 on RB6 usage this month without Alec Pierce clearing space for the offense.

Now, he’ll be without the best guard in the NFL after the Colts traded away Quenton Nelson. Right now, the Colts are fourth in PFF run-blocking grade at OG. That won’t hold up now. McGowen is a sharp bench stash for 12-team leagues as we approach November 10. Taylor easily could be next.

Jacksonville ranks 31st against fantasy RBs, giving up just 14.6 half PPR points per game overall and an NFL-low 8.2 points per game on the ground (32nd). Offenses facing them have run the ball in neutral situations at the lowest rate (38%), too. The Colts don’t have another way to move the ball consistently, so they may go down swinging anyways. A 19.5-point team total (23rd) for the Colts is less than ideal.

13. Josh Jacobs (vs. CAR) – 79.5 proj. total yards

Jacobs was the RB11 on RB5 usage in his 2026 debut, while splitting the early-down rushing work with MarShawn Lloyd and posting far more receiving work (5-55-1) than he typically does. He had a highlight broken tackle on the sideline and looked like the best back on the team by far. We’ll see if Lloyd can keep this split role long term, but in general, swapping five carries for five receptions is elite business in fantasy football.

The Packers won’t have the OL that Jacobs benefited from in years past as a sure-fire top-10 fantasy back, but they’re competitive on both sides of the ball and game scripts should generally be favorable. A repeat of last year’s RB12 per-game finish sounds about right. I’d draft him in Round 3 right now and don’t believe the Police Department will leak the evidence after being sued by Jacobs and the victim. That said, the NFL did not fine Jacobs or announce their “suspension,” a signal that their investigation is ongoing while that last non-criminal court case is open.

The Panthers present a vulnerable spot on the ground, allowing 26.7 half PPR points per game to opposing backfields (second most). Carolina ranks first in half PPR points allowed to RB rushing with 21.7 per game, though they sit 26th against RB receiving. Bucky Irving (RB2) just turned 24 carries into 106 yards and two touchdowns against them in Week 7. Green Bay enters as 3.5-point home favorites with an implied team total of 25.5 points (sixth).

14. Jaylen Warren (vs. CLE) – 89.5 proj. total yards

Warren has between 9.2 and 15.1 expected half PPR points in all seven games this year, and he’s held the line even with Rico Dowdle returning over the past two weeks (RB17 and RB16 usage). Warren had 18 carries and three receptions in a French win last week with Dowdle sprinkling in for a third of the role throughout the game. The Steelers’ MVP has handled 62% of the carries with Dowdle back, up from 48% in Weeks 1-3. Warren’s floor is also held up by 3.4 receptions per game, in an offense that is fourth in neutral pass rate (60%) in the four Dowdle games.

The Browns rank 24th in half PPR points allowed to RBs (17.5 PG). Perhaps because of their speedy LB duo, Cleveland has been stout through the air, ranking 29th against RB receiving with 3.9 half PPR points allowed per game, but they sit 15th against RB rushing. Tony Pollard (RB1 overall) broke loose against them for 129 rushing yards and three scores in Week 7, while Braelon Allen (RB6) reached 116 rushing yards in Week 5. Warren himself had 126 scoreless yards in a Turf Monster game back in Week 4. Pittsburgh is listed as 3.5-point home favorites with an implied team total of 21.5 points (21st).

15. Saquon Barkley (at WAS)

Let’s wait on the official injury report, but Dameon Pierce is out now, so it’ll be between Barkley and Elijah Mitchell, who had a tough debut on Monday Night Football. The good news, if any, was that the Eagles OL and Tanner McKee looked functional enough to allow for fantasy points to RBs. I’m less sure Barkley’s body can hold up.

Fantasy Football Rankings: Hayden Winks’ RB Blueprint for Week 8

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