Although four teams will be on a bye during Week 8, it’s not necessarily crushing for the RB position in fantasy football.
Out of the teams that won’t play, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is the only elite option that will have the week off.
As we try to help set lineups, let’s break down our NFL Week 8 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em battle between Vikings RB Jordan Mason and Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins for your fantasy football picks this week. We'll also outline top Week 8 PrizePicks projections for both players.
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Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em RBs, Week 8: Jordan Mason or J.K. Dobbins?
Who'd be the better pick out of this NFL Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em dilemma: Mason or Dobbins?
Why Start Jordan Mason?
Jordan Mason PrizePicks Projections vs. Lions: 0.5 Anytime TDs (Demon)
- Mason (thumb) was activated from the injured reserve list prior to the Vikings’ Week 7 matchup with the Colts. He received 15 rushing attempts in a 16-10 victory, finishing with 68 yards on the ground.
- The former 49er logged 38 offensive snaps vs. Indianapolis, while Vikings RB Aaron Jones Sr. played 15 offensive snaps. Mason emerged from the matchup healthy, but Jones is considered day-to-day with a knee injury.
- Despite only playing in two games so far, Mason has 3 explosive runs, per PFF. Last season, he finished 22nd among 55 RBs with 22 of them.
- The Vikings deploy a run-heavy offense. Their 164 pass attempts are the second fewest in the NFL behind only the Dolphins (151).
Add Jordan Mason + Vikings to win to your PrizePicks lineup now!
Why Start J.K. Dobbins?
J.K. Dobbins PrizePicks Projections vs. Chiefs: 22.5 Rush Yards, 7 Rush Attempts, 0.5 Anytime TDs (Demon)
- Although Dobbins only had 6 carries for 23 yards in Denver’s 30-16 win over the Cardinals last week, he did record a TD. That marked his third straight game with a score.
- The veteran halfback has received 13 red-zone carries, 8 of which have come inside the 5-yard line.
- Before last week, Dobbins was given at least 17 carries in three of the previous four games.
- The Broncos have struggled to be productive through the air, posting the fifth-worst completion rate (59.2%) in the NFL. Per RBSDM, their offense ranks 23rd in dropback EPA/play. Denver is 15th in rush EPA/play.
Add J.K. Dobbins + Broncos to cover the spread to your PrizePicks lineup now!
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Week 8 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Verdict: Start Jordan Mason
If Jones doesn’t play this week, Mason would be the undisputed leader of the Vikings’ backfield. Even if he does, Mason has a favorable matchup against a Lions team that allows 27.5 PPG.
Mason already has 5 red-zone carries this year, too, and working in his favor is that the Lions are 25th in rush EPA/play allowed.
Things aren’t as rosy for Dobbins. His decline in workload is concerning because it coincided with the return of RB Jonah Coleman from IR. Coleman led the team with 30 offensive snaps, while sophomore RB RJ Harvey was second with 16 last week. Dobbins brought up the rear with 14.
Harvey is a good pass-catching option, so Dobbins was already ceding work to him in throwing situations. Now, he must compete with Coleman when Denver wants to run the ball.
Being part of a three-headed backfield isn’t ideal, and it makes things even worse for Dobbins when you factor in that he is playing a Chiefs team that ranks sixth in rush EPA/play allowed.
With all of that in mind, Mason is the superior fantasy option for Week 8.
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Mason returned from injury last week and could be primed for a significant role in a favorable Week 8 matchup with the Lions. Dobbins, meanwhile, is stuck in a timeshare with Harvey and Coleman and has a potentially difficult battle with the Chiefs on tap.
Mason could significantly outproduce him during this slate of Week 8 games.
Don't wait until kickoff — make your NFL Week 8 picks on PrizePicks now. Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 36 states.
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