College fantasy football Week 8 rankings: KJ Duff, Jahiem White make big jumps

Duke running back Nate Sheppard holds the top spot in the Week 8 college fantasy football rankings after a 175-yard all-purpose day against North Carolina, and Friday’s trip to Virginia brings a run defense that ranks 91st nationally.

Miami’s Malachi Toney rises to FLEX2, North Texas’ Jahiem White debuts at FLEX3 after a bye, Rutgers’ KJ Duff jumps from FLEX9 to FLEX4 and Navy’s Jackson Gutierrez climbs 14 spots to QB2.

The flex and positional rankings are at the bottom of the article if you want to skip the write-ups!

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Week 8 FLEX rankings outlook

Sheppard stays at FLEX1 because Duke found another way to use him when the running lanes closed. The sophomore was listed as a game-time decision before the 24-20 loss to North Carolina, then turned 20 carries into 77 yards and caught 11 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Those 11 receptions tied for fifth most by a Duke running back.

Virginia allows 169.0 rushing yards per game, and Duke visits Charlottesville at 7 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN. Check his status again before kickoff since he carried an injury designation into last week.

Toney moves up to FLEX2 after carrying Miami past Florida State. He caught 11 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the 43-35 double-overtime win, ran twice for 31 yards and threw the two-point conversion in the second overtime. “This rivalry is bigger than me,” Toney said afterward.

Pittsburgh owns the nation’s top run defense at 61.7 rushing yards allowed per game, which pushes Miami toward the pass. The Panthers allow 273.0 passing yards per game, 121st nationally, and visit Miami at noon ET Saturday on ESPN.

White debuts at FLEX3 with a rushing touchdown in six straight games. The former West Virginia standout has 687 yards and nine scores on 96 carries, and his career-high 32 carries at Tulsa show how heavily North Texas will lean on him. Navy holds opponents to 110.8 rushing yards per game but allows 28.0 points, and the Mean Green visit Annapolis at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBSSN.

Duff, Boise State’s Dylan Riley and Illinois’ Collin Dixon round out the top six. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, last week’s FLEX2, drops out with the Buckeyes off this week.

MORE: When was Miami last ranked No. 1? Hurricanes end long wait in new AP Top 25

QB rankings outlook

West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr. holds QB1 after the best passing game of his career. He threw for 464 yards and three touchdowns, ran for two more scores and completed 25 of 33 passes in a 45-42 win over Cincinnati. West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said Hawkins “made some great throws and hung in there.”

The Mountaineers built the game plan around a heavier dose of the quick game, which raises his floor at TCU. The Horned Frogs allow just 13.2 points per game, third nationally, so Hawkins’ rushing role carries more weight in this matchup. West Virginia visits Fort Worth at noon ET on ESPN2.

Gutierrez makes the biggest jump, from QB16 to QB2. He ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns at UTSA and threw two scores, including a school-record 92-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Collins. North Texas allows 32.2 points per game, which ranks 111th.

Texas State’s Brad Jackson and Army’s Cale Hellums follow. Houston’s Conner Weigman checks in at QB5 after tying a career high with five touchdown passes against Oklahoma State. LSU’s Sam Leavitt slides from QB3 to QB7 for a road trip to Auburn at noon ET on ABC.

MORE: Bear Bachmeier reveals Notre Dame recruiting grudge after BYU topples No. 2 Irish

RB rankings outlook

Riley ranks RB3 coming out of Boise State’s bye week. He ran for 150 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries at Fresno State and caught a 44-yard touchdown. The Broncos RB now has 835 rushing yards on 127 attempts. He has also topped 100 rushing yards in a half four times this season.

Washington State allows 167.2 rushing yards and 30.5 points per game. Boise State coach Spencer Danielson credited his backfield after the Fresno State win: “Our running backs ran really hard tonight.” The Broncos visit Pullman at 6 p.m. ET Saturday.

Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop climbs to RB4 at South Carolina, which allows 120.2 rushing yards per game. Utah’s Wayshawn Parker slips from RB3 to RB5 because Houston allows only 97.3 rushing yards per game, 14th nationally.

SMU’s Kendrick Raphael jumps from RB16 to RB7. Cal allows 193.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks 116th, and the Golden Bears visit Dallas at noon ET on The CW. Texas State’s Torrance Burgess moves from RB14 to RB8 against Utah State.

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WR rankings outlook

Toney takes over WR1 with Smith off the slate, and Duff climbs from WR7 to WR2 after another highlight-reel afternoon. He caught nine passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-30 win at Maryland, including a one-handed grab in the end zone. Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan explained the trust he has in the 6-foot-6 receiver: “You just kind of put it up there, he’s going to get it.”

Duff has nine touchdown catches, one shy of the Rutgers single-season record, and earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. Northwestern allows 219.6 passing yards per game, and the Scarlet Knights visit No. 24 Northwestern at noon ET on Peacock.

Dixon debuts at WR3 after Illinois’ bye. The senior has 47 catches for 608 yards and nine touchdowns in six games, and Illinois coach Bret Bielema said in September, “He’s just extremely talented.” Oregon allows 238.6 passing yards per game, 90th nationally, and visits Champaign at 3 p.m. ET on BTN.

Florida Atlantic’s Kelby Valsin and Syracuse’s Umari Hatcher round out the top five.

MORE: Dylan Raiola’s Nebraska reunion takes major turn as Oregon benches former Husker

TE rankings outlook

Houston’s Patrick Overmyer moves from TE2 to TE1. He caught a 2-yard touchdown in the 35-32 win over Oklahoma State, his seventh scoring catch of the season, one week after he tied the NCAA single-game tight end record with four touchdowns at Kansas State. Utah allows 233.6 passing yards per game, and Houston visits Salt Lake City at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.

TCU’s Kari Ashley climbs to TE2 even after Baylor held him to four catches for 18 yards. West Virginia allows 333.5 passing yards per game, the most in the country, and Ashley entered last week third among tight ends nationally with 374 receiving yards.

Louisiana Tech’s Eli Finley slides from TE1 to TE3 against Old Dominion. Oklahoma’s Rocky Beers rises to TE4 because Mississippi State allows 264.8 passing yards per game, 117th nationally.

MORE: Big 12 admits mistake: Notre Dame deserved final play in controversial loss to BYU

Team offense outlook

South Alabama takes the top spot for Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. ET game at Marshall on ESPN2. The Jaguars average 38.8 points per game, and Marshall allows 33.4 points and 445.2 yards per game, which ranks 120th.

Texas Tech ranks second at Cincinnati. The Bearcats gave up 598 yards to West Virginia and allow 319.4 passing yards per game (136th nationally), while the Red Raiders average 38.8 points. Kickoff is at noon ET on FS1.

Northwestern rounds out the top three against Rutgers, which allows 36.8 points and 195.6 rushing yards per game. The Scarlet Knights gave up 30 points even in Saturday’s win over a Maryland team that had lost four straight.

MORE: Former North Carolina State football coach dies at 80

Team defense outlook

Liberty claims the No. 1 spot for Thursday’s 7 p.m. ET game at Kennesaw State on CBSSN. The Flames allow 13.8 points per game, sixth nationally, and the Owls average 17.4, 118th.

FIU ranks second against Middle Tennessee on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. The Panthers allow 17.0 points per game, while the Blue Raiders average 19.8 points and 306.6 yards.

Indiana follows at Michigan. The Hoosiers allow 15.0 points per game, and the Wolverines rank 111th in total offense at 313.3 yards per game. Indiana visits Ann Arbor at noon ET on Fox.

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