Backfield Breakdowns: Week 8

We may be in a new golden age of running backs. A trinity of backs, Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, and Bijan Robinson, sit on top of fantasy scoring lists. Two others, Josh Jacobs and Jahmyr Gibbs, are right behind. They are all posting incredible stat lines, and the depth at the top has little comparison in recent years. The 2018 season is the only year that comes close, when Todd Gurley, Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara, Melvin Gordon III, and McCaffrey were all over 20.8 half PPR scoring per game. That season led to the fantasy football industry entrenching itself around early running back builds. 

The five in 2018 combined to average 21.68 PPG. Currently, the top five stand at 21.18. As recently as 2022, the overall top running back (Austin Ekeler) dipped as low as 18.8. That total only beat Gibbs's current 18.1 in the 2025 Top 5. 

Where do the rest of the league's backfields stack up?

Backfields Worth Noting

Some backfields saw noteworthy movement in Week 7:

• New Orleans: Kendre Miller's season is over after a torn ACL. Devin Neal steps in as the primary backup behind Alvin Kamara. Kamara addressed trade rumors, essentially saying he would retire rather than be traded.  
• Philadelphia: Saquon Barkley had another disappointing game, working through multiple injuries during the contest. A.J. Dillon was a healthy scratch after serving as the primary backup from Week 2 through 6. Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby, in that order, received work behind Barkley.
• Tampa Bay: Bucky Irving remained out. The Buccaneers have a bye in Week 9, and Irving was declared out early last week. The plan could be keeping him out till after the break.
• Minnesota: Aaron Jones Sr. has cleared the required games missed due to his IR placement, though there has not been much indication about a looming return.
• Carolina: Chuba Hubbard returned, shifting Rico Dowdle into an even split. Dowdle was much more effective, but Hubbard is a valued team leader, complicating the situation.

Bellcow Backfields

• The 49ers' defense was excellent, slowing the Falcons' rush attack. Playing from behind, Allgeier will rarely be a factor. Robinson barely got to 90 scrimmage yards, extending his streak to 12 games, the longest in the NFL. More on Robinson can be found in this week's Monday NFL Roundup.

• Williams' great run continues. He posted his second 100-yard game of the season and is set to smash career highs with a pace of 1,400+ rush yards and 14+ rushing touchdowns. He gets a fun revenge matchup against a difficult Denver defense in Week 8. 

• Taylor was another player worthy of spotlighting in the Monday NFL Roundup. He had his third three-touchdown game out of his last five contests. He is three touchdowns from catching Edgerrin James on the Colts' all-time touchdown list. 

• The Raiders' offense was brutal. Jeanty was displaying a relatively safe floor, especially with recent passing game involvement, but without Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, the Raiders were no threat. The team heads for a needed bye week. 

• Vidal still received a Bellcow workload, though the result was not nearly as much fun as facing Miami's defense. His Week 8 opponent, Minnesota, just shut down Barkley, though they have given up big rush games to Atlanta, Pittsburgh (the Gainwell game), and Cleveland. Given the timing on Thursday night, the fact that six teams are on byes, and potential injury issues around the league, Vidal is worth starting again in Week 8.

• Achane had a 46-yard run early in the second quarter, but was otherwise held in check by one of the best run defenses in the league. He is on pace for 1,146 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 512 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns. His name popped up in trade rumors, and a loss to Cleveland to fall to 1-6 feels like a season-ender. Given coach Mike McDaniel's standing, it may be a regime-ender. A trade would potentially put Achane in a much better offensive environment, though few teams would rely on him as heavily as Miami. 

• Mason needed a late touchdown to make his day. No involvement in the passing game is a significant red flag. Week 7 marked Aaron Jones Sr. fulfilling the four games required for his IR placement, though there has been minimal reporting about a return. Mason has given little reason to believe Jones would not plug back into all of the passing work. 

• I have often felt like the final supporter of Henderson. After two carries in a blowout win where Stevenson handled 20 opportunities, I have nothing. He is Stevenson's handcuff at this point. He may not even be that. There is a lot of talk about dropping him in fantasy leagues, but unless there are meaningful high-value backups on the waiver wire, we are not there. After this performance, Stevenson should be a trade target. Buying high is a valid concern, but halfway through the season, the coaching staff seems committed to Stevenson as their feature back on an offense that is rolling. 

• The Saints saw their old coach, Dennis Allen, as the Bears' defensive coordinator. Allen solved the run game. In the cruelest sense of irony, Miller was injured against the former coach with whom he had an acrimonious relationship. Saints coach Kellen Moore said there is concern for Miller, who injured his knee. Neal is the next man up. Kamara maintained a significant role, but the Saints' struggles and trailing game script were too much. 

• Hall vs the projection models, and the winner is no one. Hypothetically, Hall's opportunity share and efficiency history suggest an RB1 should be sitting here. Unfortunately, the offensive environment has made that impossible. If you have him, you likely do not have many better options, but Week 1's optimism was a long time ago. 

• Barkley was evaluated for a concussion before returning. He left the game later with a shoulder injury that required trainer attention on the sideline. The Eagles have the Giants in Week 8 and a bye in Week 9. We are more than halfway through the fantasy regular season, and the game plan for Week 7 suggests the team knows they need to rely more on the passing game than they did during the 2024 title run. A.J. Dillon was a healthy scratch after looking like the backup through the first portion of the season. Bigsby and Shipley replaced him. If Barkley misses time, expect a rotation between those two. 

• The Steelers eased Warren back into the lineup in Week 6. He went back to the featured back role for Week 7. Warren came just two yards short of his career high in rushing yardage. He is the first Steelers back since Jaylen Samuels in 2018 to hit 125+ rushing yards and 30+ receiving yards; it was the 22nd time in team history a back hit those marks. 

• Add McCaffrey to The Monday Roundup Running Back Trinity. In perhaps his best game of the season, he willed the 49ers to the win. He is a huge reason they have weathered injuries and sit at a division-leading 5-2. 

• White has served as a bellcow since Bucky Irving has been sidelined, though the workload and a stout Lions defense may be wearing on him. Given the offense's upside and his previous performance, you had to start him here. Tampa Bay has a favorable matchup against New Orleans before a Week 9 bye, suggesting they could play it cautious with Irving one more week.  

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