Last week, I wrote about the increase of Bellcow backfields, diving into the potential reasons teams have leaned in that direction. I thought the logic was sound. Of course, it should be expected that teams trended back toward committee usage in Week 2. The shift from Week 1 to Week 2 in backfield usage is one of the most significant. Coaches often mention how practice situations do not allow a full reveal. The lights come on in Week 1, and adjustments are necessary.
Backfields Worth Noting
Some backfields saw significant developments in Week 2:
- Minnesota - Aaron Jones Sr. IR placement shifts Bellcow status to Jordan Mason
- New York Giants - Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s coaching criticism and disappointing play allow Cam Skattebo an opportunity.
- Carolina - Chuba Hubbard struggled, though Rico Dowdle did too.
- LA Chargers - Najee Harris pushes to an even opportunity split with Omarion Hampton
- Cleveland - Welcomed Quinshon Judkins, shifting Dylan Sampson to the bench in a two-headed committee.
- Washington - Austin Ekeler's season is over after he looked like the primary back for much of the game.
- Jacksonville - Tank Bigsby was traded, pushing a backfield split with Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten.
Bellcows
| Team | Back | Player | Rushes | Targets | Stat Line | Share | Snap % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | RB1 | Chase Brown | 16 | 3 | 16-47-0 / 2-18-0 | 100% | 71% |
| RB2 | Samaje Perine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 29% | |
| Dallas | RB1 | Javonte Williams | 18 | 7 | 18-97-1 / 6-33-0 | 78% | 72% |
| RB2 | Miles Sanders | 5 | 2 | 5-15-1 / 2-4-0 | 22% | 22% | |
| Green Bay | RB1 | Josh Jacobs | 23 | 0 | 23-84-1 | 85% | 78% |
| RB2 | Chris Brooks | 0 | 4 | 3-27-0 | 15% | 19% | |
| RB3 | Emanuel Wilson | 0 | 0 | 0% | 7% | ||
| Indianapolis | RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | 25 | 2 | 25-165-0 / 2-50-1 | 96% | 93% |
| RB2 | DJ Giddens | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4% | 7% | |
| RB3 | Ulysses Bentley IV | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | ||
| LA Rams | RB1 | Kyren Williams | 17 | 2 | 17-66-0 / 2-14-0 | 79% | 70% |
| RB2 | Blake Corum | 5 | 0 | 5-44-1 | 21% | 30% | |
| Miami | RB1 | De'Von Achane | 11 | 10 | 11-30-0 / 8-92-1 | 91% | 93% |
| RB2 | Ollie Gordon II | 1 | 1 | 1-8-0 / 1-5-0 | 9% | 12% | |
| Minnesota | RB1 | Jordan Mason | 9 | 3 | 9-30-0 / 2-8-0 | 67% | 60% |
| RB2 | Aaron Jones Sr. | 5 | 1 | 5-23-0 / 0 | 33% | 43% | |
| RB3 | Zavier Scott | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | ||
| New Orleans | RB1 | Alvin Kamara | 21 | 6 | 21-99-0 / 6-21-0 | 82% | 86% |
| RB2 | Kendre Miller | 5 | 1 | 5-8-0 / 1-2-0 | 18% | 15% | |
| RB3 | Devin Neal | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | ||
| Philadelphia | RB1 | Saquon Barkley | 22 | 2 | 22-88-1 / 2-6-0 | 89% | 83% |
| RB2 | A.J. Dillon | 3 | 0 | 3-19-0 | 11% | 17% | |
| RB3 | Tank Bigsby | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | ||
| San Francisco | RB1 | Christian McCaffrey | 13 | 7 | 13-55-0 / 6-52-1 | 74% | 77% |
| RB2 | Brian Robinson Jr. | 6 | 1 | 6-20-0 / 1-(1)-0 | 26% | 23% | |
| Tennessee | RB1 | Tony Pollard | 20 | 1 | 20-92-0 / 0 | 100% | 89% |
| RB2 | Julius Chestnut | 0 | 0 | 0% | 11% |
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Brown has almost every opportunity out of the Bengals' backfield. He is RB25. This has to flip. Under different circumstances, he was RB48 Weeks 1 through 3 in 202,4, then RB6 from Week 4 through 17. He is a buy-low option, especially considering the concern around Jake Browning replacing Joe Burrow.
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Williams has dominated the Cowboys' backfield, looking good doing so. RB2 on the season is unlikely to continue, but as the Bellcow option for a high-end offense, a Top 12 finish is in play. The team has given little indication it wants to involve rookie Jaydon Blue.
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The lack of passing game involvement is the only concern about Jacobs. That could tick up slightly (there is nowhere to go but up) with Jayden Reed out. Still, Jacobs is chasing an NFL record with rushing touchdowns in 11 consecutive games. While not a Top 12 scorer at present, he should flirt with repeating the Top 5 finish he had in 2024.
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Taylor's landing at the Round 2 - 3 turn in drafts was always mispriced. Daniel Jones has done enough to believe this production can continue.
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Corum had five opportunities. Sean McVay said his ideal split between the two is 65-35. Remember when McVay said Williams was going to return punts because he trusted Corum and Ronnie Rivers? That lasted two returns. Corum is a clear handcuff until consistently proven otherwise.
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The Dolphins were trailing for much of this game, but they actually put up a fight this week. There was significant excitement about Gordon this summer serving a short-yardage role. But absent near double-digit opportunities, a goal-line vulture is not a flex option; it is just annoying.
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Aaron Jones Sr. landed on IR with a hamstring injury, costing him at least four games. Ty Chandler is on IR as well, forcing the Vikings to sign Cam Akers, who likely serves as the third string behind Zavier Scott. Mason will play a Bellcow role in an offense that has struggled to start. He is a riser.
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Kamara has never recorded a 1,000-yard rushing season. He is on pace for 1,224. The tradeoff has been a diminished passing game role. Kellen Moore is turning Kamara into his version of Saquon Barkley.
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Speaking of Barkley, he is still Saquon Barkley. The injury to Will Shipley and trade for Bigsby shifts the backfield behind him. Bigsby was not utilized in his first week with the team.
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McCaffrey has put up a vintage performance through the first two weeks. A massive sigh of relief given the injury scare before Week 1.
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Pollard falls into the Chase Brown usage category. Brian Callahan was the Bengals' offensive coordinator; the usage tracks. Unfortunately, like Brown, Pollard is sitting at RB29. The Titans' first two opponents, the Broncos and Rams, are in the top six of defensive EPA. Pollard is a great buy candidate.
