Backfield Breakdowns: Week 3

Running backs have reclaimed their throne as the dominant position in fantasy football. Week 2 was a step back from the explosive production we saw in Week 1; scoring was down across the board as defenses were better prepared for the physicality of offensive attacks. We still had noteworthy production, and the days of every team employing a committee are behind us. 

How did the league shake out?

Backfields Worth Noting

Some backfields saw noteworthy movement in Week 2:

• Carolina: Jonathon Brooks picked up a groin injury, and Chuba Hubbard emerged with Bellcow status. The Panthers have attacked through the air, leaving some of their past ground-and-pound offenses in the rearview.
• Minnesota: Jordan Mason landing on IR made Aaron Jones Sr. a Bellcow. The Vikings currently lack any backs clambering for additional work. 
• New England: TreVeyon Henderson loudly returned to the lineup, generating an explosive touchdown run. Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled and was subsequently banished. 
• Green Bay: Speaking of banishment fumbles, MarShawn Lloyd was benched after his fumble, opening the backfield up to Kaleb Johnson. 
• Denver: Both J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey are injured, clearing the way for rookie Jonah Coleman to be one of the biggest risers of the week.

Bellcow Backfields 

• Cook handled every touch in the Buffalo backfield. More please. His 192 rushing yards are the seventh most through the first two games of a Bills season. O.J. Simpson had 400 yards to start the 1975 season. Unfortunately, the encouraging Week 1 pass game usage evaporated, but we are not picking that nit this week. Buffalo faces a struggling Chargers team, though they rank 8th in run EPA per Sumer Sports and have been exploited in the air. 

• Hubbard has two receiving touchdowns through two weeks. He had three in 2025. He is the only running back with multiple receiving touchdowns for the Panthers since 2020. Christian McCaffrey is the only running back in franchise history with more than 3 in a season, recording seasons of 6, 5, and 4. Brooks suffered a groin strain, and our Adam Hutchison expects him to miss multiple weeks. Carolina plays a Cleveland defense that ranks toward the bottom in run defense after surrendering a strong ground game to Tampa Bay. 

• Brown. 2025 average: 17.65 touches, 85.6 scrimmage yards. Week 1: 21 touches, 78 scrimmage yards. Week 2: 23 touches, 82 scrimmage yards. The Bengals play the Steelers; Brown averaged 113.5 scrimmage yards in his two 2025 contests against them. 

• The Cowboys ran away from Washington on the scoreboard, but Williams and the run game's low volume were a bit curious given the game script. Dallas was still throwing despite being up double digits late in the fourth quarter. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer and Commanders coach Dan Quinn have a strong relationship from years of working together, so continuing to pass was likely not a bad-blood situation. Dallas faces Baltimore in a projected shootout. 

• Gibbs' opposing fantasy managers have to feel they dodged a bullet. Gibbs "only" had 113 scrimmage yards and "just" one touchdown. Gibbs is on pace for 1,768 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns, 94 receptions, 774 receiving yards, and 8.5 receiving touchdowns. Week 3's opponent, the Jets, are a product of their schedule. The advanced numbers say their run defense is bad. They've allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs. They played the Titans and Packers. That number will flip fast. 

• Taylor moved into a tie with LeSean McCoy and Terry Allen for 33rd on the career rushing touchdown list with 73. He is nine away from cracking the Top 20. At his current pace, he may reach it by Halloween. He has 90+ rushing yards and 2+ rushing touchdowns in consecutive weeks. It was the 16th time he hit those numbers, tying Franco Harris and Marshall Faulk for the 11th most in NFL history. The Colts play the Texans in a "loser leaves town" game as both teams are disappointingly 0-2. Taylor managed just 26 yards in Week 18, 2025, the last time Taylor faced them. 

• Walker joined Priest Holmes as the only running backs in Chiefs history to post 110+ rushing yards, 6+ receptions, and 60+ yards. It was the 86th such game in NFL history. Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson were the only backs to do it in 2025. Walker's 290 rushing yards are the 16th most in NFL history through the first two games of a season and the most since C.J. Spiller started with 292 in 2012. The Chiefs play the Dolphins in Week 3. Simpson had 538 yards through three weeks in 1975. The Dolphins offense may limit Walker's output more than their defense. 

• Jeanty posted a floor game as the Raiders hit the Chargers for multiple big plays in the passing game. The Raiders face the Saints, who have seen Gibbs and Derrick Henry to start the season. 

• Achane's scrimmage yards were fine at 93, and the Dolphins committed to keeping him involved. Scoring points will be a significant issue for this offense. The Dolphins face the Chiefs fresh off allowing a big game to Taylor. 

• Jones received Bellcow treatment with Jordan Mason landing on IR. It was his first 100-yard game since Week 12, 2024. Week 3 brings a much tougher test; they have been out of the stoutest run defenses and sit fourth in run EPA through the first two weeks. 

• Irving solidified his hold on the Buccaneers backfield. His 89 yards topped any 2025 game. He is on pace for 94 receptions as the team continues to utilize running backs in the passing game. Like Jones, he faces a stiff test against a strong Minnesota defense in Week 3. 

Committees With a Lead Back