FanDuel NFL 2017: Week 8 lineup

Running Backs:

Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers-$9,400
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals-$5,900

Bell has clearly hit his stride, with more than 30 carries in back-to-back games and a total of 313 rushing yards over that span. If that’s not enough, he has also caught 20 of 25 passing game targets over the last four games with more than 30 carries in three of those games. Bell is matchup-proof in any fantasy format, but he is lined up for continued success in Week 8.

The Detroit Lions have the NFL’s eighth-ranked run defense right now. But they’ve also allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs (26.1 per game, ESPN PPR scoring), with four rushing touchdowns allowed to the position over the last four games. In Week 6, before their bye, Saints running back Mark Ingram put up 150 total yards (114 rushing) and two rushing scores on the Lions, with 30 touches. Bell is more talented than Ingram, and a more clear bell-cow too.

Mixon has been more involved since the Bengals switched offensive coordinators, but there’s a strong argument he should be getting the ball a lot more. A second-half deficit in Week 7 left him without a carry after halftime, but if Mixon is going to have a breakout game Week 8 looks like the time.

The Indianapolis Colts have simply been feeble defensively, with the league’s 26th-ranked run defense. Of course, that lack of resistance against the run has translated positively in fantasy, as the Colts have allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs (ESPN PPR scoring). They’ve allowed four rushing touchdowns and 5.4 yards per carry to the position over their last two games as well, which is a bad sign for them but a great one for Mixon.

In a game, the Bengals should win fairly easily, and with his gripes about last week’s workload in mind, there is virtually nothing standing in the way of Mixon getting 15-20 carries and 20-25 touches against the Colts. Add in a remarkably affordable salary on FanDuel, and I’m buying.