Since we've been highlighting underrated Week 8 players at various positions, here are some overrated RBs who, based on Fantasy Pros' composite rankings of 120 experts, will fall short (at times, well short) of expectations:
(1) Doug Martin (9th ranked RB) -- Avoid Martin this week for two reasons: He's facing the league's second best run defense, and the game is likely to be a 20+ point blowout. Martin was my 15th ranked RB this preseason for a reason: I believed he'd exceed ADP expectations and post RB1/2 numbers nearly every week. But he'll be lucky to see 11 touches this week, meaning no more than five points is realistic, meaning "start him at your own risk."
(2) Gio Bernard (16th ranked RB) -- The opposing Steelers are ninth against the run, and with Ben Roethlisberger back, we can expert longer drives, more clock-eating, and more scores than the Pittsburgh of weeks 4-7, which averaged 1.75 TDs per game. Instead, expect Cincy to be in passing mode for much of the second half, and when they're not, Jeremy Hill will be more involved in the running game. Gio won't be a top 25 RB this week.
(3) Darren McFadden (18th ranked RB) -- Will it be a pulled hamstring in the second quarter? Or will Seattle's third-ranked run D simply put DMC's Week 7 breakout in perspective? McFadden may have seized control of the Cowboys' backfield, but he's just about the least reliable starting RB. He'll be lucky to scrape together five points.
(4) Eddie Lacy (20th ranked RB) -- First off, as I've been saying all week, Lacy is a prime buy-low RB. I traded James Starks about 10 days ago to cash out on a fluky performance. This will be Lacy's backfield soon enough. But in a road matchup vs. the Broncos, I can't imagine him posting more than six points, and that's being generous.
(1) Doug Martin (9th ranked RB) -- Avoid Martin this week for two reasons: He's facing the league's second best run defense, and the game is likely to be a 20+ point blowout. Martin was my 15th ranked RB this preseason for a reason: I believed he'd exceed ADP expectations and post RB1/2 numbers nearly every week. But he'll be lucky to see 11 touches this week, meaning no more than five points is realistic, meaning "start him at your own risk."
(2) Gio Bernard (16th ranked RB) -- The opposing Steelers are ninth against the run, and with Ben Roethlisberger back, we can expert longer drives, more clock-eating, and more scores than the Pittsburgh of weeks 4-7, which averaged 1.75 TDs per game. Instead, expect Cincy to be in passing mode for much of the second half, and when they're not, Jeremy Hill will be more involved in the running game. Gio won't be a top 25 RB this week.
(3) Darren McFadden (18th ranked RB) -- Will it be a pulled hamstring in the second quarter? Or will Seattle's third-ranked run D simply put DMC's Week 7 breakout in perspective? McFadden may have seized control of the Cowboys' backfield, but he's just about the least reliable starting RB. He'll be lucky to scrape together five points.
(4) Eddie Lacy (20th ranked RB) -- First off, as I've been saying all week, Lacy is a prime buy-low RB. I traded James Starks about 10 days ago to cash out on a fluky performance. This will be Lacy's backfield soon enough. But in a road matchup vs. the Broncos, I can't imagine him posting more than six points, and that's being generous.