Sleepers at Running Back
Devin Singletary, NY Giants (at Philadelphia) **Monitor Skattebo Status**
Cam Skattebo was working off to the side with trainers instead of practicing on Wednesday and Thursday. If Skattebo can't play, the Giants could elevate Eric Gray, who was with the Giants from 2023 to 2025, but he would probably only spell Singletary when he needed a breather. In that case, Singletary is a high-ceiling RB2 you should shoehorn into your lineup. Even if Skattebo rallies in Friday's practice and plays in Week 9, Singletary should get enough work against an Eagles team starting Joe Milton III for the first time to be worth a flex or emergency RB2 look.
Jadarian Price, Zach Charbonnet, Seattle (vs. Arizona)
Both of these backs are worth a flex or bye/emergency RB2 look in Week 9. The Seahawks will be without Sam Darnold, and if Drew Lock starts, he's just a few weeks removed from an injury to his throwing elbow in practice. If Lock can't start, then it will be Jalen Milroe. Either way, expect them to lead with the run facing the only team that they have established it against so far this season. Price left the first matchup with the chest injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve at 13 carries for 52 yards, and Emanuel Wilson piled up 92 yards on 21 carries as the lead back the rest of the way against Arizona in Week 2. Price is probably the better play of the two considering that he had some restrictions last week that were lifted before this game, while Charbonnet is still rounding into form from ACL surgery in February.
Tyler Allgeier, Arizona (at Seattle)
If you want the glass-half-full take on Allgeier this week, he's likely to have the backfield to himself with Bam Knight in concussion protocol and Jeremiyah Love on injured reserve, and he rattled off two plays of 50-plus yards against the Cowboys last week. The glass-half-empty take is that the Cardinals are facing the stout Seahawks run defense that Allgeier gained 10 yards on five carries against in Week 2, and Gardner Minshew II is starting (he would say that should be in the glass-half-full column). Sometimes you have to play a back that is getting 15+ touches in a bad spot and pray. Allgeier is one of those plays.
Woody Marks, Houston (at LA Chargers)
David Montgomery was announced as out for Week 9 early in the week, so Marks should dominate the Texans backfield work against the Chargers. Marks is worth a flex look on that volume alone, but perhaps the Texans' running game could finally break through this week with a rested offense facing a Chargers defense that tends to get worn down vs. the run because their offense can't sustain drives. Opposing running backs have scored nine touchdowns on the Chargers in seven games.
Emmett Johnson, Kansas City (vs. NY Jets)
Don't be afraid of going back to Johnson after what might be dismissed as a fluky 143-total-yard game on only six touches last week. Johnson's explosiveness in the passing game is not something the Chiefs should put back in the bottle with the team lacking a vertical threat, and they should be more cognizant of the need to manage Ken Walker III's workload with their Week 5 bye getting small in the rearview mirror. The Jets defense has faced at least 27 running back carries in each of the last three weeks, and they faced 49 in Week 4 against Chicago with Tyson Bagent at quarterback. Teams that want to run the ball against the Jets get what they want.