Injuries are piling up across the NFL, and Week 8 seems to have more than what can be considered normal. We’re tracking every injury around the league related to fantasy-relevant running backs so you can have all the information you need for your fantasy football lineups.
Looking for all the injuries at all positions? Check out our final NFL Week 8 Injury Report heading into the weekend.
Is Your Running Back Playing Today in Week 8?
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers
Jonathan Brooks (knee) practiced in a limited capacity all week. He sandwiched a pair of capped practices around a scheduled day off last Thursday, so his ability to put together back-to-back limited sessions to kick off this week is a good sign for the rookie second-round pick as he gets back into football shape.
Brooks is doubtful for Week 8, indicating the Panthers will give him more time to recover before activating him from the reserve/non-football injury list.
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) missed Week 7 and is still considered day to day, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Wednesday.
Etienne was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. This comes one day after he participated in individual drills during practice and then worked with the club’s training staff afterward.
On Friday, Pederson said Etienne will be a game-time decision against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
With Etienne sidelined against the Patriots in London, Tank Bigsby assumed RB1 duties for the Jaguars, posting his second 100-yard rushing game in three weeks while scoring two touchdowns. Among RBs with at least 40 carries, Bigsby ranks No. 1 in yards after contact per attempt (4.57) and No. 5 in explosive run rate (13.4%).
Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
Jerome Ford (hamstring) did not practice all week and will not suit up against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8.
Ford, who missed this past Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, will be behind returned starter Nick Chubb once he gets back on the field. He posted two top-20 fantasy finishes while Chubb was recovering but will slide back into a complementary role upon getting healthy.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Kareem Hunt, who’s become the Kansas City Chiefs’ RB1 in his second stint with the club, was limited by a hip injury during Wednesday’s practice. Fortunately, on Thursday, he was a full participant in practice.
On Friday, the Chiefs removed Hunt from their injury report altogether. He’ll be ready to face the Raiders on Sunday.
Fantasy managers shouldn’t have been concerned about Hunt’s Week 8 availability. He’s a veteran player who’s still getting ramped up after not playing for most of the season.
Hunt has seen plenty of volume as the WR-depleted Chiefs leaned into the run game. He’s received 22+ carries in each of the past two games, finishing as the RB6 and RB11, respectively.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday due to a toe injury. However, he returned to practice on Friday and is expected to suit up against the Falcons on Sunday despite officially being listed as questionable.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles promised a three-headed monster of a backfield, and Tampa Bay delivered on that vow against the Ravens on Monday night:
- Rachaad White: 39 snaps, 16 opportunities (carries + targets)
- Bucky Irving: 29 snaps, 12 opportunities
- Sean Tucker: 16 snaps, 7 opportunities
White scored two receiving TDs and finished as the RB2, while Irving punched in a TD on the ground and ranked as RB16 in Week 8. Tucker, of course, was RB1 the week prior after posting 192 scrimmage yards.
Three-way backfields are endlessly frustrating for fantasy managers. Unfortunately, it usually takes an injury to sort out a muddled situation like this.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara (hand/rib) was limited at practice throughout the week. However, the New Orleans Saints removed the veteran running back from their injury report on Friday. Kamara is set to face the Chargers in Week 8.
Kamara told Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune that he’s been playing through a broken hand the last two games. He’s also still dealing with the broken ribs that he suffered in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In four outings since, Kamara racked up 74 touches for 273 yards from scrimmage and two rushing TDs, displaying that he remains productive on a week-to-week basis.
Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are taking it easy on running back Jordan Mason, who suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6. Mason was limited throughout the week leading into Week 7, and he was limited again this week.
On Friday, the 49ers removed Mason from their injury report. He’s ready to play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
The former undrafted free agent was not held back by his shoulder injury in Week 7. While he only handled 14 carries in San Francisco’s loss to Kansas City, Mason played a season-high 86% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps.
Through seven weeks, Dallas’ defense ranks dead last in EPA per rush and 30th in rushing success rate allowed. They’ve given up 180+ rushing yards in half of their games this season. Mason could have a field day on Sunday Night Football.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Tyjae Spears missed the Tennessee Titans’ Week 7 loss to the Buffalo Bills after not practicing all week with a hamstring injury. But in speaking with reporters on Monday, head coach Brian Callahan said that Spears could return in Week 8.
Spears returned for limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday. With Spears out in Week 7, Tony Pollard played a season-high 88% of the Titans’ snaps.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson returned in Week 7 after missing Week 6 with a foot injury, leading the New England Patriots’ backfield with 30 snaps. New England played from behind for much of Sunday’s game, so Stevenson only handled seven rushing attempts while receiving three targets in the passing game.
Stevenson missed practice on Wednesday, but he was a full participant on Thursday. Fantasy managers shouldn’t have been too concerned. While Stevenson’s foot injury was part of New England’s Wednesday report, Stevenson was also listed with a “personal” issue.
Although Stevenson is technically listed as questionable, he should be expected to face the Jets on Sunday.
Last week, the 26-year-old didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday before fully practicing on Friday. Stevenson was listed as questionable heading into Week 7.
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor has been sidelined since suffering a high ankle sprain in the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fortunately, Taylor got in limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday, which was a good sign.
On Friday, the Colts officially removed Taylor from their injury report. He will face the Texans in Week 8 and will not carry an injury destination into the game.
Ankle injuries are especially concerning for Taylor, who followed his 2021 All-Pro campaign by missing most of the 2022 season with a sprained ankle.
In his absence, Trey Sermon has played 57% of the snaps, while Tyler Goodson has played 43%. However, Goodson has far outperformed Sermon in that stretch, averaging 4.7 yards per rush compared to 2.9 for Sermon.
Taylor isn’t returning to an ideal matchup. Houston allows the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and is sixth-best by EPA per rush.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III (illness) practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday. However, the Seattle Seahawks removed him from their injury report on Friday. Walker is good to go for Week 8.
Walker gutted through an illness this past Sunday in Atlanta, but he still was able to handle a 47% snap share and turn 16 touches into 93 yards from scrimmage and two total TDs.
Fellow RB Zach Charbonnet actually saw the field more than Walker, earning 55 percent of snaps, but his eight touches went for a measly nine total yards. Walker has followed up Wednesday’s absence with some activity one day later, indicating he’s trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Bills.
