Backfield fluxuation is always interesting. Over the back half of the season, young players start to emerge, attacking tired defenses with fresh legs. In fantasy, we love to give these players a label: "League Winners." League Winners can be a broad catch-all term, but the general idea is players who become lineup staples after minimal production or minimal investment early in the season. A top team adding Bucky Irving to their 2024 lineup weekly dramatically shifts the balance of power. Every week, this space breaks down every backfield across the NFL. This window is particularly valuable to find those League Winners.
Backfields Worth Noting
Some backfields saw noteworthy movement in Week 10:
- Baltimore: The Ravens had stuck to a specific situational committee, with Derrick Henry doing Derrick Henry things and Justice Hill seeing passing work. That has shifted a bit, with Henry seeing his highest snap shares of the season and Hill seeing his lowest; meanwhile, Keaton Mitchell has gotten touches.
- Houston: Woody Marks. League Winner.
- Minnesota: Aaron Jones Sr. is the clear top back over Jordan Mason.
- New England: TreVeyon Henderson. League Winner.
- Denver: We are monitoring an injury to J.K. Dobbins. If Dobbins is out, RJ Harvey. League Winner.
- Arizona: In a backfield that is constantly shifting, they need Trey Benson back. Benson. League Winner.
Bellcow Backfields
| Team | Back | Player | Rushes | Targets | Stat Line | Share | Snap % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | RB1 | Derrick Henry | 20 | 3 | 20-75-0 / 3-9-0 | 77% | 67% |
| RB2 | Justice Hill | 1 | 2 | 1-1-1 / 1-12-0 | 10% | 27% | |
| RB3 | Keaton Mitchell | 4 | 0 | 4-31-0 | 13% | 7% | |
| Carolina | RB1 | Rico Dowdle | 18 | 3 | 18-53-1 / 3-10-0 | 84% | 79% |
| RB2 | Chuba Hubbard | 3 | 1 | 3-14-0 / 1-1-0 | 16% | 21% | |
| RB3 | Trevor Etienne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | |
| Green Bay | RB1 | Josh Jacobs | 21 | 6 | 21-74-1 / 5-33-0 | 93% | 74% |
| RB2 | Emanuel Wilson | 1 | 1 | 1-2-0 / 1-2-0 | 7% | 21% | |
| RB3 | Chris Brooks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 9% | |
| Houston | RB1 | Woody Marks | 14 | 3 | 14-63-1 / 2-18-0 | 74% | 80% |
| RB2 | Nick Chubb | 5 | 1 | 5-47-0 / 1-5-0 | 26% | 13% | |
| RB3 | Dare Ogunbowale | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 7% | |
| RB4 | British Brooks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 3% | |
| Indianapolis | RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | 32 | 3 | 32-244-3 / 3-42-0 | 95% | 91% |
| RB2 | Tyler Goodson | 1 | 0 | 1-4-0 | 3% | 6% | |
| RB3 | Ameer Abdullah | 0 | 1 | 1-8-0 | 3% | 3% | |
| Las Vegas | RB1 | Ashton Jeanty | 19 | 5 | 19-60-1 / 3-3-0 | 92% | 87% |
| RB2 | Raheem Mostert | 1 | 1 | 1-4-0 / 1-11-0 | 8% | 13% | |
| RB3 | Dylan Laube | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | |
| LA Chargers | RB1 | Kimani Vidal | 25 | 1 | 25-95-1 / 1-13-0 | 96% | 93% |
| RB2 | Jaret Patterson | 1 | 0 | 1-1-0 | 4% | 5% | |
| RB3 | Nyheim Hines | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | |
| Miami | RB1 | De'Von Achane | 22 | 6 | 22-174-2 / 6-51-0 | 82% | 89% |
| RB2 | Ollie Gordon II | 1 | 0 | 1-(3)-0 | 3% | 6% | |
| RB3 | Jaylen Wright | 5 | 0 | 5-17-0 | 15% | 19% | |
| Minnesota | RB1 | Aaron Jones Sr. | 9 | 6 | 9-47-1 / 3-22-0 | 75% | 71% |
| RB2 | Jordan Mason | 4 | 1 | 4-25-0 / 1-6-0 | 25% | 25% | |
| RB3 | Zavier Scott | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | |
| New England | RB1 | TreVeyon Henderson | 14 | 1 | 14-147-2 / 1-3-0 | 75% | 84% |
| RB2 | Terrell Jennings | 4 | 0 | 4-5-0 | 20% | 8% | |
| RB3 | D'Ernest Johnson | 1 | 0 | 1-1-0 | 5% | 10% | |
| NY Jets | RB1 | Breece Hall | 21 | 1 | 21-83-0 / 1-42-1 | 85% | 71% |
| RB2 | Isaiah Davis | 3 | 1 | 3-10-0 / 1-1-0 | 15% | 29% | |
| RB3 | Braelon Allen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | |
| Philadelphia | RB1 | Saquon Barkley | 22 | 3 | 22-60-0 / 3-41-0 | 74% | 70% |
| RB2 | Will Shipley | 4 | 2 | 4-17-0 / 2-17-0 | 18% | 19% | |
| RB3 | Tank Bigsby | 3 | 0 | 3-7-0 | 9% | 13% | |
| San Francisco | RB1 | Christian McCaffrey | 12 | 10 | 12-30-0 / 8-66-0 | 71% | 78% |
| RB2 | Brian Robinson Jr. | 8 | 1 | 8-41-1 / 1-4-0 | 29% | 22% |
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Baltimore shifted their running back usage, and Henry's snaps were a season-high percentage. Hill has backed off a split role with Mitchell picking up more opportunities at his expense. Henry has averaged 96.8 rush yards over the last four games, a 1,645-yard pace. In Weeks 2 through 5, he averaged 37.0 yards per game. Mitchell is the backup you want to roster. Cleveland is the Week 11 opponent. The Browns have been the best defense in run EPA and have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points. Henry gained just 23 yards on 11 attempts in Week 2, with the Grant Delpit "Henry is not difficult to tackle" narrative coloring that matchup.
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Dowdle is the feature back for Carolina. The Saints dared the Panthers to beat them with Bryce Young, and the Panthers failed. Dowdle's 53 yards are his lowest in a start since Week 16, 2024. The Falcons are next, fresh off allowing Jonathan Taylor to set the 2025 rushing yardage high-water mark.
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The Packers rebounded off a mess of a performance against a bad Carolina defense with a mess of a performance against a good Philadelphia defense. Jacobs has a touchdown in six straight games and every game except Week 3. His 17-game pace is 1,148 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns, 65 receptions, and 565 receiving yards. The touchdowns and receiving numbers would be career highs. With Tucker Kraft's season over, Jacobs' passing game role should be here to stay. Wilson was at his lowest involvement since Week 2 as the Packers struggled to sustain drives. The Giants should be a get-right opportunity in Week 11.
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Welcome to the Bellcow Marks era. Marks missed a short period early in the game due to injury, further showing his hold on the backfield. The trailing game script could have been a significant factor, or the Texans may have finally decided their highest offensive outcome involves diminishing Chubb's role. Since his first significant usage game in Week 4, Marks has three games above 81 scrimmage yards and three games below 36. Houston faces the Titans, a team that Marks hit for 119 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Week 4.
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Taylor became the Colts franchise leader in rushing touchdowns, breaking Edgerrin James' record. He is the fifth player in NFL history with at least 1,139 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns through the first 10 games of a season. DJ Giddens was a healthy scratch again, allowing Goodson and Abdullah the backup work. The Colts have a Week 11 bye, giving Taylor a well-earned rest.
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Jeanty's Bellcow ascension continued in a difficult matchup against Denver. Since Week 3, his 17-game pace is 1,131 rushing yards, 7.3 touchdowns, and 323 receiving yards with six total touchdowns in seven games. Week 11 brings the Cowboys, an insane 180-degree turn from the Denver matchup, in a prime-time Monday spot. It would be an excellent time for Jeanty's superstar potential to explode. This may be the last potential buy window in Dynasty.
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Vidal had a bounce-back game against a Steelers defense that stopped Taylor in Week 9. Apparently, the Steelers' commitment to stopping the run was a one-week event, as was Patterson's role. Omarion Hampton is reportedly progressing well in rehab and working off to the side in practice. Giving Vidal a significant role may suggest Hampton's return is close enough to risk another injury in a depleted backfield. The Chargers have yet another body clock East Coast 1 PM game in Week 11 against Jacksonville. The team has come out flat against the Giants and the Titans in similar spots. A bye is looming in Week 12. If Hampton is on pace to return post bye, Vidal should see heavy usage again in Week 11.
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Achane moved into fourth place on the season rushing leaderboard at 780, trailing Taylor, James Cook (920), and Rico Dowdle (788). He is the 19th player in NFL history with 750+ rushing, 49+ receptions, and 300+ receiving yards through the first ten games of a season. McCaffrey was the last, in 2019. Gordon was active and played despite an injury in Week 9. Wright played more and looked explosive in limited opportunities. He has likely fallen to waivers in many leagues. If Achane were to miss time, the Dolphins would likely play both Wright and Gordon. The Dolphins see a Washington defense that has allowed the sixth most points to running backs and is fresh off Gibbs shredding them.
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Jones looks like the unquestioned top back for the Vikings when available. Like most of his career, the 'when available' caveat is significant. The Bears rank in the middle of the league in running back fantasy points allowed. Jones should be in lineups if he is active, while Mason has struggled to be worthy of a flex position.
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Henderson posted the most rushing yards by a Patriot since Rhamondre Stevenson had 172 in Week 15, 2022. It was the sixth most ever by a Patriots rookie; Jonas Gray holds that mark with 201 in his fabled 2014 game. Henderson has double-digit opportunities in each of his last three games and has topped 75 scrimmage yards in all three. His 277 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards in that stretch work to a 17-game pace of 1,564 rushing and 198 receiving yards. Jennings suffered a knee injury in the matchup and did not return. His timeline is to be determined. Given that Stevenson is already out with an injury, Henderson should get a great shot on a Thursday short week against a Jets defense that allowed 85 scrimmage yards to Henderson's Ohio St. teammate Quinshon Judkins. If Stevenson's absence lingers and Jennings misses time, Johnson is the next man up behind Henderson.
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Despite pleas for a trade, Hall served as the Bellcow. He has consecutive 125 scrimmage yard games. It is the third time in his career that he has been above that threshold in consecutive games. He's the only Jet to do that since 2016. The Jets have a brutal matchup against a Patriots defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards per game at 79, ten less than second-place Green Bay.
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Barkley showed few ill effects from the hamstring that ended his Week 8 early. His receiving yardage was the second highest of 2025, and he topped 100 scrimmage yards for the second time in 2025, beating that mark in back-to-back games after falling below it each of the first seven weeks. Shipley saw his most involvement since Week 1 and posted his best scrimmage game of the season. Week 11 offers a shootout against the Lions, a defense that has been good against running backs over the last several seasons.
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McCaffrey is the only running back in NFL history with 69+ receptions and 692+ yards through the first ten games of a season. He moved into a tie with Terry Glenn and Tony Martin for 100th on the career reception list, at 593. In the process, he moved to fifth on the career receptions list for a running back, passing Tiki Barber and Marcus Allen. He needs seven catches to become the fifth back with 600 in his career. The 49ers have a must-win game against the Cardinals in Week 11, a defense ranking 11th in most fantasy points allowed to running backs.