Resetting the Running Backs: The Bell-Cows, The Handcuffs, The Rookies and More

The RB Report: How many true workhorse RBs exist in the year 2025?

Let's dive into some Week 2 RB stats — and use that to pull back and have a look at the landscape as a whole. Who are the workhorses? Who's still struggling? Let's dive in!

As always, we invite you to check out Fantasy Life's AMAZING suite of Utilization Tools (code IAN for 20% off!) for the most in-depth usage information in the entire universe.

Workhorse alert

Dolphins RB De'Von Achane (94% snaps), Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (93%), Titans RB Tony Pollard (89%), Saints RB Alvin Kamara (85%), Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (84%), 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (78%), Packers RB Josh Jacobs (78%), Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard (75%), Bucs RB Bucky Irving (74%), Cowboys RB Javonte Williams (71%), and Bengals RB Chase Brown (71%) were the only 11 RBs to play at least 70% of their offense's snaps in Week 2.

Still a bell-cow, wouldn't sweat it

Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Bills RB James Cook, and Jets RB Breece Hall didn't quite rack up a near every-down role in terms of snaps, but each continued to dominate their backfield's overall touches and should be continued to be relied on in fantasy lineups of all shapes and sizes.

Trouble in paradise? (Los Angeles)

Both Omarion Hampton and Kyren Williams saw their more dominant Week 1 snap shares bump down a bit in Week 2. I'm more worried about the former, considering we knew Najee Harris was on a snap count for that one and because of the potential for Hampton's 4th quarter fumble to be held against him. 

Maybe Sean McVay is telling the truth this time about wanting to have more of a 65/35 split between Williams and Blake Corum, but I don't know man, the touch discrepancy has continued to be STRONGLY in the Rams' (nicely compensated) lead RB's favor, and this is hardly the first time we've heard Sean McVay say nice things about backups before largely continuing to ignore them come game day. Kyren will continue to be in the weekly top-15 conversation as long as he continues to push for 20-plus touches during any given game.

Sucks to suck, rookie

TreVeyon Henderson, Bhayshul Tuten and RJ Harvey are cleanly behind Rhamondre Stevenson, Travis Etienne and JK Dobbins at the moment. Kaleb Johnson is the RB3 in Pittsburgh (Jaylen Warren RB1 szn!) and might never be allowed out of the doghouse after last week's brutal kick return gaffe. Give all veterans involved credit for playing well! These aren't decisions that you should be bitching and moaning about. Obviously better days should be ahead for the young'ins, please don't rage drop them or anything, but each is on starting lineup probation for the time being.

Lead back, but it'd be cooler if they did more with it

Cardinals RB James Conner, Bears RB D'Andre Swift, Texans RB Nick Chubb, and Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco are indeed leading their respective backfields at the moment, but none have been overly impressive with their opportunities this season (with all due respect to Chubb's nice go-ahead TD run on Monday night). I wouldn't say a takeover is imminent in any of these situations, but these aren't exactly must-start RBs. Trey Benson's emergence on pass downs in particular is something to keep an eye on.

Kenneth Walker isn't out of the weeds yet

Kudos to KWIII for making the most out of his opportunities against the Steelers after a quiet Week 1, but the snap percentages reflect the reality that he didn't suddenly get a massive boost in the usage department. Now, it'd make sense if his superior performance over Zach Charbonnet leads to more touches down the road; I just wouldn't immediately treat Walker as a no-doubt top-12 option purely based on last Sunday's (good!) performance.

Injuries suck

But with every injury comes a newfound starting opportunity. This is true for Bill Croskey-Merritt with Austin Ekeler (Achilles) done for the season as well as Jordan Mason, who will lead the Vikings backfield while Aaron Jones (hamstring, IR) is sidelined. Both deserve bumps up the ranks, but don't get too crazy considering each offense is tentatively expected to be led by backup QBs.

Was it something Ashton Jeanty said?

The NFL draft's No. 6 overall pick hasn't exactly looked the part of a generational talent through two weeks, but using Zamir White on third downs and Dylan Laube in two-minute situations is … curious. The bigger issue is the Raiders offensive line: Raiders RBs are averaging an NFL-low -0.23 rush yards before contact per carry this season.

Quinshon Judkins RB1 szn?

It seems to be trending that way. Racking up 13 combined carries and targets on just 19 total snaps is pretty wild, and give the rookie credit for looking good with his opportunities. Here's to hoping that Joe Flacco can hold onto the starting job and maintain some semblance of scoring upside in this offense ahead of potentially brutal matchups against the Packers and Lions over the next two weeks.

Changing of the guard in New York?

Cam Skattebo looks a lot like the Giants new RB1 based on what we saw in Week 2. Now, the overall 14-to-10 opportunity discrepancy between him and Tyrone Tracy wasn't huge, and I don't love the Week 3 matchup against Chris Jones and the Chiefs, but the gritty, sneaky athletic, hard hat, lunch pail rookie RB should certainly be viewed as the favorite to lead this backfield in fantasy points more weeks than not moving forward.