Top daily fantasy football running back plays for Week 8

Welcome to Week 8 of the Daily Fantasy season. Pricing has stabilized as trends have emerged but there are still bargains to be found and even some higher-priced options that will go under-owned and can make a difference in your lineups. This article looks at some of the projected lesser-owned plays at running back who could provide huge boosts to your tournament lineups, as well as some trap plays to avoid.

PLAY

Devonta Freeman $6,900 (Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers)

The only thing that’s been preventing Freeman from being among the true elites this season has been the presence of Tevin Coleman. Well, that’s not a problem this weekend, as Coleman is ruled out with an injury. Now Freeman can go back to being the devastating lead back he was last season, and a home date with the Packers is a perfect scenario to put up a huge number. The Packers already have their hands full with Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, which should allow Freeman to run wild.

Devontae Booker $5,600 (Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers)

DFS players got an enormous break as the Broncos just played on Monday night. Salaries are usually released as early as Sunday night, so a significant injury in the Monday game is never compensated for in the next week’s salaries. Thus, Booker is priced at $5,600 for a matchup that normally would carry a price tag around $8,000. Booker has been coming on for weeks and now he gets a mediocre Chargers defense in a game the Broncos will likely not let up after losing to the Chargers three weeks ago. Booker will be crazy high owned, but is impossible to fade under the circumstances.

Spencer Ware $7,400 (Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts)

Another post-salary lock injury development has impacted a key running back. Jamaal Charles was ruled out on Friday, making Spencer Ware the unquestioned lead back for the Chiefs in an exploitable matchup against the Colts. Even in the two games that Charles played in, Ware was still over 20 FanDuel points in each. The Colts are 24th in the league against the run, so Ware will continue to be active and productive.

Matt Forte $7,300 (New York Jets at Cleveland Browns)

After weeks in hibernation, Forte re-emerged last Sunday with a 30-carry, 100-yard performance against the Ravens, who are no slouches against the run. You know who is a slouch? The Browns. Forte supplemented his effort against Baltimore with 54 yards receiving and another touchdown. He was also not listed on the Friday injury report, which signals another big game coming this Sunday. The bulk of his 2016 work should be enough to keep his ownership low, but the odds of getting a vintage Forte performance is as high as ever on Sunday.

Jacquizz Rodgers $6,600 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders)

Doug Martin is out again, and as long as that is the case, Rodgers is a weekly must-play. The Raiders are another team that struggles to contain the run and the Bucs have no issues about giving Rodgers the ball, following up his 30-carry effort against the Panthers three weeks ago with 26 carries last week in San Francisco. All Rodgers is missing the past two games is a touchdown. Perhaps this is the week.

NAY

Mike Gillislee $5,900 (Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots)

Maybe this is the week the Bills finally come to their senses and sit LeSean McCoy. He is listed as doubtful. Even if McCoy does sit and Gillislee gets all the carries, this is a bad week to go bargain shopping here. The Patriots are out for revenge, and a back-up running back, no matter how talented, is not who you want to rely upon against a motivated run defense. Devontae Booker is $300 cheaper if you need a discount back.

Melvin Gordon $7,200 (San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos)

Gordon had it all going last week in Atlanta, putting up 33 FanDuel points. But the Chargers are not in Atlanta anymore. Three weeks ago, even in a victory in San Diego, Gordon only had nine FD points against the Broncos. It’s hard to imagine him doing much better in Denver against a defense out for payback. Look elsewhere in this price range.