DraftKings Main Slate for Week 8 - Running Back (RB)

Tony Pollard disappointed the trend last vs. the #Bills, who allowed 14+ to RBs in the three weeks prior, including 24 and 38 points to Breece Hall and Derrick Henry. Kenneth Walker scored 14+ over the last five weeks and 20+ in four games. He's still slightly banged up but finished the week with a Full Practice (FP). Oddly, his production still hit with a low snap count of 46% last week, where Zach Charbonnet outsnapped him at 55%. A 50-50 timeshare presents reasonably, with Charbonnet as sneaky play with the lower mark of 21 points. Obviously, Walker is the likely benefactor of this matchup, but his price tag is searching for 31 points, so it's hard to pull that trigger. With Metcalf down, some more opportunities should arrive in the backfield, whether through the running or passing game. #Seahawks

Javonte Williams lands the best matchup by the numbers against the #Panthers. He came back to life last week vs. the #Saints with 26 points since hitting 16 or fewer in the previous four games, including 10 or fewer for three. He snapped 63% last week, which aligns with his 60% on the season and 64% during the previous three games, so it was only a bump in his production. His inconsistency makes this a challenging play for his 24-point mark, but the script with Dalton, Thielen, and Johnson out should align with the opportunity. I'd lean toward him landing a safe floor, as Carolina has allowed 13+ all season and 20+ to RBs in three of the last four games. McLaughlin is a nice dart for the price to make a splash. #Broncos

Whether Jayden Daniels plays or not, Washington's running game should be heavily relied on against the #Bears. While they limited the #Jaguars to 6 points last week, they allowed 18+ points to Chuba Hubbard, Kyren Williams, & Jonathan Taylor in the previous three weeks. Austin Ekeler has been too quiet, only scoring 13 or fewer over the last five weeks, which includes 4 & 10 points in the last two games. Brian Robinson, while injured, produced 13 points during the previous two weeks and is off the injury report. His snap share and production should increase toward his very fair 25-point mark. While Ekeler & McNichols can play spoiler, Robinson presents as a very solid play to build around. #Commanders

Tony Pollard snapped 89% last week but only landed 8 points after scoring 15+ in three of the previous five weeks. Tyjae Spears is likely OUT, so the volume should continue vs. the #Lions, who allowed 20+ in two of the last three weeks. The volume SHOULD create a floor toward his 26-point mark, but the #Titans are bad, so he's a piece you accept on a solid build, not one you chase. Julius Chestnut practiced in full to close the week, so he should spell Pollard. He is a bigger back if you don't know him, so he should compliment Pollard well. He's a sneaky play at 4.1k. #Titans

Travis Etienne finished the week limited (LP), which aligns with him not playing or likely playing sparingly. Tank Bigsby, who should land as a popular play this week (25+%), has scored 26+ in two of the last three weeks. He has a phenomenal price tag and reachable mark of 25 points. The #Packers allowed 29 points to Mixon last week and 18+ in five out of seven games this season, with the #Titans' RBs (Pollard (5), Spears (10)) and the #Cardinals' RBs (Conner (7), Demercado (10), Benson (2)) being the outliers. This is the frequent decision of the "free square" or fading against the field. Currently, I lean toward the former. #Jaguars

Jonathan Taylor returns vs. the #Texans, where he's scored 28+ points against in four previous matchups from 21-23. To start this season, he bucked that trend by scoring only 10 points. The #Texans are a better team than in years past, Sermon & Goodson have likely earned some continued snaps, and Taylor likely won't carry the bulk in his first game back. While everything aligns against his 30-point mark, most stay away from these areas until they arrive, which is too late to reap the benefits. I wouldn't go out of my way to chase it, but keep it on the radar as he should land with a low roster percentage and potentially land as the difference-maker this week. #Colts

Josh Jacobs's tenure with the #Packers has been sporadic, with scores of 5, 11, 16, 12, & 20 during the last five weeks. Fortunately, the 20 points were the most recent, so maybe he'll continue that trend vs. the #Jaguars, who allowed 15+ to RBs all season except against the #Browns (not much happening there). That 15-point floor presents likely toward his 26-point mark. While he's a solid play at the mid-price, the likely concern is if the passing game (best m/u of the week) limits the upside...but both can be true. Solid play. #Packers

Kareem Hunt took the starting role and produced 10 points in a warm-up game and 21 & 22 points during the last two weeks. He snapped 57% over that span and increased to 64% last week. The #Raiders allowed 15+ points to RBs all season and 19 & 23 points (Kyren Wiliams & Najee Harris) in the previous two games. Hunt has a mark of 25 points, with a price tag that isn't keeping up with his production. I'd anticipate a heavy roster percentage of around 20%, so there's nothing wrong with riding the field, but if that's part of your strategy, it's something to consider. #Chiefs

James Conner increased his snap count of 64% on the season to 84% last week. Volume backs are hard to come by, especially at a 6.5k price tag (mark of 26 points). He produced 20, 7, 14, & 21 in the last four weeks. With the #Dolphins getting Tua back, this should land as a good game for Conner, whether rushing or receiving. Miami allowed 19+ in four of the last five games, with the previous week against the #Colts (Goodson - 11 points) being the anomaly. He's a solid play, especially if you're paying up at another position. #Cardinals

Breece Hall is on the threshold of being outpriced with a 29-point mark, but his snap count of 82% last week, 81% in the last three weeks, and 76% on the season warrant consideration. Against the #Patriots, he scored 18 points this year and 32 & 3 last season. New England allowed 26 & 30 points in the last two weeks against Bigsby & Mixon. They allowed 14+ all season except vs. the injured #Dolphins and 17+ besides those two games. 17+ points presents extremely safe unless somehow the #Jets are the #Jets (lol). You'll need some help the rest of the way, but it's in sight. #Jets

In previous years, I've usually avoided RBs vs. the #Saints, but they've allowed 21+ points in the last three weeks to Javonte Williams, Sean Tucker, Bucky Irving (18), and Kareem Hunt. JK Dobbins is overpriced for his recent production of scoring 9 or fewer points in three of his last four games (18 points vs. DEN). He regularly snaps 63% on the season and maintained 68% last week and 70% over the previous three games. His mark is 27 points, which isn't ideal, as we'd like to see him priced closer to 6k with the recent outputs, but a solid floor SHOULD be there. #Chargers

Production will arrive for RBs vs. the #Seahawks, as they've allowed 17+ to RBs except vs. the #Broncos, injured #Dolphins, and injured #49ers. James Cook should benefit, but Ray Davis is likely not staying off the field with his success, and Ty Johnson is always sharing time. Cooks's price tag is asking for 28 points, which he landed in Week 2 (vs. MIA) and scoring 18 or fewer since then. Pulling the trigger for Cook will be challenging with the price tag, but a floor should arrive, along with Ray Davis landing as a sneaky dart. #Bills