Roles

Running Back Rooms Tm RB1 RB2 3D 2M GL RB3 HC ARI Jeremiyah Love Tyler Allgeier Split Split Split James Conner Split ATL Bijan Robinson Brian Robinson Jr. Bijan Bijan Split Tyler Goodson Robinson Jr. BAL Derrick Henry Justice Hill Hill Hill Henry Rasheen Ali Split BUF James Cook Ray Davis Johnson Johnson Cook Ty Johnson Davis CAR Chuba Hubbard Jonathon Brooks Split Split Split AJ Dillon Brooks CHI D'Andre Swift Kyle Monangai Split Split Split Rochson Johnson Monangai CIN Chase Brown Samaje Perine Split Split Brown Tahj Brooks Split CLE Quinshon Judkins Dylan Sampson Sampson Sampson Judkins Raheim Sanders Split DAL Javonte Williams Malik Davis Split Split Williams Emari Demercado Davis DEN J.K. Dobbins RJ Harvey Harvey Harvey Dobbins Jonah Coleman Split DET Jahmry Gibbs Jacob Saylors Gibbs Gibbs Gibbs Isiah Pacheco Split GB MarShawn Lloyd Chris Brooks Split Split Lloyd Josh Jacobs Split HOU David Montgomery Woody Marks Split Split Montgomery Jawhar Jordan Marks IND Jonathan Taylor Seth McGowan Taylor Taylor Taylor DJ Giddens Split JAX Bhayshul Tuten Chris Rodriguez Jr. Allen Allen Split LeQuint Allen Rodriguez KC Kenneth Walker Emmett Johnson Walker Smith Walker Brashard Smith Johnson LV Ashton Jeanty Mike Washington Jeanty Jeanty Jeanty Dylan Laube Washington LAC Omarion Hampton Keaton Mitchell Mitchell Mitchell Hampton Kimani Vidal Vidal LAR Kyren Williams Blake Corum Split Split Split Ronnie Rivers Corum MIA De'Von Achane Jaylen Wright Achane Split Split Ollie Gordon Split MIN Jordan Mason Aaron Jones Jones Jones Mason Demond Claiborne Split NE Rhamondre Stevenson TreVeyon Henderson Split Split Split Corey Kiner Henderson NO Travis Etienne Alvin Kamara Kamara Split Etienne Kendre Miller Split NYG Cam Skattebo Tyrone Tracy Jr. Split Split Skattebo Najee Harris Split NYJ Breece Hall Braelon Allen Hall Hall Split Isaiah Davis Split PHI Saquon Barkley Tank Bigsby Barkley Split Barkley Will Shipley Bigsby PIT Jaylen Warren Rico Dowdle Split Warren Split Eli Heidenreich Dowdle SF Christian McCaffrey Kaelon Black McCaffrey McCaffrey McCaffrey Jordan James Split SEA Jadarian Price George Holani Holani Split Price Zach Charbonnet Split TB Bucky Irving Kenneth Gainwell Split Split Bucky Sean Tucker Split TEN Tony Pollard Tyjae Spears Split Spears Pollard Nicholas Singleton Split WAS Jacory Croskey-Merritt Rachaad White White White JCM Kaytron Allen Split

Notes

Handcuffs

The term "handcuff" for me represents a player who has a realistic chance to assume the bulk of a team's running back touches if the starter in front of them misses significant time. As a result, they have increased value over RBs who may find themselves in a timeshare if the team loses its RB1.

With that said, there are very few actual "handcuffs" we should be thinking about during drafts, and some of them already have 1B roles in their offenses, like Kyle Monangai, Blake Corum, Rico Dowdle, and potentially Jonathon Brooks.

The RBs lacking standalone value but who have considerable contingent upside include Tank Bigsby, Brian Robinson Jr. & Ray Davis. Honorable mention goes to Woody Marks.

Arizona

Obviously not a great start for Jeremiyah Love's rookie season. High-ankle sprains can be difficult to fully recover from in a short period of time. I'm expecting more reps for Tyler Allgeier early in the season.

James Conner (ankle) has only done individual work this preseason and has been placed on IR-Return meaning he will miss the first four games.

Bam Knight is currently the No.4 but will be the No.3 while Conner is out.

Trey Benson (knee) is on IR. He struggled to get healthy and never got his knee right this pre-season.

Atlanta

This room is pretty straightforward. If thrust into action, Brian Robinson Jr. won't replicate Bijan's receiving role but he'll be the lead running back and get goaline work with Tyler Goodson (practice squad) working as a change-of-pace option but won't have much fantasy value.

Baltimore

Every year, teams talk about "getting running back X more targets in the passing game." We've heard that about Derrick Henry this offseason. I'll believe it when I see it. He topped out at 33 receptions in 2022 and has posted 15 and 19 catches the last two seasons.

I'd expect a real committee approach if Henry goes down, with Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, and even rookie Adam Randall (IR-Return) fighting for touches.

Buffalo

Ty Johnson missed time this preseason with a "lower body injury." Roles here remain the same as long as all three are healthy. Rumor has it, we might see more passing game work for James Cook.

Carolina

Jonathon Brooks (knee) is the one to watch. Can he stay healthy and be a 1B? I'm cautiously optimistic, but with the team projected for 7.5 wins and ranking 25th in projected TDs, how much upside is there? Chuba Hubbard was sidelined during camp with a hamstring injury. HC Dave Canales said he expects Hubbard to be ready for Week 1.

Trevor Etienne landed on IR-Return to start the season, vaulting AJ Dillon up to RB No.3 until Etienne returns.

Chicago

With Kyle Monangai dealing with a hyperextended knee suffered in mid-August, his availability for Week 1 is in question. He did avoid IR-Return which is positive for his outlook. D'Andre Swift and Monangai are the only fantasy options at this point.

Cincinnati

Samaje Perine (30) gets no love from the fantasy community and it's understandable. He doesn't have any standalone value, but the Bengals have yet to show faith in anyone else in the running back room behind Chase Brown. If Brown goes down, it feels like a free agent would be brought in, but Perine would likely be a weekly flex option.

Cleveland

Quinshon Judkins gets the early-down work, some occasional third downs. Dylan Sampson gets 3rd downs, 2-minute and some occasional early-downs. If Judkins goes down, Raheim Sanders gets the bulk of Judkins role with a slight uptick for Sampson.

Dallas

The Cowboys shook-up their running back room during cut-down day. Gone are Jaydon Blue (PHI practice squad) and Phil Mafah. In comes Emari Demercado (released by KC) who steps in as the No.3 back behind Javonte Williams and Malik Davis.

Davis is one of the biggest risers post cuts. He is the clear No.2 at the moment, a decent handcuff option, and a worthy late-round flier in Best Ball. He'll likely see the majority of touches in the Dallas backfield if Javonte Williams goes down.

Demercado holds no fantasy value at the moment. His best role would be 7-10 touches, 3rd down, and a 2-minute option if Javonte Williams is out.

Denver

The Broncos backfield is shaping up to be a three-headed monster that fantasy owners aren't going to like. Jonah Coleman has caught the eye of HC Sean Payton, performing well with the first team offense in camp. J.K. Dobbins isn't going to lose his early-down lead back role, but Coleman's handcuff value has increased with his play during the pre-season. A split between Coleman (mostly early-downs) and Harvey would likely occur if Dobbins misses time.

Detroit

Isiah Pacheco has been placed on IR-Return due to a sprained knee and back injury. He will miss the first four games. His fantasy value has been on the decline since early August.

While Pacheco is out, Jahmyr Gibbs will be backed up by Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki and Jabari Small. The pecking order behind Gibbs is unclear but it seems like Saylors will operate as the No.2 option. However, I don't anticipate him or any other Lions backup RB, getting enough touches to be fantasy relevant.

Green Bay

Josh Jacobs finds himself on the Commissioner's Exempt list. He will miss games. How many games? We don't know. I'm currently drafting as if he will miss at least six games.

MarShawn Lloyd has a big opportunity, but much like Brooks in Carolina, he's had serious health concerns during his career and was never a workhorse in college. The Packers have been bringing him along slowly this offseason, but so far, so good. He's currently the RB1 for the foreseeable future.

Chris Brooks will step in as the No.2 RB while Jacobs is out. Brooks is more of a pass-down back but could have some standalone value if the Packers don't want to load up Lloyd with touches; which seems prudent given his history.

Green Bay acquired Kaleb Johnson from the Steelers but was a complete bust in his rookie season. Pierre Strong Jr. is on the practice squad and could be called up on gameday.

Houston

Ideally the Texans want to run and play defense. It seems like David Montgomery was brought in for this exact purpose. He's likely set for a workhorse role, while Woody Marks fills a change-of-pace role unless he proves that he's better than his inefficient effort (3.6 ypc) in 2025. If he doesn't, Marks is capped at around 10 touches per game to start the season.

Indianapolis

DJ Giddens has lost his grip on the backup RB role in large part due to a hamstring injury that has limited his camp participation. There's no standalone value for Seth McGowan, but he's someone to keep on your watch list should Taylor suffer an injury.

Jacksonville

This is a situation that I don't have a lot of confidence in at the moment. Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. have been splitting a lot of work, with both being used around the goal line. Not to mention LeQuint Allen (injured) being subbed in on third downs. Reliable fantasy value is going to be hard to come by if these roles hold true in the regular season.

Kansas City

The Chiefs have signaled the entire off-season that Kenneth Walker is going to go be a workhorse. Emari Demercado (DAL) was a surprise cut that shows confidence in rookie Emmett Johnson, who has moved into solid handcuff territory as we close in on the start of the season. Brashard Smith will occasionally play on third downs and special teams, but won't have fantasy value as long as Walker is healthy.

Las Vegas Raiders

We're waiting on news regarding the severity of Ashton Jeanty's ankle injury. Mike Washington Jr. could see increased opportunities early in the season if Jeanty is limited. Otherwise, nothing has changed with their roles. Washington is a decent handcuff option late in drafts.

LA Chargers

I have no doubt Mike McDaniel wants to incorporate multiple running backs. Remember, he turned Raheem Mostert (209-1,012-18, 25-175-3) into a fantasy stud back in 2023 while getting rookie De'Von Achane (103-800-8, 27-197-3) a RB4 fantasy finish (FPts/G) the same season! But Keaton Mitchell (injury?) and Kimani Vidal are not Achane. I'm expecting a lead role for Hampton and think Vidal would get the bulk of the early-down and goal-line touches if Hampton went down. Mitchell (undisclosed injury) would largely stay in his same role, likely 7-10 touches per game with appeal in PPR leagues.

LA Rams

The Rams shipped Jarquez Hunter to the Dolphins, leaving Ronnie Rivers in the No.3 role. Rivers mainly plays on special teams and isn't a threat to Kyren Williams or Blake Corum.

Miami

Backups Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II both got dinged up in preseason games but the extent of their injuries aren't known. The move to acquire Jarquez Hunter indicates the backup roles behind Achane are unsettled. There's no fantasy value here outside of Achane.

New York Giants

I'm not positive Cam Skattebo (leg) is a workhorse back in the Giants eyes. They were tracking Najee Harris' recovery from an Achilles for a while and had plans for a visit well before Tyrone Tracy Jr. whiffed in pass protection during the Giants firs preseason game.

Perhaps given Skattebo's injury, they're just looking for insurance and feel Harris is a better option than Tracy and Devin Singletary? Let's not forget Harris is 11 months removed from an Achilles tear. He's not coming in to steal a big share of work from Skattebo, but he does muddy the waters in HC column, as Tracy's role on the team is becoming a bigger question mark.

San Francisco

Both backup running backs for the 49ers Jordan James (ribs) and Kaelon Black (abductor) dealt with injuries during camp, so the depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey is wide open. Black returned and started in preseason game No.2 and seems to have a lead on the backup role heading into Week 1. James returned to practice on 8/23. I have no confidence in either as handcuff pick at the moment, but Black is the current favorite if you must.

Seattle

Deciphering roles here is still tricky. Zach Charbonnet begins the season on IR-Return. George Holani is going to have a role as long as Charbonnet is sidelined.

This team is comfortable splitting the workload -- Walker played 46.8% of the snaps and Charbonnet 46.0% last season -- under HC Mike McDonald, and that should be the default thinking. Could Jadarian Price force McDonald to shift his process? Perhaps, but not likely at the moment.

Washington

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has earned the lead back role and reportedly has looked good catching the ball to go along with improved pass-protection. Rachaad White is going to play, and should have some standalone value in PPR leagues but I'm not sold he's going to be a 1B next to Bill.

RB4 Jeremy McNichols was been bothered by a quad injury in camp and begins the season on IR-Return.