Hayden Winks outlines top running back picks for Week 8 fantasy football
Analyst Hayden Winks releases his Week 8 running back rankings, highlighting Jahmyr Gibbs, Kenneth Walker III and Bijan Robinson among the top options based on projected yardage and matchups.
Hayden Winks, the author of the weekly "Blueprint" column, posted his Week 8 running back rankings for fantasy football, noting that the list will be updated through Sunday morning as more data becomes available.
Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. Minnesota) leads the list with a projected 119.5 total yards. Winks points out that Gibbs remains in the top ten all-time for RB fantasy points after six games, but faces a tough Minnesota defense that allowed the fewest fantasy points to RBs this season.
Kenneth Walker III (at Denver) is projected for 99.5 yards. Despite a recent dip in his fantasy output, Walker has been a reliable RB2 this season and could benefit from Denver’s relatively permissive run defense.
Bijan Robinson (at Tampa Bay) is slated for 104.5 yards. Robinson’s rushing efficiency has improved even as his receiving role has diminished with Michael Penix Jr. under center.
Other notable backs include James Cook III (vs. Baltimore) with 99.5 projected yards, Javonte Williams (vs. Arizona) at 94.5 yards, and Derrick Henry (at Buffalo) at 89.5 yards. Winks provides brief context for each player, referencing recent performances, team offensive lines and defensive matchups.
The column also mentions several lower-ranked backs such as Bhayshul Tuten, Ashton Jeanty and Breece Hall, noting injury concerns or limited usage that could affect their fantasy value.
"The Blueprint is my weekly column and basically everything that I use to build out the most accurate rankings I can," Winks wrote, emphasizing the depth of analysis behind the rankings.
Winks advises fantasy owners to monitor the rankings throughout the week, as injuries and lineup changes can alter player outlooks before game day.